Posts with the tag issues

Western Massachusetts OFA Volunteer Training - Dec 6th

Nicole LaChapelle — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:28:09 EST

Join Organizing for America -- and help make sure the change we voted for becomes a reality. This training is designed for volunteers who want to be effective organizers in their neighborhoods and communities.

This is a unique opportunity to apply the skills we learned during the campaign to the critical fight for health insurance reform and other upcoming policy initiatives. Join OFA-MA staff and volunteers from across the state to learn how to make change in your own neighborhood and beyond, utilizing the same tools that helped bring President Obama to the White House.

Topics include: Working as a community organizer · Storytelling as an organizing tool · Creating and working in organizing teams · Campaign structure and strategy · Issue advocacy for health insurance reform · Using social media for organizing · Phonebanking and Canvassing · Event planning

OFA Volunteer Training in Northampton, Sunday, December 6th: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpc8km

The coming energy crisis

Jimmy — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:09:41 EDT

Currently we are using fossil fuels as our main energy source. If we continue with this way of life then we will run out of them (or prices will get too high) in the near future therefore leaving many of us without electricity or fuel to power our cars.

Americans will Respond...JUST WAITING

Citizens for Change in America! — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:59:25 EDT

America is waiting...
only a few have the COURAGE to stand for the AMERICAN citizen!
Citizens will respond...
many will be replaced as Americans see what politicians they elected
DID NOT do to help the citizen they were supposed to represent...

Unpatriotic

Jim — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:44:25 EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Poemak

Unknown user — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:34:22 EDT

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Calling Fun People and Other Superheroes to Specialtys on Valentines Day

Devans00 — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 02:34:37 EST

Calling All Artists, Creative Types, Fun People and Other Superheroes Meeting at Specialtys Cafe in Santa Clara was enlightening. We turned the corner in the cafe into the meeting area to see a bunch of tables covered with butcher paper, crayons and miscellaneous other stuff: big fluffy brushes, cat musician statues, pine cones, press-on lights and turkey feathers. All tools to inspire and motivate brainstorming. Our host Janet, AKA Jon, got our creative juices going.

Meet with like-minded friends and neighbors for an lively brainstorming session on what we can do to start creating the change we want. Expect to come away with specific, achievable and fun objectives; small steps and short term goals with long term results.
Our first event was a lot of fun, and people came away with a better sense of where they wanted to contribute their time and energy. Since we have a mix of new people and people who were at the first meeting, we will blend the same kind of brainstorming with coming up with at least one small, easy step we can each take toward achieving our contribution goals. We will stick with things that personally intrigue and energize us, to make it easier to take those steps.
We need all of us, with all our various interests, abilities and experiences to make this a great nation and a good world, whether times are good or bad.

It kind of worked. By having people write their notes in crayon on the tables, it put most of the group on the same wave length. Silicon Valley, the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California, United States of America and the bay area in general, have over 100 active BarackObama.com active groups. Most groups are within an hour drive of each other. We are concerned that ideas and work may be duplicated because each group is isolated. We could strategize more efficiently and work towards results if people interested in the same topic connected.

We broke into four groups of 4-5 and brainstormed together. My groups spent the part of the 20 minutes or so talking about how we could find out what other regional groups are working on. How to merge interests and resources? We also discussed specific ideas people want to champion such as converting from oil to solar energy.

After 20 minutes, everyone got up and switched groups. So by the end of the meeting, you talked with at least 12 people, a majority of folks who showed up. Many had participated in the Santa Clara economic recovery meeting at the library mentioned in the San Jose Mercury News article, "Weekend 'Stimulus Parties' Bring out Obama Faithful Across the Nation" by Denis C. Theriault. The group plans to meet monthly, so it'll probably get a lot done over time.

Economic Stimulus and Recovery

Faron, NC — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:08:17 EST

Unemployment: Regardless of the tax breaks, housing issues and all other ideas in any proposal. If you don’t stop the unemployment and put people back to work so they actually have money to benefit from the tax breaks and housing benefits proposed and so they can start purchasing items, getting loans for homes and vehicles, investing in stock and or otherwise spending money, then regardless of the amount of the package, you will not have stimulated spending or our economy. JOBS are the foundation of stimulation.

JOBS: It is vitally important that the jobs created are created throughout the country with various skills. I assure you that those that have lost their jobs and will lose their jobs are from various locations and with various skills. So specific projects, proposed in any bill, will not suffice since they are limited in both location and skill.

How do you create Jobs?: I continuously hear everyone say, including the President, that our small businesses are the backbone of job creation and our economy. Why is that? It’s because they are all across the country and provide a variety of jobs and they borrow and spend?
How do you stimulate small business?: Normally small businesses which are existing or that which wish to start up seek private funding through investement, loans and federal assistance. However due to the current economic EMERGENCY, the private sector options are no longer available. This leaves only Federal funding for small businesses.
Our Federal agencies hold many applications from small businesses.: Various agencies have applications from small businesses that want to do work, some of which the government is requesting to be done. Some of which they have come up with on their own, which are called “unsolicited proposals” but which could still be of value. Some of this work is manual labor, some of this work is research and a lot of it is a variety of other opportunities.
Some funds could already be available!: Many of these Federal agencies most likely already have some funds set aside for Grant funding or other funding. These agencies could pull all small business applications and Grand Total the amounts needed to fund all of them and the stimulus package could authorize additional funds, which may or may not be needed. The stimulus package and/or a Directive by the President should order these agencies to "clear their coffers". This may seem like an extreme measure, but these are extreme times.
Some may argue that this will diminish private investment opportunities.: Contrarily by providing these small businesses with funding to start up or perform work, they can begin to invest and seek investors with the capital which is provided to them and/or with their success as they grow .
Perhaps some of the funds being directed to the TARP packages could be redirected here.: Since the issue for our financial institutions is not neccesarily having the money available, but rather a way to move the money, our small businesses can provide for two means of helping with this issue. First they can provide the monies through creating bank accounts and/or making deposits into existing accounts. They will conduct daily business that will begin to rotate these funds and stimulate the economy.
The definition of small business has already been defined.: The Government has already defined the term "small business", so there is no need to redefine it or figure out what articulates into a small business.
These small businesses have already gone through the Grants.gov verification processes!: Before applying for Grants, SBIR’s and/or STTR’s each business must go through a verification process.
There are already established monitoring systems set up.: Government auditing, reports and etc..are already established by each agency.
Grants.gov already has bank routing numbers for each business.: As a requirement during the verification process, Grants.gov requires that a bank account already be established. The funds could be dispersed quickly and put to use quickly.
Unfortunately the amounts they offer, $100,000 to $150,00 in most case are not sufficient to actually start a business. A business beginning with nothing has to have the funds needed to buy supplies, lease property, purchase equipment etc… and cover salaries for at least a year to allow the business to grow and build a customer base which can sustain them. Another source for small business interest is the Small Business Administration.
It is important to provide enough funding: to allow for these businesses to start and to have enough to sustain them for at least a year, two years would be best, so that they can build a customer base to sustain themselves. Not all will succeed and it could be required that unused funds be returned if they fail. But I believe there will be many more that will succeed and some may even provide us all with some unexpected benefits.
So have theses agencies, a list of Granting Agencies is on Grants.gov, pull all small business applications and provide funding. Open up more opportunities for small businesses. These small businesses are ready, willing and able to begin work and put others to work, so let them.
What is the real benefit of small business?
They employ, they buy, they bank, they borrow, they invest, they provide investment opportunities and they spend all across the country.: This stabilizes current businesses and allows them to hire more employees, to buy, to borrow and to spend. They all pay taxes to their states, they pay for permits from municipalities, counties and/or other forms of government, creating State and local revenue. They are perpetual, in that they continue, whereas a stimulus check to Americans may help, it does not provide a continuing of spending and rotation of capital as small businesses would while conducting daily business. They do not require any trade agreement specifications or a “Buy American” provision.
Their employees buy, bank, invest, borrow and spend all across the country.: They pay State and local taxes which creates revenue for them.

