Posts with the tag Democratic party

Election Lesson: It's right -- not Right -- to be Democrats.

Douglas from South Gate, CA — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:46:15 EST

Given the mixed results in this off-off-year election -- Republicans win governorships in traditionally Democratic New Jersey as well as in traditionally Republican Virginia; Democrats win House seats in a traditionally Republican New York district as well as in a traditionally Democratic California district -- there is more spin being spun by pundits on the Left and the Right than by Kobe Bryant goin' to the hoop. So what's the real deal?

10 Worst, 10 Best: Senator Max Baucus

Skye Wallin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:52:13 EDT

For a long time I've wanted to begin a series that takes a careful look at our federal representatives and their actions. As caretakers of the most powerful country in all known history, we ought to know who they are and what they stand for. When I worked in the United States Senate this Summer as legislative intern (more on that another time), I found an article in a 1970s Washington Journal that called out the best and the worst of the U.S. Senate. So today I begin a similar, albeit more timely, piece called: "10 Worst, 10 Best: Your United States Congress Exposed."

And today I begin with Senator Max Baucus, a Democrat from Helena, Montana and Chairman of the Finance Committee. Mr. Baucus earned both his B.A. and law degree at Stanford University, and went on to work for the Securities and Exchange Commission in D.C. Eventually, he returned to his home state, won a seat in the state House of Representatives, and ultimately a seat in the United States House. In 1978, the Montanian won his Senate seat; a seat that has grown stale and dank and saturated in the corrupt puss that seeps from every pore of Max Sieben Baucus.

Such a scathing judgement is undeserved by most, but let us remember that we are dealing with the United States Senate--a body representative of the most powerful interests this country has to offer. Max Baucus, in particular, has received massive campaign donations from the most invasive and influential industries. OpenSecrets.org reveals the top 5 contributors to this Blue Dog's campaigns: Lawyers/Law Firms ($1,608,823), Securities & Investment firms like Goldman Sachs ($1,480,535) Insurance ($1,190,463), Health Professionals ($1,032,276), and Pharmaceuticals/Health Products ($751,605). In total, Baucus has received $2,880,631 from the Health Care Industry and $4,710,818 from Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate sectors!

If those numbers don't bug you, check out where his former staff members work. Jeff Forbes, once Baucus's Chief of Staff, went straight to K Street when he opened a lobby firm for the health industry. David Castagnetti, another ex-chief of staff, went on to work in the insurance industry itself! Several other staff member have gone similar routes, and some (including Forbes and Castagnetti) have met with Baucus in exclusive meetings on Health Care Reform 2009.

These facts would be meaningless if big industry donors wanted nothing in return; but alas, this is the root of corruption. Of course powerful Wall Street bankers and health care hotshots want their interests protected and enhanced! As we have seen in the Bailout and TARP spending--intended to stabilize the economy--the Democrats are just as keen as Republicans in helping big business at the expense of taxpayers. And Max Baucus is in a particularly powerful position as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee--arguably the most influential of all committees since nearly every bill that involves spending must go through it.

Now let me tell you how fucked up Senator Baucus's health care reform bill is going to be. For one, the man refuses to support the Public Option, which is now the last remaining hope for true, fundamental reform...for the change we can believe in. This corporate Dem will fight any attempt to uproot the perverted and financially idiotic health care system that this country has been victim to for so many years. Instead, cooperatives have been proposed as a substitute for the public option--this is a petty appeasement, and will be destined for failure since co-ops will not have the funding to sustain themselves; eventually they will be used as "proof" that non-private health plans do not--cannot work.

Baucus's bill is being determined by his "Gang of 6" which, besides Montana Max, includes Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming), Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota), and Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico). Seems like a lot of Republicans determining reform they do not even seem to want! Is there not a Democratic majority? In fact, Baucus has shut out certain members of the Finance Committee who do indeed support the public option! And I refuse to believe that the Gang of 6 states are representative of the entire country.

True health care reform is looking more and more unlikely by the hour, and this is largely due to the influential Baucus. How have we allowed this kind of paralyzing corruption to happen? Don't the people of Montana see that this man has little desire to represent their true needs? The needs of the country at large? Must things get bad enough that we must revolt to reform our policies and cut the puppet strings once and for all?

I refuse to believe we have reached that point, but I do know that a voter revolt is needed--that is, people like this can and must lose reelection. If change is on the horizon, it certainly will not come from hacks like Max Baucus--a man perhaps best explained by his response to single-payer advocates (a group of 8 doctors and nurses) demanding to have a seat at the table: "We need more police!"

And so it is official... Max Baucus: you, sir, are my first WORSTCONGRESSPERSON

Unpatriotic

Jim — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:44:25 EDT

Why is there not more outrage from Progressives and Liberals about the consistent lies and un-American behavior of the politicians, pundits, Fox News hacks and far right crazies who get their faces on cable TV everyday spouting slurs, lies, anti-American rhetoric and slanderous remarks about the duly elected President of the United States?

We moderates and progressive Democrats and Republicans are tolerant folks who think everyone has a right to speak and that truth will prevail. What's happening now is a campaign by the Republican Party to hold the President and this administration up to enough bogus ridicule and scorn that in the next election people have doubts even in the face of an improving economy, end of the Iraq War, and other positive signs that the Obama Administration is doing the right thing on all fronts.

When I see pasty faced Republican Senators like McCain get on TV and purposely say things that undermine the economy's improvements, government plans that are working and health care reform I find it to be unpatriotic and them as traitors to this country.

Their rhetoric is not the loyal opposition talking, it is the voice of "let's bring down the USA for political gain. When McCain, who has voted to confirm every Supreme Court Nominee in the past, says he won't vote for Ms Sotomayor even after she was approved, it's plain where he's coming from and what his and the other right wing traitors are coming from. Not only are they bigots they are traitors.

Cable and radio bigots like Lou Dobbs, Libaugh and Beck should be indicted for slander and inciting to riot. The stuff the spout has no basis in reality and goes beyond "Freedom of Speech." principals. We may think everyone will recognize these lies but this is not about the lies it's about sewing the seeds of scorn and constantly trying to condition the general public to have doubts about the President and this administration.

We are at War! They are trying to bring down the government of the United States. Now they've got scores of hired protestors, going out and disrupting town hall meetings. The media with only a couple of exceptions is treating these hooligans like they really represent some significant segment of the population. Why doesn't someone interview a few of these idiots. Ask them some real questions about who has organized them and coached them about disrupting the democratic process.

The so called "Blue Dog Democrats," need to understand that unless they vote with the Democratic Government they will go down in the next election with other Democrats what ever color they may be. If they can't vote with the Democratic majority in the Senate who needs them?

I think a lot of Americans, including myself, would be willing to donate to a real campaign with advertising to fight back against this outrage. We need to have a campaign that is as strong as if an election was in progress, because that's what is needed. "We need to fight fire with fire!

Did I Get Bamboozled By Obama?

Leo — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:39:34 EDT

Is it just me- or is anyone else starting to feel 'had'?

Covering up and not prosecuting the torture scandal?

Going back on one of the most ringing campaign promises regarding transparency? And I get weekly requests to donate more money from the Obama campaign? Maybe I was just a dumb wide-eyed child.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31373407/ns/politics-white_house/

Yes this is Change, But Can you Believe It?

arlin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:55:44 EDT

We here at Democratic Financial World have never believed Obama's Change You Can Believe in slogan, though we believe in the man. Obama has thrived with ciourage and grace confronting challenges that would disinhearten lesser folk.

But his slogan is simply too much...

Now that both Chysler and Eneral Motors are in bankrucy we can say niether has learned any lessons, judging from impatial newsmedia sources. Consider the Business Week June 8 2009 report that Cadillac and Chevorelt will get $1.3 billion in marketing money"Double the existing budget and pretty close to what Toyota spends on Lexus"....

Where we ask is the cash for hybrid vehicles? Where is the stepped up paced for the electric cars? Where are the new fuel effecient vhehicles?

Chevy and Cadillac don't have either. But let's move on with Biz Week's breathless report:"With lower costs GM will have more money to spend on Buick and GMC which were long starved of new vehicles",writes Biz Week. Yet almost every analist has pointed out GM needs fewer, not more car brands.. GM's new production boss Tom G Stephens doesn't get it.

We can read between the lines: government funding for proven patterns of failure. This is change we can't believe in.

We have said before the Deocratic party should not run ib on the "We Saved Cadillc" platform. That belongs to the other party-the party of gas guzzles.

While Chrysler offers hope of small cars from Fiat as a part of it's alliance, we can not be confident of a turnaround. European management --Volkswagon,Dailer and others ran Chryster into the ground where it is today. American were never impressed with German engineering, and Fiat offers more of the same.

Fiat is sports cars in the puclic mind in the US, but the biggest and richest market is family vehicles--which is why SUV's are still popular- but tarnished because of low gas milage.

If fact,if it were not for fuel economy they would still be wildly popular.

Detroit's problem is not design; it is efficiency.It makes too many cars with little regard to markets. We recall when Auto Nation did a computer analysis of what sold three years ago-including every bell and whislte-and noted Detroit lacked specific detail of exactly who their customer was..

How could Gm and Chrystler have so many outlets between them and not have such basic data? One cannot imagine Proctor and Gamble , Hp or Dell not knowing who their costomers were.

We wonder too about the post bailout debt load forcast by Business Week. Chrysler's barely moves from $22.7 Billion to 21 billion. Yet, Gm's moves from $69 Billion to 10-20 billion. The pupose of bankrutcy is to erase debt, and re-emerege- yet, Chysler's barely changes.

So we have to ask what kind of deal did the Obama Administration cut with Chrylser to allow a bare nick?

We also note the German governments money for GM Europe-specfifically for Opel. Yet this stuff isn't even included in the GM plan. Will GM-europe profits be bought back to GM-assuming there are profits.

We're sorry, but this is not change we can believe in--

--it makes no new efforts toward fuel effecient cars, or even makes them a priority..

--it still favors gas guzzelers over electric or hybrid vehicles, and lays out no roadmap for change...

-- it makes no claim of technological advancement No joint planning for electic waystation of reueling and no integration with highway planning or electrical grid restructiong for smoothing the change over.

The Democratic Party shioulod not mortgage it's futuree to a post brankrucy rescue operation unless there is a clear road map for change in the car industry from its addiction to oil.

Stephen Views the News June 1, 2009

Stephen from Elkins Park, PA — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:02:34 EDT

Stephen Views the News June 1, 2009

http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/

A note to the graduating class of 2009

News shows this past week broadcast excerpts of speeches given by well-known individuals at college commencement ceremonies. The wisdom and insight of Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Laura Bush, Robert Gates, Colin Powell, Ellen DeGeneres, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton and others reigned down upon graduates as they are about to embark on life as adults. Below are some thoughts and observations that these esteemed speakers may not have noted in their addresses.

Graduates who have followed the news on CNN, MSNBC, FOX or Comedy Central have seen a very clear choice as to how to conduct one’s life. Regardless of whether one agrees with the policies of President Obama his embrace of civility and nobility is in marked contrast to the narrow sewer politics of Limbaugh, Gingrich and Cheney. Obama’s adherence to veracity is in marked contrast to the lies and twisted logic of these icons of failed leadership under the banner of conservatism. The college graduates of 2009 may have the clearest examples in American history of how poor leadership can weaken America, how greed on steroids can destroy an economy and how ignoring the environment and the health of its citizens can put our society and communities at great risk. Everyone we are exposed to in life is our teacher. Some people show us to what to do and some show us what not to do. Rarely have such choices for graduates been in sharper focus.

For decades the message to graduates has consistently been to make the world a better place as one seeks their place to pursue dreams, hopes and aspirations. Today’s graduates will begin careers and soon start families under the umbrella of a political system that is flawed – a system that in recent years has yielded more impediments than opportunities for individuals to participate in the American dream. It is a system where our elected officials must raise large sums of money to fund political campaigns that ensure re-election. Elected officials are lured into serving the needs of the special interests that provide campaign and other funds and the officials must devote an inordinate amount of time to fundraising, which reduces the time available to deal with issues important to citizens. This will only change with the public financing of elections because self-policing by elected officials is an American pipe dream. For the most part, today’s elected officials are owned by corporate interests of energy, finance and banking, pharmaceutical and healthcare corporations. The sellout led to de-regulation of financial markets, a reduction in product safety, a reduction in competition and blockage of sound energy policies that would have reduced dependence on foreign oil and more responsibly protected the environment.

Today’s graduates will have to bide their time until there is once again a viable two-party political system in America. The current version of the Republican Party (Conservatism) became the voice of corporate interests, the religious-right and the Neocons, also known as the warmongers. The GOP was embarrassed in the elections of 2006 and 2008. As the current version of conservative politics continues to lose support in almost every demographic, 2010 will likely be even more devastating to the Republican Party. Following repeated defeats I expect the GOP will seek candidates more moderate, more inclusive and more reflective of a society rejecting the narrow issues of abortion and gay marriage, more demanding that elected representatives actually represent their interests which include fair wages, intelligent broad-based healthcare, sound energy policy, verifiable voting apparatus, renewal of our infrastructure, reliable mass transit and improvements in education.

We can only trust that this year’s graduates will reject the lies that the conservative/GOP cabal continue to spew. Examples include: gay marriage will destroy traditional marriage and lead to pedophilia and bestiality; the U.S. will be endangered if prisoners at Guantanamo were housed in federal high security prisons on American soil; Obama is a Fascist and his policies will result in a socialist state; oversight of capitalism will result in a socialist state; evolution is not valid; the world was created a) 3000 years ago, b) 5000 years ago, c) 15000 years ago; torture is justifiable in our society and the use of torture made Americans safer; Saddam Hussein was an imminent threat to America.

Finally, this note to graduates should not be construed as an endorsement of the Democratic Party. Over the past decade its record is not seen as horrendous only because it is compared to the Republican Party. Democrats are also subject to the influence of special interests and their lobbyists, they participated in the reigning in of regulation and reduction of oversight and they were silent and impotent in opposing the invasion of Iraq and subsequent funding of the occupation. Both political parties governed out of fear and a cynicism in the American political system and the American people. You are the next generation and you can do better.

“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

Robert Louis Stevenson

Happy New Year of The Bible 2010 by Paul Broun

Peter from Carrollton, TX — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:26:07 EDT

2010 Year of the Bible by Paul Broun AP/Photo

Happy New Year of The Bible 2010 by Paul Broun

On our countdown to a new year in 2010, Paul Broun (R-Ga.) wants everyone to ring in the “Year of the Bible”. He wants to pass legislation to honor the good book. Opposition is strong in the Democratic party, but whats the big deal? We’re already burning them suckers in Afghanistan. I wrote a post about it, and got negative feedback from every dem, saying I’m a GOP’r in disguise. In fact, I’m just a student pointing out similarities between different governments past and present. That isn’t choosing sides at all. When people see a political blog, they are automatically trying to figure out what party I am affiliated with. None. Well, whoever decides to pay me the most. Just kidding(That’s illegal for all you kids out there, no selling votes.) Sorry for ranting but I’ve been enraged at some of my readers that just don’t get the whole picture. Someone said I’m a Christian that hates America. No, I’m a Christian that loves America; the thought of America more like it. It used to stand for something, and all I see and read is how far it has gone from what our forefathers set forth to achieve. I am not ashamed of being an American. Our differences are what makes this country unique. I say instead of the “Year of the Bible”, we just go with the Chinese astrology and name it after an animal. Or we can ring in the New Year as a world united. All across Washington people are joking about what year its going to be after that. Year of the encyclopedia? Quran? Las Vegas escort Pamphlets? Whatever the year, I’ll be ringing it in with a smile, knowing I’m in a country that spends too much time on a stupid idea. Hey Paul Broun, think of a way to get your ass back to work on important things.

God Bless You & Thank You President Obama!

CD57 — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:37:48 EDT

My small business was in the brink of bankruptcy failing miserably during Bush era, but since President Obama took over it became an overnight success, my sales jumped from an average $20 a day to over $200 a day, last 5 weekends my daily sales were $600; what a great improvement my outlook for future is brighter now with full of confidence I waited patiently and now my boutique will not bankrupt, what a relief that is!

I look forward to hearing from all concerned readers of my blog please feel free to share your stories & comments, have a bright & wonderful day!

The GOP, Caught Between President Obama And A Hard Place!

