Posts with the tag action

You Are Bringing About Historic Change

V, aka VCubed/Virginia V — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:52:39 EDT

Summer's gone, school's back in. Holidays are around the bend. Yet change is on its inexorable path, waiting for no one. You've made an enormous impact, and the finish line for one historic change, health care reform, is in sight! Can you help make it the change you want to see?

You've all made thousands of calls, gotten your neighbors to sign tens of thousands declarations, you've sent thousands of emails. What did you achieve? For one, Sen. Maria Cantwell went from "no comment" on the public option, to public support for the public option. Sen. Patty Murray and many of our Representatives are also on board. Four of five committees have voted on a bill - and that has never, ever happened before.

Do you want to make sure they stand strong? The biggest hurdle is right up ahead. We expect the final of five committees, the Finance Committee, to vote on Tuesday. It could take a little longer - that seems to happen pretty often, right? But next is the full Senate and full House, then they have to reconcile their bills, then it's the final vote to send it to President Obama to sign.

You can imagine the bill you want will be signed. Go ahead. Imagine.

Boston Health Care Rally - Labor Day

Nicole LaChapelle — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:03:24 EDT

Our efforts for health care reform become even more crucial as Congress returns to Washington for one of the most important debates of our time. Organizing for America hopes that you will step up now, more than ever, to help ensure that meaningful healthcare reform becomes a reality THIS YEAR.
Boston has been selected as one of only five cities in the country where large rallies in support of healthcare reform will be held on Labor Day. We have all seen that even here in Massachusetts, the voices of healthcare reform supporters have often not been heard over the shouts of those who insist on spreading lies. On Monday, September 7, we have a chance to make it clear that supporters far outnumber those who oppose reform. But sending this message will take everyone pitching in.
We need your help in building the largest crowd we can on Labor Day. Here's what we need you to do:
Attached is a basic flyer about the event, along with a two-per-page flyer with a powerful quote from Sen. Kennedy at the top. We need you to send the rally flyer to your friends, family, colleagues and any other lists you are part of. We need you to let people know about the rally by phone, by email, and face to face. We need you to hand out flyers at events. We need you to host or attend phone banks where we'll be calling supporters to urge them attend the rally (go to http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/search_simple to find existing phone banks). We need you to ask organizations you're affiliated with to spread the word. We need you to come up with other great ideas for getting the word out, and to make those ideas happen.
Also, a powerful way to honor the memory of Senator Ted Kennedy would be to hand out flyers tomorrow morning along the motorcade route to the funeral, encouraging people to help fulfill his dream of universal health care by attending the rally. See below for details.
Lastly, please join Facebook's OFA-MA page at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54456812450&ref=search&sid=840333765.2028880808..1, then click on the Rally event link in Recent News, and click on "Share" to send the event to everyone you know and to post it to your profile.
If you are able to help in any way to get people to the Labor Day Rally, please reply to this email right away (the rally is only 10 days from now, so time is of the essence). Someone will follow up with you within a couple days, and we will help you with additional turnout ideas, if you need them.

Details about the Labor Day Rally: Location: Park Square, at the intersection of Arlington St., Columbus Ave. and Stuart St., near the Arlington T stop. Time: 11am-1pmAgenda: While all the details have not been finalized, we know the following: The entire Mass. Congressional delegation has been invited. Rep. Mike Capuano has confirmed, and we expect at least 2 or 3 more members of congress to be there as well. Mayor Menino has also committed to attend. We expect to have no more than 4 or 5 total speakers. There will likely be one policy expert speaking about the importance of health care reform, and a couple of people giving their personal health care stories. There will be a tribute to Senator Kennedy. There will be musical entertainment. And there will be a send-off for the members of congress who are there, in which we will deliver to them thousands of declarations in support of health care reform. To this end, please download the declaration form at http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/OFA_HC_declaration.pdf, and collect as many names as you can between now and then. We will be collecting these at the rally, in order to deliver to the delegation. The rally will end with a march from Park Square to Copley Square. To Sign Up: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/letsgetitdonehealthinsurancereformnowevents/gpk4cl

Thank you for all your hard work and consideration of these requests,

Nicole LaChapelle
Organizing for America - Massachusetts, Volunteer

Into Action

Kristy from Los Angeles, CA — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:23:52 EDT

Hello all - Since I'm unemployed at the moment, I thought it might be wise to do something productive with my time, like support Obama's healthcare plan. I am in favor of a public option. I've never had health insurance in my entire adult life, so the idea of a public option really excites me, and I will be gravely disappointed if it passes without. I'm getting older and the idea of going without healthcare is bordering stupidity. But the costs are so high, it is impossible for me. I can barely afford the prescription I fill every month. I also work freelance jobs, so getting insurance through a company is not an option for me. So, I'm getting involved, learning more about the plan and trying to volunteer some of my time to see that our Congress passes some reasonable legislation - with a public option for those like me, who have never been able to afford health insurance. Would love to hear thoughts from others about your experiences. I know you're out there! Let's make our voices heard - just like we did in this past election! Let's make our voices heard about this important and defining issue of our time!

Introduction!

Jesse — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:34:30 EDT

Hello, all, and welcome to my first OFA blog! My name is Jesse, and I work for the State of Alaska as an Office Assistant. I'm 26, a father, veteran, and a college student, now, as well! Very excited about that, getting my degree, finally, after being deployed twice.

But, enough about me. I've been following the health care debate intently, and it's annoying to listen to our elected (and recently resigned...ugh) officials at "health care town halls" where they do nothing but bash Obama. It's much easier than actually doing something to help those you represent, right, Sen. Murkowski? Easier than coming up with an alternative. If his plan is so awful, what have you got? Of course, they have nothing, which is why we only see negativity and attacks. If they ceased that, they would have nothing at all left to say. My hope is that we can organize here, and press them to cease this cynical "slash and burn" politics. If we let them continue, no one will win, because the only plan they've advanced is continuing the status quo (and their huge campaign contributions from corportate donors and interest groups).

So, my question is, readers, where are our efforts going? Do we have any efforts? I believe we should get a call operation going, a letter writing (handwritten, can't say that's astroturfed!) campaign, something! This issue is too important to cede to lie filled tv ads, politicans more concerned with their coffers than their constitutents, and insurance groups willing to do or say anything to preserve their profits. I feel awful just sitting here doing nothing, because "we're in a red state" or "They're Republicans, they won't listen to me about this." No excuse will hold up for me if I have to look in my son's eyes 10 years from now and explain why he can't be saved because Daddy isn't rich enough to afford his co-pay, or deductible, or premiums, or one of a hundred other things the insurance companies use to make sure they pay as little as possible for the care you supposedly "purchased" through them.

I know every single person that reads this either has some skin in this game, or has someone close to them who's been affected by our current for-profit system. I want to be able to say "Yes, I was there, fighting for what was right!" not "Well, it didn't look like we could do it, so I didn't try...sorry..." People have died because of our current system. More will die if we don't do something about it. We're closer now to real reform than ever before, to make a system where America leads in more than just costs. We have the most expensive care in the world, but 37th in overall health, 25th in wait time (except for that cash cow, cosmetic surgery) and this is just unacceptable! We've got insurance bureaucrats between us and our doctors, not to mention that they only make money when they make sure you DON'T GET CARE! Rationing for profit, and this is the "choice" that the other party wants us to have?

Bullshit. I won't be offered up by a cynical bought off party so some fat cat industry can continue making their 400% increases in profits at the expense of the sick and hurt. I won't stand by and listen to the lies about "rationing" while they deny 18 year olds cancer treatment until it's too late to save them.

What they don't want you to know is that we're winning. That's why the attacks have become so brazen, so filled with mis-information. The truth is on our side, and that scares them witless. We're closer to real, substantiative reform than ever before, and I want to be part of that final push to make this real. We can save lives, people. We can put money back into businesses, into Americans' wallets, instead of into the insurance industries coffers, where they'll happily spend 1.4 million dollars A DAY (yes, a day!) to kill reform, but not to save a person's life. We have the drive, we have the ability. LET'S SHOW THEM WHAT WE CAN DO!!!!

Howard Dean threatened with death, Nazi Symbol outside Town Hall: Can we please start organizing a national march or sit in...

Varun from Berkeley, CA — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:09:52 EDT

The Right Wingers are resulting to threats/violence and hate...We need to take charge and not stand there shocked....Take action....Yes, they are winning the attention war....We are losing the facts war because the legends that the RNC spins have become fact.....Thus, the myths become facts

Nazi Symbol AP News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090811/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_protests

Lou Dobbs threatens Dean:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/11/dobbs-apologizes-for-sayi_n_256728.html

I fear where this is going.....we need to stand up....National day of support....contact me people

varun22@yahoo.com

Health Care Reform

wtrwmn44 — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:07:44 EDT

What are Harry Reid and the US Senate thinking? Delay of the Senate vote is a big disappointment, and significantly risking NOT getting this crucial job done at all. Democratic leaders need to STAND UP, at least on this issue.

If we can't do this now, then our democracy really has been bought and/or bullied by corporate America and the mean-spirited, small-minded, not-very-bright Republican base.

I have no job and no money (except limited SS funds for rent and health insurance!). I cannot even afford two of my non-generic prescriptions, and will be visiting a food bank next week. Thus, I cannot afford contributions or memberships in advocacy groups that care about ME (e.g., Common Cause, Move On, Obama's sites, etc.), as much as I would like to do so.

But I just printed out a call list from this Obama site (http://my.barackobama.com/page/community), and I will will be calling every name on it by the 8/6 deadline. And I have emailed Common Cause and Move On, entreating them to give us po' folks some can-do-from-home tasks to help. And I have emailed a list of legislators, urging them to help get cost-contained health-care reform (WITH a real public option) passed in both houses by August, or now at least by December; see "extended blog" below for a list based on one from Kaiser's Capital Hill Watch at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=57496 .

We have to do something. Please join me!

Health Care Reform Information

RFD-Denver,Co — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:26:12 EDT

Please read through the following page about President Obama's Health Care Action Center:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/health-care-action-center/?source=feature

On this site you can read through President Obama's main reasons for reform, watch the numerous videos available, and stay connected on current and future health care events. I strongly urge every one to pledge your support for Obama's agenda, take a few minutes to tell your health care story--even if you, personally, do not have a story, odds are you know someone who does. Share. Connect. Educate.

In addition, to sharing your personal story, please sign up to participate in a local event for the National Health Care Day of Service, on June 27th, 2009. There are many events in our area, that do not require much or any of your time, and all those who will benefit from your effort are tremendously grateful.

This is a critical tool Organizing for America has to connect with the general public and your participation is always greatly appreciated!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional places to read the facts about Health Care reform, please visit:

www.healthreform.gov

This is a great site to read about many national initiatives, watch pertinent videos about the needs for reform, current news in health care reform, organized reports on specific areas, and other excellant resources to become/continue to be informed with the correct information about the need for real health care reform. There is a lot of false or misleading information bombarding the general public about health care reform, and it is so crucial for people to take it upon themselves to look at all the facts and make independant decisions.

*This is a non-partisan site developed and managed by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services.*

If you are not the reading-type, please watch this PBS Frontline Documentary: "Sick Around America":

http://www.pbs.org/video/video/1099857730

It is about an hour long, but even if you only watch a little bit, it is still an in-depth look into America's current health care situation and why it should be reformed.

Uryahav

Unknown user — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:44:03 EDT

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Rally for Real Health Care Reform: Saturday April 18 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Seminarians for Change — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:31:28 EDT

Join Seminarians for Change as we support Citizen Action of Illinois at a Rally for Real Health Care Reform!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptw2s

RALLY FOR REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM
Saturday, April 18, 2009
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
St. Augustine College
1345 W. Argyle Street
Chicago, IL 60640

(Just Northeast of Clark Street and Lawrence Avenue/Argyle Redline Stop)

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptw2s

Representative Schakowsky will be there to help us in our rally call for quality and affordable health care!

You Should Attend This Health Care Rally If You Want:

Comprehensive Benefits
Choice of private or public health insurance plan
Affordable Coverage
Equal Access to Quality Care

If 55 people or more sign up and commit to attending the rally, we will sponsor a bus from Hyde Park to St. Augustine. So please help us get the word out and let's rally together for health care reform! Let's fill the bus!

To sign up for the event, visit:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptw2s

To learn more about Citizen Action of Illinois visit: www.hcanil.org

To learn more about partnering with Sems4Change to host a community outreach, email wmiddleton@ctschicago.edu

See you at the rally!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptw2s

Waltrina N. Middleton
Seminarians for Change
Chicago, IL

Direct email to the HHS/Obama Administration!

Jason M. Christos — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:24:21 EDT

I have found the Government Comment email address for the Conscience Clause. LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL... but please be courteous! :) proposedrescission@hhs.gov

View related blog entry:

You have strong convictions, but President Obama says that doesn’t matter.

Future Nurses Send Obama a Message

Jason M. Christos — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:14:21 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXUMLQE9x3Q

View related Blog entry:

You have strong convictions, but President Obama says that doesn’t matter. By Jason M. Christos - Mar 18th, 2009 at 7:50 pm EDT

You have strong convictions, but President Obama says that doesn’t matter.

Jason M. Christos — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:50:21 EDT

Remember above all this is an issue of protecting the rights of doctors against discrimination based on moral convictions. In violation of federal labor laws. It is not so much an issue of abortion or religion. However closely related lets stick to the issue.

You have strong convictions, but President Obama says that doesn’t matter. He’s ready to rescind the Conscience Clause.

The Conscience Clause was implemented by former President George W. Bush to give physicians and nurses the choice to act according to their conscience — to not participate in abortion procedures if it conflicts with their personal convictions. If President Obama makes this damaging move, if he reverses the Conscience Clause, pro-life doctors and nurses will be forced into performing abortion procedures, despite their individual beliefs... more

Let's Go To Work: Local Plan of Action for Stimulus Package

Seminarians for Change — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:49:48 EDT

It's time for us to go to work!

Your leadership team has worked hard to think through the concerns of those who attended our first gathering in November. The majority said they want action and not just another town hall meeting. We heard you and we invite you to join us at two upcoming plan of action forums.

Saturday, March 28 and Saturday, April 25.

March 28: Local Plan of Action for Stimulus Package, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

April 25: Local Plan of Action on Health Care, Time TBA. Updates on this event forthcoming.

We have invited expert panelists who will inform us on these issues and how we are impacted on a local level. The panelists will invite questions from the group and we will go into break out sessions to develop a plan of action on the topics of health care, energy, environment, and employment.

The action plans developed will be implemented with the support of the group. We need your passion, creativity, wisdom, and your experience to carry out the work at hand.

Seminarians for Change will also be actively involved with Organizing for America, inviting other organizations around Chicago and Illinois to help us, partner with us as we do the same for them.

The bottom line is, this is your organization and your community.

We're ready to go to work and we need you!

YES WE DID... AND WE STILL CAN...

Rose Marie Hall — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:32:43 EST

Well, we got him elected and he was not only ready on "Day One," but, in action unprecedented, by beginning to set up his cabinet, etc. almost immediately. Awesome. He has kept us informed as he said he would, got a economic package up and passed in record time and doing his best to be bi-partisan. All of this and more while mourning for the loss of his beloved grandmother.

I hope everyone will be fair and give him a decent amount of time to prove himself. Remember, he is doing his best, within the laws of the consitution, to clean up the mess that was left behind. He still needs our help to organize and to put together action events throughout Iowa to help him and our communities nationwide.

The National Admin of the grassroots Community Action Network is a way we can keep supporting him and helping ourselves in the process.

If you live in Iowa please go to this site:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/IowaCAN

For further information click on 'Read More...'

Congratulations President Obama and may the Lord bless you with wisdom and justice and help you remain true to your course even when you have opposition.

Obama's Speech to Joint Session of Congress

Megan Kaminski, Intern NY 21 — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:53:10 EST

Hey, So I had time to fully digest Obama's amazing speech on Tuesday night. I know it has been a long time since I posted anything; Obama has once again inspired me to action. Since he was inaugurated, I have had a renewed energy to work towards a better county. I have been doing 3 things.1. I have been working with MoveOn.org for green energy legislation. We are meeting with Rep. Paul Tonko tomorrow to discuss clean energy bills.2. I have become an Admin for the NewYork.CAN group along with my good friend Satwant Dhillion. We have a meeting this Monday March 2nd 8PM at the Albany County Community Public Library. It is an open meeting and everyone is welcome. Feel free to give me a call 518.322.6353 if you have any questions.3. Lastly and arguably most important is the Scott Murphy for congress campaign. Scott is running for the 20st congressional district in New York State; he is trying to fill the seat vacated by Senator Gillibrand. Check him out at: www.scottmurphy09.com or call his glen's fall office at 518.761.2009.Alright, I should get to Obama's speech. I cried some small tears of joy. After the speech, I started bragging to my friends and family about how I voted and campaigned for him. There were so many good points he made but I want to talk about the shocking and very surprising.The speech's high point for me was when the president called out the agriculture industry. He stood up to big Ag companies and called on congress to stop subsidizing them. At which my father and I dropped our jaws. Also, he delineated clear ambitious goals. Doubter might say that it is impossible and ridiculous to set these goals. I believe that set these goals forces us to try harder and maybe get further on the path to healthcare reform than we otherwise would. For example, say you are in a difficult class, if you strive for an A even though it might not be possible. You may end up with a B for your effort. So even if we don't Obama's goals during his first or second (fingers crossed) term, we may get a foundation for the future on healthcare, green energy, education, etc.Alright, I have rambled on long enough. If you would like to add a comment to my post; it would make me feel good to know some read this. Have an amazing day, Megan

ACTION ALERT

Dimples02 — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:48:02 EST

Action Alert - Stop Worker Abuse

In its final days, the Bush administration gave a gift to U.S. corporations by rewriting little-known rules that allow them to "import" foreign workers to fill jobs here.