In the end, the only real stimulation you could provide which can do what needs done, is through creating jobs all across the country with a variety of work skills. To meet that objective effectively you have to build up your small business base.

Taxes: This is another key part of the stimulation and recovery. Tax cuts can clearly help to build business and encourage spending by both the businesses and the workers, however to reiterate, if you don’t have a job, it does nothing.

Housing: Can be a part of helping and some legitimate proposals along these lines should always be considered.

State Aid: Some state aid can help, but keep in mind if you’re putting people to work you can reduce a large amount of funding for unemployment and Medicaid since it want be needed.

In closing, let's create jobs, create futures, stimulate capital rotation and continue this rotation and provide the ability to help pay back the debts incurred by the Federal Government. If small business is the backbone, then let’s support our back so we can stand up and walk, then maybe as we walk, we can soon begin to run again.

That way when all the other bills such as TARP and others can actually do some good.

Americans have a way of pulling themselves up. Give us a chance to show you how well we can do that and help us, help you, help us all.

Small Businesses, existing and new, could play a big part of stimulating our economy and progression to recovery. It should be included in conjunction with other ideas which are currently a part of the plan.

Rochester Youth Means Change

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:24:00 EST

Lets get started.

Wall St - Main Street - Tis The Season

memanni — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 08:55:38 EST

I STACKED THESE 3 e-MAILS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY ARE RELEVANT TO THE SEASON, WALL ST, & MAIN ST.

I HAVE SENT THEM TO SOME WHO WERE NOT IN THE ORIGINAL e-MAIL... START AT BOTTOM OF PAGE # 1 2 3 4 Something to think about during this Holiday Season

4I too long to return to Israel, however that will again be God's timing. Distinctly, John the Apostle, the last one alive to speak said only one vitally important thing, at the beginning of his revelation of Jesus Christ

God gave us servants a revelation

The revelation is of what must soon take place (history from 100ad to present)

An angel brought the message (angel message)

John would testify everything he saw (all visions)

That what he saw was the word of God (John1:1)

That it was the complete Testimony of Jesus Christ (The only Issue)

Ok, Now the literal Greek translation is: Happy is he who IS reading, and those hearing, the words of the Prophecy, and KEEPING the things written in it -- for the time is near Revelation 1:3

NO mention of the issues, SPECIFIC mention of the Prophecy

All the things in the Living Prayer text and the text below were occurring in Christ's and John's time or had already occurred when John was guided to write.

Now notice in the list above there is NO mention of the issues - Political-Social-Financial-Religious, only the Prophecy

The assignment is to read the Prophecy

To hear the Prophecy

To take to heart what is written in the prophecy, because the time is near Revelation Chapter 1 verses 1 to 3

Now we can do whatever we want, but when the time comes to say good and faithful servant, I think HE will as HE did before praise the servant who used the talents wisely and therefore was found obedient and righteous.

99% of the church DO NOT know what is in the Prophecy: Because they are too busy with the issues.
Brief EXAMPLE
DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON 2007
Most Christians are clueless as to knowing in whom they have believed,

that Christ celebrated Hannukah
what garment was touched that healed the woman with the issue of blood
who made the Garment
what is the 4th commandment
that the as eagles flying (AirForce Attack), lead by Allenby during WWI fulfilled Isaiah 31:5
that Bethlehem is currently over 80%+ Islamic
that a Jewish guy wrote most accurately about Christ, as he lived during the Holocaust years and concluded we (Jew and Christian) had but one destiny (Sholem Asch)
the correct spelling of Christ’s name in Hebrew, his language
that Isaac Newton studied scripture and concluded it was chronological, solar, lunar, calendar and historic
that Newton concluded NO rapture, But Harvest as the Bible states, "swing the Sickle"
*that Christ has commanded the reading and understanding of the book of Daniel, Matthew 24:15
that it is only the hour and day which is unknown, the season was explained to the disciples in detail Mathhew 24 – has been known since John wrote Revelation and must be known since Daniel was assigned to provide the answer to Matt 24:3, the disciples question of WHEN&HOW
that the possession of the land (of Israel) is the very basis of the Covenant of Promise, land possession required for Messiah return
THAT THOUGH THREE FAITHS HONOR ABRAHAM, someone has to be the enemy, whose head is crushed, there has to be a seed of Satan

DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON 2008
Most Christians are clueless as to knowing in whom they have believed,

*12 that the 99% NEVER considered the Fig Tree, Matthew 24:32-35, never read nor understood Jeremiah 24 "Two Fig Baskets", major sign of Coming and End of Age
13 THAT 1948, rebirth of Nation of Israel fulfilled Isaiah 66:8
14 That you will observe SABBATH, Isaiah 66:23
15 that Mt. Zion not Mt Moriah (Dome of Rock location) will be the spiritual metropolis of NEW JERUSALEM Isaiah 60:5, 60:14
16 that the Golden Dome was designed and erected by a Gentile Arab, not Abraham
17 that ISAIAH SCROLL, entire book of Isaiah in Hebrew from time of Jesus, even exists or where to find it
18 don't know who the only known human to have held Messiah as a baby, is

OR STUFF YOU CAN'T LEARN ON SUNDAY

The Reason for the Season

N.., You and I were good partners over-there, in Israel

LOVE .......................M

memanni at msn.com

www.hebrewheritage.com

3 From: @aol.com
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:16:58 -0500
Subject: Merry Christmas!
To: memanni at msn.com

Good morning!! I hope all is well with you and your family.

I personally believe that we (the USA) got just what we deserved in the election...I also believe that God is taking His hand away from us..we have chosen to ignore Him, take Him away from the schools and homes. The saying "God bless America" is ridiculous because God has been blessing us, it is time we should turn that saying around and say "we the people of the US should bless God." Instead we elected a man that is 100% for abortion which is murder in God's eyes, 100% for same sex marriage, and is 100% for giving away the Land that God gave to Moses and the children of Israel. I am not saying that we had a choice at all on the election..we did not..both sides are not Christians. All we can do now is pray for them, that they will have their eyes open and come to the cross.

I pray that you and yours have a wonderful Christmas. I am going to be working at the Salvation Army.

I would absolutely love to go to Israel again with you..think about it.

Love, N

___________________________________________________________________________

2 RE: Daily Devotional (Tue. 12/23/2008) Liveprayer.com 178689 *_*-*_*-*_*-*

From:

memanni at msn.com

Sent:

Tue 12/23/08 11:22 PM

To:

@aol.com;

Just two remarks: I thought it was the lost sheep we were going after whether they call themselves Pastor, President-Elect, Live Prayer, or christian; note: Mystery Babylon is made up of christians who knew of the bridegroom and bride Rev 18:23, who was called out of her; but became the many He did not recognize; as their garments were not correct, they were naked; they lacked knowledge and were perishing; not because of civil ,social or political issues but because they knew not the Son and the Father.

What will the author and LivePrayer committee and most christians say when the Prophet Daniel does the same kind of rant about those who have not studied his book as directed in Mathhew 24:15; the Bride cannot be without spot, with oil and in white garments without knowing and understanding these things according to Jesus, Daniel, Gabriel and the Apostle John.

BTW the first 4 paragraphs below seems to be very similar to what Warren is being accused of.

ANYHOW
Happy Holy-Days

memanni at msn.com
www.hebrewheritage.com

1 From: @aol.com
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:12:36 -0500
Subject: Fwd: Daily Devotional (Tue. 12/23/2008) Liveprayer.com 178689 *_*-*_*-*_*-*
To: overcomer1 at att.net

One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now.