Ricardo — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:19:25 EST

That confusion reign at the heart of the GOP is now indisputable. One only has to look at this weekend’s CPAC. The party of Lincoln and Roosevelt and not so long ago the party of government is fast descending into fringe condescension and has as it's standard bearers two narcissistic opportunists. In Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, the sole rationale for being conservative, it would seem, is to cream whatever financial rewards they can through the authorship of badly written compilations passed off as books or badly mouthed and bigoted pronouncements touted as radio broadcasting; both Rush and Ann are doing very well financially on the backs of a people who do not seem capable of distinguishing fact from fiction. Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter are the clearest manifestation that the lunatics are now in charge of the asylum.

The GOP already beaten once by President Obama during the election, seem to want to commit hara-kiri by taking that fabled and entrenched dogma of “we still know best, we have absolutely no need to change and we lost because we gave up on our extreme right wing ideology”. The message coming from them is so confused that you have their new Chairman Michael Steele, apologized that the American people had every right not to believe anything they said. But in the same breath he touted and echoed their penchant for tax cuts ubber alles in debating a very transformational President whose popularity still appear stratospheric.

One would have thought that, after losing to President Obama despite the play on “Conservatives holding on to religion and guns ....” statement by the then candidate Obama and the much looped Reverend Wright’s “God damn America” controversies, the GOP would have formulated a different strategy of response and tactic of execution. Instead they have resorted to confused, misdirected and rudderless rabble rousing.

Take for instance the new line of attack by that most hypocritical of the so-called conservatives, Newt Gingrich’s attempt to link and lump President Obama in with President Bush for the current economic crises. Unless Mr. Gingrich believes that the American is the most stupid person on God’s Earth, how could he possibly make that association in the expectation that less than two months into his Presidency, the American people would have forgotten who brought onto them the current wrath of a very displeased economic GOD. And herein lies the absolutely impossible task that the GOP has to deal with; talk about the government’s lack of fiscal responsibility when they presided over the biggest deficit in the nations recent history is not convincing; talk of over burdening future generations when they spent their way through the nations treasures without so much as a monument built in commemoration, except for corruption and the numbers of new graves for the Brave young men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to uphold the honor of their beloved nation on a distant shore sounds hollow and hypocritical; talk of bad economics when they created the conditions for the festering of the depression malaise that a very new and young administration has to grapple with even before it had taken office sounds disingenuous; talk of diminishing America prestige and influence when they have the dubious honor of their great leader being the only American President to have been ‘shoed’ by a foreign journalist when he was the guest of those journalists sounds farcical.

So the GOP is looking forward to when President Obama’s policies fail so that they can blame him and his party for the failure. Now let us look at how serious a challenge that may prove for the GOP to exploit more than for President Obama to explain.
How does ending the war in Iraq render the President to criticism if that country descended into anarchy after the drawdown on US troops when he has already directed with ample notice period that the troops be brought home and only a non combatant compliment is retained and which would leave by a fixed deadline? It will only ‘fail’ if the Iraqis cannot look after themselves. But how does the failure of a democratically elected Iraqi government become the responsibility of a US Administration? Besides, the GOP likes his plan. It is just about the only thing they agree with him on.

Afghanistan as a coalition effort mandated by the UN and NATO is not the direct responsibility of President Obama although he has sought to highlight the dangers of ignoring that campaign for far too long. In fact, any failure there will be a vindication of his long standing complaint that too much focus went unnecessarily onto Iraq. And coalition partners in Afghanistan were not imposed upon to pull their weight.

The case of the US economy presents the worst case scenario for the GOP even more so than the rest of the litmus issues already described. Tax cuts for the middle classes, unemployment benefits and insurance for those who have lost their jobs, a foreclosure stay of execution for those struggling with their mortgages, health insurance for over eleven million children, the biggest reconstruction agenda for a generation, improvements for education, investments in alternative energy, assistance to States struggling as a result of the deep recession... etc.

Now let’s assume that no jobs are created at all (and that is quite some assumption) and the unemployment rate remains as is in 3 years hence. People would still see improvements in bridges and the road infrastructure, they will notice better classrooms and paid teachers, improvements in environmental awareness and steps to address them, a dramatic fall in the numbers of US Soldiers stationed abroad, a reduction in their tours of duty and their involvement in "dumb wars".

The people still struggling for employment will be able to stay in their own homes and thereby have roofs over their heads and will be able to get sick without being bankrupt. Those still in employment, especially the middle classes, will still enjoy a reasonable standard of living and not see hikes in their levels of taxation. Since a lot of the jobs currently being lost are in GOP afflicted areas, a lot of ‘former’ GOP voters will come to appreciate the assistance they will be receiving from this so called and much maligned ‘Socialist’ government and may even decide that that type of ‘Socialism' may not be all that bad. Why? Because they would remember that this current President inherited all the issues from a GOP President. Most importantly, they will also remember that those aspects of policy that helps to ease their pain were passed without a single GOP support in the House and only three GOP Senators were brave enough to cross party lines despite a sterling effort by President Obama to be bi-partisan.

If there is a GOP GOD in existence it must know that 2012 will not be a GOP year. That will be when the real fruits of all this stimuli starts to really kick-in. And witnessing the disarray in which the GOP finds itself, it will take them more than three terms to get another look in; look at what happened to the British Conservative Party after Maggie Thatcher. The GOP’s redemption would be on the basis that it remodeled itself on a successful and winning formula; that of the Democrats and the GOP agenda then will be to portray themselves as the best placed to carry out the legacy of Obama. Now will that not be a turn for the books?

TW: [Oklahoma] Democrats' leader hammers both parties

Mike W — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:52:20 EST

Democrats' leader hammers both parties
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Published: 3/1/2009 2:33 AM
Last Modified: 3/1/2009 3:36 AM
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090301_16_A17_StateD346449
or
http://tinyurl.com/Holmes20090301

State Democratic Party Chairman Ivan Holmes has a Ph.D. in communications and he's not afraid to use it. Friday he hammered the Republican Legislature and tight-fisted Democrats about the head and shoulders for an hour at the Democratic Luncheon Club in downtown Tulsa.

"There is no democracy going on at the Capitol in Oklahoma City," Holmes said. "Our House and Senate people are getting so beaten down, the Republicans are almost dictatorial. They're blatant about it and they don't care."

The GOP, he said, is "ruthless, organized and they've got money."

But Holmes was also critical of fellow Democrats.

He said that two years ago, when he became chairman, only 17 individuals gave as much as $1,000 a year to the party. That's up to 150 now, but isn't nearly enough to compete with the Republicans or to compensate for the money the state received from the national party under former national chairman Howard Dean.

"Our party has no money," he said, noting that the Democratic Senate caucus' political action committee ended the last election cycle $25,000 in debt and the House PAC is almost broke, too.

And, he said, the trial lawyers say they'll no longer contribute to the legislative PACs because of last year's poor election results.

"We have to raise $750,000 by 2010 to be viable," Holmes said. "You can't run a party like we have."

Holmes said President Obama's organization appears to be concentrating national party resources on "target states" -
which Oklahoma, after giving Obama only 34 percent of the vote, is not.

"What we've got to do is convince the Obama people we ought to be targeted," Holmes said

Holmes is not seeking a second two-year term but said he will continue to work for the state party as a volunteer.

DNC Announces Clyde Williams as New Political Director

Mike W — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:20:47 EST

DNC Announces Clyde Williams as New Political Director

Democratic National Committee
For Immediate Release
February 20, 2009

Washington, DC – The Democratic National Committee today announced the appointment of Clyde Williams as DNC political director. Williams -- who previously served as a senior policy advisor at the Clinton Foundation, Vice President of State and Local Government Affairs at the Center for American Progress, and deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- brings a unique combination of policy and political background to the position.

"We’re thrilled that someone with Clyde’s immense skill and unique combination of experience with domestic policy issues and grassroots political organizing will be joining the DNC’s leadership team," said DNC Executive Director Jen O’Malley Dillon. "Governor Kaine has stated his goals of helping advance the President’s agenda and promoting broader participation in the civic dialogue. Having Clyde serve as our political director is an important part of our effort to engage more Americans in our effort to implement practical solutions to the challenges facing our country."

"I look forward to a great opportunity to work with Governor Kaine, Jen O’Malley Dillon, and of course the White House to advance the President’s agenda and continue to strengthen our Party," said Williams. "These challenging times demand real leadership from Washington and a renewed commitment to truly engaging the American people in the effort to move our country forward. I am honored by the opportunity to help Governor Kaine with this historic effort."

Clyde Williams, Democratic National Committee Political Director

Clyde Williams joins the DNC after four years as founder and president of his own business development firm, Certus Advisors based in New York City. Williams served as a top domestic policy advisor at the Clinton Foundation from 2001 to 2005, advising President Clinton on the development of programs targeting underserved communities. Williams also served as Vice President of State and Local Government Affairs at the Center for American Progress and as deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the second term of the Clinton Administration. Prior to entering national politics, Williams worked for District of Columbia City Council Chairman John A. Wilson.

###

Barack Obama - Yes We Can !

Peter from Portland, OR — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:40:36 EST

Since January 20th 2009 Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States of America, a very historic inauguration day. Think back to 1963, when Martin Luther King held his famous speech, saying "I have a dream...", and see what a positive change has allready been made since then. With Barack Obama the first African American president in US history is in the White House, Martin Luther King`s dream is about to come true and that´s really great ! - Shop America supports Barack Obama and wishes him all the best for his future, hoping that he can really perform the "Change" for America and the world ! - Visit our Barack Obama section and check out "Yes We Can" and other political designs on t-shirts, buttons, stickers and more:

BARACK OBAMA DESIGNS - YES WE CAN

BARACK OBAMA DESIGNS - YES WE CAN

Stephen Views the News 1/19/09

Stephen from Elkins Park, PA — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:55:51 EST

Stephen Views the News 1/19/08

http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/

* Intangibles – On Saturday, in between errands and chores, I followed on television the Barack Obama train ride from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. Reminiscent of the night that Obama was elected I watched the faces of people in large gatherings and listened to some of their comments that celebrated the rise of the next leader of America. The pride, hope, relief and renewed spirit were palpable. With a glistening eye I shared in this historic moment and the aspirations for a better future for my country. All eyes will be on the tangible programs that the Obama administration will try to implement to energize the economy, heal our environment, correct foreign policy and make affordable health care available to all citizens – something I believe is a right within our national community. The challenges are daunting but not insurmountable. The spirit of the American people is so often noted in political speeches that it had become a tagline. The failures and errors of the last eight years have brought Barack Obama and the American spirit to the forefront. I expect that each will be a vital force in America going forward.

* Tangibles – “The goal is to take those who volunteered during the president-elect's campaign and organize them to "work for change" in communities.” This is how USA Today described the initiative announced by Obama during his weekend train ride – “Organizing for America.” Obama said, “I'm asking people like you who fought for change during the campaign to continue fighting for change in your communities." By visiting barackobama.com and change.gov one can learn more about taking a role and responsibility in Our communities.

* Transitions – On Sunday the Meridian Star, a Mississippi newspaper, published a remarkable editorial that offered an apology for its past coverage of civil rights issues. "There was a time when this newspaper – and many others across the south -- acted with gross neglect by largely ignoring the unfairness of segregated schools, buses, restaurants, washrooms, theaters and other public places…We did it through omission… That was wrong. We should have loudly protested segregation and the efforts to block voter registration of black East Mississippians.” The entire editorial can be read at this link. While America has been one of the noblest and most successful experiments in freedom it has not been without ignobility. It is a proud time to be alive in America witnessing the gains we are making to form a more perfect union. While perfection is an ideal perhaps never realized, we have taken another step closer.

* Our tax dollars at work at the Department of Agriculture ~ more seed was being planted than the Department knew. “A former USDA statistician in Kansas City is accused of running a prostitution ring from her work computer,” according to federal prosecutors. Yes, there is merit to the old saying about the taxpayer getting screwed. One trial defense could be that the federal worker took it upon herself, in such a bad economy, to create windfall jobs. A positive note we can take from this is that there are at least some government employees that can multi-task, even as they lay down on the job.

* Fear that is well-founded ~ a glimpse at recent history – For decades the Republican Party mantra has been that government is the enemy and should be minimized, balance the budget and strictly adhere to the rule of law. Following Republicans controlling congress from 1992 to 2006 and holding the White House for the last eight years one can see why Republicans are afraid of government. During this period they exploded the national debt. They expanded government and especially its invasiveness. They sold government policy to special interests and alms-like handed over a portion of the government agenda to religious fundamentalists. If you were not either wealthy or a member of a narrow group of ideologies your interests were abandoned in Washington D.C. Almost every principle Republicans claimed they stood for imploded like the World Trade Center on 9/11. Republican fear of government is well-founded, especially when it is under their control.

* There is a new posse in town – On Sunday Chris Wallace of FOX News interviewed Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Wallace kept coming back to the question whether Democrats were being bi-partisan in legislative proposals. Are they listening to the Republicans? He mixed in Republican talking points that we have heard for the past eight years. If Mr. Wallace had watched other stations besides FOX News he would have noticed that the American people have rejected Republicans and their failed policies. The political transition to Democratic Party control began in the 2006 congressional elections and continued through the 2008 elections. Democrats now control the House, the Senate and the White House. Republicans have been rejected while conservative thinking was proven defective in areas such as economic and foreign policy. If bipartisanship means watering down progressive initiatives needed to restore our wounded country than I say leave the Bush Republicans whimpering in their shrinking ideological corner until their constituents vote them out of office and put them (and us) out of misery.

If there are still some doubters as to Republican ineffectiveness and incompetence look at the administration of the $350 billion recovery stimulus package that congress approved in the fall. Under Bush and former Goldman Sachs executive and current Treasury Secretary Paulson the money went to the financial institutions that played a protagonist role in the economic implosion with the following results: the money did not get into the hands of homeowners and borrowers, it was doled out in secrecy with no apparent accountability, the person appointed to assure the funds were used productively and responsibly was shut out of being able to police the funds. At least for a while I am not buying bipartisanship. Republican snake oil hucksters will have to re-earn my patronage.

* “Proud” Moments in History ~ Achtung! – “On April 17, 2005, at the southern California Anaheim Angels sports stadium thirty thousand Saddleback Church members, more than ever gathered in one spot, assembled to celebrate Saddleback's 25th anniversary and listened as Rick Warren announced his vision for the next 25 years of the church.” Anti-gay activist Warren will deliver the invocation at Obama’s inauguration. Let’s hope that his words differ from that spoken to his flock four years ago when he said, “be as committed to Jesus as the young Nazi men and women who spelled out in mass formation with their bodies the words ‘Hitler, we are yours,’ in 1939 at the Munich Stadium, were committed to the Führer of the Third Reich.” The above link has the video. Anyone not fitting the mold of this religious fundamentalist’s world view should be wary as Obama so “graciously” provides Warren with a world stage. There are analogies that further one’s point and then there are analogies as odiferous as week-old bratwurst left sitting in the southern California sun. I wonder if Jesus is holding his nose while recalling that 55 million people died as a result of Hitler-generated hysteria. Achtung!

* Derriere Orifice of the Week ~ aka, Bring in the Clowns – Meet Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). During the primary this southern end of a bull “predicted Al Qaida would be ‘dancing in the streets’ if Barack Obama were elected president.” He told the Associated Press that Obama’s middle name was among the reasons Islamic terrorists would rejoice over his election. This week the deep-thinking Hawkeye told Geraldo on FOX News that he doesn’t like the fact that the president-elect will be sworn in using that middle name Hussein during Tuesday’s Inauguration. Imagine being some down on his luck resident in Iowa who can’t pay his mortgage or maybe his medical bills or perhaps find a viable job and learn that your congressman is concerned about the next president’s middle name.

* "Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed."

Abraham Lincoln August 21, 1858

* "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1956 sermon

This is my last post.

K.M. Dailey — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:46:03 EST

I am leaving the cause. I am leaving the two main parties behind.

hello

David Crawford -Manager — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:13:05 EST

Hope to see you at the next open house we have at the Greensboro office.

Obama-Biden Supporters Wanted To Recruit People To Be Financial Professionals-Help End The Economic Crisis

Creator of A New Financial System — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:40:49 EST

Us the materials below to communicate my plan for helping Obama-Biden administration to solve the economic crisis:

Entreprenual independent contractors, collaborators, needed to market, a New Financial System. That's right, a New Financial System (NFS). A NFS to compete against the problematic current system of Wall Street, Banking, Multinational Corporations, etc. My NFS is so promising that "pretender(s)" are already beginning to spring up in the very small test market in which it is involved. But this NFS is based upon well-guarded confidential processes and strategies, and multiple streams of revenue, which make it potentially the most valuable asset owned by a private entity. I need bold entreprenual types or teams to market the benefits of my NFS to one or more of the 165 Nations of the world as well as the largest and most important Non-Governmental Organizations, Multinational corporations, financial institutions, etc. Average sells will be in the $5-$10 million range, with larger clients/partners paying much more. Commission-only compensation. Accordingly, only those with the right connections, experience, mind-set, and financial resources needed to succeed, are encouraged to apply. If you wish to apply in confidence then indicate in your reply.