Bush's changes make it even more attractive for businesses to hire foreign guestworkers — undercutting wages, opportunities and working conditions for all workers. This is especially troubling in today's economy.

These changes shred the few protections for H-2B guestworkers. And they're already taking a toll. Just last week, an appellate court in New Orleans cited the new regulations when ruling that an employer did not have to reimburse guestworkers for thousands of dollars in fees they paid to obtain low-wage, temporary jobs.

Foreign guestworkers don't have the same protections as U.S. workers, so they are vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers. In fact, they are routinely cheated out of their wages, and some are treated as modern-day slaves.

This abuse must stop!

We're working through the courts to stop the exploitation of guestworkers. But we need broader reforms that can only come from the federal government.

Please contact President Obama today and urge him to overturn the Bush rules and reform this program from top to bottom.

White House website
Suggested message:
President Obama, please rewrite the rules for the H-2B guestworker program. This fundamentally flawed program results in the systematic exploitation of workers and gives incentives to U.S. businesses to bring in vulnerable foreign workers, undercutting wages, opportunities and working conditions for all workers.

Thank you for support,
The Southern Poverty Law Center

Acting Upon The Stimulus Package Reconciliation

Paul Armstrong — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:27:44 EST

Currently, the stimulus package is being reconciled by a committee appointed
from the House and Senate.

This committee is made up of 10 members and in order to get metric into the
package we need to contact them before the bill is reintroduced into the house.

The best way to do this is a personal phone call followed by a fax or email.
Please do this as soon as you can and pass this note on to your friends and
family.

Here's the contact details:

House:
David Obey (D-WI)
Phone: +1 (202) 225-3365
Web Form: http://www.obey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=637&Itemid=187

Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Phone: +1 (202) 225-4365
Fax: +1 (202) 225-0816
Web Form(*): http://www.house.gov/rangel/contact.shtml

Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Phone: +1 (202) 225-3976
Fax: +1 (202) 225-4099
Web Form(*): http://www.henrywaxman.house.gov/contact.htm

Dave Camp (R-MI)
Phone: +1 (202) 225-3561
Fax: +1 (202) 225-9679
Web Form(*): http://camp.house.gov/WriteRep.aspx

Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Phone: +1 (202) 225-5861
Fax: +1 (202) 225-6498
Web Form: http://www.house.gov/jerrylewis/IMA/WritetoRepresentativeLewis.htm

Senate:

Harry Reid (D-NV)
Phone: +1 (202) 224-3542
Fax: +1 (202) 224-7327
Web Form: http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Max Baucus (D-MT)
Phone: +1 (202) 224-2651
Fax: +1 (202) 224-9412
Web Form: http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue

Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Phone: +1 (202) 224-3934
Fax: +1 (202) 224-6747
Web Form: http://inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html

Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Phone: +1 (202) 224-5054
Web Form: http://cochran.senate.gov/contact.htm

Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Phone: +1 (202) 224-3744
Web Form: http://grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm

A * indicates email is only accepted if you live in the district

Talking points:
* Moving to metric would provide a solid stimulus for the economy and get rid
of the dual measurement drag for the future.
* We can improve exports if we use the measurement system everyone else expects
(and there are many countries, of which the number is increasing, that forbid
non-metric measurements for labeling and sometimes entirely).
* Education has enough issues without having to deal with multiple measurement
systems.
* We can no longer afford to waste money just to be different. Examples include
$360 million on a mars probe which crashed because of a measurement mix up,
$25,000 on carbon credits for congress because they attempted to purchase
in customary tons instead of the global market standard of metric tonnes.

Requests:
* Require that new infrastructure built with the stimulus package is done
exclusively using metric measures
* An joint industry/government board be setup to oversee the conversion to
metric
* That we have a solid plan by the end of the year that specifies how we will
be 95% metric within 5 years and 100% metric in 10 years.
* Government departments that have had a plan to fo metric in the past
implement that plan within 2 years if they have not done so already.
Departments that have flipped between the two systems must be fully metric by
the end of 2010.
* Education requirements be changed to teach metric exclusively. Get rid of the
requirement to teach customary units.

Calls for metrication in the news:
* http://cjcs.com/tib/2469/president-obama-give-us-a-yard-and-well-take-a-meter/
* http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2009/jan/31/convert_and_be_saved/

Wonderland of Opportunity...

Sueg — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:41:23 EST

Wonderland of Opportunity…

I woke up this morning to a winter wonderland. It had snowed all day yesterday and then well into the night. Heavy, white snow clung to tree branches, bushes, rooftops, and decks. A clean white carpet covered the earth. A scene this pure and innocent was created not by the hand of man but was there for him to gaze upon with wonder. It would be but a brief display, for the sun shone brightly this morning and soon its’ warming glow would melt the multitude of snowflakes that had created this awesome scene.

I dressed quickly, grabbed my camera, and headed for the cold outdoors. This was the photographic opportunity I had waited for all winter. The realities of politics, the sagging economy, and the hungry mouths around the world could so easily be forgotten here. In a few short hours, the snow had covered all the ugliness of the world and the conflicts of its people. Oh, if only the answer to our woes were that simple. But what if we took only a clue from this wonder of nature? Our moments of opportunity are only short and fleeting. I want a better world for my children and grandchildren. Together we can change the realities of today and make for a better tomorrow.

things to do 1

jac4 — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:22:44 EST

nationalize oil companies and use profits to pay national debt and to repay social security funds taken by past administrations

end war in iraq

find OBL

rebuild american infrastructure

nationalize health care

clean coal & green, green, green

people first not corporations

No One Said Change Would be Pretty

SJ Brown — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:13:36 EST

Our Congress and Press are stuck in disbelief and we need to wake them up to the reality of Change. Change necessarily breaks things and, in the case of President Obama, it shattered the status quo. Conventional wisdom is waiting on President Obama to conform to the political reality that while "we the people" got him in office, "we the powerful and wealthy" really run the country. In fact, they are trying to nudge him into getting back to business as usual. I remember I tried to write a poem, like many, to express the Change movement and I couldn't find an ending:

I. Change Ignited

Change ignited knows few rules;

Invites the sparks to flame.

Change ignited purples the blues,

Transforms reds to confused hues.

Change ignited burns untamed

Fueled by hope and tenacity

Change ignited a healing flame,

Burns with unfamiliar name.

Maybe I was like so many are today, without clarity on what Change would look like. It ceratinly burns with unfamiliar name. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, HR.1 sounded familiar until you read it. Wow. I'm actually impressed that it will provide an investment in the America that voted for President Obama. Imagine that. Nothing is trickling down this time.

It will go to rural areas, Native American communities, all states, and invest in our communities.
It will underpin our safety net by adding to the Food Stamps Program and unemployment programs.
It is smart because it focuses funding on our future--children, technology, and energy.
It takes care of infrastructure that has been neglected for far too long. Infrastructure that supports our military, upgrades our energy delivery systems, ensures safe drinking water, and upgrades our government buildings.
It will assist communities to upgrade education-related infrastructures. I don't quite understand the PELL grant investment.
Highways, housing assistance, and transportation--all good.
Funding for a state stabilization fund. Now that is promising.
It will pay a larger percentage of programs like Medicaid. That is important because it takes some of the burden off of states. That frees funding in state budgets and allows them to pay its employees, like first responders.
There are a number of tax credits for businesses, individuals, and to states. I'm not sure how that works.
Health insurance for unemployed workers is expanded.
Then there is Health IT investment with the idea that it will reduce overall health care costs overtime. I hope they keep their eye on that on.

I'm sure I missed something but overall I think they did a good job. The needs of communities and states vary and HR.1 attempts to affect Americans across the board. We need to stand firm on change. We need to email our representatives and let them know that this time we are standing with the Obama Administration. We are standing with our governors and mayors. We are blue and red states. We are north and south and east and west. We are change and we are ready to break the hold of conventional wisdom. We do not need the John McCain, "the economy is fundamentally sound", rewind of old think. We need to take action to stop the loss of jobs and begin an reinvestment in our America. HR.1 is the first step.

Are We losing our will?

KSD55 — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:42:36 EST

I signed up for an event the other day here in the Fort Myers area, and unfortunately it has just been cancelled so I went back to the well to find another. Now understand this was going to be the first event I would have attended. I didn't do a whole lot during the election except donate a little money and talk with friends, co-workers and family about hounding the Republican Party out of office. Unfortunately in this county the GOP held the day.

Looking for another event was frustrating, I have a weird schedule and several events already had their limit. It struck me though was how small the events actually were and how some didn't have any sign ups for attendance at this late date. Are we losing our will or have we been struck by political ADD? This stuff is REALLY important. We need to by force of will to bend the congress to do our bidding. While our Representatives in Congress are politically mastubating more people lose jobs, lose homes, miss payments, and lose hope. What I mean to say is that I feel that these community meetings are an important first step to politically organize and bring pressure to bear on Washington to do our business according to our directions. A show of will if you would.

I really would like to host an event but will be unable to until my dear mother (she's slightly to the right of Darth Vader) returns North in the spring. I just hope this movement is not losing steam. I know it is disheartening to watch all the political BS that is being pulled in D.C., but we have to look past that and tried to stay as fired up and active as during the election. Maybe we can dance this puppy around and see some real results in the near future, but we have to ramp up the pressure on our Senators and Congressmen whether Republican or Democrat because ,really, the soonest they'll lose THEIR jobs is two years from now.

A sense of community

Tina Marie from Houston, TX — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:56:58 EST

I have just returned from a meeting that was organized by the Move On Organization and although it did not happen due to some technical glitches in the registration system, the group met outside an office building on a cold day in Houston. The feeling amidst the group felt hopeful as we called those who we thought could get us into the building. And as we realized that particular meeting was not taking place in the form that we had anticipated, another did. We interacted with the proverbial, Plan B. We had our meeting outdoors, in the cold and the wind, which for Houstonians is no small matter.

Although we felt a slight disappointment at not having our originally called meeting, we shared our hopes, intention, willingness and ability to participate. The overall energy was of hope, action and community unlike I have felt from my fellow citizens in a while. We spoke of a knowing that change is coming, having faith in our human experience to expect more from government and from ourselves than we have in the past.

I am excited about where we are and what we are accomplishing. I am proud of our new President for being willing to upset the apple cart this early in his term. I am joyful at the extremely talented and purposeful people Barack is surrounding himself with in his cabinet.

Change comes slowly at times but it does come and each step forward is a step toward the change we want in our world.

God Bless you all,
Your fellow American,
Tina Marie Jones
www.tinamarie.com

The Action Theory for the UCD (Universal Citizen's Dividend Account)

Action Central — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:35:25 EST

"I occassionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world and yet I ask you: Is not a alien force already among us?"
President Ronald Reagan

"The Third World War has already started. It is a silent war, Not, for that reason, any less sinister. The War, is tearing down America, Latin America, Brazil and practically all the Third World. Instead of Soldiers loosing their lives, Civilians are loosing their jobs, their homes and their money. It is a war over debt and one which has its main weapon, INTEREST, a weapon more deadly than a laser beam, more shattering than the Atom Bomb! This weapon, if it is not curtailed in its infancy will perpetuate until Future generations will wage war against indefinitely. Counter-measures must be established immediately so this minion of a virus does not become an unstoppable juggernaut."

If you doubt this statement or believe its some far-fetched idea, examine how Wallstreet, GM and select banks failed and were bailed out by the Treasury Department as the Federal Reserve stood helplessly aside as these banks and lending institutions were purchased by larger banks?
Why didn't the Federal Reserve bail out its greatest ally Wallstreet?
How could it stand quietly by when failing banks NEEDED their 'Reserve' funding?
The answer . . . Big fish eat small fish and with that in mind, remember what President Thomas Jefferson once said "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and the corporations which grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." Is this idea being manipulated and realized through the use of interest?

Economics have been deliberately neglected throughout our education system, particularly among the public education system and many institutions of higher learning also avoid teaching Monetary Theory. Educating the masses about Money and the Banking system is extremely important and can be helpful for many people that are purchasing high priced products, starting their own businesses and planning the future for themselves and their families.

The world awaits a new leader in Washington. A leader that will be the active representative of the people of America through a Global perspective. The decisions our new President will bring and the causes he will support & impliment will be closely scrutinized by other Countries and Nations. The reactions of the people will also be viewed and publicized globally.

The way we address and support the Nation of Isreal will be crucial because OPEC nations will be watching particularly close and will deal with us based on how we relate with them. Therefore, the American People must be resolute and have a primary, collective view of Israel as well for us to better support our President's decisions.

Q: What is the PRIME cause of debt?
A: Interest & Usury laws

Q: Why do governments need to borrow money when it can create interest free money itself?
A: Banking system is creating digital money out of thin air from loans.

Q: How can we create money that circulates permanently, so it doesn't have to be paid back with interest?
A: By increasing the value of the item money is being spent on, so that interest is reversed onto the borrowers favor.

Q: Is there currently a way to build a sustainable economy today?
A: By discarding the application of Usury and the laws that banks currently use to offset the balance through interest.

Q: HOW CAN WE REPAIR THE NATIONAL BUDGET/DEBT?

To accomplish this goal we must duplicate & employ methods and measures that have worked in the past under similar circumstances.

In 1694, International Banker William Patterson obtained the Charter for the Bank of England when he proposed raising the 1.25 Million Pounds to be lent to the British government. Only 750,000 pounds was received and the newly formed Bank of England began lending money to the government shorly afterwards.

They secured the debt by direct taxation of the people.
The government had no fixed period to repay the loan and interest would be paid in perpetuity. Patterson & the government agreed that "The Bank has benefit of interest on all loans". This was the big mistake England would later regret and many countries fell into this same trap. England then bagan financing and repaying War debts and also Borrowing more money again and again.

At first the Colonies avoided this trap by using Colonial Script (a totally Fiat currency) and exchange worked reasonably well until this same principle was applied.

Today. . . . With the advent of the mybarackobama.com donation accounts currently being used for fundraising, the general Public has access to finance the election of the President; the next step would be to provide for Public Works and Means.

If the funding for these multiple accounts were combined into One PRIME account (Universal Citizen's Dividend), OR, if a small of each account was continually added to a SINGLE account that could still be monitored by everyone, Government spending could become better controlled and waste could be prevented, likewise, the People could regulate where the needs would be best applied. Communities could increase "their" VALUE by adding more to their local committees or programs as these funds are directed towards that means.
Taxes Federal & State, Social Security, Treasury, Donations, etc., if monitored properly would reduce frivilous spending. The people would be more incline to pay or donate because they would receive the BENEFITS. Perpetual Debt would be converted to sustainable income to maintain a functional society and the rate of forclosure would be lowered. This would also assist with the failing Social Security system and the Treasury would control the amount of money in circulation while the Federal Reserve notes are being replaced with Treasury items (Notes, Bills, Bonds, Etc.).

I would welcome any suggestions you have of possibilities that may fill in any gaps with this theory, after all, The more Great Minds are working together, the better the outcome.

Together, we can make change happen.

Thank you for your support!

Rochester Youth Means Change

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:24:00 EST

Lets get started.

The sins of our parents...

Lawrence — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:13:13 EST

The sin of our parents is the opportunity and challenge of our today, the hope of our children's children, and the legacy of our generation to stand in the gap and fight for the land for a better tomorrow. We have already been admonished to “first go, and be reconciled, one to another...”

Hi Joe The Plumber meet Joe The Believer (Sneak peep from my upcoming book)

Joe The Believer — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:44:02 EST

After loosing the elections to Obama. John Mccain goes home with hope of having a wonderful Thanksgiving with his immediate family. Mccain flew into his hometown on his private jet but when he reached the airport, his usual guest didn’t greet him. There weren’t any balloons, the bands weren’t playing or crowds weren’t cheering. This was unusual, he didn’t even see Sarah Palin. He looked into the distance but all he could see was snow and his cold breath in the air. He looked at his secret service and even they looked shocked about what was happening. For 40 years his town greeted him every Thanksgiving, so WHAT HAPPENED.

He looked at his wife and gave her a smile then said, “Moneys been tight this year for everyone baby. Maybe the town couldn’t afford a celebration this year”

Mrs. Mccain looked at her husband with her devilish grind, “You’re probably right baby. Everyone can’t afford the things we have!”

Mccain grabbed his wife arm and helped her through the snow. He looked at his wife then said, “At least we still have our limo!”

Mccain’s limo was black and warm inside. The bar was filled with Champaign, just like years before. His secret service followed the limo in their black Yukon. Mccain could see despair in his wife’s eyes. He looked at her and said this while he rubbed her thigh, “Baby, I’m still your little P.O.W, right”

Mrs. Mccain’s wife batted her eyes then ran her finger thru Mccain’s hair and gave him a hug as he continued to rub her thigh, “You are my little soldier. Don’t worry!”