--Forwarded Message Attachment--
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:38:33 -0500
From: prayermanager at liveprayer.com
To:@aol.com
Subject: Daily Devotional (Tue. 12/23/2008) Liveprayer.com 178689 *_*-*_*-*_*-*

If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily word. You can forward this to them, and they can use the following link to subscribe.

http://www.liveprayer.com/signup.cfm

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Rick Warren and President-elect Obama use each other for credibility. Let
me say up front, the ONLY reason Pastor Rick Warren, Senior Pastor of
Saddleback Church in suburban Los Angeles and the author of the Purpose
Driven Life, should deliver the invocation at Barack Hussein Obama's
inaugural is to pray for the following: Obama's salvation, that this nation
will stop slaughtering innocent babies, that ALL states will quit perverting
God's Holy Institution of Marriage by allowing same-sex couples to wed, and
that this nation will turn from its sins and back to the God of the Bible
and faith in Jesus Christ.

Now let's deal with reality. I guarantee you that Warren will pray for NONE
of those things. Do you think for a second that President-elect Obama would
invite him to do the invocation if he was going to pray for the REAL needs
of Obama and this nation? Warren became famous for selling his "Purpose
Driven" marketing strategy designed to fill pews with warn bodies, not
converts to the faith, to churches and pastors around the nation who were
too lazy to get their own vision from God. He has become the poster child
for the word COMPROMISE.

Let me deal right away with the outrage from the homosexual community over
Obama asking Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. They are so
blinded by their sin that they don't realize Warren is the last person they
need to fear or worry about. Yes, I am well aware that Pastor Warren
supported Proposition 8. For the record, that only happened a few days
before the election after he was shamed and forced by those brave me and
women who championed that stand in California for God's Holy Institution of
Marriage.

Warren made national news during the recent Presidential election when he
hosted a debate between Senators Obama and McCain. The event was widely
promoted as a Warren/Saddleback event, however it was originated and
co-sponsored by the liberal social justice group Faith in Public Life, whose
board president is Meg Riley, a Unitarian Universalism minister who
previously ran the denomination's homosexual advocacy office. Warren also
spoke at one of Robert Schuller's Institute for Successful Church Leadership
conferences. In attendance at that Institute were 80 gay and lesbian
ministers from the now Jesus Metropolitan Churches which cater to
homosexuals and lesbians. Many of the clergy of these churches are
practicing, unrepentant homosexuals!

I do credit Warren for being consistent in his public comments (when
pressed) against the sin of homosexuality and that marriage is to be between
a man and a woman as God dictated. However, he takes ZERO leadership on key
spiritual issues like abortion or gay marriage, and is quick to join forces
with the homosexual community and those in the cults and false religions of
the world to advance his personal agenda. He was at a Muslim convention
this past weekend, where Melissa Ethridge, an openly lesbian activist and
music artist performed. Warren said the two had a "wonderful conversation"
and that he is a huge fan who has all her albums.

At that event, Warren told the Muslims, "You don't have to see eye to eye to
walk hand in hand." Listen, Rick Warren is a PASTOR. He is supposed to be
a messenger of the GOSPEL. He is NOT a politician!!! The Gospel of Jesus
Christ is not something you water down or compromise. It is not about being
politically correct because the eternal souls of men are at stake. There is
no "walking hand in hand" with Muslims! They are on the wide road to
destruction while born-again Believers are on that narrow road to Glory!
Muslims need to understand that they have bought a 1400-year-old lie from
hell, and when they die, their souls will burn in the flames of hell for all
eternity unless they turn from the lies of Islam and embrace faith in Jesus
Christ and the Truth of the Bible!!!

Warren is a case study in the word "compromise." He embraces the damnable
ecumenical movement that seeks to unite people of all beliefs, meaning
Christians are expected to "compromise" and abandon the Absolute Truth of
the Bible! His infamous book, The Purpose Driven Church, was endorsed by
Leonard Sweet, a firm New Age Movement advocate. Warren hired Ken Blanchard
to come to Saddleback to help train people how to be effective leaders.
Blanchard is a huge advocate of the New Age philosophies. He wrote the
foreword to Jim Ballard's books Mind Like Water and What Would Buddha Do At
Work? He was on the front cover of Corporate Mystic and the back cover of
Deepak Chopra's Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and wrote the Foreword to
Ellen Ladd's (clairvoyant) book, Death and Letting Go. Blanchard makes no
apology when he says much can be gained from Buddhism. He and his wife both
encourage the practice of yoga and mantra meditation.

Why does a self-professed Baptist evangelist associate with these types of
people? Not to preach the Gospel to them, but to use his association for
his benefit! Sadly Warren decided that he could make his impact by pursuing
a worldwide social agenda. That is fine. We need people to lead the effort
on global poverty, AIDS in Africa, and other social causes. But you can't
pursue this social agenda and ignore the pressing issues that are destroying
this nation like killing babies, gay marriage, and family issues. IT IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE AT ANY TIME TO COMPROMISE THE GOSPEL AND THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE
IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH ANY PURSUIT, NO MATTER HOW WORTHY! While these
social issues are worth bringing attention to and fighting for, the fact is
all men will die one day and at that moment the only thing that matters is
if they know Jesus as their personal Savior by Faith.

I love you and care about you so much. It is easy to see why
President-elect Obama asked Warren to deliver the invocation at his
inauguration. It was payback for Warren compromising once again and
allowing this enemy of God to stand in his pulpit at a recent conference on
social issues. Actually, Warren desecrates his pulpit often with every kind
of heretic and blasphemer you can name in the pursuit of his global social
agenda. He even boasted about having Obama in his pulpit!

By accepting this invitation, all Warren has done is give credibility to
Obama, further proliferating the lie that he is a Christian, when the fact
is he takes stands in opposition to the Christ he proclaims and the Truth of
the Bible on EVERY key spiritual issue that faces our nation. By giving the
invocation at the upcoming inaugural, Rick Warren is giving his blessing to
Obama's rebellion to God and the Bible. Sadly, Warren's agenda is more
important than God's agenda! His appearance and compromise actually only
emboldens those who live in rebellion to God and His Word.

For Pastor Rick Warren to bless and give the invocation at the upcoming
inauguration of a man who will help insure millions of babies around the
world are slaughtered, and force US taxpayers to fund this legalized
infanticide, is no different than if Adolph Hitler had asked him to give the
blessing and invocation when he became Chancellor of Germany!!!

True men of God like John the Baptist, the prophets in the Old Testament,
literally gave their lives to stand for God's Truth with the political
leaders of their day. Sadly, Rick Warren is not a great man of God, but
simply a man who has compromised his faith and the message of the Gospel in
order to advance his agenda. I will be praying for Pastor Warren, and ask
you to as well, that he will let the Holy Sprit speak the words this coming
January 20th. I pray that out of his lips will come a prayer calling this
nation back to God, condemning this culture of death and all who support it,
proclaiming that God's plan in the Bible for marriage and family is the
foundation of our culture, and inviting President-elect Barack Hussein Obama
to ask God to forgive his sins and accept by faith Jesus Christ as His
personal Savior and lead this nation as a man of God, not an enemy of God!

THAT IS THE ONLY PRAYER A TRUE MAN OF GOD COULD POSSIBLY DELIVER!

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at:
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home meeting for change

char — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:14:51 EST

Hi Obama workers,

Met at Mark Cronin and Carol's house this afternoon. We covered about 12 issues people were concerned about and boiled it down to 5 very strong issues. Having left the meeting before everything was brought to a close, I need to be filled in on certain issues.

So let me know please what the finals say was.