As a strategy to help protect the confidentiality of my New Financial System, you will be required to refer serious-minded persons who have close connections to potential client(s) to me, but ONLY after they have made a request for more details of my New Financial System directly to you. Knowledge of the processes and strategies of my New Financial System will not be revealed to you. Only referrals with a high potential of leading to a sale will be considered to be legitimate. I will maintain records of all legitimate referrals. I will pay fees based on legitimate referrals. I will pay commissions of $10,000-$1,000,000 for legitimate referral(s) leading to a successful sale. I will pay smaller commission amounts for legitimate referral(s) leading to preliminary sales. Preliminary sales are where potential clients pay for partially participating in one or more of the programs of my New Financial Systems.
If you are seeking a long-term professional relationship with me then do not submit illegitimate, scatter-shot referrals.

Presidential Communiqué

"Voice for Humanity" — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:23:45 EST

Thus far, the campaign events were about the developments leading to the victory of the Democratic candidate in a historic manner.

It is time to conclude the interesting, dramatic, challenging and the most exciting Presidential race with the honorable acknowledgements.

As stated in the earlier blog posts, my contribution to the Obama candidacy privately acknowledged throughout the campaign by President-elect Barack Obama.

President-elect Barack Obama never failed to express gratitude and deep appreciation of the hard work since my involvement in the campaign.

I received the genuine acknowledgment promptly after every primary race and the general election.

Here are the excerpts of some communication held following important moments of the campaign:

Prior to the acceptance of Democratic Nomination:

Obama for America

Invitation to join the election night:

From: Barack Obama

To: Padmini Arhant

Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 8:22:21 AM

Subject: Will you join me on Election Night?

Join Barack on Election Night
Padmini –

I want you to be there with me on Election Night when the results come in.

We’re planning a big event that will include tens of thousands of supporters in Grant Park in downtown Chicago.

We’re saving some of the best seats in the house for 5 people who have given to the campaign before — and who decide to make a donation one last time before Sunday at midnight.

You can bring a guest, and we’ll fly you in and put you up in a hotel for the night.

You’ll go backstage at the big event and — no matter what happens — you’ll have a front row seat to history as we celebrate the supporters who got us over the finish line.

Any donation counts — whatever you can afford. Show your support at this crucial time with a donation of $250 or more, and you could join me on Election Night:

https://donate.barackobama.com/frontrow

This movement for change has been a testament to the power of ordinary Americans coming together to achieve extraordinary things.

I look forward to having you there on Election Night.

Thank you,

Barack

————————————————–

My response to the invitation:

Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 3:40:21 PM PST

Dear Senator Obama,

I am honored and delighted to attend the historic night on November 4, 2008.

I predicted this night in my letter to Amy Goodman of Democracynow.org in mid-January 2008.

Some might say audacious while others, probably presumptuous!

I have absolutely no qualms about your victory on November 4, night.

Hope, you remember that I posted the blog "The Winner" on February 2, 2008 and took lot of heat from the critics during the Primary election.

However, this time I do not wish to spoil the surprise for many feeling nervous about the outcome.

Let me be the first one to congratulate you on your victory as the 44th President of the United States.

My heartfelt Congratulations to you ahead of time!

Best Wishes,

Padmini Arhant

Private and Intended for Addressee only please:
———————————————————

I could not attend the election night for reasons explained in the blog post - Transparency - Broken Promise.

——————————————————-

On the Historic Night, November 4, 2008 - As the results poured in, I received the following email from our President-elect Barack Obama:

From: Barack Obama

To: Padmini Arhant

Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 8:17:45 PM

Subject: How this happened

Padmini –

I’m about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.

We just made history.

And I don’t want you to forget how we did it.

You made history every single day during this campaign — every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it’s time for change.

I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign.

We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I’ll be in touch soon about what comes next.

But I want to be very clear about one thing…

All of this happened because of you.

Thank you,

Barack

—————————————-

Finally, I am profoundly thankful to President-elect Barack Obama for his kindness, understanding and greatness demonstrated throughout his communication with me.

It is just unfortunate that he could not express his true sentiments in public as stated in earlier blog posts.

It is truly an honor to be part of history.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Bail Out Package

Dennis from Angwin, CA — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:23:45 EST

Iʼm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a "We Deserve It Dividend".

To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonifide U.S. Citizens 18+.

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a "We Deserve It Dividend".

Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage, housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans, what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college, it'll be there
Save in a bank, create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car, create jobs
Invest in the market , capital drives growth
Pay for your parent's medical insurance, health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean, or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 (vote buy) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG liquidate it. Sell off its parts. Let American General go back to being American General. Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

Sure it's a crazy idea that can never work. Maybe???

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion "We Deserve It Dividend" more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .

And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Howard Dean Deserves A Lot of Credit -- And A Lot of Thanks

LauraT — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:44:00 EST

Gov. Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign started what Sen. Barack Obama and his campaign have now finished. Dean for America pioneered the idea of a broadly distributed, loosely organized campaign where individual groups around the country operated with autonomy. As importantly, and perhaps ultimately more importantly, the Internet was exploited as a campaign tool as never before.

Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy is being credited for playing a significant role in Barack Obama’s victory as well as Democratic success in Congressional races. And the social media tools and techniques pioneered by Dean’s team were perfected by Obama’s campaign.

Gov. Dean, you deserve a lot of credit for the Democratic victories yesterday. Thank you. My fellow Deaniacs: We ultimately did get our country back. Thank you.

You can read more about my experience as a Deaniac on my blog at lifeonq.com

Only the Beginning: Obama's Historic Victory and the Road Ahead

Mark C. Eades — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:38:34 EST

For Democrats, Barack Obama's stunning victory last night over John McCain brought a seemingly endless and often bitter presidential campaign battle to a welcome end. Obama's victory came as cause for relief and for celebration, as did Democratic gains in the Senate and the House of Representatives. When our first African American president takes office in January, Democrats will enjoy a position of authority in Washington we have not held since a brief period from 1992 to 1994. Many progressives are saying now that the era of conservative dominance in America beginning with the rise of the "New Right" in the 1970s and the Reagan victory in 1980 has now come at last to an end, that the long Republican nightmare is over, and I too am hopeful that this is so. While we celebrate and look ahead to the Obama Era, however, we should also remember that just as power can be won so it can also be lost, as it was in 1980, 1994, and 2000.

Each end is also a beginning; and so the end of Campaign 2008 and the end of Republican rule is also the beginning of something, but of what? Are we at the doorstep of a bold new progressive age that begins with Obama and extends into infinity, or of another brief Democratic reign to end again with a bitter Republican resurgence? Now that we have successfully driven the Republicans from power, how do we keep them from coming back, as we know we must if we are to avoid a repeat of the past eight years? A Republican resurgence would be a disaster, not only for Democrats and progressives, but for America and the world. The Karl Roves and Dick Cheneys of the world are not going anywhere. They will simply retreat to their think tanks and begin cooking up plans to retake power, just as they did during the Clinton years. Their success must be prevented by any and all means at our disposal.

While progressives will surely have a place at the table in the new administration, we cannot expect that the Left will or should dominate the Obama agenda at least in the near term. I would consider myself to be well on the Left of the Democratic Party, and I'm happy that progressives will have a voice in the new administration, but I feel pretty certain that Obama will have to govern more-or-less from the center if he is to avoid creating a whole new generation of "Reagan Democrats." I am hopeful that it may now be possible for progressives not simply to move the government to the left but to actually move the country to the left, and to create a new progressive America free of the politics of Reagan and Bush. In order for this to happen, however, Democrats in Washington will first have to prove themselves capable of governing the country effectively and satisfactorily in the eyes of their constituents. Once conservative-leaning, "soft" Democrats see that liberals aren't so bad after all, they will be much more likely to elect Democrats to Congress in 2010, to re-elect President Obama in 2012, to put another Democrat in the White House in 2016, and to listen to progressive ideas in the meantime with an open mind. While Democrats in Washington focus on effective governance, they and Democratic activists including us in the netroots must also focus on maintaining the gains we have made and on making further gains in election cycles to come. We cannot afford a repeat of 1980, 1994, or 2000.

Meanwhile, a whole new generation of first-time Democratic voters has been brought into the electorate, and this new Democratic base must be maintained and built at a grassroots level. Because of a far less reliable base of Democratic voters in previous elections, a hardcore Republican base of social conservatives, neo-cons, bigots, and xenophobes was allowed to dominate American politics for the better part of thirty years. This can never be allowed to happen again. Republicans who cannot be persuaded to go Democratic must be isolated and outvoted. In the immediate term, this means building a broad new Democratic base that includes centrists and even moderate conservatives in addition to progressives and the Left: not an easy task. The brilliant success of the Obama campaign in doing precisely that, however, can be credited in great part to Obama's experience as a community organizer in Chicago - experience that will serve the Democratic Party's organizing efforts well in the years to come.

Indeed if anyone is up the difficult tasks which surely lie ahead, I think it is our new president-elect. Throughout his campaign, he has shown himself to be a steady, focused, and disciplined political leader: not bad traits if one wishes to be an effective and successful president. More importantly, Obama possesses clear vision and a spirit of idealism that could not contrast more with the cynicism of the era that has just ended. He also possesses a strong, committed base of grassroots support that is ready for the battles to come. I for one look forward with hope and confidence to the road ahead.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

I's Over and NOW WE BEGIN - AGAIN!

Llenar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:16:17 EST

This is a copy of the e-mail from Doug Middleton. A guy I admire who was in the forefront yeas ago to help people get out of credit card debt for literally PENNIES on the dollar. He Welcomes Your Comments. E-mail HIM!

It's over.

John McCain went down to defeat today in what was an obvious, predictable loss.

Claiming to be a "maverick" while in reality being anything but, Senator McCain came across instead as alternatively a petulant child and an apologist for bankers that have robbed America blind for the previous six years. As one of the "Aye" voters both for the $700 billion robbery of taxpayer bill (an affront that Barack Obama shares) and the "bankruptcy reform" bill that put a noose around American's necks, he finally "got his" on the national political stage.

America spoke, and said not just "no", but "hell no."

Unlike when we spoke to you Senator McCain when you were voting for the bailout, this time you're obligated to listen.

Unfortunately the McCain campaign turned out to be nothing more than apologists for the liars, cheats and frauds.

I called this back in July, and there are times I hate being right.

This is one of them.

In reality there is nothing to like here in this election season. America's economy is headed for the hole in the center of the bowl no matter what we do, and the imperative now must be to guarantee that the bankers and fraudsters don't make off with any more of our money, to claw back what we can, and to protect the funding capacity of our government, not to protect bankers and attempt to do what is mathematically impossible.

I have only faint hope that President-elect Obama will accomplish any of that in his time as President, and even less faith that he will be able to interdict the present idiocy prior to his inauguration.

It takes a strong man to stand up to the banking interests that bribe everyone up and down Washington DC. President Obama is only 10% likely to do the right thing, a President McCain was 0% likely to do so.

I do see, however, two possibilities and no middle ground, which gives me some hope. One possibility is that President Obama will proceed to play "pigman handout-a-thon", in which case our nation is headed for an economic collapse that will make The Depression look like a cakewalk.

Should President Obama listen to such idiots as Ben Bernanke and Henry Paulson, this outcome is assured. Two years from now the Democratic Party will suffer the worst defeat in the history of the Republic, being mortally wounded and forever removed from American Politics. Four years from now President Obama will depart with his tail between his legs and head home to Chicago with a new middle name - "Hoover".

The depths to which American could sink under such a series of mistakes cannot be underestimated. It is entirely possible that a worst-case scenario could come to pass, including a political failure in our nation.

Barack Obama understands what this could mean, since he has ancestors who dealt with not being free men - and one hopes he is conscious of the risk that continuing down the "bailout path" brings in this regard. This risk cannot be overstated; it is REAL. Political and monetary failure, if it occurs, has an extremely high risk of leading to a form of government that is very different than our founding fathers intended, and none of us want to see.

The second possibility is that President Obama actually thinks on his own and comes to recognize that he's not a figurehead, nor is he a puppet of the bankers and fraudsters - that he was sent to Washington DC for a reason.

To imprison all the fraudsters both on Wall Street and Main Street, and recover every nickel possible from their ill-gotten gains for ordinary Americans.

To clean up American Finance and implement The Genesis Plan or something akin to it, forcing full transparency and limits on leverage throughout the financial system.

To tell The American People that no, you cannot have houses appreciate faster than incomes, that the maximum sustainable home price is 3.5x income, and that spending more than 36% of your pretax income on all your debt, housing included, is both unreasonable and unsafe, leaving you one minor household disaster away from bankruptcy.

This pronouncement, along with policies that encourage same, will lead to a rapid revaluation of home prices downward, and clear the market.

To tell The American People that "free trade" sounds fine in theory, but that as practiced over the last 20 years it has led to tremendous distortions in foreign exchange and interest rates, not to mention millions of Americans losing their jobs to overseas workers who aren't better at what they do - they are just cheaper, mostly because they are either coming from or still living in slave-like conditions. Perhaps President Obama will do something to correct that imbalance, although you can bet the "masters of American Capitalism" will scream loud and long about any such attempt.

To tell The American People that the age of bubblenomics is over - that one must earn enough money to buy what one wishes to purchase, and if you can't, then you're unable to afford it - and that this applies to government as well.

To tell The American People that an Obama Administation will not permit The Fed to print money, nor to monetize bad assets - whether they be fraudulent mortgages, bad credit card debt, upside down auto loans or anything else. That such bad debt must instead be forced to default, and those who wrote that paper must eat their loss, no matter how painful and whether or not it results in business failure.

Tough but necessary words - words that are exactly opposite that which President Bush uttered after 9/11.

This is the change that America voted for Senator, now President-Elect Obama.

Is this the change that we truly can believe in, or were those mere words in a Presidential campaign?

We shall soon find out.

Douglas Middleton

dmiddleton39@cox.net

I Voted for Barack Obama... My Commander-in-Chief

N. Julio Barthson - E-Campaign Leader — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:29:33 EST

I waited long for this day. I would have sold my life to the devil to live this moment. I voted for Barack Obama...

Stephen Views the News 11/01/08

Stephen from Elkins Park, PA — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:10:19 EDT

Stephen Views the News 11/1/08

http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/

Regardless of the outcome of the presidential election on Tuesday its close will be welcome. Presidential politics have been in the forefront for almost two years and in recent months the calls, the mailings, the emailings and the television and radio ads have become burdensome. At the same time, the number of voter registrations and anticipated voter turnout should be a high mark in our democratic tradition. There still are concerns about Republican attempts to disenfranchise voters not prone to the GOP and unreliable voting machines, but these potential disruptions can lead to systemic improvements if the activism seen in this election remains energized. Safeguards for voter rights and voting systems require an upgrade.

McCain and Obama continue to offer striking differences in content and demeanor. Obama concentrates on issues important to Americans. The McCain campaign concentrates on characterizing Obama as a Socialist, a Marxist and a supporter of terrorists. Perhaps Mr. McCain does not sufficiently believe in his own platform that he has to emphasize empty issues that lack gravitas. Obama’s tax plan, ideas for economic recovery, foreign policy strategies, energy solutions and prescriptions for health care inadequacies and inequities is what most of us care about. A poll on Thursday indicated that 59% of voters felt that Sarah Palin was not prepared to be Vice President. The Palin selection was emblematic of a McCain candidacy constructed to appeal to a narrow base and plagued by impetuous execution. The Palin nomination understandably brought into question McCain’s judgment and ability to make sound decisions. Questionable economic stances and neocon/myopic foreign policy have not added to his appeal or credibility. The John McCain candidacy has proven to be a disappointment for many Independents, Republicans and even Democrats who once admired the long-serving Arizona senator.

* Under the radar ~ Leadership and Organization – The polls indicate that McCain is still within striking distance to win this election. What the polls do not show is the comprehensive ground game that the Obama campaign has designed and implemented. The Obama campaign has established offices and built an army of volunteers across America that is beyond the scope of previous national campaigns. One aspect of this effort was registering voters and it did so in record numbers. The other aspect is directed toward voter turnout. This weekend millions of registered Democrats will be visited by Obama volunteers. They will be reminded to vote, provided with information about voting locations and hours of operation and offered rides to the polls where needed. On Election Day these same registered Democrats will again be reminded to vote and a huge number of legal experts will be deployed around the country to protect against voter intimidation and vote stealing. The Democratic Party will be far better prepared this year to deal with Republican shenanigans than it was in 2000 and 2004.