Mccain leaned back in his leather seats proud of what he just heard. But when he looked out his window it all disappeared, “What’s going on here?”, Mccain yelled.

Mrs. Mccain rushed to the window because she wanted to see. But what she saw she couldn’t believe, “Why do everyone in your town have Obama campaign signs in there yards!’

Mrs. Mccain looked at John and she immediately knew he was scarred. His eye lit up like a deer staring into your headlights, “I can’t believe it. My own people voted for Obama. What’s going on?”

Alarms kept ringing in John’s ears as he looked out the window and things slowly started to become clear. Most of the people he knew was in Obama’s below 250 thousand dollar tax bracket. While Mccain was trying to help the rich, he was forgetting about the poor. This is something that Republicans have done thousands of times before. As Mccain’s thoughts lingered as his wife started to scream.

Mrs. Mccain, “What the hell did you do? You lost to a black man. Now our lives are ruined. No one will ever remember you for being a prisoner of war. Now everyone will look at us and laugh. And our friends want come to our parties or to any of our functions because you were the first White Republican Man to loose to a Black Democrat.”

Mccain couldn’t believe what was ringing in his ears. He looked at his wife because he felt like he had to make things clear, “LooK!”, pointing, “This race wasn’t about color. I lost to a great man. A-----smart guy!”

Mrs. Mccain laughed, “You lost to a Smart Guy… You lost to a great man”, She paused, “You didn’t say that when you were running around calling him a terrorist. You didn’t say that when you made allegations that Obama was a socialist or he wasn’t fit to be President for the last 23 months”

John looked his wife dead in her eyes, “Now you listen here. I only said those things because your family was about to be taxed because of his policies, if your family loose money then I loose money. I didn’t marry you for only your body, Baby. I married you for power and your family seen me as an opportunity to increase their power.”

Mrs. Mccain was furious about what she just heard. Her eyes was red and her vision was blurried, “You little short dwarf. I know you are angry right now, so I’m going to act like I didn’t hear what you just said. But remember one thing! I made you and I’ll break you… Believe it..You had a chance to get power but you lost, I never lost and I can changed your world with a flick of the wrist”

John looked at her but he couldn’t figure out what he was seeing, “Who is this bitch”, he whispered. Like the old saying goes. Behind every strong man there is a stronger woman. Now while the Mccain’s argued the driver sat up front with his own ideas. He turned on his bullhorn so everyone outside could hear. Young kids threw snowballs as the limo riding by. An old lady with a walker stood on the sidewalk and held her middle finger up high. Other yelled, “Mccain’s a Liar!” loud and clear. Even the secret service trailed and started to cheer. The driver kept peeping from his ringside seats, hoping that the Mccains will continue to tickle his ears. When he notice nothing was happening he took a sudden turn. He knew where he could go and Mccain would burn. From uptown to downtown brick homes turned into projects then the silence finally cleared. The driver heard John whisper something in Mrs. Mccain’s ear, “I think we are in the ghetto. Be quiet. Maybe they want see us.”

Change is Coming DVD Party

Marc - "It's a New Day" — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:23:02 EST

Change is Coming - Utah and Utahn's working together to get our country back on track.

Description:

Saturday, December 13th 9:30 and 11:30 am

Sunday, December 14th 1:30 pm

Time: Saturday, 9:30 am and 11:30 am and Sunday, 1:30pm

(Same event hosted 3 different times)

Location: Salt Lake City Public Library
210 East 400 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Direct from the Office of the President Elect Barack Obama we will be showing the DVD "Change is Coming."

We will also take time to discuss the issues that are most important to you, what you can do to support President Elect Barack's agenda, and how you can continue to make an impact in your community.

This event will be fun and personal. We will give everyone a chance to participate should they be so inclined. Now is the time to put aside partisanship and politics, find common ground, and work together.

This meeting is open to the Public those who might not have been involved in the Presidential campaign, even those who might have supported someone other than President Elect Barack Obama. The challenges we face demand we be as inclusive as possible. It'll take the whole country working together to get our country back on track. We will also discuss and plan a Obama Inauguration party with dinner and dancing. Come and be part of the move for change.

together we hope

maya escobar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:53:41 EST

Article from the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
'Hope' springs anew for Washington University grad students

November 19, 2008 -- Carianne Noga, a graduate student of art at Washington University, ties tags of hope onto a sculpture outside the University City Post-Office. Noga and fellow student Maya Escobar started soliciting people's hopes to place on the sculpture. (Christian Gooden/P-D) By Margaret Gillerman ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 11/29/2008

UNIVERSITY CITY — Georgia O'Keeffe found inspiration in the light and shapes of New Mexico.

Mary Cassatt found hers in mothers and children.

Maya Escobar and Carianne Noga, two graduate students at Washington University's Sam Fox School of Art and Design, found inspiration for their latest project from the long lines on Election Day at a Ben and Jerry's ice cream shop in the Loop.

There, on the sidewalk outside the shop, which was giving away scoops of ice cream to voters, the two women felt excitement and hope among voters. They said they found that same feeling across the street in the long line of voters waiting to vote at the Loop polling place.

"We wanted to continue that moment and not let it peak out," Noga said.

Before the polls closed, they had begun to create their "I hope…" project.

They first staked out a site: outside the University City Post Office at 561 Kingsland Avenue.

They then provided people with bright red tags and paint markers for them to write down their hopes for a better future.

The tags then are affixed to a permanent lattice wood sculpture already on site outside the Post Office.

"As difficult as it can be sometimes to voice our wishes and dreams, it can be strengthening," the artists say in explaining their mission. "We can be reminded of the rest of the world outside our own immediate concerns. In this period of great change and near infinite possibilities, it is time for us to voice our hopes."

While the project is for all people, Escobar said it holds special meaning for young people.

"This is our moment to make a difference for our communities," Escobar said. "We need to be aware — of our national situation, of the economy."

Many of the hopes expressed — most recorded anonymously — so far are noble and universal: "I hope for world peace" and "My hope is that hate is no longer."

Some of the hopes are personal. "I hope to not fear death," wrote one.

Others have a distinctly political bent: "I hope we get out of Iraq and don't go to war with Iran." And some are just fun, like the person hoping for "chocolate cake for dessert ..."

A University City police officer named Hope — Reginald Hope — shared with them his own hope: for safety for police officers. A fellow officer was killed while on duty near the Loop last month.

Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton gave his hope and "wishes for better health and greater prosperity for all."

The artists also are encouraging people to submit their hopes online at togetherwehope.com.

[click here for full story]

PLEASE VISIT HTTP://TOGETHERWEHOPE.COM AND SHARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE

Healthcare

Theo — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:18:56 EST

    My name is Susan Theophilopoulos I am a registered nurse working at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota FL. I have listened with much interest to the pass year’s campaign promises, particularly those concerning health care. Working in the hospital as an acute care nurse I get to see first -hand the needs of the uninsured and the underinsured and the financial strain that their needs are placing on the hospital. This problem is only going to get worse as our economic problems worsen and the number of unemployed increases. This population usually does not have a primary care physician so they come to the emergency room for their health care needs, all too often they end up admitted to the hospital because lack of follow-up care has caused their condition to worsen. When they have to be admitted to the hospital their hospital stays turn into weeks, sometimes months to assure that they receive the full course of the antibiotic therapy required. Those patients covered by some form of health insurance are admitted, stabilized and then discharged with proper follow-up care; their discharge often takes place within three days.
I have been discussing this growing problem with other health care workers, nurses, doctors, etc. and I have developed a plan, which if implemented with as little red tape as possible, just might help the situation.
   I propose that the government set up small health care clinics in residential neighborhoods, not unlike the old corner grocer. These neighborhood clinics should be able to provide basic medical care and minor emergency care. They would be able to triage the patients and send those in need of hospitalization on to the nearest emergency room, sending their paper work with them to streamline the admission process. These clinics should be within blocks, not miles from the population that they serve. They should be able to provide, child care for cold, flu, vaccinations and well child check. Prenatal care, EKGs, basic x-ray and wound care as well as daily IV antibiotic therapy if indicated.
   This sounds like a very lofty proposal and very expensive, but I propose that there are ways to contain the costs. First, the clinics can be small, housed in existing building, our banks are carrying many foreclosed houses on their books. They could be approached to sell some of these properties at a greatly reduced rate. Let’s face it, if one bank does not want to co operate then perhaps the one down the block would be interested in taking advantage of the offer. Second the government would provide the equipment and medications need to effectively run the clinics. Third it would become part of the licensure requirement, that if you are licensed to practice within the state, either as a doctor, nurse, respiratory therapist etc, then you are required to work free of charge at least one day each month in the clinic to which you have been assigned. These clinics need to be open 24 hours, and at least Monday thru Saturday, which is not difficult to accomplish, because health care professionals work days and nights, they would just be assigned their usual shift. Lastly the people who live in the community that the clinic serves will be responsible for maintaining it, like keeping the interior clean, maintaining the landscaping so that the building does not become an eye-sore in the neighborhood. That way the community assumes ownership of their clinic and takes pride in it.
   Perhaps this plan or something similar has been proposed in the past, and has fallen on deaf ears, but the time has come to put self serving greed behind us and reach out to our communities. Everyone who lives and works with in a community shares in this responsibility.

http://wethepeople-forthepeople.blogspot.com/

http://dream-weaverchildrenstory.blogspot.com/

What are you waiting for?

Jay from Sheldon, IA — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:06:59 EST

There is a song I heard recently that I really like by John Mayer called, “Waiting on the World to Change.” It has a very nice sound to it and the message is one of peace. And although I think Mr. Mayer is basically right about what we can change and we cannot, it is interesting to think about what we can change instead of just waiting. Too often we find ourselves complaining and whining about the way things are and often there is not much we can do to change things. But is there? If you could change one thing in our country, what would it be? Is there any way you can help that positive change become reality? I ran into a quote a few years ago that struck me and is one of the things that has given me some motivation. I want to share this quote with whoever sees this. Note: I did not put a little R or D next to his name because I honestly don’t know and don’t care to know; I just don’t find that relevant when talking about this.

“The future will not belong to those who are content with the present. The future will not belong to cynics and people who sit on the sidelines. The future will belong to people who have passion and are willing to work hard to make this country better.”

-- Former U.S. Senator, Paul Wellstone, Minnesota

why "keepontruckin'"?

Dr. Bob — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:20:55 EST

Obama has created a social network composed of 10 million individuals. But we can't wait for a message from the White House to get mobilized. It's a two way street. If he can send us messages, we can send him messages too. 10 milliion emails demanding universal health care is a powerful message. But beyond just messaging, these 10 milliion represent the possibility of powerful grassroots organizing in ways we haven't seen since the Civil Rights era of the 60s (pre-Internet). So let's keep on truckin'. Let's keep the pressure on. The election was a bare beginning. Now OUR real work begins. Organize in our communities using the tools that this site and others provide. Could be a great turning point in the American saga if we keep on truckin'!!

Cheers,

Bob Rosenwein

One or Two More Things.....

** Maria Isabel ** — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:21:16 EST

Thank you OFA fellow community organizers....we are almost there!

But today there is still a few more things you can do to help finish the job until the polls close.

Your "Precinct Chair" has a list of folks in your precinct that have not yet come to the polls, this is a great opportunity.

If you do not know who your precinct chair is, here is how to find him or her in Houston: http://www.hcdp.org/precinctchairs.php

Contact your precinct chair and see what you can do to help.

Our neighborhood last night only had a list of about 100 folks that had not voted yet. Split the list with other community organizers in your area and call these folks or put a reminder to vote today on their door!

Ken from the DNC has vote reminder lit at our OFA Headquarters - 4300 Lyons Houston 77020, we must GOTV!!!

Another option if you would like to volunteer today, you can be an Obama Precinct Captain by standing outside your polling location wearing your Obama gear ready to greet voters.

Remember, these are your neighbors and if lines are long tonight they may be encouraged to stay if they see you there.

During the Primary some of the folks that came to vote stayed with us for part of the day.

If standing and greeting is not your thing, MyBO will be updating the battleground state calling list throughout the day.

The campaing is planning to post the names and numbers of specific pockets of voters in strategic battleground areas that have not made it to the polls.

This you can do in the comfort of your own home.Also there are busy call banking locations all over town, you may want to find one near you and bring snacks or drink to the volunteers.

The Harris County Democratic Party is phonebanking today, and also OFA has several locations, here is how to find an OFA call banking location near you in Houston: http://gotv.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpvvv4

In a few hours we will know who the next president will be, Obama and his campaing strategists had a plan for this election, they did a great job mobilizing folks, and you did the rest.

My heartfelt thanks for all you have done so far and will do today.

Feel free to email me or call anytime today.

With Obama Love,

Maria Isabel

mariaobama@gmail.com

713.542.0721

why you still need to vote

brian botkiller — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:08:35 EST

A lot of people are convinced right now that they don't need to vote, for a multitude of reasons.

They are all false.

You may think that you candidate has the election in the bag - if that makes you not vote, you are fooling yourself.

You may think that your vote does not count. What is worth more, one, or zero?

You may think that it's all the same, no matter who gets in. That is not true.

Do not fool yourself into believing that it doesn't matter. The only way to make things different is to do something about it. Do not be distracted by the zillions of myspace videos telling you to watch re-runs of the Jeffersons. Do not spend November 4th sitting on your ass waiting for something to change. MAKE the change happen. ACTION is the only path to real change.

Blogging For Change

Dawn from Akron, OH — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:56:11 EDT

There are some great things we can do to support Barack Obama between now and Tuesday.

Here are some cool widgets and social networks you can reference: http://arunaurl.com/2ka6

Other things you can do to support Obama in the coming days:

Participate and share ideas on how to get out the vote on Smart People For Barack Obama on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17287706918
At the corner by a busy Summit County mall, a group of folks dressed in red, white and blue are giving out bumperstickers, with a life size Obama and signs that say "honk if you love Obama" and folks are cheering AND honkin in here in OH.
Donate and share with other professional women you know, "Women for Obama" between now and Tuesday!
Help everyone you know find their voting information at VoteForChange.com.
Fight back against rumors and political attacks, and have your friends do the same on FightTheSmears.com.
Share the latest campaign videos, emails and blog posts.
Inform your friends, family and neighbors about Barack's policy stances.
Create your own Personal Fundraising Page.
Reference your Polling Place. Enter your address and receive by email your polling place.
Get Out the Vote Calling-- in campaign headquarters, in a "home party" or in the convenience of your own home. Its easier than ever to make a difference with even limited experience.
Call your local Democratic heaquarters and offer to help, ask what they need, and be availableto help!!

We can make a difference, your caring, and our collective efforts WILL make a difference.

Dawn

http://linkedin.com/in/dmular

HOPE LEADS TO BELIEF & ACTION

Chris Peters — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:58:30 EDT

ABOUT ME:

My name is Chris Peters, I'm 48 years old, and I am a small business owner (project management and process consulting) located here in Denver Colorado.

I have been in business a little over 5 years and my average gross income from that business has been right around 100,000.00 per year. Simply put, my goal is to grow my business gradually as a result of superior services to my customers and make enough income to support my family and lay a solid future foundation for my children. That's it, I'm not trying to get rich. I'm trying to live, stay healthy, and help my family and fellow Americans where I can. I'm the 4th child in a family of 5 kids who grew up in Los Angeles, CA during the 60's and 70's under what I would consider meager circumstances but as part of a family that was extremely close and always resourceful.

It did not take that much (material possessions, entertainment, etc...) to be happy. In our household, the emphasis was was on "Family", "Fairness", and "Resourcefulness". I had a lot of jobs as a kid (sold cleaning products door to door at age 9, had multiple paper routes at the same time, worked in food service, and also for the local board of education) all before I was 17. My parents split up in the early 70's which meant that my mom ended up holding down a full time day job, taking the bus to work and back every day, and also selling Avon in the evenings and on the weekends. On top of that, she was also trying to raise 5 kids. She died before her time (only 59) and I'm sure it had a lot to do with the work load that God had placed on her. That being said, all 5 of us kids have remained as close today as we were then.

My mom truly shaped our lives, how we treat and serve our own families, and how we look at the world we are in today. We are certainly proud of her and thank her everyday for the precious gift she gave us. The gift of "herself". I think that my mom and Barack's mom would have really gotten along well together. They were both confronted with seriously trying circumstances, worked tirelessly, remained resourceful, kept upbeat, and had great kids.

I joined the U.S. Air Force right out of high school and over the years have worked very hard to climb up the economic ladder, raise a family, give back to the community, and help contribute to the improvement of our country for those who will follow.

ABOUT MY DECISION:

I made up my mind to follow Barack Obama back in the summer of 2007 and have been proud of his vision, tenacity, humanity and performance ever since. I would be extremely proud to have Barack Obama as my president.

There are numerous reasons for how I feel and the one that sums it up most for me is this. Barack Obama "is me". He worked his butt off to get where he is and all the while has managed to maintain his even handedness, global view, and humanity. At the same time, he's not a push over. That describes what I have been striving more my whole life.

Barack has inspired me in ways that I have never be inspired before and I feel genuine kinship with him and what he needs people like me to do in order to improve our country across a variety of fronts. He's truly a class act and makes me remember how proud it is to be a citizen of this great country.