Thanks, Char

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

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

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

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

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

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

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

Events for change

Davemc — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:07:08 EST

Greetings all and thank you for reading this blog. At this time we are creating an event we hope many will come to participate in. We have been fortunate enough to secure a facility for 150 people to have seats but we can squeeze a few extra into the space if needed. We have noticed many of the small gatherings can facilitate perhaps 20 persons, and they have been turning people away. Now we have the space for meaningful numbers, so if you are in the Portland area, then come on and sign up for the event.

As our soon to be President said, we have the person in the White House to facilitate change, but we still need the people to make it happen. He cannot do it himself, and we all know how Congress and the Senate are rife with special interests and agendas for the status quo. Change HAS to come from US. We have to be prepared to voice our desire for change from the grass roots level. We HAVE to participate in this change, instead of leaving it for others to do for us. We have to be ready to let the career politicians who would stand for the ststus quo, know that we will not stand for obstruction to the plan we are developing here in the trenches of our neighborhoods.

Job Creation

Tony — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:03:25 EST

Greetings everyone, Obama's team could make a special web page on the website and have people import their online resumes into an emergency state or federal job application. This may not be possible, or legal untill January of 2009. If we can start doing background checks on people beforehand it would speed up the process. This would also give a morale boost to people all over the nation and give them hope that no matter what, there is work to be done if you have the will.

I myself just lost my job installing sprinkler systems for a local company (sigh). I go to college full time and could help modernize schools with ethernet and network computers.

God Bless.

America - Together (post election)

Alex Karoub — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:44:40 EST

..... Contact: http://Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

WHO IS THAT GUY BARACK OBAMA? HE IS US.

We have made historic headway by together pointing our nation in the right directions. After decades, we have America focused on the issues of fundamental importance. Now, each of us acting in concert can together move our country to lead the world to the fruitfulness of moral goodness. I have no doubts about my abilities and the abilities of fellow Americans to work smart and hard to achieve these goals.

Barack Obama has the visions, leadership, and integrity for us to correct and redirect our country to once again lead the world for the fruitions of good. Let's closely listen, learn, and move forward based on that which we know deep inside is good and which we can validate with our hearts.

I hope that those who had but a few reasons to support Obama, look further into the other issues more deeply. I found the more I explored, studied, and listened to Obama the more I found us in agreement. The couple of issues that I did not have depth of knowledge of, quickly became obvious in need. This was unusual for me since I have always refused to be any kind of a follower, and still am not. I find Obama to be a deep thinker who is articulate and inspirational; and, of most fundamental importance, Obama makes excellent moral sense.

Hopefully, our country has learned lessons from the past of mistakenly following leadership blindly, as was done with Nixon and Bush. There are leaders who are simply in it for themselves and will cater to individuals or groups in order to grab for their own benefit. Corrupt and bad leaders hide at all levels. This is especially true in city government as well as county and state government. The corrupt deals of politicians need to be exposed, and those responsible need to be weeded out in the coming local elections. Others need to be investigated by law enforcement and be prosecuted for illegal dealings; for deals they often make for their hidden personal agendas. Let’s look at the bad experiences of the past as bitter medicines, let’s eliminate the need for such bad medicine in the future. Let us use what we know is good to go forward.

I believe we have chosen wisely, not by greed and not by misguided retaliatory anger. I believe this time our country has chosen with open eyes, with each of us listening and examining our choice of leadership closely, driven and validated by our hearts.

I hope we can continue to make our efforts even more inclusive (in many more ways than I touch on here). Far right republicans will be stubborn to change, but we will need to include them to change if we are to succeed. Sure a few more will leave our country, but that is not the American way. No, we really don't need their false fronts of power, money, insider knowledge, or other trappings that they have taught many to 'respect?'. Let's recruit as many as we can, that's the American way, evolving and changing together as one nation. Try to be understanding as we move forward; by better understanding each as individuals and people with various desires and needs we will find ways to reach out with friendship and have them join our causes of good.

Be on the lookout, and root out bad leadership in government and business. Do not be intimidated by those who use the false fronts of power and give a false sense of security in order to lead. Be extra leery of those who say or imply ‘Trust me’; those who give a sense that they somehow omnipotently know better. No longer will Americans be dazzled by phony displays of brilliance or baffled by baloney. There are government aristocrats and business leaders who still believe in the old adage of: “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle em with bullshit”. We can embrace complexity by demanding true, fundamental, and understandable explanations. We can root out falsehoods by not accepting double speak. We as Americans know how to grow ourselves by first believing in ourselves. Don’t be a follower. Don’t be a follower of followers.

However, when we find leaders who are good; a leader that thinks, speaks, and acts from their heart; one that is honest, has integrity, and leads by sincere examples; then we need to in a big way, join them, support them, and promote their causes of good. From much research, investigation, and scrutiny, I believe Barack Obama is such a person. I hope we search for and find many more who are similar, who we can add to service at all levels of government. We need to add/replace leaders in business with ones that have honesty, integrity, and show quality in leadership. We need more people in leadership roles who are moral, like Barack Obama.

Remember, we are not fighting a battle, we are the artisans and sculptors of the future for ourselves and generations to come. Rarely do societies have opportunities to make such dramatic moves forward as we now have in this opportunity of today. Take pride and practice in being inclusive as we stride forward. In moving forward, create opportunity not only for yourself, but also for all. Hope is a wonderful thing to behold; but without opportunity, hope can become but a dream never achievable. We can, will, and must, create opportunity.

In the coming year I hope that we do not lose our spiritedness, but instead continue to build and make headway. I hope we all continue our campaign for change in government and business. We will succeed in moving forward once again, it will take much effort and good oversight on the part of each of us. We will make great strides in the months and years ahead in order to achieve the fruitions of good. Let's keep our enthusiasm progressing through these coming toughest of times. Let us use the light of goodness and love to motivate us with historic momentum.

I have chosen Barack Obama because he best represents my deepest beliefs in America. Please take time to read the issues that Barack Obama has published on this website. Also, give your attention to see how he leads us to move our nation forward in the time ahead. Most importantly, be part of America's great future, participate in the greatness that together we will make. Participate!

We will each and all flourish, if we think, speak, and act, by using the love in our hearts.

Your reply is welcome. Contact: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

What A Great Day!

Rudy4Obama — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:31:29 EST

Election Day 2008: What A Great Day !

Congrats first to President Elect Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle and Vice President Elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden for one historically GREAT campaign and for winning the GE.

"From here and now a new era of world history emanates and you can say having been part of it." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe on the Battle of Valmy on 20 September 1792 – how true for today, too.)

President Elect Obama and Vice President Elect Biden: Celebrate today – you've earned the right to do so. And then START to change this country and the world as of TOMORROW. We'll all need this and we'll all be commited to help.

I've not been eligible to vote b/c being "only" a Legally-Admitted Permanet Resident in the USA. (And, as a German, not beeing a 'native speaker', too.) I've supported this campaign almost from the beginning by the means given to me legally. Now I'm so glad about coming home shortly to my "alternate homeland" as I call the USA with a President-To-Be who really cares for middle class people, for Vets (I'm a Cold War 'old NATO' Vet, retired colonel) and for the homeless ones plus those 47 million people who not even can afford Health Care.

Congrats, Mr. President Elect. God bless you, your family, and may God bless the United States.

Big congrats and KUDOS to all the wonderful grassroots people who worked so very hard to finally make this happen. This "21st century grassroots style campaign" – implementing and successfully operating any 21st century technical – 'communications' related - means available will go down in history as the BIG success story it is. Campaign staff: You've been unsurpassable in planning and organizing. Grassrooters, YOU made it happen. Big TKS.