* McCain ~ Change you don’t want to believe in – The McCain-Palin campaign did not invent racism and hate in America. Evidence of these ugly facets of human behavior can be seen throughout American history. However, one would think that a national political party seeking election to the highest office would go way out of its way to avoid any taint of such negativity and divisiveness. John McCain proves this premise incorrect. A survey of news outlets and blogs provides numerous examples of increasing expressions of hate and meanness, racism and homophobia - a result of the pandering McCain/Republican political campaign. I lay responsibility for these cancerous expressions at the feet of Senator McCain and Governor Palin. Regardless of the outcome of this election their candidacy was a big step backward for American principles, a regression stained with shame that will not disappear like political lawn signs on November 5th.

* The Bush Effect ~ Lest we forget – President Bush is still in office and still intent on his damaging policies and reign of error. A Washington Post article on Friday provides the details. “The White House is working to enact a wide array of federal regulations, many of which would weaken government rules aimed at protecting consumers and the environment, before President Bush leaves office in January.” If there was not such a damaging track record by the Bush administration I would have thought the article was a Halloween trick. It reminds one of an April 1st fool: lift constraints on power plants, mines and farms; clear obstacles to some commercial ocean-fishing activities; ease controls on emissions of pollutants that contribute to global warming; relax drinking-water standards; and lift a key restriction on mountaintop coal mining – a type of mining that damages the environment and has destroyed communities.

* Karl Marx meets Grouch Marx – Representative Steve King (R-IA) tells an audience in Sioux City that Obama is even more extreme than a Socialist. With Obama America will wind up with a totalitarian dictatorship. And, bless his little heart, he informs the audience that only Republicans have a legitimate claim to representing freedom as America knows it. From the Farm Belt – it’s Saturday Nigh Live. If one does not laugh at this crap one would cry.

* Let freedom ring – My efforts and my vote support Barack Obama. A number of Republican/conservative friends have told me they will vote for John McCain. I am disappointed in their decision but understand that all of our votes are valid. When the election is over we will move forward together. One cannot ask for more in a democratic society.

* “Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.”

William E. Simon (1927 – 2000) 63rd U.S. Secretary of Treasury

We, the GLBT community, must ACT to bring the change that we desire

Madison Reed — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:19:58 EDT

Dear GLBT family,

Can you see the beautiful golden glow of the dawn of our community's first truly happy morning together, in celebration of our victory over centuries of lies, murder, oppression and inequalities against our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters by state and ecclessiastical authorities?

At first, I felt disappointment when it seemed that Barack hadn't clearly stated his committment to the restoration of the civil rights that gays and lesbians are guaranteed by our Constitution. But then, as I observed him, and then after he released his several clear messages to our community, I had hope for the first time in my life that my Sweetheart and I might be able to live together in the same country (in America) after Barack's elected president. My beloved Dzmitry lives a harsh existence in a small homophobic European country called Belarus. Discriminatory U.S. law doesn't recognize my family relationship with him, because we're of the same sex, so I cannot bring him here to live with me as I could easily do if I were heterosexual. I keep thinking about what President Lincoln did to end the disgraceful and embarrassing dehumanization of our black brothers and sisters. He set them free by executive order, justly reversing what probably hundreds of more years would not have done!

My discernment tells me that Barack Obama and Joe Biden have come at just the right time. They are the only two candidates who have specifically and clearly stated that they will use their influence to clear away the debris that is still denying us our Rights - barred by hateful crowds of religious fanatics who have infiltrated and hijacked our federal and state governments and are trampling us like we're filth! The GLBT community may be the key lever to alter America's course so that our country doesn't lapse into a modern Taliban-like theocracy that would be far worse for us. Have you listened to all of Barack's talks and speeches, read his book, and read between the lines of what he and Joe have been saying to us? I'm filled with so much hope, yet the happy expectation as I ponder the immensity of the opportunity before us, makes it difficult for me to receive the hope. But the sobering reality of another possible alternative future that could overtake our country instead of a future with Obama, causes me to get off my duff and do everything possible to get him and Joe elected. But the sobering reality of another possibIe alternative future that could overtake our country instead of a future with Obama, causes me to get off my duff and do everything possible to get him and Joe elected. We have two choices - two very different futures for America and for the GLBT community. Obama is a modern compassionate leader who shares our vision and who wants America to be a beacon of hope for all humanity.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden, with our support, will represent us, protect us, and reverse the damage that has been done to our community and country by both parties of the worn out old-world mentality. We can be certain of this, because we know who we are, and Barack and Joe have reached out to us, and we can get them elected. So we must work now, immediately to do everything to get them elected.

We're part of a new generation beginning a new millenium. We're stepping out of the old and embracing the new. We've left all the hate and division behind us. We know that we're all ONE! Our time has come. It is here now. The dark clouds are rolling away and the warm, happy sunshine of liberty and justice will rise from our Great Republic of America, from two compassionate, wonderful men who represent the best of our African and our European ancestors! All people is America need healing. We, the GLBT community MUST ACT and bring on the change! Go vote for Barack!

I love you all, and I love Barack and Joe for what they are doing for our country!

Madison Reed

Huntington, West Virginia

http://www.lotusopening.blogspot.com

Yes We Have, Yes We Did, And Yes We Can Again!

Sophia — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:50:57 EDT

Let me start off by saying — this is about us.

This campaign is not about Senator Barack Obama. This campaign is not about Senator John McCain. This campaign is not even about Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Joe Biden, or even Governor Sarah Palin.

No, this campaign is, has always been, and always will be about US.

This campaign is about us because whoever is chosen to be the next President of the United States of America is direct reflection upon us as American citizens, as a nation.

I say all of this to remind people that we are all a part of this choice, whether or not we vote in November 2008.

I want people to remember that it is sooo important to talk but it is much more important to take action. Action bodes movement in the direction that may actually end up in change that leaves an impact upon other people’s lives.

In light of the first debate between the two presidential nominees, I want to stress how important it is to take action right now, each and every single one of us.

I am an avid supporter of Senator Barack Obama, so the list of action points that I have listed below are to support Senator Barack Obama.

If you support Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic Party, or just are against a McCain-Palin administration and you are looking for some way to feel a part of making something happen, please read below. Thanks!

Be sure that you are registered to vote: http://www.voteforchange.com/index_obama.php

10 ways to get involved: http://obama.3cdn.net/56d7862be8e614eef6_b6m6bndg2.pdf

Spread the word about these ways to get involved or any others you come up with - we did it and we can do it again!!! We really can!

"Just keep swimming...just keep swimming!" - Dory

http://oshunlife7.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/yes-we-didand-yes-we-can-again/

Thomas Jefferson once said...

Daniel from Morristown, NJ — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:49:30 EDT

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have"

I consider Thomas Jefferson a very smart man. He is the founding father of the Democratic Party - the Democratic-Republican Party to be matter of fact, which later led to the modern day Democratic Party.

Why is there such differences today amongst our Democratic Party and Jefferson's version?

What's Right for Ohio

Michael in Ohio — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:48:36 EDT

The Ohio Democratic Party recently released a truly stunning advertisement that puts a visual on how eight years of failed Republican economic policies have wreaked havoc on Ohio workers and families. The facts are the following--under the Bush administration, Ohio has suffered:

1087 factories and companies shutting down
180,264 lost jobs

Those numbers are a bit hard to grasp, until you see the ad:

In addition, the helpful website www.McCainvsOhio.com is chock full of resources that detail how Senator McCain stands on the wrong side of the issues most important to Ohio, including:

The site features many videos, and the ability to write a letter to the editor.

Enraged by this ad and what you see on the website? Like this Toledo woman, are you wondering how someone who owns seven homes can be in touch with the struggles of normal Ohioans? You can write a letter through Barack's website too, on any number of issues that are important to you. Just click the button below.

Stop the Presses on the Straight Democratic Ticket Emails

LegalDiva — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:20:50 EDT

By now many of you have seen the email floating around, especially here in Texas about the horrors of voting "a straight democratic ticket" that results in Obama not being selected. Not only is this not true it has the adverse effect of deselecting Obama if you also vote for him within the list.

SPREAD THE WORD! EARLY VOTING STARTS MONDAY...IF THE OTHER EMAILS CONTINUES IT COULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO ALL OF OUR HARD WORK AND MONEY!!!!

The actual link to the story from Dallas Morning News can be found here for anyone wanting to verify its validity: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D93R2C780.html

OPERATION AMERICAN FREEDOM

Neil from Syosset, NY — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:46:44 EDT

Who remembers Operation Iraqi Freedom??? That's what Bush called the invasion of Iraq. He proclaimed his vision of a Middle east where despotic nations were replaced with Democratic governments. That phrase "operation Iraqi freedom" is never heard lately.
Maybe it confused republicans who thought he is a Democrat every time he states he wants to replace dictatorships with Democracies in the middle east.
Bush's policy would really get at the root of the Arab-Israeli conflict but it costs a lot of money to solve that problem. Clinton dropped bombs on Saddam Hussein every time he broke the peace agreement. A much cheaper approach to the problem that would have left Hussein in power in a starved and debilitated Iraq and much more money and more soldiers would have been available to fight Al Querida in Afghanistan and Pakistan. All of the people who went to pull out of Iraq too quickly forgot about the world trade center disaster. People are becoming so forgetful and so stupid, I wont be surprised if the entire chain of events that lead up to that disaster happens again. Since Palin's traitor husband is loyal to an independent nation of alaska and no to the United States, we cant count on the Palinists to stop terrorist incidents. The FBI will erase Highest priority terrorist warning messages again because the government is infiltrated with traitors that openly refuse to support the United States!!!! And that openly espouse hatred of our country.
So what will the fascistic mental cases do if they get power in the White House again. Bet they'll accidentally erase warning messages AGAIN and the hijacked airplanes will drop on the Pentagon again!!!! THAT HAPPENNED ON GEORGE BUSH'S WATCH!!!!!!! His FBI let that idiot go after he caused 3000 people in new york to be killed in the World trade Center Disaster!!!!!
A mistake anyone could make right? Wrong!!! The politician in the debates are so politically correct and they are taking so many pains to stop the dirty politics that was tearing America apart. That gives us hope they will turn the tide against fascism as Bush said explicit in a couple of speeches. One of these days their squeaky clean avoidance of "dirty politics" will filter down to the rest of society and we will put all the quislings and traitors that have damaged our homeland where they belong. They should start listening to the sane people or else we will be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Mistakes that killed people from all political parties and from all classes and all races.

Durham County Democrats Home Page

Kim in Durham — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:38:44 EDT

Obama supporters in Durham - have you been to the home page for the Durham County Democratic Party? It's a great resource to share information, news, and planning as well as to keep up with all of the downticket races in North Carolina. For instance, to help President Obama get things done next year, let's help give him a blue Senate by electing Kay Hagan to knock out the Bush crony Senator Dole. And we can't afford to take our eye off the ball on the Governor's mansion at the same time - we need to elect Bev Perdue to keep North Carolina moving in the right direction.

Sweet revenge for the Democrats

Daniel Baker — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:49:31 EDT

In 2004, George W. Bush did not run against John Kerry. He ran against Michael Moore. That would be the guy who looked at the pro-Saddam Iraqi insurgents who slaughter unemployed Iraqis and their children wholesale and saw Minutemen. The guy who openly entertained the idea that 9/11 was a U.S. government conspiracy, and who was and is unable to understand the U.S. economy in any other terms than a vast conspiracy of the rich, who somehow all work together harmoniously against the rest of us. John Kerry, who for all his faults was clearly the better candidate, didn't dare denounce Moore and his faction for fear of splitting the Democratic party, and that cost him the election.

The Democrats couldn't have dreamed up a better revenge scenario. For now, Barack Obama is not running against John McCain, but against that far weaker and more vulnerable candidate, George W. Bush. Obama's policy is complex and well thought-out, but his campaign is brutally simple: "McCain = Bush." Two nouns and one verb; that's as simple as it gets, and extremely effective when Bush has a 25% approval rating.

Parties matter

Daniel Baker — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:01:42 EDT

Many voters will tell you that they vote for the person, not the party. There are obvious, compelling reasons for thinking this way. Everybody except the most rabid partisan knows that there have been good and bad presidents from both parties. No thinking Democrat would say that President James Buchanan reflected any credit on the Democrats; every honest Republican will admit that Warren G. Harding was a black mark against the Republicans. Conversely, most Democrats admire Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, and all but the most fanatical Republicans concede the virtues of Democrat Harry Truman.

And yet, parties do matter. Tremendously. You can't predict what kind of president either John McCain or Barack Obama will be without considering the parties that nominate them, support them, and do 90% of the work to get them elected. Can you imagine John McCain picking Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential candidate if he were running on the Democratic side? Did Palin add any value to the McCain campaign at all besides invigorating the religious conservative base of McCain's party?

Encounter with Anti-Obama business owner

Erin, Democrat in Leander, TX — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:24:20 EDT

This morning my husband, a truck driver in 48 states, lost a load due to a business owner who was angry that my husband was wearing an "Obama '08" t-shirt. My husband's paycheck will be much smaller due to this incident.

My husband was in the process of being loaded at _________ Machinery in South El Monte, CA, when the owner of the business came out of the office screaming and cursing at my husband for wearing his "Obama '08" t-shirt. The owner made his employees remove the load from my husband's truck and told him to get the h#ll off his property. My husband called his trucking company and they said he has the right to wear the "Obama 08" shirt but that the business owner also has the right to refuse to load for any reason. They told my husband it is probably just as well because they guy sounded irrational and irratic.

Just one more reason we're voting for Obama.

COUNTDOWN TO HISTORY House Party, IT’S OUR TIME!!

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:33:30 EDT

CHANGE is but mere weeks away and a resounding Presidential victory within reach. Be a part of this historic once in-a-life-time election breaking new ground, new frontiers, and CHANGING the direction of LEADERSHIP in our country… for the good of all Americans. Join us as we drive to the finish line of Victory. Yes We Can and YES We Will. HOPE is on the way!

COUNTDOWN TO HISTORY HOUSE PARTY: IT’S OUR TIME!!

BRING IN THE VOTE FOR CHANGE

OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON YOU

OBAMA-BIDEN 2008

BRINGING HOPE & CHANGE TO AMERICA

MAKING REAL CHANGE HAPPEN WITH YOUR VOTE & SUPPORT

Saturday, October 11, 4-6PM

Chris and Gina Cargile’s house

12720 SW 116th Ave (near Walnut & 121st),Tigard, OR. 503-524-8506

This is a Potluck Party so bring your favorite hors' dourves, specialty dishes, desserts, and drinks.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO RSVP,

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gshyp5

Mapquest Directions link: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Tigard&state=OR&address=12720+SW+116th+Ave+&zipcode=97223

This is the BIG EVENT before NOVEMBER 4TH! Bring your passion, excitement, energy and enthusiasm. Featuring,

Ø Special guest speakers

Ø Real People Making a Difference in our community!

Ø Specific Actions to Help Bring in the Vote!

Ø Pick up Obama-Biden / Merkley lawn signs

This is a TigardObamanator Community Event

No Bailout For Wall Street

ProgressiveVoice — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:02:38 EDT

Senator Obama as a Progressive Democrat and a supporter of your campaign I am asking you to vote in the Senate No to Bailing out CEO's and the mis managed Comapies they ran on Wall Street.

700 Billion dollars could feed every man women and child in American Build new Alternative Energy homes and help people get back on their feet who are now without a home on Main Street America.

Senator and the Senators Campaign Staff please remember Change needs to be Progresive .

We can nolong rush to the aid of Big corperations that with this Bailout the CEO's will walk ways with Millions in their Pockets while people who are lower and Middle Class Working people get nothing.

During Tax season The government gave people back 600 dollars or more depending if they were married or single because of the Economy remember that.

Govenment gives American Main street 600 dollars but will give Wall Street 700 Million.

I see alot of rich people getting very rich on this Bailout.

Senator Obama you need to call for Public Hearings before any vote yes or no is done by congress or the Senator.

If McCain wants to Bailout the Wall Street Companies let him make that big mistake.

The American people must be heard in Washington and this weekend no one shoud support a

quick Bailout .

In the end its going to make the Economy worse then it is now.