As a veteran of the U.S Air Force, have traveled extensively in the US as well as in Europe and Middle East. I had many opportunities to meet people from other countries and cultures face to face and truly believe that talking and working to resolve disagreements works better than taking standoffish positions. In addition, I have been working phone banks supporting the effort to get the vote out here in the Colorado area and will continue to do that right up through the election.

BUSH AND MCCAIN HAVE BEEN SELLING "FEAR". PROBLEM IS, THEIR RUNNING OUT OF "BUYERS"

There is something about Barack Obama that gives me confidence in his ability to bring about real change in our country and it also gives me confidence that "I can" really bring about real change too. I feel that the Bush administration has spent the last 8 years selling "fear" to the American people and am sad and disappointed that so many of my fellow Americans seemed to have fallen into step behind the current administration.

I believe that Barack Obama embodies, offers (and demonstrates) hope and conviction to Americans that were are certainly better than this.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME:

Here's my short list of areas that I think our country needs to concentrate on going forward. I strongly believe that a Barack Obama administration (along with me and my fellow Americans) will take these areas very seriously and put real work into fixing.

The war in Iraq, how we got into it, where we are now, why we need to get out of it, and how.
Health care for Americans.
Our standing and reputation on the global scene.
Respect and support of the American Middle Class.
The need to regain our footing as a nation that "produces innovation and innovative products and services" that the rest of the world can also benefit from.
The need us as Americans to differentiate between Patriotism (love and respect of country and our people) and Nationalism (Bush/McCain style approach of "your either with me or your with the terrorists. We need to "call out" the general misuse and disregard for the U.S. Flag as an "ornament" to pin on or hang out whenever you think you need to stir up the base. I was a proud member of the U.S. armed forces and know what "quiet and determined resolved" feels like. The stuff that the current administration has pulled over the last 8 years make me sick to my stomach.
Oversight and regulation of our banks. What has happened over the previous few weeks is downright pitiful. When did we become a country made of of people who simply "move money around" for a living? What has happened in the mortgage lending industry? People were sold into homes that they simply should not have been sold into and mortgage lenders and loan officers made tremendous sums of money as a result.
Finally, I'd like to talk specifically about my sadness and disappointment with John McCain. I think he has taken this election to a new low in terms of attack ads, misinformation, and outright lying. I also feel that it was very irresponsible for him to have chosen Sarah Palin as his VP running mate. His decision was expedient and calculated to divide members of the public during this election. She may be a very nice lady but is nowhere near the caliber necessary for the job that John McCain has recruited her for. In addition to her lack of experience, skills, and judgement for a job of this magnitude and importance, she also brings a number of political views that I disagree with as a citizen of this country.

HOPE, BELIEF, UNITY, ACTION, RESULTS

We have heard the term "Hope" a lot during this election season and I've certainly maintained that "Hope" with regard to what I hear from Barack Obama. More importantly though, Barack Obama's message, tenacity, levelheadedness, behavior and statesmanship during this election lead to me to also "Believe".

Put simpley:

I "believe" Barack Obama and I "don't believe" John McCain.
I "believe" we can change this country and this world for the better.
I "believe that we need Barack Obama as much as he needs us in order to make these changes.
I "believe" that I'll go out and vote now...

Thank you Barack Obama and thank you my fellow Americans.

Chris Peters
Golden, CO

TAKE ACTION:Get Voters out to the Polls and ROCK THE VOTE!

Tommy News — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:18:19 EDT

TAKE ACTION: Get Voters out to the Polls and Pass This On. ROCK THE VOTE! Election day is approaching fast. We have very little time left to make this important voter turnout drive succeed.This is one of the most important elections of our lifetimes. The economy is in big trouble, jobs are disappearing, people are losing their homes, two wars are raging, and the cost of living is soaring. Millions have no health care and global warming needs to be addressed. The way to get the change we need is to elect the right leaders. Every vote counts, and your vote and participation in this voter turnout drive can make all the difference. It is your civic duty and your Constitutional right to vote, and your help is needed to get out the vote. Rock The Vote has made voting easier with the information you need. But you must act now, Electon Day is November 4th! Please join in and help get voters out, and then pass this important message on to everyone in your address book. Click Here to see how you an help Rock The Vote! http://rockthevote.org/Dear Rock the Vote Friends,

Last year, Rock the Vote joined with Live Earth as its partner. On 7-7-07, millions of people worldwide experienced Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis. In doing so, they were making the commitment to take action against the climate crisis. Besides the hundreds of thousands of people attending the Live Earth concerts on seven continents, over 10,000 "Friends of Live Earth' in 195 countries participated in house parties to watch the event and at least ten million more people viewed the concerts online.

Don't be left behind! Join the millions of people across the world who have pledged to take action against the climate crisis.
Together, we will solve the climate crisis.

Remember to register to vote because you can't vote if you're not registered! Why is voting important when it comes to stopping the climate crisis? Well, here are some things to consider:

- The next U.S. president will inherit a country that makes up less than 5% of the world's population but produces nearly a quarter of the world's greenhouse gases.

- Legislation regarding environmental issues is crafted by the lawmakers YOU elect.

- Congress appropriates the funds for the development of clean renewable energy sources.

- The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, which has the legal responsibility to regulate carbon emissions, will be appointed by the next president.

Register now at and tell your friends to register as well.

The future is now. We cannot wait. Together we will make a difference.

Get Ready Rock The Vote: Tuesday 11-4 is Election Day This November 4th is Election Day in The United States of America. It is your Constitutional right and your civic duty as an American to vote. Your vote matters, EACH and EVERY vote counts! This year's elections offer you some important opportunities to make your vote count! I urge you to get ready to vote Tuesday, November 4th. Voting is one of the most important things that you can do. The polls open early, and stay open late. The time to act is now. Get out and vote, don't miss your chance to make a difference! Tell your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to vote. Remind them that election day is November 4th. Offer to bring people to the polls or go with them. Pass this message on to everyone in your address book. Rock The Vote! Tuesday, November 4th http://www.rockthevote.com/home.html November 4th--Election Day 2008--is just around the corner. The bottom line is if you target and talk to people they will vote. Get Involved! Click Here to Rock The Vote:http://www.rockthevote.com/home.html

Our future and real change depends on you.Project Vote We cannot turn out voters who never made it onto the rolls to begin with. By the time Election Day 2009 comes around it will be too late; the time to act is now.

It turns out there are still a lot of people in Washington and our state capitals who are working to discourage Americans from voting.

One of our most important groups working to register and protect voters -- Project Vote -- recently released a study which documented in great detail years of voter suppression all over the country. The result is that hundreds and thousands of minority voters, many of them 'single mothers,' were purged from the rolls and deprived of their right to vote in 2004 and 2006. That is outrageous!

And if it sounds sickeningly familiar, you are right. These are the same anti-American tactics that kept people from voting in the South during the Civil Rights movement. And it has to stop.

Please join is in this monumental battle for our democracy. Step up and say there is nothing more important than the ability to vote in America. Will you fight with us to ensure that every single eligible voter can go to the polls?

By the time Election Day comes around it will be too late. We cannot turn out voters who never made it onto the voter rolls to begin with. Early work to get voters on the rolls and make sure they stay there no matter what is crucial to our fight to take back our democracy. Project Vote http://www.projectvote.org/If you are registered to vote get out and VOTE! The polls open early and close late. Vote before or after work or on your break. Find out where to vote here or contact your local Board of Elections: http://www.rockthevote.com/electioncenter/If you are not registered to vote, register now!Call or write your local board of elections for a voter registration form or click here to get one:http://www.rockthevote.com/http://projectvote.org/our-work-pages/our-work/voter-registration.html
Not sure who to vote for?Educate yourself. Read the Voter's Guide in your local newspaper or on line to find out who and what is on the ballot in your Election District. Read the websites of the candidates and parties to find out where they stand on the issues that matter to you. Ask about the candidates and find out their qualifications and where they stand. Talk to people and find out who they are voting for and why. Read the ballot initiatives and find out what they mean and how they affect you. Get a sample ballot before you go into the voting booth and take your time deciding who and what to vote for. You Can Make a Difference! ROCK THE VOTE Tuesday, November 4th I invite you to join our Yahoo groups here for informative news and discussion:Click these links and join our fine groups: 4 United We Stand Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/Matthew Shepard Pride and Tolerance Grouphttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/MatthewShepardPrideandTolerance/New York State Senate Shift Control To Democrat Grouphttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewYorkStateSenateShiftControlToDemocrat/
--
Together, We Can Change The World, One Mind At A Time!
Have a great day,
Tommy

The race gets closer

Binrondav — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:37:36 EDT

My heart is pounding. We may lose this race. Obama has been recognized by liberals and conservatives as the better candidate, and voted more successful in each of the debates. Many people are very concerned about a McCain presidency - for reasons of his health, weakness on the economy, choice of vice-presidental candidate, and campaign management style. Yet, the race is tightening.

What do do?

Don't get anxious, get active. If the Republican are fighting with smears and attacks, fight back with confidence, ethusiasm and respect. Believe. Make calls, knock on doors, contribute, write, gather with others - anything to spread the legitimate words about an Obama presidency.

We are deciding what kind of an America we want. Don't let Republican aggression paralyze you. Do what you you know. Trust your truth. Get out there and fight for your values.

Yes, we can.

Just a few more days, just a few more Hours

Chris 11 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:31:09 EDT

Hello, Hartford group,

We are nearing the end of our opportunity to help change history. We are currently talking with the Obama campaign about how to be most helpful in the remaining days. Right now, what we know is we need as many people as possible to work shifts of 3 or 4 hours, of many of them as we can manage, in Milwaukee November 4th, and to some extent November 3rd.

Three of our local Obama team members canvassed in Milwaukee today, and it was inspiring. Come be inspired with us on the last two days of the election season!

Can't be available those days? We will have other work to do. Details later.

Don't let history leave you out!

Obama is not just words but action

bwilliamson — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:31:26 EDT

I have not voted or registered to vote for neither party in 10 years because I refuse to try to choose which is the lesser of two evils. That has been my attitude for the 2000, 2004 and until today the 2008 elections. What changed my mind? Today I called both the McCain/Palin and the Obama/Bidden campaigns in regards to real economic issues taking place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Both candidates have publicly spoken about how they want to protect the middle class and stop CEO corruption but after today only one candidate has shown me that his campaign was able to back up those words with actions. About 50-70 employees of a business consortium in Fort Lauderdale, FL have been unpaid for up to 6 weeks. The owner and CEO of the company has promised these employees each week that they will be paid the following week and each week that promise goes unfulfilled. All of this while the owner and CEO spoils himself by buying expensive vehicles instead of paying his employees, some of them single mothers who now cannot afford to pay for child care and can barely feed their children. This is just a brief summary of the events which have transpired at this company. If you want to read more please visit this blog: http://phorsitescam.blogspot.com - When I told this story to the Obama camp today they immediately found this issue important and wanted someone to call me to see if they could help in any way. Do you know what McCain's camp told me? If the company was not as big as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac then it was not important enough since the date of the election was so close. I had 3 people tell me this and one person actually hung up on me. If this behavior is indicative of how McCain's presidency will be than I can assure you it will be a rocky 4 years for middle class America. I was the Vice President of Development of this company and have been attempting to help the many employees who have been lied to and unpaid in an economy where they simply cannot afford to go without. John McCain is more concerned with bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and "Joe the Plumber" but his campaign does not want to help out when real Americans are hurting or show interest. Obama's people showed me that his words really aren't just talk and that they are ready to back them up. I have submitted my name, phone number and email to this email so that you can verify that I am not affiliated with either party and that I have not registered for neither party in almost 10 years. Tomorrow at 4pm a second peaceful public protest will be held at 2450 East Commercial Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 if anyone in the area would like to come out to show their support for these hurting Americans. I will also be speaking about my conversations with both the Obama and McCain camps to any members of the press who are supposed to be coming tomorrow to this demonstration. The American people should be aware of what their candidates really stand for.

Where do you stand, Barack? Rights have been obliterated and manipulated by the administration.

Tresa — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:29:56 EDT

Why isn't this being discussed by Barack?

This is a major concern. Our freedoms, our country are at stake.

I need to know what position Barack takes on these issues and as a Senator, that there was not complicity on his part.

By not speaking about this, it feels just like the actions of current administration.

I want to donate additional money, but , at this point I haven't heard all that I need and want to hear from Barack

Our government and our "representatives" have failed us.

Read about these under reported issue along with others at:

http://www. projectcensored. org/top-stories/category/y-2009

Peace

Action in this Senate

Ronald from Fond du Lac, WI — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:54:15 EDT

There's an old saying that "The proof is in the pudding". and in this case, the pudding is recorded history in legislation, and the amount of activity each canidate has commited to these actions. John McCain says that Change is on the way. I want to know when. His record shows that he's still behind in points for making things happen. Barack Obama has already proved that he has made more to happen in his time than John McCain.

Ask not what your country can do for you...

Cactus Wren from Tucson — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:09:15 EDT

We are definitely in a financial crisis, and a very obscure one at that. Barack has spoken about the idiocy of what we were asked to do at the time of 9/11, and of course we all know that we were asked to go shopping. Barack (or Hillary) would of asked us for much more.

I noticed that the various response meters peaked when Sarah Palin spoke of Personal Responsibility in the debate last night. Leadership is needed now. What can WE THE PEOPLE DO, to make this economy better? What is our part, and what can we do as individuals to improve the status of the American economy, and our status in the world?

1. Anyone that has the means should pay down, or pay off their credit cards thus reducing OUR part of the debt.

2. Pay as much more as you can on your mortgages, student and car loans - reduce your eventual cost in terms of interest, but provide your regional lenders and Credit Unions with much needed actual cash.

3. Begin saving-only if it is five or ten dollars a paycheck, and you will find you can actually buy that tire, keep the oil changed in your car, and pay for some other unexpected small expenses that land us at the payday loan office.

4. Use only cash or secured credit for major purchases (where they can get the stuff back if you default, or it is backed by inventory of the business you do your credit with).

5. Keep your local food banks full, clothing and other community resources stocked with coats, shoes, & blankets for the winter.

6. If you are doing better than your family neighbors who are throwing everything at their rent or mortgage, hand them a $10-25-50 grocery or gas card, or anonymously slip it in their mailbox. Pass out a few monthly bus passes at the local job center or food bank to those that don't have them. If we all did things like this, if we all behaved like our brothers keeper, we would have plenty to go around.

7. If you are struggling too much to do any of these things, confide in someone, use these resources, there is no shame in picking up a box from the foodbank, calling your local St. Vincent de Paul, or or other resources to get a utility bill paid. Most Urban Leagues will pay those Utilities under the Fema program once a year to get you over the hump for the month (and no, you do not have to be a minority for the National Urban Leagues to help your).

8. Use the contribution option on your utility bill to contribute to the funds most have to help those who can't afford to stay warm this winter.

There are things we can all do to feel less out of control. There are sacrifices we are all willing to make for our families and neighborhoods survival. Ask us to do these things, and the response will be great. you know..."Ask not what your country cand do for you..."

Please get busy with this message. We need the leadership, and the economic meltdown is a dynamic that even government in a democracy has only marginal control over, especially in a global economy.

When my kids were small, I always found that giving them something to do worked much better than explaining a situation or telling them what not to do with a lot of blah-blah-blah about why etc. When I didn't want them grabbing candy bars, it was easier to tell them to put their hands on top of their head, then to tell them not to grab the candy bars. Also easier to give them a simple task like find the bottle of catchup than to tell them we would be done in a minute, or offer them some reward if they behaved in the store.

Really - give the American People things they can do - Suze Ormann style. We desparately need this kind of leadership and unification right now.

We MUST win this! I am not on line much since the primary, and can't deal with the partisinship and negativity of my local Dem HQ, so have given up on voluteering, as it is such a toxic atmosphere. i am just talking to my neighbors, folks on the bus, and many, many republicans and independents about issues, not personalities.

I am doing everything I can to get the Obama-Biden ticket to the finish line. Please help with some positive action as above. Love you all, and let's get this done!

Every weekend

Chris 11 — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:07:28 EDT

We are canvassing every Saturday and Sunday through election weekend. Search for events by zip code and click for details for each canvass.

I know you're busy, but November 5th will come sooner than we think. Then it will be too late to make a difference for this election. But with enough help, just here and there, from enough people, and we can make a real difference and help Barack win Wisconsin.

Don't put too much faith in the polls, whatever they may say. There are too many unknowns, too many opportunities for surprises to take anything for granted or to give up hope.

Please sign up today online or call me at 673-7309 or email cs11pol@charter.net.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Open Letter to Barack Obama Regarding the Economic Crisis

Adam from Encino, CA — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:22:23 EDT

Dear Senator Obama,

Please take the next step, and show real leadership, by demanding that Congress immediately begin drafting legislation to address regulating the banking industry, so that the current financial disaster will not happen again, and our country's economy can grow in a ethically and fiscally responsible manner. Even the supporters of the financial industry bailout agree that the current legislation before congress does not address the issue long term. It is incumbent on you as a senator, and presidential candidate to take the lead on this issue, and demand, among other things more transparency regarding financial instruments, and tougher truth-in-lending laws.

I think that more transparency is necessary so that banks can more clearly evaluate a particular instrument, so that the markets can more closely reflect reality.