America, my "alternate homeland", look forward to substantial, "transformational" improvement under soon to be President Obama and his administration. You all know that this won't happen "over night". It'll take some time and hard work, too. Yet be assured that at the end of the day all of you (including myself and even including those who voted for the McCain/Palin ticket) will be so much better off than we're now. This indeed is America's " 21st Century New Deal Now ". >Our Time< for to step-by-step restoring America's economy, education and health care systems, financial standing and, equally important, her international standing by responsibly ending the war in Irak and instead strongly going after Taliban and Al Quida in Afghanistan, in order to bring this great country back on track and back to trusted leadership of the free world.

I also say this one:

Senator McCain: I recommend you retire from the US Senate and live those further few years you might be entitled to peacefully with your wife and family – and restrain yourself from politics. Your last century's " political recipes" are no longer asked for this time. I'm entitled to say this since I'm exactly your age, feeling not so well as to live some more (single digits) years and not even having been diagnosed with cancer. Furthermore: On this very day, two years ago, my beloved wife, having worked 30+ years for USArmy Military Police as a Police Liaison Specialist, died in her office of a Sunday afternoon of a sudden cardio-vascular stroke at the age of only 63. So I had to learn it the hard way: It can happen any time. Senator McCain, read the signs, enjoy life now and restrain yourself from politics. Will do you good.

Governor Palin: I may remind you on your own words: "God will do the right thing on election day". Looks to me like HE really did the right thing on election day.

Hurry to get back to Alaska. They really love you there and eagerly are awaiting you. And, once being there, please, do me – and the majority of Americans – the favor of just vanishing into thin Alaskan air.

Once again: Congrats to President Elect Barack Obama and Vice President Elect Joe Biden for one historically GREAT campaign and for winning the GE.

Mr. President Elect Obama: Your dear mother and your dear grandmother, they both are so proud of you.

Obama / Biden 2008 and 2012

Post GE McCain and Obama expectations

Whippersnapper — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:15:17 EST

McCain will always have some in the GOP who will support and respect him but in general the rest most likely will turn their backs and return to their dislike for him and now have the GE loss as another reason to do so.

If that is so then we will see more or less the same JM who when he lost in 2000 was so upset about how he did lose (South Carolina) that he rattled his party by with his views on issues such as taxes and immigration. I suspect that he will be very supportive of Obama and he already indicated very clearly that he will be in his concession speech (that was the real JM). it may turn out to be the old story about 2 people who dislike eachother so much, come to "blows" and after their fight is over they realize thet have more in common then not and become good friends.

And for those who are trying to now say that Obama is lowering expectations simply because he can’t do what he said he would do again they have no clue or just want to continue to be antagonistic. First of all as was noted by Newsweek Obama wants to make a very smooth transition in order to avoid as much as possible any pitfalls that are common of a new administration (Clinton took awhile to get that part together well past 100 days) and why we see him already making decisions to make that so.

We all know very well that the situation this country is in is so deep after 8 years of Bush that there is no way that even in 2 terms can ANY pres solve them all. Obama and his staff will pick 2 or 3 big ones and methodically start to solve them.

Their approach will be exactly like his campaign. Detailed and no panic. No flourishes and no extra hype. If they improve on the economic crisis that will allow them to try various ways of handling other issues (ex; Iraq and energy) because as long as the people are feeling OK about their money they will be patient to a certain extent when it comes to the remaining issues as long as there is work being done and progress being made to solve them.

Those who have supported Obama also know that he will also behave in a dignified manner here and abroad when dealing with various issues unlike the “cowboy Texan” approach. The key word; diplomacy.

No pres has ever been able to fix so much damage except maybe FDR and he had 3 terms to do it (and no one pres has done as much damamge as Bush has done in 2 terms). Many do not expect that in 2 with Obama. That’s the reality of the situation. And again most of us who did vote for him know that and will continue do our part to correct or contribute to solving the issues long with him directly or indirectly, publicly or personally (grass roots). That’s how he got their with us and that’s how we must continue to function if we are to solve some of the issues and regain some of our dignity and respect as Americans.

NEW IDEAS TO HELP AMERICA NOW

Ed from Fort Lauderdale, FL — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:43:41 EST

Congrats, even my 80 year old mother in Indiana voted for you which was no small feat.
I am a college professor in Fort Lauderdale and I made sure all my students went out and voted but I want to tell you, I admire your managerial skills, more than anything. One of the main things is getting people involved, when a person believes what they are doing is their idea or benefit to them, they always perform much better. Never before have I seen this applied enmasse as you did with our volunteers and donaters, which brings me to my point.

As a professor, I have noted that you already have a majority of the young people in college with you and now feeling part of our success. They are involved in your presidency and a year ago they did not even know who the vice president was. It is a entire new attitude from the young people, I love it. I have never seen this in 25 years of teaching.

My suggestion.. .offer a scholarship competition for the best energy efficient vehicle design,energy use in building and interior design, new energy sources and so on and so forth. Allow it developed at the university level in team effort so cross over skills in various programs can be utilized. Whenever ideas are exchanged between different majors thats when innovative new ideas occur Have a top 3-5 winner range,reward all members of the TEAM , faculty involved and school and do it annually.

You have a fired up base, students as well as educators. The minds are here to help America solve our energy crisis, competition always leads to perfection,drive and purpose. The reward increases all of these.

I am working in holographic technology we have already took 200 dollars worth of equipment and a couple months ago made a HD TV display the objects as holographs in front of you. This technology would decrease the need to travel by virtually putting someone in a conference room with complete interactivity without being there. If you watched CNN on election night they did this with an alternative method of broadcasting a live person.

This is here and it is available now.

Anyway, all America needs is a push in the educational system to develop it cheaply and enmasse.

If new jobs and new energy is what we need, we need new inovations and lets put our young minds in this manhanttan project and become the technology leaders of the world.

I am thrilled, almost euphoric!

Jonathan — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:27:34 EST

America has made the right electoral choice, and has demonstrated that it is time to finally look forward. Retrograde policies have had their chance, and they have been shown wanting before all of our eyes. That 47% of the electorate does not see this is troubling, but it is now incumbant on those of us who see a progressive way forward to demonstrate that we are on the right side of destiny. As the results of "marriage" amendments in the various states show, there is still a long way to go. Nevertheless, we should not concern ourselves to turn those injustices just yet. We have first to demonstrate that our ideas are superior and will lead the USA towards a brighter future.

Election Day Voting Issues in OHIO

Jennifer A Jones — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:55:44 EST

Hello all!

I’ve just come from fulfilling my civic duties (and personal responsibility of getting Obama elected) in North Canton, Ohio. I’m writing to let you know that I witnessed a few minor inconveniences at the polls this morning that resulted in a few persons leaving without voting. When I left, I immediately phoned the Voting Rights Institute of the Ohio Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner and spoke with her assistant regarding the issues. They assured me that they would either phone or send someone out immediately to rectify the situation so that no other persons would have to forfeit their opportunity to vote • at least not for that particular reason.

I am writing to let you know that if you have also experienced or witnessed anything questionable at your polling locations to please make the call to 877-868-3874 so that the issue can be resolved today before the polls close.

You never know in Ohio, it may come down to just these few votes and you may have done your part to ensure Obama’s election! The call only takes a few moments. In addition, you can also log your experience at their website: www.myohiovote.com • please keep in mind that the issues logged here may not be addressed today.

Please forward this message to anyone you know who is voting in Ohio today!

Best,

Jennifer

The Issues

Erik — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:15:43 EST

I wrote this in order to at least pretend that I'm an "informed voter." Too often, we vote with our guts or our feelings.

While guts and feelings are important, I decided to make a facts-based list about the issues, along with each senator's previous records and future promises.