The Democratic Party should truly stand with the American Working Class and against this Bailout .

Does anyone in the Obama Campaign hear me on this Blog ?

I speak for many Americans on Main Street.

This is just a bad idea .

Something yes needs to be done but this is insanity and not the solution.

Listen to the American people Senator on this no one wants this Bill passed .

Thanks for listening

Obama/Biden 08 Lets Change Washington Now

Transforming the Democratic Party

Wade Hudson — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:49:11 EDT

To “change the system” and “transform the world” as proposed by Barack Obama will require a massive, unified, grassroots movement that is joyous, democratic, inclusive, and mutually supportive. The energy gathering to elect Obama President needs to stay together after the election to implement the goals of the campaign.

To contribute to this effort, on Saturday, November 8, the Strategy Workshop will convene a “Post-Election Workshop” in San Francisco to discuss and evaluate specific possibilities for action and consider whether and how to act on them. If you can’t join us in San Francisco, you’re invited to convene a similar workshop in your region.

Whatever the outcome of the election, the wealthy elite will continue to exercise disproportionate influ-ence over Congress. Our social system will continue, first of all, to protect the wealth and power of the wealthy and powerful. To change these realities fundamentally, we must be the change we seek.

Senator Obama won the Debate

Claudine from Mount Holly, NJ — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:06:11 EDT

Once again we see why we have choosen Obama/Biden as our team. A man in a class by himself. It was great to see senator Obama up there tonight. He did very well and protrayed himself as the fine president he will be. I was not impressed with the BULLY MENTALITY of John McCain. He reminds me of a child in elementary school who likes to bully others and when someone decides to challenge him he huffs and he puffs and try to blow them down. But senator Obama stood his ground and once again came out smelling and looking presidential. John McShame could take some lesson from Senator Obama.

Keep on Canvassing...Register people to vote...then volunteer your time on November 4th and take someone to the polls to vote.

Debate Night!

LisaLi — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:33:11 EDT

Ok, I am sure there is going to be some mudslinging tonight! Look at those faces, making their points and standing their ground...

But... I have an alternate attitude... From my Friend Marty. Here is her email from the other day.

"In addition to participating in grassroots efforts (registering and phoning voters, etc.) and making financial contributions (if you can), repeat this affirmation: "President Obama, President Obama, President Obama". Say it every day. See him in the White House. See Michelle as our First Lady. Look at photos like the ones below to strengthen this vision. Don't strengthen the opponents by giving them undue attention. Shift your focus towards who and what we want, not towards what we don't want. "

Boy Does she ever have it right! Watch the debate tonight, but be sure to send as much positivity to the participants, the nation and the world that you can muster!

Enjoy the Adventure!

Here is a link to cnn and its coverage

Join Stitchers for Obama! or see some ASL American Sign Language Tees.

Granny Goes Viral - Viral Video, That Is!

Brady — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:36:18 EDT

Well - it's full steam ahead for my grandmother and her blog. She is consistently posting thoughts to her webiste at 85andchange.com, and her fan base keeps growing. She continues to receive great feedback from old and young. Everyone seems to be so appreciative that a senior citizen has spoken up and made it easier for other senior citizens to fall in line. As we saw in the numbers today - senior citizens are really starting to break for Barack Obama and Joe Biden! Others have said how they are so grateful that she has provided them a way to bridge a gap between grandparents and grandchildren and given them something to talk about with each other.

And if writing on her blog was not enough - she now has a video, too! You can find her video at her website (85andchange.com) or you can find it on You Tube! My smart, hip grandmother speaks up any chance she has and lets people know they are never to old - or young - for change!

Just this week, Granny Gobama met a couple influential people - Kathleen Kennedy Townsend & Alice Travis Germond - not to mention Heather Tom, as well! Meeting all of these women was a thrill for her. She found Kathleen Kennedy to be a thoughtful and inspiring speaker, and Alice Germond to be so enthusiastic and energetic.

Please take a moment to visit her site and pass the link on to anyone who may read (or watch) about why it is important for seniors, and everyone, to think long and hard about this important upcoming election - and why they should seriously consider voting for Barack Obama!

McCain Flip Flop Video Obama Campaign Please Look

ProgressiveVoice — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:34:01 EDT

Hi all,

Here is a video from Youtube that shows what a flipflopper McCain really is .

He says one thing and then another .

Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c

Obama/Biden 2008

MUST READING for the Obama Campaign

CumberlandGeorge — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:12:28 EDT

What Obama Needs to Do in the Final Sixty Days: Avoiding President Palin

by Drew Westen

This is MUST READING for Barack Obama, the Obama Campaign and all strategists and consultants advising the campaign.

Here, again, is the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/drew-westen/what-obama-needs-to-do-in_b_125051.html?view=print

Please, PLEASE, don't lose this election.

CumberlandGeorge

CNN Electoral map shows Obama gains two states!!!

Artrie — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:21:44 EDT

CNN: Electoral map alert: Obama picks up two states

Barack Obama may be inching closer to the magic number of 270 electoral votes necessary to win the White House, according to the most recent update to CNN’s electoral map.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/03/electoral-map-alert-obama-picks-up-two-states/

Legislative Experience: Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)

AuDayShus — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:17:15 EDT

Welcome to my blog for Senator Barack Obama. Many of us are familiar with our candidate's accomplishments. But then there are those who know the truth but choose to deliberately mislead the public. As if they didn't already know (they worked alongside him for years, for goodness sakes!), they endeavor to put questions out there to confuse constituents who do not have access to this knowlege.

So, I'll repeat one of their questions: What exactly has Senator Obama accomplished in the IL State Senate and during his tenure thus far in the US Senate? Detractors try to tell you dismissively that he's only good for a speech; detractors who have co-sponsored Bills with him in the US Senate.

Fighting back the knee-jerk response of calling them outright liars (in public), I decided to visit the Library of Congress website at http://thomas.loc.gov/ and search for all Bills and Amendments sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Obama. Take a look at the bulk of the Bills he has sponsored - Bills that have not yet been voted into law - and you will see some of what a President Obama has planned for education, veterans and military benefits, healthcare, the economy, the environment, foreign policy, energy, the reduction of poverty, and more. Note below, that as early as 2003 in the IL State Legislature, Obama supported preditory mortgage lending legislation aimed at averting home foreclosures. Soak it in. Judgment! Foresight! Bipartizanship! Accomplishment! Then laugh in their lying faces!

In addition to Bills sponsored in the US Senate, I also discoverd that there are several pieces of legislation, voted into law, that was sponsored by Senator Obama. Note too, I have grouped the Bills found on the Library of Congress website by category for easier perusal. There are over 100 Bills and Amendments sponsored by Senator Obama this past year alone; since his arrival in the US Senate, 4 Bills he sponsored or co-sponsored have been signed into law. The Library of Congress database only goes back to the beginning of 2007, and I do need to locate their archive for prior Bills. However, note that two of Senator Obama's Bills were passed into US law in 2006 - evidence that his work predates the current database entries. No "empty suit" here. Read on.

The Time Is Now

Naomi from Richland, WA — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:19:19 EDT

The passion of Barack Obama will sweep our country, the wonderful USA, to the level of respect we knew eight long years past. Thankfully my friends in other countries know that I did not elect the sick person that the Republican party put in power. Sadly the people who have made the laws were not even elected, they hung in there from the selfish Republican past. No doubt some will stick like burrs expecting to "serve" the new president. Obama will route them out, no matter how tanacious they are. If they manage to hang around very long they too will be elevated to human beings because they cannot help but absorb the compassion for others that Barack Obama has shown and is contagious to others.

The Democratic Party is the Party of the people. Too many people forget that Democratic ideals and promises built this nation with work and sweat and dreams. My precinct has many households where people do not bother to vote and know nothing of politics. It is not because they are stupid but very honestly, they do not use their powers of logic. They keep too busy to think.

It is no wonder. Human brains developed and expanded with the experiences and therefore by the thoughts put into them. Synapses and neurons flash around making erroneous connections to phrases and insights. Often so much so that we seek ways to dull our brains. But we're stuck with our brains and during the best possible evolution we will learn to use them. As you can see from the mess our country is in, we cannot wait for natural selection. The time is now.

We can understand Franklin D. Roosevelt's work programs, cling to Martin Luther King's dream and those are great foundations but we must listen to Barack Obama's passion for the future. More than that we must get everyone to vote. Get every eligible adult out to vote.

A Clintonite in Denver

Chinni — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:44:19 EDT

A Clintonite in Denver
By Howard Wolfson - Monday, September 1, 2008

For many of us who were part of the Clinton campaign, Sen. Barack Obama's appeal was something we understood only in the abstract -- data in polls, faces at a televised rally. Most of us never heard him speak in person. At work 14 hours a day in the war room, we focused on his perceived faults and deficiencies. Our time was spent sharpening and advancing arguments. Skepticism was critical to our efforts..
Many of us arrived in Denver reluctantly, feeling like uninvited guests at someone else's party. What the media described as division felt more like defeat. Michelle Obama and both Hillary and Bill Clinton did their part to change that during the Democratic National Convention's first days. Their speeches struck the right tones of unity, softening hearts made hard by months of fighting and appealing to our common values as Democrats and Americans. Then came Thursday night at Invesco Field. During the campaign, we scoffed at events like this, mostly because we were not capable of producing them..
In person, my attention undivided, I saw something of what so many others had seen for so long. Progress in America is never cheap, and even today history exacts a price for Obama's victory -- the dreams of electing the first female president, the dreams of so many who rushed toward Hillary Clinton on rope lines across America and refused to give up her hand and their hopes. Today these dreams are giving way to another kind of progress.
For me, the presidential campaign began in a crowded Iowa hall, where I saw a man my age lift up a daughter around my daughter's age and tell her that one day she could be president. Last week things came nearly full circle, when I saw another man my age lift up another child and say the very same thing.

You Can’t Be President: The Outrageous Barriers to Democracy in America

Chinni — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:34:41 EDT

Rick MacArthur: “You Can’t Be President: The Outrageous Barriers to Democracy in America”

As the Democratic National Convention begins in Denver, Democracy Now! speaks to Harper’s publisher Rick MacArthur on his new book You Can’t Be President. MacArthur says that the popular notion that any American can become president only reinforces the “destructive national delusion that widespread, up-from-the-ground, truly popular democracy, both political and economic, really exists in America.” To assume that, he says, is equal to believing that Santa Claus exists.

..The barriers to entry to politics in the United States are—the principal one is that you cannot raise money on the level of an incumbent congressman or an incumbent politician..
..he goes around saying he doesn’t take money from lobbyists. Well, it’s true that he doesn’t take money from registered lobbyists, but only a child or a naïf would think that corporate lawyers or Washington lawyers don’t lobby informally in front regulatory commissions and in front of members of Congress, and Obama has been all over the corporate law community..
..Howard Dean was, I think, a genuine and authentic independent. He was kind of a centrist or a liberal Republican, if you look at him on the ideological scale, but he was a real threat to the Democratic Party establishment, because he was able to raise so much money on the internet and from small contributors..
..And the Clintons had to stop this. And so, the faction around the Clintons that wanted Kerry to lose, because Kerry had to lose for Clinton to run in 2008, they organized a 527 group to hit Dean in Iowa, which has never been written enough about, and they raised money from all these Clinton loyalists..
..And this is something that you have to understand in order to understand why Barack Obama is so cautious. He doesn’t want to take on the central funding apparatus of the Democratic Party. He wants to take it over. He wants to take it away from the Clintons, and the Clintons are very, very unhappy..
..It’s not an ideological fight, it’s a fight over power. There is very little difference between Obama and Clinton on the big issues of the day. And the Clintons are still running. Hillary Clinton is hoping very much that Obama will lose and that she can present herself in 2012 on the “I told you so” ticket...
..There was a meeting up in Westchester just a month ago between Clinton fundraisers and Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chairman who’s working, I think—I don’t know if she’s finance chairman, but she’s very involved in raising money for McCain. Lynn Forester De Rothschild, she’s been quoted in the papers saying that she’s not happy with the Obama fundraising apparatus. It’s like two corporations trying to merge, and one of the corporations doesn’t really want to be taken over. The Clinton corporation is hoping, really, that the Obama corporation will bankrupt itself and fall apart and that they can resume their drive for power in four years..

To the Clinton Delegates: A Plea for Compromise

Shannon B. — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:01:56 EDT

Please, please, please, Clinton delegates--don't ruin this election for us. Only 2 Democratic nominees have won the presidency over the last 40 years--Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. This country is crumbling under the current Republican administration--not only because it's being headed by the worst president in American history, but because it's so mulish in the face of change. This country needs change, and it's going to take a Democratic president to implement it. Don't hold a grudge because Hillary did not win the nomination--she will have another chance, I can almost guarantee it. She needs this animosity between you all and the Obama camp to subside immediately in order to reconcile the rift in our party if we hope to reclaim the presidency at any point in the future.

This election may not come down to Republicans vs. Democrats. It appears to be boiling down to Republicans vs. Democrats vs. Democrats. Clearly, the Republicans have the statistical upper hand. We cannot allow this to continue. Not now. This is a pivotal point in American politics. The country is in the throes of a recession, of destructive and tyrannical social policy, of rising prices on nearly every front, of American families forced to choose among necessities like transportation, shelter, clothing, medical care, and feeding their families. We need to support Obama. All Democrats need to support Obama. This is not the time to make a passive-aggressive stand against him because you feel your candidate should have won the nomination. That could cost us the election. That could condemn us to another 4-8 years of miserable public policy, increasing poverty, needless warfare in the Middle East, the spiraling value of the dollar. Please, put aside the huffs and bruised egos regarding your loyalty to Clinton and help put this man, a staunch, progressive, and idealistic Democrat with a heart for change, the brains to do it, and the congeniality to negotiate the means honestly.

We need a unified party, Democrats. Please listen to Hillary, follow her example. She's casting her vote for Obama because she understands the necessity of unification. If you trust in her decisions as you so devoutly proclaim, listen to her. This is her way of securing the presidency for our party in the best possible way under the circumstances. Vote Obama on election day, even if you bite your tongue while doing so. It could make this America so much more of what we all hope it will be (and know it can be) for so many more Americans than you can imagine. We humbly plead for your support, and understand you aren't obligated to offer it simply because you're Democrats. We're hoping you'll offer it because you're Americans seeking positive change.

Obama Acceptance Speech Potluck Celebration, Tigard (Convention Watch Party)

BikerBamaMike — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:15:20 EDT

Rosa Colquitt is opening her home to join with others in celebrating Senator Barack Obama's Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech on Thursday evening, August 28th, 6:30 p.m. Delight us with your favorite side dish and/or dessert. Rosa will provide the main dish and beverages.

Live on a big screen TV, be "in the moment" at the Democratic National Convention and hear the message that will CHANGE A NATION. Join us to share this historic moment when Presidential Candidate Barack Obama moves one step closer to uniting America.

Please RSVP to confirm our count. http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpgfyk
We'll be sure to reserve a front row "luxury box seat" at Invesco Field for you, without standing in line and hassling with parking. :) Thanks in advance for sharing this historic evening with Friends of Obama and Biden.

We Are the Winds of Change and the Movement that Drives this Campaign!