One truth-in-lending regulation that I would like to see is that lenders be required to present borrowers who are considering adjustable rate loans a chart that shows clearly what their payments will be based on the change in the prime lending rates.

I hope you will take this seriously, and step out in front on this issue.

Sincerely,

Adam Nisenholz

Dear Citizen,

If you agree with the sentiments in this blog post, please leave a comment. Also feel free to suggest additional or alternative features of new banking regulation.

Barackin' the Free World!

BENCHMARX — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:14:26 EDT

Listen to the BENCHMARX song Barackin' the Free World!

Download the song and lyrics for free at:

www.myspace.com/thebenchmarx

for more information contact BENCHMARX at:

benchmarx@gmail.com

Spread the message through music!

THANKS,

BENCHMARX

Call Congress!

Aimee — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:36:11 EDT

This Wall Street bailout package is a trap. Why, at this point, would the Democrats even consider giving the Bush administration ANYTHING it wants? Call your US Representative, call your Senators, and let them know that this is not a bill that should be passed quickly or without long and serious debate and consideration. I don't see any reason to vote on this package before the election. If the Democrats work with Bush and pass it, the Republicans can use it against them.

I've looked up the telephone numbers for my representatives, and I'll be using my lunch break to call them. Please do the same!

Letters to the Editor

Leya Oswald — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:05:19 EDT

Ladies! Our group is fired up and ready to go. Here's our first call to action and it's an immediate one. Some of you received this email, but if you didn't please read on. And remember to send your letters by 5PM on Monday, 9/22.

Wyoming Women for Obama, hello!

As our group originated with the desire to create a coordinated female demonstration in response to Sarah Palin's presence in Jackson, we did not want the arrival of Cindy McCain in her place to go completely unnoticed. In that vein, we decided at our inaugural meeting to write questions posed at Mrs. McCain in the form of letters to the editor of the Jackson Hole News and Guide and Planet Jackson Hole. Respectful, important, personal and poignant is the order of the day.

The idea is that these letters all have the same feel, so I've created a template. Feel free to deviate, but let's try to keep these as similar and concise as possible. Below I've listed the template, a list of issues, and the email addresses to whom your question/letter should be sent.

Please send your letters to the papers by 5 p.m., Monday, September 22nd, although the sooner the better. We'd like to flood the inbox of these editors and make a cohesive statement, which would be impossible to ignore. Our hope is that many of them are run in Wednesday's paper, when the Cindy McCain brunch is occurring.

Happy writing! Forward this to other women who you think would be interested in participating in this campaign. And feel free to email me with questions.

While this gesture needs IMMEDIATE response, we do want to continue to inundate the local and regional news outlets with our viewpoints on the issues throughout the final weeks of the campaign. Please ponder the issues below and consider writing a letter or an op-ed piece in the next 46 days.

Best, Leya

SAMPLE LETTER

To the editor:

I am a local small business owner and mother of two young sons. I have a question for the McCain campaign, whose surrogate, Cindy McCain is visiting Jackson Hole. Mrs. McCain, how does your husband, Senator McCain, plan to make America a leader in promoting a global effort to meet the demands of the 21st century, when he has sided with the heavy-handed, saber-rattling foreign policy of the Bush administration 90 % of the time?

Leya Simmons Oswald,
605 East Hansen, Jackson, WY 83001, 512-917-0393

(Submissions should include full name, address and phone number, so the editor may verify the source).

ISSUES IDEAS

Here are a few issue ideas. There are MANY more at www.barakobama.com, with far more information. I encourage you all to take a look. Also, if you have a personal relationship to anyone of these topics, please address that one more specifically.

1. Ending the war in Iraq responsibly.

2. Finish the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban

3. Secure all nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue nations

3. Achieve true energy security

4. Reducing carbon emissions to stop climate change

5. Increasing gas mileage standards

6. Grow more American renewable fuels

7. Investing in renewable technologies

8. Providing middle-class American tax relief

9. Solving the crisis on Wall Street and holding regulators responsible

10. Lower health care costs and increased access to it

11. Modernizing our financial regulatory system

12. Modernize our trade agreements

13. Restoring fiscal discipline

14. Creating new green jobs (Obama calls for 5 million jobs and a $150 billion investment over 10 years)

15. Fighting for trade that benefits US workers, farmers and businesses

16. Ending tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas and supporting companies that create jobs in America

17. Investing in our national infrastructure

18. Reforming Washington lobbying and ethics violations
(many of McCain's top campaign advisors are lobbyists)

19. Freeing the executive branch from special interest influence

20. Reforming federal contracts, tax breaks, and earmarks

21. Giving government back to the people

22. Social security reform and protection

HOW TO SUBMIT

For this immediate response to Cindy McCain's appearance in Jackson Hole, please send to the following local papers:

NEWSPAPER

SEND TO:

JH News and Guide

editor@jhnewsandguide.com

Planet Jackson Hole

editor@planetjh.com

Additional news outlets to which you should consider sending future letters to the editor and op-ed submissions:

NEWSPAPER

SEND TO:

Casper Star Tribune

letters@trib.com

Billings Gazette

speakup@billingsgazette.com

Denver Post

openforum@denverpost.com

Call for Action

Lisa-Renee — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:26:59 EDT

I've decided today I MUST raise my level of participation. I've set-up a group, I'm going to Camp Obama Training tomorrow and I've solicited the assistance of a few friends and neighbors to brainstorm how we plan to participate. I will keep this Blog going for all Friends of Lisa-Renee Support Obama to post what we're doing to stand up and ACT.

What volunteer efforts are you doing to support the movement?

We need you this weekend

Chris 11 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:23:25 EDT

Hartford group members,

Please take a moment to read this full posting and help elect Barack Obama.

This deserves IMMEDIATE attention -- yes, even Disabled Americans people!!!

James Middleton — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:24:38 EDT

John McCain said, recently, that he is "not in favor of privatizing Social Securty... I never have, and never will..."

But in 2004, he said that he believed that "I just can't see how we can avoid privatizing Social Security."

Don't believe me? Click on the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyBwMy27Aoc

This link was provided initially by a diarist at DailyKos:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/15/225053/013/917/600132

Check it out. Use it in an OBama ad, if possible. Also, this might be a good candiate for "Fight the Smears." The video is just precious.

TAKE ACTION - Show America that McCain is a Liar

Joshua from New York, NY — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:13:39 EDT

Are you sitting there scratching your head thinking, can they really steal this election again? You've given money (if not do it now!), maybe even phone banked, signed up new voters and canvassed (Thats great).

Now its the time for direct action!

Hit back!

Go on the offense!

This is a call to Action!

The McCain is a Liar meme is starting to catch on but we need to put it over the top. We need to get people out to EVER McCain or Palin rally with Pinnochio noses.

You can go to your local costume store or halloween displays maybe to find them - if not
click here to order (this is on an endorsement of this reseller)

If you never have been involved in a direct action its great - below is the link to the Mccain calendar so you can see if he is going to be near you or near someone you know soon. This need to be a sustained thing - so plan ahead.

We can do this lets turn the Pinnochio nose into the 2008 equivalent of the Kerry rally Flip-flops.

Yes We Can!

Little Successes

Kellie Raines — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:40:11 EDT

I've been inspired by art, poetry, words, theatre, beauty, sadness and a million other things. I've also been passionate about social issues for most of my adult life and they have informed my artistic voice. But I was never motivated or inspired enough to act, to make a change in the community. I watched, I spoke, but I never acted. Barack Obama has not only inspired my renewed faith in the possibility for change in this country, but he has inspired in me what it means to be a citizen. We all really are individually responsible for the change we want. We must live that change.

So I've done something I used to think taboo or embarrassing.

I've asked friends to get involved.
To donate or give of their time.
To register to vote when they never have before.
To pay attention to the facts and the issues.

I was always afraid of being "that one friend" who harped or preached.But I learned I care too much about this country to sit idly and politely by because there is too much to lose.The Republicans have had eight years to get it right. And while some things may have been out of their control, I believe there is a fundamental and urgent need for change. Barack Obama is our chance for that change.For me, the personal success is becoming more engaged. It's not really about the money, but that I've been actively involved in the ways I can to make a difference. I've asked myself to do what I was apathetic or afraid to do before. I've donated money, but I've also raised my first $25 via my personal fundraising site for Barack Obama. And it may seem little or trite, but one person heard me. That means one more person has thought about the issues and how important individual acts are.

Thank you for the start. Thank you.

Panic and Fear (Not!)

Nancy from Austin, TX — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:37:17 EDT

I've been reading lots of messages here full of fear and panic. Believe me, I understand,
I feel it myself. I cannot believe that once again, the America people are propping themselves
to be sucker punched. I call this American Idol politics. I've lost so much sleep in the last
couple of days, fretting over this election. We are fairly isolated in Texas, seems like there
are so many people who have, well to put it politely, are so rooting in sensibilities of past
generations they refuse to even consider a black candidate. I have sat at dinner tables with
friends I have known for over 20 years, and listened to some of the nastiest racial references when discussing Barack Obama. I never in my wildest dreams expected overt racism from them. I was
naive.

I think we were all naive in another aspect - power. The hard right of the Republican Party
has enjoyed absolute power for almost a decade. We thought, just because we had a leader that
comes maybe once in a lifetime, that we would triumph. We underestimated their lust for plain,
simple unbridled power. These are powerful people, with nearly unlimited resources, and they
will not relinquish the power and the PRIVILEGE they have enjoyed under Bush without a fight.
Plus, they know how to fight, fight nasty and win. Now, we've got a real fight on our hands.
And right now, we have to stiffen our spines and prove that we are capable of winning that fight.

I never thought I would say this, but honestly I think Obama is wrong. I saw his Obermann interview yesterday and in referring to the campaign and the obvious embrace of McCain - he said "The American People are smarter than that." I disagree, and I think this is where the Republican machine gets us every time. The American people are not particularly intelligent or even rational when it comes to electing Presidents. When you think about it, most of our historically great leaders would have never even made it to a general election if television, or even 24 hour news existed. Can you imagine in today's society a man in a wheelchair serving not two but THREE terms? We live in a time when poorly conceived reality shows reign supreme. People would rather watch someone eat grub worms for $20,000 than watch ANYTHING on PBS. I've actually done some media buying in my time, and guess which show is CONSISTENTLY the most highest rated TV program...WWF! When it gets right down to it - people want things simple and in very plain terms. The machine on the right knows this, they feed it to them, along with a sprinkling of fear and guess what THEY WIN.

Okay, just for a moment, let's accept that this is our reality. We have 57 days or so to the general election. We've been knocked for a loop, our candidate appears to be in jeopardy, and we are all pretty freaked out - so what do we do now?

Fretting won't help, and panicking won't help. Let's talk action, let's work together and develop of list of things/ideas of how we can change the direction of this election.

Here's a couple of thoughts:

1. I go to lunch, almost every day, for the next 57 days, I'm going to bring my lunch or eat at home, I spend about $5 to $6 dollars a day, five days a week. Instead of eating out, I am going to donate that money to the Obama campaign.

2. Phone banking, even if you can't go to a battle ground state, check our Barack Obama's web site and see if you can phone bank and get to work that way.

I know this is a long read - but let's stop the panic, and let's build a big list - I'm thinking of at least 57 ideas that we can work on together and share to move this thing forward. I am really looking forward to seeing this list when it is all done!

YES WE CAN!

Just a thought.

AlexisMtl — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:42:46 EDT

I would like to take a minute to thank all of you for your actions and thoughts as it shows that a lot of people in the world are honestly trying to get out of this frozen mentality of narrow thinking. I love to see that people are getting involved and interested into building a Country that could be an example to follow for the rest of the world on all levels. You definitely have the potential and know-how to make it happen. Do remember your history but let it be used as motivation for a brighter future of diplomacy and understanding instead of an argument to arm more innocent people that are simply trying to grasp for themselves what are the steps to be taken to obtain a better quality of life. Try to understand that the world evolved at a different pace and accompany them instead of turning our backs to their situations. We have to guide and support everyone that wants to get up to speed in this world. You have proven to be a Country of devotion towards the well being of the human race on countless occasions. From building infrastructures to help develop all kinds of research to a better understanding of what it means to live in this new and mesmerizing world we live in. To work and develop technologies to help every individuals from every gender and ethnicity instead of closing ourselves to the world. We have to believe that yes, the situation can change and ultimately have the entire world co-exist and work together for a better future for all of us. Thanks again. Sincerely yours from Canada.

Worried? Don't Whine, Take Action!

Rima — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:00:06 EDT

We have been here before. Remember after the Texas primary when we thought we should have done better and didn’t? Yes, people worried and whined, but others went to work. And we just kept on working until we won. This is no different. So I humbly suggest rather than writing blog posts that take the republican bait of distraction packaged in the form of Sarah Palin, we must keep focused.

Here’s what you can do:

Sign up for an event of some kind in your area - Get to know some people who are working for change near you and get FIRED UP.
Phone Bank - If you don’t live in a battleground state this is the PERFECT way for you to make a real difference in the campaign outcome.
Participate in a Voter Registration Drive – Invite others into the political process. Get to know the people in your area. Just search the events in your area for a VR Drive.
Join Others in Prayer - Sync up with hundreds of people a 15 minute visualization/prayer/mediation on September 11 and visualize Barack Obama taking the oath of office. Sign up here - http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gs7qd8
DONATE – if you can, give something to the campaign. Or start your own fundraising page and invite others to give. Come up with a twist as to why people should give to your page. Like Horse-lovers for Obama, or Babies for Obama, or Guitar Hero Freaks for Obama and advertise your page in the daily blogs until you reach your goal.
Post signs, wear shirts, put a bumper sticker on your car – show your support. Everyone loves a winner so the more people see support for Barack the more they will come on board.
Create Your Own Positive Action on behalf of Barack!

I hope you will join me in TAKING ACTION! This is our campaign. WE must win it!

Taking back the White House is a do-it-yourself job!

Good idea from G'Town + one from Hartford

Chris 11 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:23:39 EDT

Clay, our Washington County Field Organizer, told our organizing team last night that the canvassers in Germantown came up with a really good refinement to the canvassing process. I haven't noticed it discussed here, but it seemed like a terrific idea. If other teams have already been doing this, please let us know about it and pass along your tips.

What they are doing, as I understand it, is noting carefully any specific issues identified by leaners or undecideds that they needed more information about regarding candidates' positions. An example would be: "I like some of what Obama says, but I worry that he'll raise my taxes." Then at debriefing after the canvass, team members print out one-page information sheets from the campaign website and mail them to the voter with a brief cover letter along the lines of: "Thank you for taking the time to talk about important issues concerning the November 4th election. I have enclosed some information about the [in this case "tax"] issues you wondered about. I hope this information from [the Barack Obama website or Factcheck.org or Project Vote Smart, or other reliable source] is helpful. Then close with the appropriate followup contact information, which could be the canvasser's or team leader's phone number or the campaign website address.

One of our own Hartford volunteers, Lee, actually took it upon himself to get the material in question and deliver it personally to the voter later the same day! (And that was just his own idea, though I expect some of the rest of you have done similar things.

Our canvass coordinator for Hartford, Steve, has created for himself and is now creating for the rest of our organizing team contact cards (like business cards) with the campaign logo and web address, our own personal contact information and team position title (Data Coordinator, Canvass Coordinator, etc.) I have torn off slips of paper to give people my phone number in the past, but that's not very slick!

Hey, Germantown folks: Thanks for this good idea. Let me know if I understood what you're doing correctly. I hope you'll get on this site and share some more of your good canvassing ideas.

Staci, thanks again for coming up with this page.

We Must Help The Swing States!

Robin Z — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:36:55 EDT

I'm as guilty as anyone for using my blog space to spew and cry about the foul tactics of the Republican Party.

In the end, this election is going to come down to the electoral college votes in the swing states. Whether you live in a swing state or not, we must do everything we can to help these states turn BLUE for the Democratic Party.

BARACK AND JOE NEED THESE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES TO WIN THE ELECTION!!

Please, everyone, take action now. If you haven't done so already, go to the homepage on this website for your state. Find your local field office and call them to see what you can do to help. Maybe it's a phone bank or registering voters. Maybe it's a mail campaign, canvassing a neighborhood, hosting an event, or writing letters to the local and national press. Maybe it's driving voters to the polls on election day.

We need to do everything we can to win this election.

stroking does no good, knock it off

marklininak — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:35:14 EDT

Writing and reading these blogs is wonderful and fun. I enjoy it. It makes me feel smart, usefull, and sexy. It also give me a chance to kiss up, and be kissed up to. It cuts down on the number of visits to the shrink that I have to make. The savings are incredible. However, that is about all it accomplishes.

Only once in the last hundred years has either party received less than 35% of the popular vote. That was the 1920 Democratic Party ticket of James Cox and Franklin Roosevelt that received 34% of the vote. If one of the major parties receives less than 40% of the vote it is considered an epic defeat of historic proportions. Historically presidential elections are always relatively close.

Elections are won not by party faithful. The vast majority of registered democrats will vote for the dem candidate, and the vast majority of registered republican voters will vote for the rep candidate. Swing voters and voters who do not always make it to the polls are the individuals who decide presidential elections, not registered dems or reps.