1. Income Taxes

Obama: By 2012, middle-income taxpayers would see their after-tax income rise by about 5 percent, or nearly $2,200 annually.

Those in the top 1 percent would face a $19,000 average tax increase--a 1.5 percent reduction in after-tax income.

Permanent cuts for people making less than $200,000 income, $250,000 for couples.

McCain: By 2012, middle-income taxpayers would see their after-tax income rise by about 3 percent, or nearly $1,400 annually.

But, in sharp contrast to Obama, he would cut taxes for those in the top 1% by more than $125,000, raising their after-tax income an average 9.5 percent.

SOURCE:
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/UploadedPDF/411750_updated_candidates_summary.pdf INCOME TABLES:
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/numbers/displayatab.cfm?DocID=1975&topic2ID=40&topic3ID=89&DocTypeID=7 http://www.taxpolicycenter.org /numbers/Content/Excel/T08-021 0.xls[ I looked up my own situation. If Obama is elected, I will get a $502 decrease in taxes. Under McCain, I'd get no tax cut. If you are married and jointly make $150,000, you will get $1000 more from Obama than you would from McCain.]

2. Domestic Saftey

Obama and Biden fully support the COPS program to put 50,000 additional police officers on the street and help address law enforcement issues in local communities.

They also support efforts to encourage young people to enter the law enforcement profession, so that our local police departments are not understaffed.

McCain voted against the COPS program 7 times during 1992 to 2006. He voted to eliminate it in 1995 (Senate vote # 571), even though it had proven to be successful.

In 2008, McCain indirectly opposes the COPS program, by promising "to veto every spending bill including earmarks."

Much of COPS funding comes from earmarks. (Not all earmarks are bad -- the system should be reformed, not eliminated.)

http://www.mccainpedia.org/index.php/Police

3. Education

Obama creates new scholarships to recruit and retain the best teachers for American classrooms.

His plan also creates a new Career Ladder initiative that will reward teachers for success in the classroom. He also supports the Head Start program.

Obama will make college affordable to all Americans, increasing Pell Grants and offering a $4000 annual credit to use towards college tuition in exchange for community service.

McCain repeatedly voted against putting 100,000 new teachers in our classrooms to reduce class size. He also voted against the Head Start program.

McCain repeatedly voted against efforts to make college more affordable, including reducing student loan costs and providing college tuition tax credits.

4. Foreign Policy

This issue only requires you to ask a few questions. Who is the candidate that is most likely to restore foreign relationships with our friends?

Would countries like Germany or Turkey be more likely to help us in a war if McCain is president, or if Obama is president?

Our ability to fight wars by ourselves has diminished -- both candidates admit to that. Who is more likely to restore alliances?

Furthermore, we must talk to our adversaries -- there is no debating that fact.

5. Healthcare

Independent groups like the Commonwealth Fund found that McCain would cover an additional 2-million of the uninsured, while Obama would cover additional 34-million.

By 2018, McCain's plan would cost $1.3-trillion; Obama's plan would cost $1.6-trillion. "Obama's proposal for mixed private-public group insurance ...

has greater potential to move the health care system toward high performance than does McCain's proposal to encourage individual market coverage

through the use of tax incentives and deregulation," its report concludes.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/oct/14/sorting-out-truth-health-care/

McCain: Critics of McCain's plan argue that the tax incentives would lead "the richest and healthiest employees" to "opt out of their current coverage,

leaving employers covering the sickest workers - those with preexisting conditions - and likely lead companies to stop offering coverage."

Obama: Would create a national health insurance program for individuals who do not have employer-provided health care and who do not qualify

for other existing federal programs. Does not mandate individual coverage for all Americans, but requires coverage for all children.

Allows individuals below age 25 to be covered through their parents' plans.

Allows individuals to choose between the new public insurance program and private insurance plans that meet certain coverage standards.

The Obama campaign Web site says the coverage would have benefits similar to those offered to Congress through the Federal Employees Benefits Program.

Plan would expand eligibility for Medicaid and State's Children's Health Insurance Program.

6. Iraq

McCain interrupted a voter during a townhall meeting in New Hampshire telling him we could spend "maybe a hundred" years in Iraq and "that would be fine with me."

After the townhall meeting, he told a reporter "that U.S. troops could be in Iraq for 'a thousand years' or 'a million years,' as far as he was concerned."

[McCain Derry, NH townhall meeting, 1/3/08; motherjones.com ,1/3/08]
The cost of the war is $10 billion per month. This could put 8000 police officers on our streets at home, or enroll 50,000 children in Head Start.

Obama plans to get us out in 16 months, unless generals on the ground say otherwise.

Even if you consider Obama's relative lack of military knowledge compared to McCain's, you must remember that Obama will be surrounded

by intelligent military officials, just as McCain would be. Again, it comes down to who can restore alliances abroad.

7. Small Businesses

McCain's healthcare plan would result in employers, particularly small businesses, dropping coverage. According to Factcheck.org,

"McCain's plan to tax workers on the value of their employer-provided health care plans and provide tax credits would encourage some employers,

mainly small businesses, to drop health benefits, say experts, and the proposal could eventually eliminate job-based insurance altogether."

In 2000, McCain voted against a tax credit for small businesses offering employee health insurance.

Obama and Biden will eliminate all capital gains taxes on start-up and small businesses to encourage innovation and job creation.

They will also provide a $500 "Making Work Pay" tax credit to almost every worker in America (in addition to tax cuts for 95% of Americans).

Self-employed small business owners pay both the employee and the employer side of the payroll tax, and this measure will reduce the burdens of this double taxation.

8. Energy

Obama's plan will ensure that we get 10% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2012, and 25% by 2025.

By enacting such a rigorous plan, America can once again strive together in achieving a common goal.

When Kennedy pledged to land on the moon within a decade, it seemed impossible, but it sparked a certain patriotism and work ethic across the country.

Obama's energy plan will do much of the same. Renewable energy represents our greatest potential to once again be

THE global economic leader, by producing clean energy here, and exporting it abroad.

Full plan: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy

McCain has repeatedly opposed alternative energy proposals that help both the environment and the economy

(Vote 157, 2005; Vote 309, 2003; Vote 94, 2002; Vote 213, 2005; Vote 212, 2005).

Full plan: http://www.johnmccain.com//Informing/Issues/17671aa4-2fe8-4008-859f-0ef1468e96f4.htm

Note: Notice I did not include issues relating to abortion or gay marriage.

This is because they aren't the most important issues in the discussion of presidential politics.

If you are pro-life, that's great and I commend you, but this cannot be forced onto anyone else.

Joe Biden put it best: "I am pro-life because of my FAITH, but it's not our right to tell anyone else how to run their family."

It speaks to the broader issues: when does life begin? This is a faith-based question, and will remain so for a long time.

Gay marriage has been an issue decided by each of the 50 states, not the federal government.

So let's talk about the economy, not about anyone's sexual orientation.

And if you want to talk about "family values," let's talk about child healthcare and education, not whether a kid should or shouldn't have 2 "moms" or 2 "dads."

It's not that these issues aren't important, but we need to get our priorities straight on this round.

Here's whats wrong with america

Richard from Englewood, OH — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:39:20 EDT

The education in america must be in shambles. If americans are dumb enough to vote for Obama, we need to re-work the whole education system. One question I have: How could any american bring themselves to vote for a candidate with known terrorist ties????? Are you people that stupid???? Wake up america!!!!! You should have to meet some sort of educational requirement to be able to vote. Nothing major, just something like, um... Her ya go. You have to be smart enough to get out of the way of a speeding car!!!!!!!!!! According to the polls, half of the people out there would fail that test. Also, why do you think all these 3rd world leaders are endorsing Obama??? Did you know Fidel Castro and other dictators of terrorist nations are endorsing Obama???? This should throw up a huge red flag people. WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!