John Nichols "Nation" Blog

Cactus Wren from Tucson — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:30:19 EDT

Moving Democrats Toward a Progressive Future posted by John Nichols on 08/24/2008 @ 12:37pm

Another place to keep in touch with the Progressive heart beat this week:

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/348132

John McCain's economic adviser called you a whiner!

human4us — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:43:30 EDT

Hello from Canada! Writer James Mullin wrote an important article on American Chronicle.com, which I believe will greatly help the Democratic Party. It is re-printed verbatim on this blog with full credit to James Mullin. Signed: Joseph Raglione Executive director, The World Humanitarian Peace and Ecology Movement. ------------------------------ " James Mullin August 25, 2008, McCain's Financial Guru, Phil Gramm, has been Wrecking the Economy for Years! Former Senator Phil Gramm is not just another Texas blow-hard with an abrasive personality. He's "John McCain's brain on economic matters", and it doesn't matter that he resigned as co-chairman of McCain's presidential campaign in July. He'll be back if the old "maverick" is elected, and he might even be our next Treasury Secretary! Gramm resigned in July after offering these words of consolation to Americans who have been suffering from foreclosures, job losses, high gas prices and rising food costs: "You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession" he told the Washington Times. "We have sort of become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline. We've never been more dominant; we've never had more natural advantages than we have today." Gramm didn't become that arrogant overnight. Back in 1996 he thought enough of himself to run for President, and John McCain was his campaign chairman! The night before he formally announced his candidacy, Gramm spoke to a glittering crowd in a Dallas hotel where he took in $4.1 million. That set a record for the largest amount raised in a single campaign event. He told the crowd: "Thanks to you, I have the most reliable friend you can have in American politics, and that's ready money." How inspirational! Gramm must have kept his light under a bushel on the campaign trail because he came in fifth on the Republican side of the Iowa Caucuses, and ended up with only one delegate to show for the $20 million he spent. In political terms, his "reliable friends" didn't amount to a bucket of warm spit! Even without becoming president, Gramm still inflicted terrible damage on the economy. In 1999, he happened to be Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee just when the finance, insurance, and real estate industries were spending $200 million lobbying Congress to deregulate the banks. They targeted their campaign contributions to the leaders of Congressional banking committees, and Phil was there. He introduced the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. When it became law, it repealed the Depression-era banking reform law called the Glass-Steagall Act. In the run-up to the stock market crash of 1929, bankers invested vigorously in the market, loaned money to speculators to invest, and even loaned their depositors' money to companies in which they were invested. When the market imploded, 11,000 banks failed, and millions of Americans went broke overnight. A lot of them blamed bankers. The Roosevelt Administration enacted the Glass-Steagall Act to create a firewall between commercial banks and investment (corporate securities) banks because the volatile mixture of the two helped fire the speculative frenzy in the stock markets. The Act also established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) which allowed ordinary Americans to put their money into accounts that were federally insured and detached from stock market risks. For many Americans, the Glass-Steagall Act was the New Deal. Seven decades later, Phil Gramm got rid of that banking reform law at the request of investment bankers, although the FDIC still exists. Phil took charge again in 2000. Congress was trying to pass a 10,000 page, $384 billion omnibus spending bill just before Christmas break, and Senator Gramm clandestinely slipped in a 262-page amendment entitled the Commodity Futures Modernization Act. (CFMA) The entire bill passed and was signed into law by lame-duck President Bill Clinton. The CFMA effectively made the market for exotic derivatives off-limits to regulatory agencies like the SEC. Two of these financial instruments, credit default swaps and collateralized debt obligations, led directly to the sub prime real estate debacle and the banking credit crisis of today. Phil Gramm´s legislation created a shadow banking system that operates outside any government oversight. Unfortunately, it leads to financial disasters that often require government (taxpayer) rescue in order to avert a national economic catastrophe. After all his hard work undermining the economy, Gramm left the Senate in 2003 and joined the Swiss banking firm, UBS. However, he remained in Washington,DC so he could lobby Congress, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department for more banking deregulation laws. Congress responded by passing the Responsible Lending Act, which consumer advocates called "The Loan Shark Protection Act" because it was designed to circumvent state laws against predatory lending. James K. Galbraith, a University of Texas economist, said: "Phil Gramm's career was as the most aggressive advocate of every predatory and rapacious element that the financial sector has. He's a sorcerer's apprentice of instability and disaster in the financial system." Yes, and he's John McCain's chief economic adviser! On August 8th 2008, Phil's firm, UBS, agreed, under duress, to buy back $18.6 billion in auction-rate securities from investors, and pay a fine of $150 million. Whatever for? The New York Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, said UBS had misled customers about the safety of the securities. That's putting it mildly. When the auction-rate securities market completely collapsed, UBS and other banks left investors holding the bag for billions in losses. Phil said he had nothing to do with that debacle, and, by the way, he was also "unaware" of UBS's $19 Billion in sub-prime mortgage losses! How much can a vice-chairman be expected to keep track of anyway? When Gramm was forced to step down as McCain campaign co-chair, he said: "It is clear to me that Democrats want to attack me rather than debate Senator McCain on important economic issues facing the country. Not true. Attacking Phil Gramm and his policies is debating the most important economic issues facing the country. And stop whining, Phil!"

1968 to 2008: We Must Not Screw This Up

Beth Arnold — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:10:19 EDT

Cross-posted at The Huffington Post. Comments not included here.

Forty years ago my family was taking its annual vacation, which in the summer of 1968 was a trip to the Democratic National Convention, where my father was an Arkansas delegate. We loaded up our station wagon, as we always did for our summer road trips across the USA, and my parents, Bill and Bobbye, drove us from Batesville, Arkansas to Chicago. Once there, we checked into the Palmer House, which we made our headquarters to enjoy the city, attend the convention, and stay out of the way of the violent clashes between protestors and police. Bill and Bobbye weren't going to let their children get close enough to get their heads bashed in. We were there to elect and support the next Democratic presidential nominee and have some fun.

We saw some action in Lincoln Park from the safety of our car. We once had to evacuate the hotel because of a stink bomb, but like everyone else across the country, we watched most of the juicy coverage on TV. I wore Hubert H. Humphrey paper dresses and boater hats and anything else the campaign was selling that was groovy and in. Humphrey was a progressive politician for his time, a great advocate of human and civil rights. I was proud to do it. He was my father's man.

I hope Hillary is VP or Obama will be doomed to disaster

Charlie from New York, NY — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:42:16 EDT

Hi All,

I have been called a troll in the past for expressing the idea of having Obama and Clinton together in one ticket. I bring the controversial subject back to the table because two recent polls show a decline in Senator Obama's popularity among registered voters.

I know for a fact that the Latino vote is in limbo. Hillary Clinton manages to do well with those people. Reports indicate that Obama will pick his VP on Saturday.

I support, respect and admire Obama but if Hillary is not on that ticket I WILL NOT VOTE in november.

I live in NYC and I know for a fact that Obama will loose the general election to McCain if Clinton is not chosen for VP.

Yes, I admit this sounds crazy. I might need to adjust my medications. Call me a troll, a traitor, whatever you want ( That is if you disagree with me ofcourse ).

But mark my words and mark them well. Hillary as VP or Obama will be doomed in the elections and we will end up with George Bush III in the White House.

If you don't believe me, save this post somewhere and come back to it on November 4, 2008.

America's Next Top Candidate

J.W. — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:03:39 EDT

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 America's Next Top Candidate
So by many accounts, we are anywhere from a few days to a just few hours away from finding out who Barack Obama’s running mate will be. We’ve been hearing so many names over the past several weeks, including those of Senator Joe Biden from Delaware, Kathy Sibilius from Kansas, John Kerry, our 2004 Presidential nominee, Al Gore, our nominee in 2000, and even Barack’s former (and sometimes current) rival Hillary Clinton. But my money is still on Evan Bayh from Indiana. Yes, I know the prediction that I shared with you a few weeks ago from the Huffington Post’s Bil Browning was wrong, but I still think Evan Bayh has a good shot. He’s young, he’s popular in the Midwest, he has some foreign policy experience, and he’s from a swing state that could go in Obama’s favor if he is on the ticket. For those reasons, he’s still my frontrunner.

My second choice would be Joe Biden, for the simple fact that he’s a good attack dog. Joe Biden doesn’t back down from anyone, and has the foreign policy experience to go up against McCain. (Note: Biden was the last person to meet with Barack before his week-long vacation in Hawaii last week and is currently meeting with Georgian President about the Russian-Georgian conflict).

Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia is, by most accounts, the third candidate in the running, but I don’t see him bringing much to the ticket, other than the ability to pull Virginia for the ticket on November. That has a good chance of happening anyway with Kaine and Senator Jim Webb being strong supporters of Barack already.

So, expect to hear who the next VP will be in the next couple days, and expect it to be either Bayh or Biden. I hope is that it’s Bayh, but I definitely wouldn’t be mad if it’s Biden.

Peace,
J.W.

P.U.M.A.

J.W. — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:01:54 EDT

Sunday, August 17, 2008

P.U.M.A.

These people are idiots!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUV8PZdizYE

Preventing Abortion

Barbara Rademacher — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:52:57 EDT

I like to think that our Northwest Arkansas Platform Meeting had an influence on the national Democratic Party.

I was delighted and surprised to discover that the national 2008 Democratic Party Platform will call for programs that reduce the need for abortion. That was a plank we recommended at our Platform Meeting held at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, AR on July 24. I had thought at the time we might be the only group in the nation recommending such an idea, but there must have been other groups who also believed that, while the Democratic Party supports a woman's right to choose, that does not mean it supports abortion. In fact, Barack made that clear at the Saddleback interviews.

Many southerners believe abortion is murder, as do many Republicans and Christians. The new abortion plank in the 2008 Democratic Party Platform should make members of those groups feel more comfortable voting for a Democrat.

VP Suggestion My Short List Senator

ProgressiveVoice — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:20:03 EDT

I believe Senator Obama should pick Gov.Bill Richardson or Gov Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas as his VP.

I believe Senator to be consistant with the ideas and values of a Change candidate in your best interests these two plus Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri these are my short list and top picks Senator.

No matter what others are advising you to do go within your heart and pick the real VP that you want not what the Party Machine wants you to pick.

We voted for you to change Washington please consider the Candidates on my list for your announcement this week.

We can win in November with a Progressive VP not and Insider.

A Women would bring a strong ticket to your final campaign before November .

Please consider this .

Thankyou Senator for listening,

I still believe in Yes We can and the Hope you have spoken throughout your campaign lets not give up on Change and Hope and the dreams of a better world.

It's His Party

Chinni — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:54:02 EDT

It's His Party

Dana Goldstein and Ezra Klein | August 18, 2008

..Most outsider candidates for the presidency recruit an outsider team to deliver it. Bill Clinton's main strategists in 1992 were the little-known Paul Begala and James Carville. His first chief of staff was Mack McLarty, a childhood friend who had risen to become chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party. It was a team untainted by Washington but also unschooled in how Washington worked. The Obama campaign and Senate staff, by contrast, are full of Daschle and Gephardt veterans--an unexpected rebirth of the power bases and reputations of two politicians who had long been written off..
..Before Clinton could build a new image of the party, however, he had to get elected. That meant not strengthening the party but holding it at arm's length, except as a useful vehicle for fundraising..
..In sharp contrast to the early 1990s, it is Republicans who now have a nominee best known for his apostasies against his own party. Democrats don't have to run from their party anymore. And so Obama hasn't. Rather, he has run against polarization, against legislative gridlock, against special interests. This is why he could bring the DNC to Chicago: The problem isn't Democrats. It's the atmosphere and working relationships that impede their work in Washington..
..His rhetoric has often signaled an appetite for compromise that has left some wondering about what, exactly, Obama's core policy commitments would be in office. But less attention was given to what Obama seemed to think would attract folks from across the aisle: real policy-making, which Obama's campaign believes requires a Democratic Party infrastructure strong enough to pass the president's priorities. In other words, strong parties aren't the problem; they're the solution. And now that he has one of his own, Obama is determined to prove it.

What's In Your Heart?

Nick Danger — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:39:14 EDT

Obama supporters come in all sizes and shapes, we like different types of foods and hold jobs and social standing in all sectors of society. As a Democrat and an Obama supporter there is one truth I hold in my heart and that is to use the party and Obama's candidacy to better the plight of mankind, starting right here in the USA! And I think we can agree that as Obama supporters we believe that all the people should be heard, not just those in the highest points of industry or those whose choice of religion or sexual orientation we agree with. And I believe that being an Obama supporter (and a Democrat) is not about filling your pockets with gold but to be able to look yourself in the mirror each and every morning with pride cause you believe in a better world for all people and you're ready to do something about it! What is in your heart?

Another reason not to believe Jerome Corsi: In March, he linked John McCain to Al Qaeda!

ificandream — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:49:22 EDT

First, let me say up front I am no fan of World Net Daily. It's a vehicle for continual Republican lies and smears of Democrats.

Well, WND may have just come up with the best reason to discredit Jerome Corsi's books of lies about Barack Obama.

It's here: http://wnd.com/index.php?pageId=57678

The headline reads: WND Exclusive ELECTION 2008
Group tied to al-Qaida backs McCain for prez.

Now I'm not going to feature any of it here. But is there any reason not to think this guy's book is not worth the paper it's printed on? I hope Republicans take a good look at what they've done.

Words Matter: Words used by Republicans to describe the Democratic Party

Food Fascist — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:50:40 EDT

per page 67 of Cracking the Code, by Thom Hartmann :Here’s the key message from Newt Gingrich’s 1996 memo (and later video) with the Orwellian title, “Language: A Key Mechanism of Control.”

Often we search hard for words to define our opponents. Sometimes we are hesitant to use contrast. Remember that creating a difference helps you. These are powerful words that can create a clear and easily understood contrast. Apply these to the opponent, their record, and their party.

The words that follow in Gingrich’s essay are designed to trigger the submodality filing system in our brains. They are all words heavy with emotion. the first set contains words Gringrich urged Republicans to use against their Democratic opponents:

decay, failure (fail), collapse(ing) deeper, crisis, urgent (cy), destructive, destroy, sick, pathetic, lie, liberal, they/ them, unionized, bureaucracy, “compassion” is not enough, betray, consequences, limit(s), shallow, traitors, sensationalists, endanger, coercion, hypocrisy, radical, threaten, devour, waste, corruption, incompetent, permissive attitude, destructive, impose, self-serving, greed, ideological, insecure, anti-issue, anti-flag, anti-family, anti-child, anti-jobs, pessimistic, excuses, intolerant, stagnation, welfare, corrupt, selfish, insensitive, status quo, mandate(s), taxes, spend(ing), abuse of power, machine, bosses, obsolete, criminal rights, red tape, and patronage.

So how can you take the image of the Democratic Party back?

Thom Hartmann is heard every morning on the internet at: Green 960 Radio at: www.green960.com or Think For Yourself Radio at http://www.krxa540.com/

Hartmann, Thom (2008). Cracking the Code. San Francisco. Berrett Koehler.p. 67-68.

Obama Acceptance Speech Potluck Celebration, Tigard (Convention Watch Party)

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:06:07 EDT

Rosa Colquitt is opening her home to join with others in celebrating Senator Barack Obama's Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech on Thursday evening, August 28th, 6:30 p.m.

Delight us with your favorite side dish and/or dessert. Rosa will provide the main dish and beverages.

Live on a big screen TV, be "in the moment" at the Democratic National Convention and hear the message that will CHANGE A NATION. Join us to share the historic moment when Presidential Candidate Barack Obama moves one step closer to uniting America.

Please RSVP to confirm our count. You'll be sure to get a front row "luxury viewing box seat" to Invesco Field, without standing in line and avoiding the congestion and traffic. :)

Thanks in advance for sharing this historic evening with Friends of Obama. We Are the Winds of Change and the Movement that Drives this Campaign!

Obama Acceptance Speech Potluck Celebration, Tigard (Convention Watch Party)

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:04:52 EDT

Rosa Colquitt is opening her home to join with others in celebrating Senator Barack Obama's Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech on Thursday evening, August 28th, 6:30 p.m.

Delight us with your favorite side dish and/or dessert. Rosa will provide the main dish and beverages.

Please RSVP to confirm our count. You'll be sure to get a front row "luxury viewing box seat" to Invesco Field, without standing in line and avoiding the congestion and traffic. :)

Thanks in advance for sharing this historic evening with Friends of Obama. We Are the Winds of Change and the Movement that Drives this Campaign!

Obama Acceptance Speech Potluck Celebration, Tigard (Convention Watch Party)

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:03:14 EDT

Rosa Colquitt is opening her home to join with others in celebrating Senator Barack Obama's Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech on Thursday evening, August 28th, 6:30 p.m.

Delight us with your favorite side dish and/or dessert. Rosa will provide the main dish and beverages.

Please RSVP to confirm our count. You'll be sure to get a front row "luxury viewing box seat" to Invesco Field, without standing in line and avoiding the congestion and traffic. :)

Thanks in advance for sharing this historic evening with Friends of Obama. We Are the Winds of Change and the Movement that Drives this Campaign!

Obama Acceptance Speech Potluck Celebration, Tigard (Convention Watch Party)

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Rosa Colquitt is opening her home to join with others in celebrating Senator Barack Obama's Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech on Thursday evening, August 28th, 6:30 p.m.

Delight us with your favorite side dish and/or dessert. Rosa will provide the main dish and beverages.

Please RSVP to confirm our count. You'll be sure to get a front row "luxury viewing box seat" to Invesco Field, without standing in line and avoiding the congestion and traffic. :)

Thanks in advance for sharing this historic evening with Friends of Obama. We Are the Winds of Change and the Movement that Drives this Campaign!

Obama Acceptance Speech Potluck Celebration, Tigard (Convention Watch Party)

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:30:23 EDT

Rosa Colquitt is opening her home to join with others in celebrating Senator Barack Obama's Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech on Thursday evening, August 28th, 6:30 p.m.