Posting a blog on My.barackobama.com has absolutly no effect on the eventuall outcome of the general election. Neither does calling registered dems to make sure they Vote for Barack. These are sure fire votes. The only people who will take time to read this or another blog on this site are ones whom I guarantee will vote for our candidate. It is a complete waste of time. Posting on this site has about as much effect a if I posted gop.com. I will change no minds on that website, just like I will change none on this website.

What needs to happen is educating people about the issues and the candidate. Casual conversations with people on the fence helps a lot. Talking to non voters about the importance of voting is important. Most non voters would vote for dems if they had the knowledge. Being outside talking to people face to face is the most effective way of communicating messages, especially the message of this ticket.

Community involvement helps on so many levels. This country works best when it works from the bottom up. Individual citizens have the most effect on the local level. Participating in local government and elections are the most effective way to personally effect a positive change in the world. Face to face contact is and will always be the most effective form of individual communication.

This is quite possibly the most important election in this nations history. We are on the fence historically. The United States can continue to lead and improve this planet for ourselves and humanity, or we can become a nation of second tier status. If we continue the policies of the last 8 years we will continue to regress and slip. This is to important of a fight to sit at home and play on the computer. I will not allow myself to be remembered by future generations as one of the people who did not get the monumental importance of the November election, and sat around on my lazy, fat behind while the prospect of future American generations were being flushed down the toilet.

These ramblings are not meant to insult. They are intended to be tough love call to action for people who call themselves activists. The root of the word activist is act. There is no action in writing a blog. No chances are being taken. It is simply an exercise in mental masturbation. It feels good, but it accomplishes nothing.

Actions speak louder than words. Just do not foget to act.

Positive

BRGHTSD1 HOPE & COURAGE — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:04:18 EDT

This is the thought for the day from the Peale Center for Positive Thinking

When you wish good for others, that good will come back to you a thousand fold. So in the act of forgiveness, send good thoughts to the person who's offended you. You'll find you benefit even more than the other person.

Action is crucial now!!!

Amy from New River, AZ — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:42:11 EDT

Every Obama supporter who is SERIOUS about getting him elected must spring into action NOW!!! We can't take anything for granted. What can you do?

1) Find out where other Obama-ites are where you live and form a group.

2) Go on the barackobama web site and get as much info as you can.

3) Find out where the nearest Dem office is and call to volunteer. You can volunteer online, but calling will probably get you results faster. Remember 8 weeks will fly by!

4) Wear your identifying paraphenalia (T-shirts, caps, bumper stickers, even wrist bracelets). This lets other Obama-ites know who you are. I have been approached simply by wearing a wrist band!

If you live in or near Anthem, contact me at acollins56@cox.net. LET'S GET MOVING!!!! If you don't look on the web site and check out "Events", "Friends", or "Groups". AND BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE DONATE!!! Whatever you can afford. Every penny counts. We are going to need it!

Last Laugh

Ms_CongenialityHI — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:22:49 EDT

Community organizing has never been about partisan politics, it is always about people first. It doesn't surprise me that Sarah Palin or any of the other top Republicans don't have a clue about what this "real" job entails. Before Barack Obama came on the national scene, organizers were invisible, and we liked it that way. When I came home to tell my parents what I was doing, I had to rent the film "Norma Rae" to point out the guy with the skinny tie, and say, "That's what I'm doing." The groundwork developing a viable organization with several mentors and leaders took a few years before small victories were newsworthy and concrete enough for my parents to grasp the concept of my career choice. For others I tried to clarify that I didn't sort out closets or garages, but more often didn't bother to elaborate. "I work with churches and temples..." was the easiest way out of those conversations, there was just no spare time to waste, and more than enough real work to be done.

Community organizers know the real work is all about people, anger and action. Yes, anger... and fire and passion. Last night was a good night for organizers--who will put people first, and channel our anger to organize and make the changes we want to see and become.

Please let this motivate you to sign-up (special plea for Hawai`i volunteers, but wherever this note finds you) to register voters, door knock, phone bank, become a precinct captain... whatever you can contribute to the effort. With your help, we community organizers will have the last laugh, come November!

After Last Night

Kate from Idaho Falls, ID — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:32:05 EDT

After watching Palin last night all I can think is I need to do everything I can to keep this woman out of Washington. Just thinking about her makes my blood pressure rise. I found an Obama link on a friends blog and now here I am. I've been a supporter all along having been to the caucus and all but now I really think its time to get more involved. I am not sure what that will mean but its time to take action.

Obama Daily Fact 09/04/2008 - Let's spread the word!

Tanya Mitchell Graham — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:03:28 EDT

After watching the Republican Convention last night, I have never in my life been so appalled by the blatant lies and distortions used in a political campaign. Then, the constant personal attacks on Barack Obama, one after another after another, and the personal attacks on Joe Biden, were absolutely groundless, tasteless, and frankly, childish. The claim that Barack Obama has done nothing, the dubbing of our Congress as a "do-nothing Congress," and the attack on community organizers were all hostile and reprehensible attacks. So, as a single person who wants to help my community, I actually do nothing? Gov. Palin doesn't know the fabric of America; that seems very clear to me. Sure, the laughs she got were great for the Republicans, and her attacks were received with applause for a party that has destroyed our country in less than 8 years. Nonetheless, we definitely need to respond.

My initial reaction was to respond in kind. Maybe start a blog about Gov. Palin's history on flip-flopping on issues while in public office, and that list is long, or sending personal attacks about Sen. McCain over the Internet. Then I realized, if I stooped to their level, I, too, would be tasteless, classless, and childish.

Instead, I have decided to send one fact about Senator Obama each day from now until the Election, which is exactly two (2) months from today, to all of my e-mail contacts and as a text message to everyone in my cell phones. I am asking everyone to forward the e-mails and text messages to others. I know this is a minor gesture, but the power of the Internet and text messaging has been revolutionized by this Campaign, and since I own a piece of it, I need to do my part to further that revolutionary effort.

Today, I sent this e-mail to everyone I know:

There are exactly two (2) months until our most critical Presidential Election ever. Let's please provide everyone with facts concerning legislation sponsored by Senator Obama and other pertinent facts. Here's the first:
Obama Daily Fact: Sen. Obama introduced the Coburn–Obama Transparency Act establishing www.USAspending.gov, and requiring disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds. Signed into law on 09/26/2006. Pls. fwd this msg.
Thank you!

Then, since I know that some people's cell phones only allow 160 characters, I sent this text message today:

Obama Daily Fact: Sen. Obama introduced the Coburn-Obama Transparency Act establishing www.USAspending.gov. Signed into law on 09/26/2006. Pls. fwd. this msg.

This text message was short, hopefully sweet, and to the point. Most of all, it was less than 160 characters, and I expect some people will forward it from the responses that I have gotten so far.

From now until the Election on November 4th, I am going to send one fact via e-mail and via text message to everyone I know.

Feel free to join me, and share your comments.

Thank you!

Action: Protect the ESA

RhOrdway — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:04:56 EDT

Just weeks ago, the Bush administration proposed radical changes to the Endangered Species Act that could severely harm wildlife that is already pushed to the brink of extinction. The Bush administration has opened a 30-day comment period for its proposal, so please take action and submit a comment to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before September 15.

I just submitted comments to protect the ESA. You can too: http:action.sierraclub.org/ESA

Change

Tim from Chicago, IL — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:03:32 EDT

Words cannot express what happiness and relief I feel after watching the people in the crowds, of the Democratic Convention 08. The speeches were inspiring and make me once again, feel proud to be a US citizen. I think the reason the applause went on so long before each speech, was the audience felt total elation in their united purpose...and Mr Obama was dead on when he said "this isn't about me, it's about us"... I know the change is coming, I know Mr Obama is the CORRECT agent of that change...If God has a moment from His busy schedule to watch over us in this election, may He please make sure Mr Obama wins the election of 2008 by a margin of at least 10 perecnt so that we don't have to recount ballots...but we will if we have to.

Time for Action

Bobby — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:48:48 EDT

We have about 2 months to do everything we can to make sure Barack Obama gets into office. It's time to do more than just talk about the man; it's time to support with actions. So upload your face photo at www.1MillionFacesforObama.com and show your support. It's simple, free and an easy but effective way to support the cause an help ensure that Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States of America.

The Weekend of Action is upon us!

Brian - NH HQ — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:29:33 EDT

Pictures and reports are coming in from the big Weekend of Action voter contact events here in New Hampshire. Today is the Milford Labor Day parade and we're heading out for that right now. JOIN US TODAY!

From the Laconia Democratic Party:

'Weekend Of Action' Exceeds Expectations
LACONIA - As the Democratic National Convention drew to a close this week plans were already afoot to extend the excitement and enthusiasm generated in Denver to virtually every corner of the nation as the formal fall campaign gets underway. A "Weekend of Action" was organized involving tens of thousands of volunteers across the country in canvassing and phone banking activities.

"The momentum coming out of the convention was phenomenal," observed Ron Tunning, Chair of the Laconia Democratic Party. "The Obama-Biden campaign recognized that it provided a unique opportunity to hit the ground running with the support of the formidable grassroots organization built over the past several months."

Local organizers, however, were caught by surprise by the strength of the volunteer turnout.

"Usually you assume that about half of the people who indicate that they'll show up for canvassing or phone calls will actually make an appearance," said Rep. Beth Arsenault who helped to offer assistance to callers before heading out to lead a team of canvassers going door-to-door through the city. "But we had a lot more people show up than had been anticipated."

Volunteers made hundreds of phone calls from the "Campaign for Change" office on Canal Street in Laconia this weekend in an effort to identify supporters of all of the Democratic candidates who will be on the ballot this November and to answer any questions from voters who have yet to have made up their minds as to how they plan to vote.

Arsenault credits many factors for the large turnout, from the excitement sparked by the convention and Obama's acceptance speech, to the recognition that our nation is facing an economic crisis exacerbated by a disastrous war and foreign policy.

"More than anything else people want change," she said. "They've had enough of the failed policies that have left our communities, our state and our nation facing monumental problems."

While she recognized many of the volunteers who showed up over the weekend as people she's known and worked with in the past, Arsenault said it was especially heartening to see a lot of new faces. "We had several people show up who had heard about the "Weekend of Action" through Moveon.org," she said. "And others learned about it through the Obama campaign website."

The turnout presented a challenge to campaign staffers and volunteers as there were more people than available phone lines. "We had several people dialing on their cell phones," Arsenault said.

The result was that by the end of Sunday volunteers had made their way through all of the prepared call lists for the entire, upcoming week. A similar level of success was achieved among canvassers who were able to complete an entire week's worth of walk lists.

"Now that summer is officially over people are ready to focus on the election," noted Tunning. "It's become a real priority."

The progress made over the weekend is allowing staffers and volunteers to take a break from calling and canvassing on Labor Day. "I know we have a lot of people going down to Milford today to participate in the Labor Day Parade," Tunning said. "And some others will be attending an AFL-CIO breakfast in Manchester. It's great to have people so involved."

Already, new call lists and walk lists are being prepared for next weekend. "We have two months of work ahead of us and we're not going to pause until November 5, and that will be to celebrate!" Tunning said.

Wages in America:

sawcoalition — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:47:38 EDT

Wages in America:
The Rich Get Richer and the Rest Get Less

Do you feel like you're working harder, longer hours, and still can't keep up with rising taxes, gasoline prices, utility bills, ballooning medical expenses, or the accelerating cost of paying for your kids' education?

Well, you're not alone! You're in good company. The company of tens of millions of American workers today on the same economic treadmill, having to walk faster and faster just to stay in the same place, or, unable even to keep up with the pace due to unemployment, loss of benefits, or wage cuts by their employers.

How would you like to be making $200,000 a year today after 25 years on the job? Well, if you started with the pay of an average worker 25 years ago that's what you'd be making today---if you got the same kind of raises that CEOs of American companies got for the past 25 years! The average compensation of a CEO in 1980 was about 40 times that of the average worker in his company. Today it is more than 500 times! If your pay had kept up with his, you would be making more than $200,000 this year. Of course, that didn't happen, did it? So let's see what actually did happen to the average American worker's pay over the past 25 years of the Reagan-Bush economic regime..

Stagnating Workers' Wages

In 1979 the American worker's average hourly wage was equal to $15.91 (adjusted for inflation in 2001 dollars). By 1989 it had reached only $16.63/hour. That's a gain of only 7 cents a year for the entire Reagan decade.

But wait. Things get worse! By 1995 it had risen to only $16.71, or virtually no gain whatsoever over the 6 years between 1989 and 1995. During the great 'boom years' between 1995 and 2000 it rose briefly to $18.33 per hour. In other words, from 1979 to 2000, even before the most recent Bush recession, after more than two decades the American worker's average wages increased on average only 11.5 cents per hour per year! With nearly all of that coming in the five so-called 'boom' years of 1995-2000, and most of that lost once again in the last three years. And that includes for all workers, even those with college degrees.

The picture is worse for workers who had no college degree. That's more than 100 million workers, or 72.1% of the workforce. For them there was no 'boom of 1995-2000' whatsoever. Their average real hourly wages were less at the end of 2000 than they were in 1979! And since 2000 their wages have continued to slide further.

The Great Productivity Swindle

Management is always quick to say in contract negotiations, 'give us more productivity and we can afford to give you a bigger raise'. But this has been a false promise from 1979 to 2000, and an even bigger lie under George Bush II.

With 1992 as base year, productivity was at 82.2 in 1979. It grew to 94.2 by 1989 and 116.6 by the year 2000. In the past year, moreover, it has exploded, putting it over 120. That's a nearly 40% increase since Ronald Reagan took office nearly 25 years ago!

The 100 million American workers without college degrees, whose real take home pay today is less than it was 25 years ago, certainly can't be said to have shared in that 40% productivity gain. And the other 20 million or so with college degrees whose pay rose modestly at best certainly shared in very little of that nearly 40% productivity gain.

So who got all the money?

CEOs & Executive Compensation

Considering just the period from 1989 to the present yields an obscene result. The median executive salary (cash pay and bonuses) of American CEOs rose by 79% from 1989 to 2000�and has continued to accelerate right through the current Bush II recession! And that's only the median. The average CEO cash and direct compensation growth is even higher than 79%.

But wait! That's only CEO wage or 'cash' compensation. How about management incentives, stock options exercised, the value of new stock grants, special supplemental pensions, etc. etc. The growth of this 'direct compensation' of CEOs from 1989 to 2000 was no less than 342%!. 212% of that growth occurred in the 'boom years' of the late 1990s.

Put in real money terms, the median pay for an American CEO was $2,436,000 in 1989 and $10,775,000 by 2000.

The growth in CEO compensation has been unstoppable, and is accelerating faster every year. In 1965, CEO pay was 26 times that of their average worker. In 1980, as noted, 40 times. In 1989, it was 72 times. In 1999 it had risen to 310 times, and today, as per the above data from the accounting firm, Towers Perrin, survey it has reached 500 times.

The international comparisons are also interesting to note. Whereas the American worker today earns only about a third more than the average wage of the worker in 13 other industrialized countries, for those same countries the American CEO earns 300%, or three times, as much as his CEO counterpart. No average CEO compensation in any of the other 13 countries is equal to even half that of the typical American CEO's. For example, the ratio of CEO to average worker's pay ranges from a low of around 10 to 1 for Japan and Switzerland to a high of around 25 to 1 in the UK and Canada.

As one source has put it, "in 2000 a CEO earned more in one workday (there are 260 in a year) than what the average worker earned in 52 weeks. In 1965, by contrast, it took a CEO two weeks to earn a worker's annual pay".

The Falling Minimum Wage

One of the more shameful legacies of the past decades has been what has been allowed to happen to American workers at the lower end of the earnings spectrum. While workers at the top end have become fewer and fewer with the outsourcing and offshoring of high pay-good benefits union jobs, those at the lower end have been suffering their own severe hardship.

We are talking here about more than 10 million American workers who earn the minimum wage. (Contrary to corporate propaganda, only 28% of those getting paid minimum wage are teenagers. Most are single women or men as head of households). The minimum wage in America reached its high point in the late 1960s in terms of real buying power, and thereafter went into a deep and steady free fall of more than 29% decline in buying power under Reagan during the 1980s. In the early and mid 1990s the decline was slowed somewhat with modest increases in the minimum wage legislated by Congress, but has fallen sharply was again since the last increase in the federal minimum wage in 1996, now approaching almost a decade ago.

In terms of 2001 dollars, the minimum wage in 1979 was worth $6.55. It fell to $4.62 in 1989, rose modestly in the early and mid-1990s, but today in 2003 is equivalent to only $4.94 an hour. The minimum wage is 21.4% less today than it was in 1979.

The Legacy of Declining Hourly Wages in American: Working Longer And Harder

The overall picture is abundantly clear: real average hourly ages of more than 100 million of American workers' are less today than 25 years ago; real wages of college educated workers have risen only modestly in the late 1990s and fallen since under Bush II; and real wages of the 10 million lowest paid workers have declined more than 21%.

Given this irrefutable array of facts, one might ask 'how has the American worker and his or her family survived the last quarter century under Reagan and Bush'? The answer is by working longer hours�individually and as a family unit�and by taking on more and more household debt�both in lieu of hourly wage gains.