We the Decided 2008©

Rini from Columbus, OH — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:19:08 EDT

Try our game We the Decided 2008© at

http://mypakragames.com/games/we-the- decided/index.html

where we ask you to play and pick the position of the candidate that best matches yours and then see who is leading. Enter your data after you play and then you can come back everyday to track the polling of the game-play results. Although this is not a representative sample, until many and all start playing, it takes away the framing bias of all poll questions. Enjoy and comment back here or on our Facebook account PAKRA Games.

Start a dsicussion here. Learn the issues. Mobilise folks to vote.

Sarah Palin’s Song: Doin’ What the Lord Tells Me. The Video

mathpol — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:45:28 EDT

Here is the video, Karaoke style.

Here are the lyrics.

Teaching Tool for Obama

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:09:51 EDT

Here is a great Obama tool to pass on to others.

Try using this "To the Point" video on You Tube for a simple Obama teaching tool:

Why Obama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydiaaThq2LE

http://whyobamafilm.org/sources.html

Show 1 Reader Comment

Why Obama, a You Tube video teaching tool for Obama

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:50:55 EDT

Here is a great Obama tool to pass on to others.

Try using this "To the Point" video on You Tube for a simple Obama teaching tool:

Why Obama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydiaaThq2LE

http://whyobamafilm.org/sources.html

Show 1 Reader Comment

Why I support Barack Obama

Nichole :) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:28:02 EDT

I joined this website to support and share my thoughts about Barack Obama, issues and the upcoming election. I created a group(which you can read about in my other blog), so I could communicate with other people that support Barack Obama and the issues. The most important issues to me are:equality / civil rights; civil liberties / privacy; peace & social justice; economic fairness / security; environment / conservation; education. Thanks for taking the time to read this, check out my other blog and my new group! Thanks, Nichole :)

Sarah Palin’s Song: Doin’ What the Lord Tells Me

mathpol — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:13:06 EDT

(To be sung to the tune of "Doin' what comes natur'lly", from the Broadway musical "Annie Get Your Gun", music and original lyrics by Irving Berlin. New lyrics by Gregory Bachelis.)

Folks are scared I’m not prepared

To govern if elected

But I’ll make a great V. P.

Doin’ what the Lord tells me

(Doin’ what the Lord tells her)

Gals like me could never see

The point of facts and figures

I’ve done well politic’lly

Doin’ what the Lord tells me

(Doin’ what the Lord tells her)

You don’t have to know much foreign affairs

When you can see Russia from your front porch stairs

From my earliest days in the PTA

Religious/social issues were my forte'

God advises me

(God advises her)

Bail-out and Homeless issues

Willie from Denver, CO — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:33:38 EDT

I’m still trying to figure things out about this economic bail-out.

I want to know why the American tax-payer has to pay for the mistakes that Wall Street made.

Why do we have to give them a loan when most of us are not going to see that money come back to us anyway. What I mean is, when our electric bill gets behind can we get a government loan to help pay that off? Can we get a government loan when we need to straighten out our credit so that some of us can be home owners and buy those fuel efficient cars? I hear a lot of talk about the middle class but did we forget about the lower class or do we just classify them as just middle class? What about the homeless situation here in America? Who is going to bail them out? Are you going to be like all the rest of the presidents and make a promise and not keep it or not work to fulfill the promises you made?

Personally I think the American people are tired of all the political B.S that is going around whether you are a democrat or a republican. In last night’s debate there was one question out of all that stood out, and that was how can we trust you? Not only with the economy but with everything that goes along with being a leader.

Our Future: You Hold the Power!

Anne from Sausalito, CA — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:27:22 EDT

Don't just get mad, Organize!

Please help to raise awareness regarding the different worlds that would be created under the Obama vs. McCain administrations.

We are grateful for your participation:

1) Please Watch the video and post a comment on our blog --> http://www.youholdthepower08.com/

2. Please Spread the video to your networks of women --> http://www.youholdthepower08.com/

3) Moreover, Please engage in conversations with the women you know, especially in the battle ground states (Ohio, Penn, Florida, Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada). We have attached 2 charts of talking points so you can feel well informed to engage in heart-full conversations about exactly what is at stake in this pivotal election.

In gratitude, Anne

Sarah Palin Lies to America and to Herself

Cathie — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:34:28 EDT

I read today that Mrs. Palin has decided to once again demonstrate her character to the American people by telling lies about her opponents. I believe the McCain campaign and it's supporters know they are losing this race and that they will continue to lose votes and are acting out of desperation. I believe the few supporters the McCain campaign has retained will see their candidates for who they really are as they are certainly showing their true colors. To Sarah Palin- Think carefully about the words you choose and use towards your opponents. As a mother, I would never want my children to see their mother saying such horrible untrue things about another person and on national television no less. To John McCain-Please make this race about the issues and salvage your declining reputation while you can. To all Americans-Vote with your heart, this Presidential race is about so much more then just the energy crisis or our declining economy. This election is about Americans partnering with government to create the society we will all benefit and contribute to.

The upcoming Debate- Round 2

FiredUpVoter — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:15:18 EDT

"LLLLLLets get readyyyyyy to rumblllllllllllllle!"

ding, ding, ding!

Here's what I think Obama has to accomplish in Round 2:

#1- continue to be himself, which means he's a gentleman and a leader. Just remember that "It takes more than combat gear to make a man...takes more than a license for a gun...confront your enemies, avoid them when you can. A gentleman will walk, but never run." -Sting's lyrics in 'An Englishman in New York'.

#2- Sock it to McCain and make him eat his words. Be clear about Ayers. Remind him that Rev. Wright is not running for office, and neither is Ayers. Remind him of THE KEATING FIVE!!!! Remind him of Palin's cronies and their 'pray the gay away' theory. Remind McCain of his comments about Asians and the racial epithet ("gooks") he used for them. Remind him that community organizing is not something to be laughed at.

#3- Keep hammering away at the issues: the economy. the middle class. terrorism...and America's role in the world. Just keep hammering away at him. Hammer the issues until McCain flips out. Just hammer 'em!

The town hall format is perfect for this and McCain does not hold the patent on it, no matter what anyone says. He can get 'told off' like anyone else. The McCain/Palin ticket is desperately slinging mud all over the place. Obama is now widening his lead in the polls. It's Obama's time to shine!

Where's the Rocky theme when we need it? Hold on......Here it is! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaNZuWld4Lo

Sen. Obama needs to project values, as well as policies and positions

J David from Novato, CA — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:20:38 EDT

Advisors to leaders as well as researchers in social psychology, communications, and political science predict that the winner of the presidential debates will be the candidate voters like and trust, more often than the candidate who seems to know about the issues.

People usually don't vote based on the issues primarly, nor do facts usually convince people. Instead, people assess issues and candidates based on how they feel about the facts, as they perceive them, subjectively.

For example, George Lakoff, a professor of cognitive linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley, in his book, "The Political Mind: Why You Can't Understand 21st Century American Politics With An 18th Century Brain," writes that the Enlightenment view of reason is that reason is logical, that if you give people the facts they will logically come to the right decision. But cognitive science, neuroscience, and political science have shown that faith in the voters' reliance on reason is misplaced. Voters, like human beings in general, are driven by emotion more than by reason.

Lakoff points out that Sen. John McCain tends to appeal to the values and emotions of voters by answering questions in debates and interviews with a "sandwich". He gives a short answer, framed according to his party's values, then expands that in three or four sentences, then repeats the short values statement. On the other hand, Sen. Barack Obama, a former professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago, has tended until recently to give very nuanced answers, focused on a rational analysis of the issue, which often can come across as vague or wishy-washy.