Delight us with your favorite side dish and/or dessert. Rosa will provide the main dish and beverages.

Please RSVP to confirm our count. You'll be sure to get a front row "luxury viewing box seat" to Invesco Field, without standing in line and avoiding the congestion and traffic. :)

Thanks in advance for sharing this historic evening with Friends of Obama. We Are the Winds of Change and the Movement that Drives this Campaign!

Kathleen Sebelius, Completing The Obama Puzzle

N. Julio Barthson - E-Campaign Leader — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:04:59 EDT

It won't be long before Barack Obama announces his VP choice. Kathleen Sebelius is still a top contender for the position...

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration * Meet the Candidates, Aug 17, Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:27:12 EDT

When a local mix of residents combine their grassroots passion with progressive ideas what do you get? A good old fashion picnic with a tried and true StarBucks concept, a PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates Event, SUNDAY, AUGUST 17th 2pm-7pm at Tualatin Community Park, Tualatin. It's an old fashion POTLUCK and it's BYOB - bring your own BBQ meats, beverages and beach chairs.

Congressional Senate Candidate, Jeff Merkley is a special guest and will talk one-on-one with picnickers as a key stop in the Tualatin/Tigard community part of his 100 Towns Tour for Change across Oregon. Tigard Representative, Larry Galizio is the key note speaker. Local candidates Jessica Adamson (Sherwood/ Wilsonville) and Jeff Barker (Aloha) will also join in the afternoon festivities.

The event following on the heels of the the Annual Tualatin Crawfish Festival a week prior serves up a fun relaxing afternoon with Obama and Democrat supporters from all over Washington County. Children will enjoy the new playground area with decorative gym climbs, and a scenic viewing area overlooking the beautiful Tualatin River. There will be face painting for kids, Obama Bubbles, and a friendly Pull 4 Obama TugO-War game for children and adults. Bring your Frisbees, play catch and throw the softball around the horn, serve it up on the tennis court, shoot three pointers on the basketball court, or bump it up with volleyball.

The main thrust of this event is to acquire new voter registrations in Washington County with a breakthrough concept modeled after drive through coffee stands... a Drive-Thu Voter Registration that can complete the entire sign up process in minutes with the assistance of capable volunteer registrars. The TigardObamanators, is a collective group of experienced and passionate volunteers with a "progressive" spin to traditional campaigning engaging their community to "connect" with neighbors and increase voter support and new registrations - particularly Latino voters in Washington County. This event paves the way to bolster Barack Obama's swelling support across Oregon and the rest of America in addition to key at stake Democratic positions nationwide.

Drive-Thru Voter Registration will be held from 12pm - 4pm. Picnic-goers can relax in the comfort and beauty of the park, enjoy a tasty smattering of potluck delights while having a close-up and personal conversation with local candidates. Here is what is on tap for the afternoon festivities:

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker, also Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville and Jeff Barker-Aloha.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators guest speakers: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT 08 LAWN SIGNS will be available at the TigardObamanators Booth. Supporters are encouraged to pick up their lawn signs, part of "Blanket Oregon with Obama" campaign. Obama T-shirts and bumper stickers will also be available for sale.

The community is invited to join in this special up close and personal event to meet the candidates and have fun with friends and family. Bring the whole family down for a nice relaxing summer picnic and remember to bring your camera to take pictures shaking hands with a cardboard real life replica of Presidential Candidate Barack Obama. This will be the closest you'll ever get to fist-bump with the the Democratic Presidential candidate!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44vrp

To volunteer and help with this event, email BikerBamaMike at: classicisland@yahoo.com, or call 503-522-1259.

Tualatin Community Park is located on SW Tualatin Rd and Boones Ferry Rd - downtown Tualatin 2 blocks north of Haagens Store and Tualatin Commons off of SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd. It sports a community skate rink, basketball and tennis courts, a baseball field and wonderful children's playground.
http://yellowpages.mapquest.com/search?query=tualatin+community+park&area=tualatin%2C+or+97062&invocationType=localTopBox.search

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration * Meet the Candidates, Aug 17, Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:26:25 EDT

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker, also Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville and Jeff Barker-Aloha.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators guest speakers: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44vrp

To volunteer and help with this event, email BikerBamaMike at: classicisland@yahoo.com, or call 503-522-1259.

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration * Meet the Candidates, Aug 17, Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:24:31 EDT

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker, also Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville and Jeff Barker-Aloha.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators guest speakers: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44vrp

To volunteer and help with this event, email BikerBamaMike at: classicisland@yahoo.com, or call 503-522-1259.

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration * Meet the Candidates, Aug 17, Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:22:38 EDT

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker, also Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville and Jeff Barker-Aloha.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators guest speakers: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44vrp

To volunteer and help with this event, email BikerBamaMike at: classicisland@yahoo.com, or call 503-522-1259.

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration * Meet the Candidates, Aug 17, Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:21:33 EDT

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker, also Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville and Jeff Barker-Aloha.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators guest speakers: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44vrp

To volunteer and help with this event, email BikerBamaMike at: classicisland@yahoo.com, or call 503-522-1259.

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration * Meet the Candidates, Aug 17, Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:10:07 EDT

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker, also Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville and Jeff Barker-Aloha.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators guest speakers: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44vrp

To volunteer and help with this event, email BikerBamaMike at: classicisland@yahoo.com, or call 503-522-1259.

GOP Registration Dropping, Democratic Increasing

Chris Blask — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:46:48 EDT

Crossposted at MyDD and DailyKOS

We are in the fourth year of an unprecedented change in political registration. Never before has there been as sustained a pattern of decrease in one party's registration and increase in the other's. Jennifer Steinhauer today in the New York Times discusses this significant trend.

PICNIC in the PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates, Aug 17 Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:36:43 EDT

The TigardObamanators combine a talented pool of progressive ideas in this unique first time ever,

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates EVENT

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17th 2pm-7pm at Tualatin Community Park.

Jeff Merkley is a special guest and will talk one-on-one with picknickers as a key stop in the Tualatin/Tigard community as part of his 100 Towns Tour for Change across Oregon. Merkley leads Gordon Smith in the latest poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports for the hotly contested US Senate seat while another internal poll shows Merkley surging ahead by 11 points among voters who could rate both candidates.

Rep. Larry Galizio (Tigard) is the key note speaker along with Lupita Maurer from WashCoDems tentatively committed. Local candidates Jeff Barker (Aloha), Jessica Adamson (Sherwood/ Wilsonville) and Ron Morgan, Field Organzier from WashCoDems will also be attending.

The event following on the heels of the the Annual Tualatin Crawfish Festival a week prior serves up a fun relaxing afternoon with Obama and Democrat supporters from all over Washington County. Children will enjoy the new sandpit playground with decorative gym climbs, and a scenic viewing area overlooking the beautiful Tualatin River. Bring your frisbees, play catch and throw the softball around the horn, serve it up on the tennis court, shoot three pointers on the basketball court, or bump it up with volleyball. It's an old fashion POTLUCK and it's BYOB - bring your own BBQ meats, beverages and beach chairs.

The main thrust of this event is to acquire new voter registrations in Washington County with a breakthrough concept modeled after drive through coffee stands... a Drive-Thu Voter Registration that can complete the entire sign up process in minutes with the assistance of capable volunteer registrars. The TigardObamanators in cooperation with WashCoDems have joined forces to increase Latino voter registrations in local communities and this event paves the way to bolster Barack Obama's swelling support across Oregon and the rest of America in addition to key at stake Democratic positions nationwide.

The Voter Registration drive is from 1-5pm. Picnic-goers can relax in the comfort and beauty of the park, enjoy a tasty smathering of potluck delights while having a close-up and personal conversation with local candidates. Here is what is on tap for the afternoon festivities:

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker. Also Lupita Maurer, WashCoDems Chair (tentative), Jeff Barker-Aloha, and Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators leaders: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT 08 LAWN SIGNS will be available at the TigardObamanators Booth. We're asking everyone to make a donation, pick up one, two or more signs and put it proudly in your lawn in full view. This will accomplish our goal to BLANKET OREGON WITH OBAMA CAMPAIGN. Imagine the impact when your neighbors drive down the street loaded with Obama for President Lawn signs all over the neighborhood. Let's all make it happen, pick up your OBAMA YARD SIGNS! Obama T-shirts and bumper stickers will also be available for sale.

Bring the whole family down for a nice relaxing summer picnic and don't forget your camera. You might get an opportunity to shake hands and have your picture taken with Barack Obama, not in the flesh, but a 6'1" cardboard real life likenss of the Leader of Change. This will be as close as you'll ever get to fist-bump with the real Mr. President!

To volunteer and help with this event, email BikerBamaMike at: classicisland@yahoo.com, or call 503-522-1259 . Now do us a big favor and email this link to all your Obama friends, Independents and yes even your Republican neighbors (you'll be surprised at the number of Republicans who have already crossed over!). http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44vrp

We invite all of you to join the ObamaTrain speeding full steam ahead to Washington D.C. Destination... The White House with Barack Obama as our next elected President and Leader of Change, Yes We CAN!

Tualatin Community Park Location: SW Tualatin Rd & Boones Ferry Rd - downtown Tualatin 2 blocks north of Haagens Store and Tualatin Commons off of SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd.
http://yellowpages.mapquest.com/search?query=tualatin+community+park&area=tualatin%2C+or+97062&invocationType=localTopBox.search

PICNIC in the PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates, Aug 17 Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:32:57 EDT

The TigardObamanators combine a talented pool of progressive ideas in this unique first time ever,

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates EVENT

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17th 2pm-7pm at Tualatin Community Park.

The event following on the heels of the the Annual Tualatin Crawfish Festival a week prior serves up a fun relaxing afternoon with Obama and Democrat supporters from all over Washington County. Children will enjoy the new sandpit playground with decorative gym climbs, and a scenic viewing area overlooking the beautiful Tualatin River. Bring your frisbees, play catch and throw the softball around the horn, serve it up on the tennis court, shoot three pointers on the basketball court, or bump it up with volleyball. It's an old fashion POTLUCK and it's BYOB - bring your own BBQ meats, beverages and beach chairs.

The main thrust of this event is to acquire new voter registrations in Washington County with a breakthrough concept modeled after drive through coffee stands... a Drive-Thu Voter Registration that can complete the entire sign up process in minutes with the assistance of capable volunteer registrars. The TigardObamanators in cooperation with WashCoDems have joined forces to increase Latino voter registrations in local communities and this event paves the way to bolster Barack Obama's swelling support across Oregon and the rest of America in addition to key at stake Democratic positions nationwide.

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker. Also Lupita Maurer, WashCoDems Chair (tentative), Jeff Barker-Aloha, and Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators leaders: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

PICNIC in the PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates, Aug 17 Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:31:33 EDT

The TigardObamanators combine a talented pool of progressive ideas in this unique first time ever,

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates EVENT

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17th 2pm-7pm at Tualatin Community Park.

The event following on the heels of the the Annual Tualatin Crawfish Festival a week prior serves up a fun relaxing afternoon with Obama and Democrat supporters from all over Washington County. Children will enjoy the new sandpit playground with decorative gym climbs, and a scenic viewing area overlooking the beautiful Tualatin River. Bring your frisbees, play catch and throw the softball around the horn, serve it up on the tennis court, shoot three pointers on the basketball court, or bump it up with volleyball. It's an old fashion POTLUCK and it's BYOB - bring your own BBQ meats, beverages and beach chairs.

The main thrust of this event is to acquire new voter registrations in Washington County with a breakthrough concept modeled after drive through coffee stands... a Drive-Thu Voter Registration that can complete the entire sign up process in minutes with the assistance of capable volunteer registrars. The TigardObamanators in cooperation with WashCoDems have joined forces to increase Latino voter registrations in local communities and this event paves the way to bolster Barack Obama's swelling support across Oregon and the rest of America in addition to key at stake Democratic positions nationwide.

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker. Also Lupita Maurer, WashCoDems Chair (tentative), Jeff Barker-Aloha, and Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators leaders: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

PICNIC in the PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates, Aug 17 Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:29:54 EDT

The TigardObamanators combine a talented pool of progressive ideas in this unique first time ever,

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates EVENT

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17th 2pm-7pm at Tualatin Community Park.

The event following on the heels of the the Annual Tualatin Crawfish Festival a week prior serves up a fun relaxing afternoon with Obama and Democrat supporters from all over Washington County. Children will enjoy the new sandpit playground with decorative gym climbs, and a scenic viewing area overlooking the beautiful Tualatin River. Bring your frisbees, play catch and throw the softball around the horn, serve it up on the tennis court, shoot three pointers on the basketball court, or bump it up with volleyball. It's an old fashion POTLUCK and it's BYOB - bring your own BBQ meats, beverages and beach chairs.

The main thrust of this event is to acquire new voter registrations in Washington County with a breakthrough concept modeled after drive through coffee stands... a Drive-Thu Voter Registration that can complete the entire sign up process in minutes with the assistance of capable volunteer registrars. The TigardObamanators in cooperation with WashCoDems have joined forces to increase Latino voter registrations in local communities and this event paves the way to bolster Barack Obama's swelling support across Oregon and the rest of America in addition to key at stake Democratic positions nationwide.

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker. Also Lupita Maurer, WashCoDems Chair (tentative), Jeff Barker-Aloha, and Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators leaders: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

PICNIC in the PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates, Aug 17 Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:28:17 EDT

The TigardObamanators combine a talented pool of progressive ideas in this unique first time ever,

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates EVENT

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17th 2pm-7pm at Tualatin Community Park.

The event following on the heels of the the Annual Tualatin Crawfish Festival a week prior serves up a fun relaxing afternoon with Obama and Democrat supporters from all over Washington County. Children will enjoy the new sandpit playground with decorative gym climbs, and a scenic viewing area overlooking the beautiful Tualatin River. Bring your frisbees, play catch and throw the softball around the horn, serve it up on the tennis court, shoot three pointers on the basketball court, or bump it up with volleyball. It's an old fashion POTLUCK and it's BYOB - bring your own BBQ meats, beverages and beach chairs.

The main thrust of this event is to acquire new voter registrations in Washington County with a breakthrough concept modeled after drive through coffee stands... a Drive-Thu Voter Registration that can complete the entire sign up process in minutes with the assistance of capable volunteer registrars. The TigardObamanators in cooperation with WashCoDems have joined forces to increase Latino voter registrations in local communities and this event paves the way to bolster Barack Obama's swelling support across Oregon and the rest of America in addition to key at stake Democratic positions nationwide.

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker. Also Lupita Maurer, WashCoDems Chair (tentative), Jeff Barker-Aloha, and Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators leaders: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

PICNIC in the PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates, Aug 17 Tualatin

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:14:28 EDT

The TigardObamanators combine a talented pool of progressive ideas in this unique first time ever,

PICNIC IN THE PARK Drive-Thru Voter Registration & Meet The Candidates EVENT

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17th 2pm-7pm at Tualatin Community Park.

The event following on the heels of the the Annual Tualatin Crawfish Festival a week prior serves up a fun relaxing afternoon with Obama and Democrat supporters from all over Washington County. Children will enjoy the new sandpit playground with decorative gym climbs, and a scenic viewing area overlooking the beautiful Tualatin River. Bring your frisbees, play catch and throw the softball around the horn, serve it up on the tennis court, shoot three pointers on the basketball court, or bump it up with volleyball. It's an old fashion POTLUCK and it's BYOB - bring your own BBQ meats, beverages and beach chairs.

The main thrust of this event is to acquire new voter registrations in Washington County with a breakthrough concept modeled after drive through coffee stands... a Drive-Thu Voter Registration that can complete the entire sign up process in minutes with the assistance of capable volunteer registrars. The TigardObamanators in cooperation with WashCoDems have joined forces to increase Latino voter registrations in local communities and this event paves the way to bolster Barack Obama's swelling support across Oregon and the rest of America in addition to key at stake Democratic positions nationwide.

2PM "One-on-One" with Jeff Merkley, US Senate Candidate

4:30PM Larry Galizio, House Rep-Tigard Key note speaker. Also Lupita Maurer, WashCoDems Chair (tentative), Jeff Barker-Aloha, and Jessica Adamson-Sherwood/Wilsonville.

"A Progressive Approach to Grassroots Change", Gary Lee Jelinek. TigardObamanators leaders: Tommy Thorne, Rosa Colquitt, Joe Santana, Julie Toth and Karl Thatcher.