Let's look at hours worked: The American worker not only works more hours in a year than his counterpart in other industrialized nations, but is the only worker in the 13 major industrialized countries whose hours worked per year actually increased since 1979.

Workers in all the other industrialized countries have enjoyed an actual decrease in their total hours worked per year in a comparable period.

For example, there are approximately 2080 hours of work in a year. In 1979 the American worker individually worked 1905 hours out of the possible 2080. But by 1998 he or she was now working 1966 hours a year. That's an increase of 61 hours. In contrast, a worker in Germany saw his working hours decline from 1764 to 1562. A worker in France from 1813 to 1634. And in the United Kingdom from 1821 to 1737. The picture is similar in all 13 industrialized countries recently surveyed.

As a family unit, while real wages of male workers as heads of households in the US have fallen, the American family has worked longer hours by adding more family members to the workforce. Since 1973 this increase in family average hours worked is the equivalent of adding 5 months of work in a year to the 2080 hours. Wives in working families have assumed the major share of this increase in total family hours worked, contributing more than 500 additional hours of work per year. But the male worker in the family has also worked more overtime hours, and both husbands and wives have taken on second part time jobs as well. All three developments add up to the 5 additional months of work American workers' families now work in order to offset declining hourly wages and just to make ends meet.

If it were not for working these longer hours worked, or adding record amounts of family debt (installment, mortgage, student loan, etc), the standard of living of the American worker and his family would have certainly collapsed.

Conclusion

While the American worker and family are working harder, with longer hours, and still falling further and further behind�the American CEO is 500 times better off since Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II. Think about that $200,000 equivalent pay you might have gotten if you were treated as equally or fairly as the CEO of the company you work for.

—Jack Rasmus, National Writers Union, UAW 1981, AFL-CIO.

This article is an excerpt from Jack Rasmus's forthcoming book, THE WAR AT HOME: The Corporate Offensive in America From Reagan to Bush, which is available for pre-ordering along with offerings of other plays, music and videos.

COME LAUGH @ THE OBAMA COMEDY NIGHT AND VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE III SEPT. 12th

BIG MIKE, COMEDIAN — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:40:51 EDT

THE OBAMA '08 COMEDY NIGHT and VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE III WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF BARACK OBAMA & JOE BIDEN'S INCREDIBLE CAMPAIGN THROUGH COMEDY AND SOCIALIZING. OUR FIRST TWO EVENTS WAS SUCCESSFUL AND THIS TIME THE SHOW WILL BE EVEN GREATER!COMEDIANS THAT CARE WILL HAVE NAT'L HEADLINERS HEADLINER BRETT ERNST W/ SINGER CHERISH ALEXANDER, JONAS GARVIN, RAMSEY MOORE, BIG MIKE, HOWIE WALFISH, TARA WALDEN, JULIO GONZALEZ, JEFFREY PETERSON & JANUARY THOMAS! HOSTED BY JASON HADLEY. THERE'S A $10.00 COVER CHARGE FOR ADMISSION AS WELL AS A TWO ITEM PURCHASE. VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS WILL BE PASSED OUT and GRASSROOT SIGN-UP ADVICE AS WELL! WE ALSO WILL ADVISE GUESTS ON THE BEST WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OBAMA '08 CAMPAIGN ! PLEASE HELP ME MAKE THIS SHOW A MEMORABLE NIGHT! PLEASE, SERIOUS R.S.V.P.'S ONLY CALL 323-856-0036 OR EMAIL RJOELEROY@AOL.COM. LIMITED SEATING. <img src="http://www.deepspacemine.com/obama3flyer.jpg">

Action - Employee Free Choice Act - Petition

RhOrdway — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:59:56 EDT

It’s only getting worse for working families as the cost of everything from gas to groceries keeps going up. That’s why I signed a petition supporting the Employee Free Choice Act, which would help level the playing field by making it easier for workers to join unions.

The goal is one million signatures. Will you take a moment to sign, and pass this along? Go to: http://freechoiceact.org/araw

What it will take to win this

Cactus Wren from Tucson — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:23:13 EDT

A Nation article

Progressives in the Obama Moment By Robert L. Borosage & Katrina vanden Heuvel

from a few weeks ago (August 13) needs to be kept in mind as we proceed through this convention into the general election. Here is an excerpt:

"Although marketed as a trustworthy maverick, McCain accurately describes himself as a "foot soldier in the Reagan revolution" and attests that "on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I've been totally in agreement and support of President Bush." He is committed to the full Bush catastrophe: continued war in Iraq, more tax cuts for the wealthiest, more corporate trade deals, more deregulation, more hostility toward labor, more conservative social policies and reactionary judges. Indeed, he's Bush on steroids. McCain seeks not only to privatize Social Security but also to unravel employer-based healthcare, leaving people to negotiate alone with insurance companies liberated from regulation. His bellicose posturing on Iran and Iraq is as disastrous as his pledge of impossibly deep cuts in domestic programs. He embraces the corporate economic and trade agenda that has so devastated the American middle class. If he is defeated, it will mark the end of the Reagan era.

Obama clearly offers a change of course. His victory in itself will require overcoming the racial fears that have so long divided this country. He carries a reform agenda--largely driven by progressives--into the election: an end to the occupation of Iraq, using the money squandered there to rebuild America; affordable healthcare for all, paid for by raising taxes on the wealthy; a concerted drive for energy independence, generating jobs while investing in renewable energy and conservation. He is committed to empowering labor, to holding corporations and banks more accountable and to challenging our trade policies. A social liberal, his judicial appointees will keep the right from consolidating its hold on the federal judiciary. Obama may not be a "movement" progressive in the way that Reagan was a "movement" conservative, and he may have disappointed activists with his recent compromises, but make no mistake: his election will open a new era of reform, the scope of which will depend--as Obama often says--on independent progressive mobilization to keep the pressure on and overcome entrenched interests.

As this is written, an election Obama should win handily is locked in a virtual tie. Both the Obama and McCain campaigns treat the race as a referendum on Obama, with the former focused on getting Americans comfortable with trusting a young African-American with an unusual name, and the Rove minions in the McCain campaign intent on stoking the fears that enabled them to assemble a white majority party in the past.

Obama's campaign will not succeed without the independent efforts of progressive activists. One central task is winning support among wary white blue-collar workers, the core target of the Rovian poison. This will require persuasion as well as mobilization; the work of the AFL-CIO, Change to Win, Working America, religious groups and others with a base in these communities in swing states will be of critical importance."

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080901/borosage_kvh

Team spirit

khoragos — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:53:01 EDT

I've admired Joe Biden's commitment & candor for 20 years. I hope the campaign will dare to specify a few clear policy goals for which the ticket promises to share reponsibility by acting together. Unifying the Presidential campaign is urgent, but winning only matters with a mandate!

What could we do if everybody could get credit for it?

What 3-10 goals will the Obama/Biden Administration work & fight for every day, continuously, at home & abroad, whether or not some momentary bit of world news or partisan spin comes along?

I want to see Democratic majorities in both Houses of Congress called upon in every session by the Executive Branch to take responsibility for making laws, not excuses. I hope to see an Administration that welcomes legislative oversight, because consultation breeds organization and organization builds CHANGE.

Today I'm more than proud, I'm excited to be a Democrat for the first time in a while. GOBAMA and go, Joe!

Phone Banking

Fanny — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:51:24 EDT

I just made 25 calls to Ohio and I want to encourage anyone who wants to be involved to go to Action then Action Center on MyBO to make phone calls. It's an oldie but goodie to reach voters in swing states.

Upstage McCain's Convention in Your Hometown

Ryan Kauffman in Portland — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:18:57 EDT

The Wall Street Jounal highlited McCain's plan to steal Obama's spotlight in Denver this week:

Republicans Plan to Grab Some Denver Limelight

This angers me and shows McCain's jealousy. The smart, good looking, young guy is popular now and McCain can not handle it. Well sorry John, but that is absolutely the wrong way to handle it. There is an unwritten rule that candidates allow each other to carry on their convention in peace, but McCain is the master of breaking rules and he has cajoled the media into allowing him a free pass to do it!

I suggest that we, the Obama movement, take it upon ourselves to show John McCain that breaking rules has consequences. During the Republican Convention find a busy street corner near you and take some friends with Obama gear and demonstrate for Obama. Get signs, tee shirts, flyers... whatever. If you do not have anything either find your local office and go pick the stuff up, print it off from myBO, or make your own!

Make this a nationwide demonstration from sea to shining sea. Show the American people in every state, county, city, highway, and block that Obama will be our next President. We are members of the largest grassroots movement in American history.

The RNC is September 1-4. Yes We Can!

Join the Group, "Grab McCain's Convention Spotlight"

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/GrabMcCainsConventionSpotlight

End Tax Breaks for Big Oil - Petition

RhOrdway — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:51:33 EDT

I signed a petition urging Congress to end tax breaks for big oil companies. Can you join me at the link below? http://pol.moveon.org/oiltaxbreaks/?r_by=13542-9214852-iG3c9.x&rc=confemail Thanks!

NOT THIS TIME!

ObamaBob NSB — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:19:21 EDT

From the Obama Action Wire:

Yesterday, you learned about the right-wing's latest attack: extremist Jerome Corsi and his book of the same old smears and lies.

Today, you can take the next step.

Tackle this smear campaign head on. The Obama research team released a 41-page rebuttal called "Unfit for Publication," refuting Corsi's rehashed distortions point-by-point, leaving no smear unanswered.

Arm yourself with the facts and write a letter to your local newspapers telling them to do their job by debunking this kind of garbage. The media are not playing their role as watchdogs. In fact, they are fanning the flames of controversy and legitimizing a discredited political bottom-feeder.

Take action now and tell the media to report the truth, not debunked lies and smears that are unfit for publication:

http://my.barackobama.com/unfit4publication

The right-wing smear machine is in full force -- blasting out Corsi's stale fabrications far and wide to a media that's so far been eager to pick them up. In just three days, Corsi's made front page news in both the New York Times and Washington Post.

We've posted the full truth online so you have the tools to fight back in your community and local papers.

Can you write a letter to the editor exposing Jerome Corsi and his book for what they really are -- another hack job by a desperate right-wing fabricator?

In 2004, Corsi helped launch the Swift Boat smear campaign with a book of distortions and lies he wrote about John Kerry. This time we won't be Swift Boated.

Keep up the good fight,

Action: Protect Women's Health - add your voice

RhOrdway — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:04:07 EDT

Can you imagine living in a place where birth control is considered an "abortion" and health insurers won't cover it? Where even rape victims are denied emergency contraception?

I just signed a message to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, whose department is considering this rule change, telling him: "Contraception is NOT abortion." Can you add your voice to this cause? Click here to sign the message: http://pol.moveon.org/contraception/?r_by=13468-9214852-E877iKx&rc=confemail

August Call to Action - Domestic Energy Alternatives

RhOrdway — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:47:01 EDT

"Sometimes it takes a crisis to awaken us from our slumber. But once aroused, the American people can accomplish miracles." - T. Boone Pickens

• Do you agree that we need to slash our foreign oil dependence by at least 30% within 10 years?
• Do you agree that we need to generate at least 20% of our electricity from domestic renewable sources by 2019?
• Do you agree that we need to have incentives in place to get these technologies installed and operational within 10 years?
• Do you agree that private enterprise should provide the investment and execute the deployment with government clearing the way?
• Do you agree with the Pickens Plan?

Join us at Push.PickensPlan.com

ACTION: Protect America's Endangered Species - Petition

RhOrdway — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:59:46 EDT

America's landmark law protecting endangered species is under attack and we need your help. Late yesterday, news broke that the Bush administration has drafted proposed new rules to dramatically weaken the Endangered Species Act. We need your help to fight back. Add your voice to the chorus of opposition to this outrageous proposal.

http://action.edf.org/campaign/esa_action

ACTION: Preserve the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - Petition

RhOrdway — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:10:09 EDT

I just wrote to my members of Congress urging them to preserve the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Over the last few years, there have been constant efforts to weaken this indispensable safeguard of our environment. These attacks have undermined a law that was passed to make sure the government "looks before it leaps" when considering any major federal projects that could impact our environment. NEPA is supposed to ensure that the government considers environmental and public health impact, and that it has real input from its citizens. These should be fundamental principles of a democracy, but now they are in danger! Please join me in protecting our environment by urging your members of Congress to uphold NEPA and to oppose efforts to undermine it. Send your message today by clicking the link below; it will only take a minute. http://ga3.org/campaign/nepa_action

Action: FEC Investigate Wal-Mart - Petition

RhOrdway — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:42:32 EDT

You've got to check this out. Wal-Mart is telling its employees to vote against Democrats in the upcoming election. http://action.americanrightsatwork.org/campaign/FEC_WalMart Apparently Wal-Mart has been holding mandatory meetings with supervisors, threatening them that if they vote for pro-worker candidates like Barack Obama in November, the Employee Free Choice Act will pass, making it easier to form unions in Wal-Mart stores. This is potentially illegal, and there's a petition to demand an investigation of Wal-Mart. I just asked the Federal Election Commission to immediately investigate this story. No one should be told by their boss how to vote. Sign by Thursday to have your name included in our petition delivery to the FEC. Click this link: http://action.americanrightsatwork.org/campaign/FEC_WalMart

Action: Support Higher Gas-Mileage Standards - Petition

RhOrdway — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:50:35 EDT

I just took action on an issue that I consider very important: supporting higher gas-mileage standards. I urge you to take action yourself and spread the word. Find out more and sign the petition: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5243/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1343

Show the better world we want.

Robert Michael Foster, MA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:52:36 EDT

In 1957 I was a painfully shyteen, that had just taken a 2 credit college course on our US Constitution in high school. I later found out that my shyness went away my fears were transformed. I also was selected for an engineering co-op program for the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, and I also joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves. I raised my right hand for the USMCR, and swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. I was one of the few, that knew our Constitution I was swearing to defend. Later, my co-op I was sent to a course in New York on a naval fire control system. I paid extra to return to California, via my nations Capitol, Washington DC. I was shocked to find that in my nation's Capitol, the hotels were listed in the telephone book as "whites only". I decided to make my peaceful protest right there, in violation of my culture, and even part of my family. I found a black hotel, and instructed my cab driver to take me there. His eyes got big, and he asked me if I was sure that I wanted to go there. Even though that shy young man was feeling his fears, he said yes. I was demonstrating peacefully, that I wanted my nation to live up to its Constitution. No one but the hotel clerk spoke to me and others appeared uncomfortable. I felt good that I was demonstrating what I wanted in spite of my fears, and still do. The Marines had taught me the difference between healthy and unhealthy pride. I have since learned how to go to the deeper levels where there are no differences. I can only hope that many others, will also defy their cultures, feel uncomfortable, and peacefully demonstrate, for what they want to see transformed. What are you interested in demonstrating peacefully that our culture is not ready for yet?

Very Respectfully, Michael

Resume: http://RecoveryByDiscovery.com/resume.htm

As a system engineer, I am especially interested in our energy challenges. If we do not solve our energy challenges, we will not have the resources to solve our other challenges. I am also especially interested in helping our troops PTSD challenge because I have some unique insites from my training and experience.

Obama Resources

DNMP — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:08:45 EDT

See these links for all the offical information you need about Barack Obama for President 2008.

A special thanks to Karen Young of Delaware for Obama for sending this information!

DNMP

Obama information sources:

- *A Comparison of Obama's and McCain's tax plans which you can print off: http://vt71443.com/materials/taxes.html

- All the Obama Issue Flyers: http://my.barackobama.com/content/resourceflyers/

- Materials you can print: http://my.barackobama.com/acresources

- Policy Issues: http://my.barackobama.com/acissues

- People Pages: http://www.barackobama.com/people/

- Get the Truth about Rumors: http://www.fightthesmears.com/

- Check the Facts: http://factcheck.barackobama.com/

- Newsroom: http://my.barackobama.com/acnewsroom

- BarackTV: http://www.barackobama.com/tv/

- Speeches: http://my.barackobama.com/acspeeches

- Meet Barack: http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_barack.php

- Fundraising Guides: http://my.barackobama.com/acresources

- Widgets, Logos, Icons, and Other Downloads: http://www.barackobama.com/downloads/

* Please note that this link does not come from the Obama website and therefore it may not have come from the campaign (however the information does have a source that is referenced).

Save Our Planet-Yes We Can

Charles Langille Jr. — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:57:25 EDT

I have created a new event under the NH page, however anyone can join. I was struck by an article found through a link on CNN.com yesterday. The article talked about how GOP people were mocking Obama's energy plan and stated that he was out of touch. They were mailing out tire pressure gauges titled Obama's energy plan. The article went on to back the Obama energy plan and stated that there is scientific data to back Obama's plan and that it was truthful to state that if everyone in America used a tire pressure gauge and properly inflated their tires, then the USA could save the equivalent of drilling offshore in the gulf. I want everyone to pledge to buy Tire Pressure Gaugest this weekend to show the world that we believe in Obama's plan and are ready to take his lead and do what is asked of us to help our country and our planet. Join with me and purchase tire gauges, if you already have them and use them, then purchase a few and hand them out with the message from Obama...that we can do this together.

Take action here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/communityservice/44bz2

an update

Haley — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:14:20 EDT

So I've officially been working with Georgia Campaign for Change for a little over 2 weeks now. It's been a crazy ride so far. In the midst of working 15 hour days I also managed to adopt a second kitty, Rumplestiltskin. Who right now is climbing across my keyboard. Not much can deter this little guy, and there is NOTHING he's afraid of. He gives me motivation to keep my head up and work harder and harder with each new day. I can turn this county around, I can help turn this state around. I can help turn this country around, but not on my own. Please, if anyone reads this: get motivated, get out there and get active. It's the only way we, together, will turn things around.

ACTION: GREAT POSITIVE VETERANS FLYER FROM AFL-CIO JUST RELEASED

Nevada County For Obama-Curtis Walker — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:52:52 EDT

Action Requested:

1. Share this flyer with your family and friends.

2. Print copies and deliver them to you local Veteran Service Organizations (Example: Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, VFW, and Viet Nam, Afgan and Iraq groups in your area.

3. Consider making yourself available to speak at their monthly meetings to talk about, positively, what Obama HAS done for vets.

Barack Obama has consistantly stood up for Veterans (as an Illinois legislator and as a US Senator) and It Is Time For Veterans To Stand Up For Barack!

LINK

Please CROSSPOST to any other Veteran Group on BO.COM if not listed in LISTED IN GROUPS link above.

Thanks for all you do for Veterans and Our Next President.

Curtis Walker

Obama Delgate, CA Congressional District Four

The Con as in Comic and a change in Climate

Nick Danger — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:28:46 EDT

I've been away at the Comic-Con conference in San Diego for a week or so...Several hundred thousand people were in attendance, actual numbers are still in debate but it's safe to say there were at the very least 125,000 attendees present (last years numbers) attending special film and television screenings, an indie film festival, panels, workshops, an impressive tradeshow and an area dubbed Artists Alley, where artists and writers promote their work and exchange ideas with the public. Comic-Con or "the Con" as it is effectionately known to long time attendees is no longer driven by a focus on Comics but has become a "pop culture" event and the organizers touted it as such. The change in the event seems to be happening just as there is change happening with society in general. With the Con switching gears from a focus on Comic book superheroes of fantasy to a focus on action and individuals taking action as seen in upcoming films, television and gaming industry product, a movement in the focus of the social fabric of society was evident. This shift in focus can also be seen as a shift from a society that is being taken care of by a benevolent corporate hero or in some instances an institution itself to individuals standing strong and making a difference. This climate change in society is setting the scene for new policies, a new approach to government and a new type of politician, perhaps making our jobs a bit easier. That being said, the forests have been cleared and paved but we as a party must not sit arrogantly idle as though we're waiting for a deserved moment in the sun. The time for action by average Americans to take the country back is NOW! So I call on all who read this to speak out and move our candidates and party forward, move the issues that you're passionate about to the forefront because each and everyone of you reading this are the true action heroes of our story. By the way, I am also happy to report that Obama volunteers were out in force registering voters and handing out stickers etc.

Call to Action --- 103 Days to Election

Shawn — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:48:34 EDT

As I posted earlier, in 2004 I didn’t do anything but vote. It was inconceivable to me that a buffoon like George Bush could be re-elected.

We all know how that turned out. :o(

It’s inconceivable to me that a person could compare Barack Obama and John McCain, and then vote for McCain. Then I think of 2004, and Bush. That’s why I’m committed to doing everything in my power to make sure Barack Obama is sworn in on January 9th to be our 44th president.

I figure I could sit back complacently and trust that Obama can win without my help. After all, right now he’s polling 5 points ahead of McCain in New Mexico. But… make no mistake, one misstep by the Obama campaign or one successful smear by the Republicans and that lead will be gone. Poof! Obama needs every bit of help we can give and every vote.

How can we help? Below the fold are some ideas. Even if you don’t have much time to help, or money to donate, there should be at least one thing listed here you can do.

Hartford House Meeting Report

Chris 11 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:11:29 EDT

Many thanks to the 27 (!) people who showed up to find out more about the Obama campaign at the first Hartford Unite for Change house meeting. It was an inspiring evening, thanks to the often eloquent comments from attendees about their reasons for attending the meeting or wanting to be involved in the campaign. It was a great kickoff to further action in Hartford.

If you did not attend this meeting, please watch for the next one to come up. If you attend one, I'm sure you'll be glad you did. If you are interested in hosting one, that's even better. Feel free to contact me if you have questions or want help planning and running it. The challenge is not great; the rewards are.

Two Obama campaign field organizers attended our meeting. Both Tessa and Clay are going to be great for people in our area to work with. Watch for an opportunity to meet them! (Clay will be working with Washington County, Tessa with Ozaukee, but both will be in the West Bend field office at least for awhile.)

If you're in Hartford and have not yet joined the Hartford, Wisconsin for Obama group, please consider doing so, and tell anyone you know who might be interested.

Just over 100 days to the election! Let's get busy!

Name Comfort

Chris 11 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:07:56 EDT

I would like to encourage all Obama supporters in the area to get the campaign yard signs, bumper stickers, car magnets, shirts and hats out there in the community visible and often. As you know, many people in the country, especially in conservative, traditional areas like ours, are uneasy with the unusual sound of Barack Obama's name. This is regrettable but understandable. Familiarity with the name will likely reduce this uneasiness, especially if people see the name early and often in many different locations.
Unfortunately, the best place to get official campaign material like this is through the website's store, which is a bit slow in processing. The local campaign offices do not have this material (at least not yet, and I don't know if they will in the future.)
So please, let's see those signs, shirts and buttons all around town, especially in crowded places like the farmers markets, but really everywhere.

Excerpts from Lee Iacocca's new book

Brad — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:28:03 EDT

A dear friend of mine sent me this excerpt this morning and I found it very relavent to what Sen. Obama has been saying. Enjoy.

Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from it's death throes? He's now 82 years old and has a new book, and here are some excerpts.

Lee Iacocca Says:

'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening?
Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder.
We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car.
But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course'

Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!'

You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-pom's' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the 'AMERICA' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for.
I've had enough. How about you?

I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have.
The Biggest 'C' is Crisis ! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership, crisis being the first.)

Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis.
It's easy to s it there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory.
Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.

On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history.
We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A Hell of a Mess So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing,
and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way These are times that cry out for leadership.

But when you look around, you've got to ask:'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense?
I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.

Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to
do is react to things that have already happened.

Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina.
Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane,
or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.

Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again.
Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.

Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there coul d ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies?
How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?

Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debit, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence
is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.

I have news for the gang in Congress.
We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and
do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some
bonehead on Fox News will call them a name?
Give me a break.
Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?

Had Enough?
Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope I believe in America . In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of AMERICA's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: the 'Great Depression', 'World War II', the 'Korean War', the 'Kennedy Assassination', the 'Vietnam War', the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this:'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our
children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to 'Action' for people who, like me, believe in America . It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had 'enough.'Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and care about. It's our country, folks; and it's our future. Our Future Is At Stake!

Get your message to the Democratic Convention

Chris 11 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:50:57 EDT

In another indication that this campaign represents a clear departure from previous ones, hundreds or even thousands of meetings will take place around the country the 19th-27th of July to share and gather ideas for what should be in the Democratic Party platform.
The campaign provides guidelines for the meetings and will provide a mechanism for reviewing and forwarding results of these listening meetings to the convention in Denver.

The closest meeting listed so far is in Sheboygan. We should surely have one in Washington County. For more information, go to this page on the campaign website: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/listening/ You can also get there by choosing the "BLOG" option at the top of most of the website's pages. Scroll down to the piece with the box that says "Listening to America."
I am probably interested in at least helping with one of these events. Anybody else? This seems like a terrific idea.

Why Are We Helping the GOP?!

Nia "Hussein" J. — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:19:30 EDT

Progressives Must Guard Against Helping to Promote Republican Narrative That Alleges Obama "Flip Flops"

By Robert Creamer via www.huffingtonpost.com

The Republican spin machine is locked and loaded to promote the notion that Barack Obama is a "flip flopper." Four years ago it was their principal line of attack against Kerry and it worked like a charm.

In 2004, the goal of this narrative was to convince swing voters that Kerry had no core values -- that his positions and commitments were blown by the winds of public opinion just as he was blown right and left in the notorious campaign ad of Kerry wind-surfing.

Not long after the 2004 election, I was in a New Jersey taxicab. The driver was a typical male New Jersey cabbie. "So what do you think of Corzine?" I asked. "Oh, Corzine, tough guy. Like him," he replied about the then-Senator.

"What do you think of Bush?" I asked. "Like him too. Tough guy. Stands up for what he believes," came the answer.

"What about Kerry?" I asked. "Kerry? Can't stand him. Flip-flopper."

People want leaders who are firmly committed to their values. The key thing that affected the New Jersey cabbie's view wasn't the positions or views of the candidates. It was whether they stood up for what they believed. There are many independent voters just like him.

I believe that John Kerry has very clear values, but he left himself open to be defined to swing voters as if he didn't.

Barack Obama is firmly committed to progressive values that contrast sharply with the values implicit in necon foreign policy and dog-eat-dog, survival-of-the-fittest Bush-McCain economic policies.

Obama is much less likely than Kerry was to allow himself to be characterized as a flip-flopper without core values, because his entire campaign is rooted in the discussion of values. It has drawn very sharp distinctions with Republicans on the critical symbolic questions of Iraq, the economy and health care. But that won't keep Republicans from doing everything they can to try to make Obama look like he is a "typical politician" without a moral core the same way they did with Kerry.

Last week's near-frenzy in the media over Obama's alleged "move to the center" on Iraq had no substance whatsoever. It was fed, virtually entirely, by the Republican National Committee and the McCain campaign that simply asserted that his statements on Iraq represented a "change " from earlier positions. That narrative was picked up and parroted by various media pundits as if it were true.

Unfortunately, some Progressives fell prey to the media wave and actually gave credence to this non-story, when the fact is that Obama has consistently supported ending the war in Iraq and withdrawing all combat troops within 16 months, at a pace that is responsive to the situation on the ground.

Progressives have to remember that the Republicans don't care about the nuances of these issues. Their goal is simple: make Obama look like he is changing his position.

All Progressives don't agree with every position Barack Obama has taken, but the fact is that very few of his positions have changed since the campaign began.

Progressives who disagree with Barack Obama but at the same time don't want to help Republicans usher in a third Bush term need to remember three things:

1). Go right ahead and disagree with an Obama position or statement -- but disagree on the substance. Don't impute some venal motive. Remember that even when you disagree with him on an issue or policy, Obama shares our progressive values.

2). Don't reinforce the Republican narrative that Obama is a "flip flopper." Disagreeing with an Obama position is very different from arguing that he agreed with you once, but now has changed positions just to win favor with the voters. First, that is generally wrong. Second, if Obama emphasizes one aspect of a position instead of another in order to attract a particular group of voters, that does not mean he "changed" his position. Third, remember that the Republicans are desperate to get Progressives to confirm their narrative and convince guys like my New Jersey taxi driver to elect John McCain.

3). Remember that there is a huge gulf between the values of Obama and McCain. Obama stands clearly in the progressive tradition of giving every human being equal opportunity to fulfill their potential. McCain stands squarely on the side of ultra-conservative values that protect the power and prerogatives of the wealthiest among us.

Obama stands firmly against the neocon foreign policies of preemptive war and unilateral action that lay at the root of the worst American foreign policy disaster in a generation. McCain stands just as firmly for the neocon vision and the Bush approach to the rest of the world.

Obama believes that economic growth happens from the bottom up and doesn't trickle down on the rest of us. He supports the rights of workers to organize to defend their standard of living, and a world where we're all in this together, not all in this alone. McCain intends to continue Bush's economic policies that have assured that all of the economic growth in the last seven years has gone to the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

Obama understands that our world faces the greatest environmental crisis in history as we seek to prevent human beings from altering our climate. First and foremost, John McCain's loyalties lie with the oil industry.

We need to remember that John McCain's campaign is managed by lobbyists from the biggest special interests in America, while Barack Obama understands the need to mobilize tens of millions of Americans to change Washington from the ground up.

Progressives should go right ahead and question Obama's positions on issues -- and they should continue to hold him accountable when he is elected president. But remember that the Republicans are desperate to convince independent voters that Obama is "just another politician" whose values flow from the latest poll instead of his own commitment to principle. Don't help them. If you do you will be wrong, and you will also help the Republicans fulfill their unthinkable fantasy of a third Bush term.

* My Words*

I've come to the conclusion that we have this "problem" because we think of Obama as a two dimensional politician when he is actually three dimensional, if not more. A very easy thing to do when in the past all we had were two dimensional politicians. It's time for us to keep up with the times, the changes we are going to see and stop allowing ourselves and other to over simplify our Next President, Mr Obama. As he has said all along that he wants us to change how we think of politics in general. It isn't about Repulican, democrate, black or white, far right or far left. It's about us...all of us and thinking outside of our normal two dimensional political box. We have to stay on message and know it like the back of our hand. In the coming months the Repuglicans will spoend millions of dollars to make Obama out to be ssomething he is not which is a typical two deminsional politician; even using his own words from his books. We can't allow it.

No on FISA, Yes on Allen

Morton Jackson — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:33:53 EDT

Mort Jackson, calling all Canvassers: Met many of you while canvassing for Barack in Concord, Manchester, & Nashua, NH, Boston, MA, Madison, WI, Providence, RI, Scranton, PA, Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Louisville, KY.

I missed MAINE, but I came across TOM ALLEN, Representative from Maine, who's running for US Senate. He voted AGAINST FISA in the House, voted against the war in Iraq before opposing the war was popular. Allen is great on health care and has the same program that Barack supported until lately. I am going to campaign for Tom Allen in his Senate campaign. I am letting Barack know with a copy of this message as a sort of friendly reminder that he also pledged to vote against FISA.

Money talks. I'm sending Tom Allen my twenty bucks today. Put your money where your mouth is, and send Tom 20 bucks right now with a notice of your gift to Barack suggesting he remember his pledge to us. No more switching. BARACK VOTE NO ON FISA.

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO OF THE OBAMA '08 COMEDY NITE & VOTER REG. DRIVE @ THE M BAR!

BIG MIKE, COMEDIAN — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:01:55 EDT

<a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=37576799">Learning some editing software</a><br/><object width="425px" height="360px" ><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=37576799,t=1,mt=video"/><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=37576799,t=1,mt=video" width="425" height="360" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /></object>

Stumbling on FISA

William from Chicago, IL — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:31:52 EDT

I am a neighbor of Sen. Obama's in Hyde Park, Chicago (my wife and I actaully live in his old condo association, East View Park). I have fiercely supported him in numerous debates with colleagues, friends, and even strangers. Perhaps true progressives have been burned too many times, but I am still waiting for Sen. Obama's mask to slip, and for the dark soul to reveal itself. Is he only a wolf in messiah's robes? Paranoia perhaps, but his FISA vote has made these nightmares more frequent.

His vote indicates his willingness to grant immunity not just for large corporations (from justified lawsuits), but also essentially for Pres. Bush's over-reaching "intelligence" establishment (from investigation of their actions, through those private lawsuits).

Few threats can be more dangerous to democracy, open government and free society than the cooperation, for illegal ends, between mighty corporations that touch every American's life and a despotic bureaucratic government that seeks to pry into every American's privacy. But the worst example of this threat since the Orwell's fictional 1984 is exactly what Sen. Obama just ratified.

With a single vote, he has made me question his values and views on large corporations abusing individuals; government granting unjust privileges to large corporations, at the public's expense; the investigation of large-scale government abuses and illegal programs; First and Fifth Amendment rights; and the privacy of citizens' personal communications and associations. I do not, and will not, support any candidate, even for Water Reclamation District Commissioner, who does not think and act progressively on these issues.

More importantly, the changes in the Obama campaign since he became the presumptive nominee mark him as a true suspect. Perhaps the most dangerous man in democracy is one who garners support on the basis of progressive reform and non-pandering politics, but who is willing to play the pandering game of the centrist politician when the stakes are high. That man, like Pres. Clinton, does not only crush hope, he crushes the will. He not only delays reform and change, but actually makes it a little less possible for generations to come.

Is Sen. Obama just another Bill Clinton, despite his lofty speeches?

Mr. Obama, you have given us hope. Now show your audacity again, and prove you are worthy of our hope. These are your words, Mr. Obama. The audacity to hope is not enough for one who might have the world in his hands. The audacity to put that hope into action consistent with your ideals is far more important. We will all be watching to see if you are able to do just that.

Unite For Change House Meeting

Chris 11 — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:57:56 EDT

We attended an excellent Unite for Change House Meeting in Oconomowoc Saturday afternoon, June 28th where we met people of a variety of backgrounds, ages and political histories. Many of them had little previous political experience and almost all were excited and energized by this campaign. Some were Republicans, some independents, and all were made to feel welcome. The event was comfortable, warm and informative, thanks to the good company, our gracious hosts and the volunteer Obama Campaign Organizing Fellow from the Waukesha campaign office.

One key point I noticed is that while most who spoke up were very enthusiastic about Senator Obama's candidacy, there was even more enthusiasm for the principles and goals of the campaign, particularly the return of political action to everyday people, and beyond that, to extend the sense of community beyond the political season and political to try to build a stronger community by working together.

We expect to host a similar event here in Hartford sometime in the coming weeks, perhaps in cooperation with some other Hartford Obama supporters who would like to help prepare for the event.

Hope to see you here when the time comes!