To volunteer and help with this event, email BikerBamaMike at: classicisland@yahoo.com, or call 503-522-1259 . Now do us a big favor and email this link to all your Obama friends, Independents and yes even your Republican neighbors (you'll be surprised at the number of Republicans who have already crossed over!). http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44vrp

Savvy Singles Soiree, Don't Miss This Sparkling Social Event!

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:05:41 EDT

What do you get when you assemble people who are passionate for a CHANGE in their lives, are SINGLE, and just happen to have something in common with a handsome, charismatic, undeniably intelligent, charming and beholden with that special midas touch....Barack Obama?

A SAVVY SINGLES SOIREE, it's a unique social get together of people with so much in common looking for an opportunity to mingle with other Smart, Sexy and Savvy Singles over 40, to talk, socialize and have fun in a cozy and comfortable environment. Sharpen your social skills and be prepared to put your best YOU forward with a genuine personality and warm SMILE! Let the Law of Attraction do the rest...

RSVP today by clicking on this link. Don't wait, take the plunge and do it now. You'll be happy you did.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/443gw

Savvy Singles Soiree, Don't Miss This Sparkling Social Event!

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:04:29 EDT

RSVP today by clicking on this link. Don't wait, take the plunge and do it now. You'll be happy you did.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/443gw

Savvy Singles Soiree, Don't Miss This Sparkling Social Event!

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:03:17 EDT

RSVP today by clicking on this link. Don't wait, take the plunge and do it now. You'll be happy you did.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/443gw

Savvy Singles Soiree, Don't Miss This Sparkling Social Event!

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:01:52 EDT

RSVP today by clicking on this link. Don't wait, take the plunge and do it now. You'll be happy you did.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/443gw

Savvy Singles Soiree, Don't Miss This Sparkling Social Event!

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:59:57 EDT

RSVP today by clicking on this link. Don't wait, take the plunge and do it now. You'll be happy you did.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/443gw

Savvy Singles Soiree, Don't Miss This Sparkling Social Event!

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:40:27 EDT

RSVP today by clicking on this link. Don't wait, take the plunge and do it now. You'll be happy you did.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/443gw

Stategist versus Tactician

Lorrie — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:51:55 EDT

I've noticed surveys that say John McCain is the person who would be the better Commander-In-Chief! Ha! I think people don't understand what it takes to be a Commander-In-Chief! Being Commander-In-Chief is the difference between being a strategist or a tactician, it is that simple. Maybe people don't understand this difference. They may think that all it takes is to have your mind set on an idea, then go for it, even if you have to be a bully about it. This bully attitude is the kind of thinking our current administration has and it hasn't ever worked for eight years. Electing someone else just like them would be a disaster for our country and the world! Educating yourself regarding these differences is very important in this election.

Senator Obama is qualified to be a Commander-In-Chief because he is a strategist and a leader. My husband, a former Vietnam Veteran and Republican, has been telling me what it takes to be a strategist in the military and why a tactician doesn't qualify one to be Commander-In-Chief. A strategist has the plan, the vision, to do the things at the right time at the right place. In thinking about a strategy, you may want to liken it to a game of golf, because the strategy is to know which direction and how far you need to move the ball down the fareway. You need to know how to move the ball down the fareway in the right direction in order to knock the ball into the hole.

The pre-requisite of being Commander-In-Chief is knowing strategy, not tactics, and Senator Obama is a strategist. A leader doesn't question another man's patriotism as his theme to get elected. He wouldn't advocate that all the other nations are always wrong. A leader would talk about diplomacy and strategy.

Senator McCain is a tactician... that doesn't qualify him to be a Commander-In-Chief. These are the goals of a tactician:

1. Keep your head down.

2. Keep your eye on the ball.

3. Follow through.

4. Stay the course.

Tacticians are like supervisors on the shop floor who do their job well. But they don't have the right experience of planning and strategy and vision to take the whole company forward. This means they aren't qualified to become President (CEO) of the company. That's why General Wesley Clark has said that just being a pilot and getting shot down over Vietnam doesn't qualify Senator McCain as Commander-In-Chief. No one is questioning McCain's patriotism, like McCain questions Senator Obama's patriotism, we are, though, questioning his lack of experience in strategy. If that shop floor supervisor, from my previous example, attempted to lead the company by staying the course, he/she may very well lead that company down the cliff!

Senator Obama is a strategist and Senator McCain is a tactician. Our country needs a strategist in this new century of fighting terrorism and not a person who seems immature in their thinking. We need a critical thinker like Senator Obama who has been raised in other countries and has seen what it is like among the poorer nations. He has seen that education is the key in these places so children won't grow up to be terrorists.

My mom, who is 79 years old, likens Senator Obama to President Roosevelt who was very knowledgeable about the world and led our country while in a wheelchair. He led our country through a world war and economic crisis. My husband says that Senator Obama reminds him of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King (the recent Berlin speech), and Ronald Reagan, all rolled into one! America needs a leader with all these attributes!

Our country, and the world, is in grave danger now. We can't afford a President who doesn't remember the facts, makes the facts up if he forgets, doesn't know what country is where, etc. We need a REAL and RIGHT leader named Senator Barack Obama!

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:30:11 EDT

This is a Strategic Planning and Organization Meeting of our key leaders, trainers and volunteers at the grassroots level. Bring your passion, drive and "progressive ideas". click here to RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44psm We're building an Army of Movers and Shakers in Washington County to MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN and elect Barack Obama as our next President! Be an important part of history in the making. We have something for each of you whether you're battle-tested or a newbie to the Obama campaign. That's how important we believe YOU are. Mark this Date on your calendar: Wednesday, July 23rd, 7PM Joe Santana's house, 14656 SW Rask Terrace, and Bull Mountain Road in Tigard. Look for the American flag in front of the house. click here to RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44psm Agenda: Campaign Strategy/Overview Goal, Voter Contact Building OUR Volunteer Base, TigardObamanators (TOB)Organization - Michael "BikerBamaMike", Training - Laura Fisher Team, Strategy Discussion "Progressive ideas" - Gary Lee Jelinek. Upcoming Events and activities and more!
LOCKING and LOADING OBAMA VOTES TODAY! Commitment to the Cause = Taking Action NOW! Contact: Michael "BikerMamaMike" classicisland@yahoo.com, 503-522-1259 http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/TigardObamanators click here to RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44psm
Time: Wednesday, July 23 at 7:00 PM Duration: 2 hours Host: Michael "BikerBamaMike" Crabbe Location: Joe Santana's house (Tigard, OR) 14656 SW Rask Terrace, & Bull Mountain Road
Tigard, OR 97224

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:30:11 EDT

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:30:11 EDT

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:30:11 EDT

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:30:11 EDT

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

BikerBamaMike — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:30:11 EDT

Platform Meeting results, Part II

Mary Antonelli — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:16:39 EDT

Here are the results of our Listening to America platform meeting held at Borders Books, in Rancho Mirage, CA on July 19th.

Thank you to everyone who was able to make it. Here is what I submitted:

1) We must shift direction from fighting a war in Iraq to fighting the terrorists where they actually are.

2) The resulting savings in dollars will be used to fund needed domestic programs that have been neglected, e.g. healthcare-Medicare and Medicaid, infrastructure- our highways and bridges; education-No Child Left Behind; energy-leaving foreign oil behind and the economy at large.

3) Restoration of Habeas Corpus and the Constitution.

4) Reducing our national debt is essential to restoring our economy and our standing in the international community. We must become fiscally responsible and do what is necessary to balance our budget while maintaining our ability to field our troops, take care of our veterans and help our citizens in need.

5) Higher Education must be made more affordable for students who wish to attend college. Students who are attending school should not be saddled with 40,000.00 to 180,000.00 in student loan debt upon graduation.

6) We must work with our allies and improve our international standing by building a coalition to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is necessary to normalize relations with our neighbors in Cuba, Central America and South America.

7) We must make it easier for those who have emigrated legally and are following our laws to extend their visas, renew their green cards and pursue citizenship without outrageous expense and constantly changing regulations.

8) We must end cheap labor and exploitation of illegal immigrants by enforcing the laws already on the books and penalizing employers who hire workers who are breaking the law by entering the United States illegally.

9) We must end tax breaks for corporations which outsource American jobs to other countries, rebuild our manufacturing base and reduce unemployment by creating more jobs in the manufacturing, technical and research sectors.

A program similar to the Apollo program for developing solar, wind, and nuclear fusion as energy sources will go far in accomplishing these goals.

10) Most of all, we must end our dependence on foreign oil. This is essential to maintaining our national security. Tightening our border and port security and maintaining control of them will go far towards increasing the security of our sovereign nation.

We also decided that the 2004 platform was too long. We need a platform detailing what the Democratic Party will do for the United States, focusing on Domestic issues instead of foreign, in 10 pages or less.

Also, I had a personal question that I submitted: Why are we spending so much on aid to foreign nations when we are so badly in debt that we cannot afford services for our citizens?

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

BikerBamaMike — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:33:41 EDT

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

TO CELEBRATE CHANGE... YES WE CAN, YES WE WILL

The general public is invited to attend the GRAND OPENING FESTIVITES at the new Obama Campaign Washington County office this THURSDAY, JULY 24TH. Come one come all, bring your friends, family and all Obama supporters to join in the celebration beginning at 7pm.

The new office is at 14025 Farmington Road, Beaverton, OR 97005-2313.

Here is the mapquest location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Beaverton&state=OR&address=+14025+Farmington+Rd

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

Please join us on Sunday, to help set up the office, hang posters, and invite people to the Thursday Grand Opening. Bring your cell phone and some friends with you to join in the fun. Meet new friends and feed on the energy with passionate people for CHANGE... and a new direction for America.

If you cannot make it, no problem, call Alejandro Hoekstra, WashCounty Field Organizer at (503) 753-3775 to pick up call lists to invite people on Thursday. We want 100's of people on the ObamaNetwork calling friends and family on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Beaverton office or calling from the comfort of your home. Again, if you need call lists, Alejandro will get them to you.

CALL AND INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND JOIN US AT THE GRAND OEPENING ON THURSDAY

* * * YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE W I L L * * *

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

BikerBamaMike — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:32:31 EDT

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

TO CELEBRATE CHANGE... YES WE CAN, YES WE WILL

The new office is at 14025 Farmington Road, Beaverton, OR 97005-2313.

Here is the mapquest location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Beaverton&state=OR&address=+14025+Farmington+Rd

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

CALL AND INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND JOIN US AT THE GRAND OEPENING ON THURSDAY

* * * YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE W I L L * * *

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

BikerBamaMike — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:31:36 EDT

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

TO CELEBRATE CHANGE... YES WE CAN, YES WE WILL

The new office is at 14025 Farmington Road, Beaverton, OR 97005-2313.

Here is the mapquest location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Beaverton&state=OR&address=+14025+Farmington+Rd

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

CALL AND INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND JOIN US AT THE GRAND OEPENING ON THURSDAY

* * * YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE W I L L * * *

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

BikerBamaMike — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:30:00 EDT

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

TO CELEBRATE CHANGE... YES WE CAN, YES WE WILL

The new office is at 14025 Farmington Road, Beaverton, OR 97005-2313.

Here is the mapquest location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Beaverton&state=OR&address=+14025+Farmington+Rd

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

CALL AND INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND JOIN US AT THE GRAND OEPENING ON THURSDAY

* * * YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE W I L L * * *

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

BikerBamaMike — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:28:22 EDT

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

TO CELEBRATE CHANGE... YES WE CAN, YES WE WILL

The new office is at 14025 Farmington Road, Beaverton, OR 97005-2313.

Here is the mapquest location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Beaverton&state=OR&address=+14025+Farmington+Rd

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

CALL AND INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND JOIN US AT THE GRAND OEPENING ON THURSDAY

* * * YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE W I L L * * *

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

BikerBamaMike — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:24:57 EDT

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

TO CELEBRATE CHANGE... YES WE CAN, YES WE WILL

The new office is at 14025 Farmington Road, Beaverton, OR 97005-2313.

Here is the mapquest location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Beaverton&state=OR&address=+14025+Farmington+Rd

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

CALL AND INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND JOIN US AT THE GRAND OEPENING ON THURSDAY

* * * YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE W I L L * * *

IMMEDIATE HELP Needed to Set Up New Washington County Beaverton Office

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:25:16 EDT

BREAKING NEWS: Washington County Obama Campaign secures new offices in Beaverton. Immediate HELP Needed to Set Up Office!

The address is: 14025 Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR

Here is the mapquest location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Beaverton&state=OR&address=+14025+Farmington+Rd

We have a HOME, yeah! However there is much work that needs to be done and we NEED your HELP URGENTLY!

Calling the Obama calvary...What do you need you ask? How Can I help? What What What???

First, review the NEEDS WISH LIST below. Our first priority is LASER Printers with their corresponding TONER CARTRIDGES. Next, desk, chairs and shelves; and a large refrigerator in excellent condition should be sufficient for the office needs. Also at the top of the list is rolls of butcher paper, and red, white and blue poster paints to make many, many posters! We'll take any custom or homemade Obama posters that we can hang on the wall, too.

Starting today, Friday, here is where you can help (and spread the word out to the Oregon Obama community). We need lots of volunteers to help set up and organize the office, everything from cleaning, setting up desks, filing cabinets, shelves and office furniture. Getting computers online, organizing and stocking the office, kitchen and maintenance supplies, in addition to a supply/storage room, even making posters.

We will accept any and all donations or contributions, bring in whatever you have on hand especially office supplies. Again, refer to the Needs Wish List below! Someone will be at the office to accept donations everyday from 10am-9pm.

As a reminder as well, if you're able to, make it a point to bring along lots of SNACKS, FOOD, and BEVERAGES to feed our hard working volunteers, fellows and Field Leaders every time you come to the Obama office. They will appreciate it very very much!

Finally we’ll need many, many volunteers to make phone calls starting Sunday to get the word out about the new office. We'll concentrate on outfitting the office with everything we need and get the word out to our network of supporters throughout Washington County and city of Portland.

Spread the word by email, text message, cell phone, YouTubeVideo, or blog. We're back in business Obama peeps, we're taking it to the streets and we're not stopping until we get BARACK OBAMA in the White House right! That means we get it together, UNITE FOR CHANGE and elect Barack Obama as OUR next U.S. President!
CHANGE WE CAN...YES WE CAN... YES WE WILL because it will be OUR VICTORY TOGETHER!

BikerBamaMike, TigardObamanators OAT Leader for Alexjandro Hoekstra

Needs Wish list for the

Washington County Obama '08 Campaign office:

14025 Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR

Business Equipment

LASER printers only, please NO INK JET printers/computer paper/
extension cords/telephones/desks/chairs/shelves/office furniture -- filing cabinets

Appliance

a good large sized refrigerator/micro wave/toaster/tables of varying size/free standing and desk lamps/

Office & Operations Supplies/Equipment

manila envelopes/standard and legal envelopes/file dividers/felt tip pens/electric pencil sharpener/8x11 and legal note pads/post-it notes/scratch paper & pads/scotch tape/wide mailing tape for boxes/tape dispenser/tape gun/staples and staplers/various sizes of paper clips/hi-lighters in all colors/ruler/desk dividers/containers of various sizes for storing phone banking data/butcher paper for sign making/paints/paint brushes/dual purpose hand truck-cart/ladder/step stool/waste baskets/dry erase boards/dry erase pens/postage stamps

Kitchen Supplies

paper towels/napkins/med and large zip lock bags/standard and large coffee-makers/coffee/cream/ sugar/ceramic cups/glasses/dinner plates/plastic ware-forks,spoons,knives/flatware/a few bowls/Tupperware and plastic containers/dish towels/food items/snacks/healthy juice/cases of water/coffee filters/scrub sponges

Office Staff Operational Needs
pre-paid cell phones, Starbucks cards, grocery and restaurant cards...our volunteers work long hours-9 to 9, make little money and are far from home...let's try to treat them well... a home cooked meal /good healthy take out meals/ a gift card for a local spa or gym world be a real treat

the use of a truck...on call. Please leave your name and contact number with Alex.

OBAMA Campaign Material

Obama posters, buttons, yard signs, bumper stickers...

Maintenance & Cleaning

broom/heavy duty vacuum/garbage bags/windex glass cleaner/ dishwashing soap/hand soap/toilet paper/air freshener/toilet disinfectant/ toilet bowl cleaner spray/409 Cleaner or Lysol cleaner spray/

Alejandro Hoekstra | Field Organizer | new phone number: (503) 753-3775