Other research shows convincingly that the candidate who is viewed as having greater confidence and optimism, in particular, is much more likely to win election over a candidate with less perceived confidence and optimism, regardless of how the candidates compare in their knowledge of issues and their actual positions on those issues. In a crisis, such as the recent meltdown on Wall Street, it is predictable that perceptions of confidence and optimism, two core values in American culture, will have greater weight than ever in this fall's election.

Top 10 Goals for Our Presidency in 2009

Jeffrey Quintero — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:26:46 EDT

PLEASE JOIN AND PROMOTE THIS NEW GROUP:Top10Goals

This group will focus on defining the -Top 10 Goals- for our next president to commit to achieving in 2009.

This could serve as the bases for creating a very specific, bottom-up originated, agreement between "we the people" and Barack Obama.

IMAGINE...

First Presidential Debate '08: McCain-Obama

Jill 4 Obama — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:09:03 EDT

At the beginning of the debate the eye-to-eye McCain-Obama handshake proved to be the first and only McCain eye-to-eye with Obama body language for the entire debate. This had a significant impression on me of how McCain would deal with other world leaders, certainly not with positive diplomatic behavior, but rather with a condescending attitude.

From that point on, John McCain, looked only at the moderator, and acted as if Barack Obama did not exist. This behavior came across to me as both disrespectful and disdaining in a way that explains McCain's facial expressions of anger and smiling ridicule.

Senator Obama turned to face either John McCain, the American People, or the moderator directly and respectfully.

Obama answered and explained his ideas in a rapid, forceful, and direct way which showed a commanding understanding of the economy and foreign policy and that concentrated on his future intent as President of the United States of America.

Senator Obama made me feel proud to know that I am his supporter and that he is my choice for President!

OBAMA-BIDEN '08

STOP SAYING THAT!

Carolyn — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:05:30 EDT

From tonight's debate: "Well, I think Senator McCain's absolutely right . . . ."
And while you continue by pointing out where he is oh so wrong, what registers with people is how often you 'agree' with McCrock! (I live in Arizona, I live in his district, I can call him endless names based on an over-familiarity with his ever constant dishonesty.)

McPain, Obama Debate

Nanci — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:33:27 EDT

Well, I know Barack has high ideals, and wants to reach across party lines. He showed that he walks the talk, as he said, and even when McPain tried to diminish him, he responded as a diplomat, without anger or rancor and never lost his cool composure.

McPain was obviously coached to use the "doesn't understand" and "naive" offensive. It was very transparent. Obama did not bite the hook however, which would have been the worst thing he could have done. It seemed to me that on most issues McPain was close to Obama's ideas, except in the area of the middle class. That is the area that attracts me to the Democratic Party and to Obama in particular. McPain doesn't think $250,000 per year is rich. That is telling. Tell that, John, to the workers at WalMart who are sleeping in their cars because they can't make enough to save for a deposit on an apartment. Tell that to college graduates paying off a student loan. Tell that to the nurses I work along side of who have 5 years of education and have never seen six figures unless they work in upper administration (few do).

Health Care was pretty much swept under the rug by McPain, although Obama tried to include it. If McPain has been working to take care of Veterans for the last 22 years, it is a shame that Walter Reed was in the shape it is in, and that Veterans' facililites and access to benefits is an absolute shame for the nation.

It was clear that the lens through which the candidates see the country is different even though they are close on some issues. It is also clear that although McPain has worked within and for the Republican Party for more than 20 years, he prefers not to be identified with what has happened in Washington the past eight years, not to mention Reagonomics (his hero, did he say?) And Kissinger, wasn't he run out of office along with the Nixon scandal?

I will say that after the debate I feel less inclined to leave the country if Obama does not win, which I really do not think will happen. However, prepare yourself for the Palin/Biden debate. ..have a tape player for the laugh tracks if you can stand to watch her being sliced & diced. How many times --let us count--will she be able to repeat the same rehearsed and memorized phrases without answering the question? And how often will she talk about her children and her husband and try to play the soccer Mom; just a hint, sweety, we're not looking for soccer Mommies--we need a Vice President who can interact on an adult level.

Be prepared for McPain's next shock & awe, mirrors and flash, and attention grabbing gyrations.Today, on Fox news no less, the National Review (a conservative rag) was quoted as saying perhaps Palin should withdraw from the campaign for the good of the campaign & the party. When do you think he'll pull that rabbit out of the bag? I say a week before the election, within two weeks anyway. People might vote for McPain, but Palin as VP with a President that old?? I'd have to think twice even if I were a Republican. (Did I just say that?--I won't watch a debate with Republicans at the Kennewick library, I'll be damned if I'd be caught in that kind of association. leave the high road to Barack Obama.)

Less than 6 weeks to go. Keep on working--we need Obama for change!

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

Need material for letters? Feel free to use my blog.

Daniel Cornwall — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:41:01 EDT

If you're sitting down to write a letter to the editor somewhere and weren't sure where to start, I'd like to suggest that you check out my personal blog where I've been giving a reason a week to vote for Barack Obama as President. Aside from the text itself, which you may or may not want to adapt, each entry has links to issue pages and other materials you might find helpful.

To see the "Why Vote Obama" entries, visit:

http://alaskanlibrarian.wordpress.com/category/whyvoteobama/

If you're writing about some issue where you need a particular fact or quote, feel free to e-mail/message me and I'll see if I can find it for you.

I'm not a swing-voter, but swing-voters sound a lot like me.

Jillian — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:36:36 EDT

Zogby spells out how to reach the swing-voters.

The economy, the war, the planet -- that's what swing-voters care about.

I am ashamed to say I have never voted before

Robin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:39:17 EDT

I am 35 year old female that was married to a US Army Soldier. I have never taken the opportunity to exercise my right to vote. I never thought it was important. I would think that because the people I acquainted myself with, liked the same candidate that I liked, that their vote would count for me some how. I always had the attitude that my one vote did not make a difference. Well I would like to say that this election has changed my point of view drastically. I have been watching and listening and I was terrified that my opinion was going to be out weighed and that the wrong person would become my president. I completely believe that Obama is here for change and I completely want my vote counted. I urge anyone that knows someone that has the "I don't care" attitude towards voting to talk to them. They will not listen at first but keep trying. Try to draw references to their opinions and things that matter in their life ! I never thought I would vote! I was very non-chalant about the whole thing and had no problem standing in a room full of Americans and stating "I do not vote and never have" ! I will now be standing in the middle of the room screaming at the top of my lungs "My opinion counts ! Obama - For President !!!!!"

Women's Week Events - SATURDAY: Rep. Jan Schakowsky and NARAL President Nancy Keenan

Brian - NH HQ — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:42:55 EDT

REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY AND NARAL PRESIDENT NANCY KEENAN TO DISCUSS OBAMA’S COMMITMENT TO FIGHTING FOR WOMEN

MANCHESTER -- Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D, IL-9) and NARAL Pro-Choice America President Nancy Keenan will be in New Hampshire this Saturday, September 20th to discuss the McCain-Palin record on choice and Senator Barack Obama’s commitment to protecting women’s rights with Granite State women in Keene, Peterborough, and Manchester.

“The stakes of this year’s election could not be higher for New Hampshire women and their families,” said Sandra Abrevaya, New Hampshire Communications Director. “This November, Granite State women will make a critical choice between the Obama- Biden ticket, which will fight for women’s issues on all fronts, and the McCain- Palin ticket, which wants to overturn Roe. V. Wade.”

Sen. Obama has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as president. John McCain, on the other hand, received a 0% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood, and has declared his support for a constitutional amendment to ban all abortion, even in the cases of rape and incest.

Rep. Schakowsky is a leading advocate for women's issues in Congress, sponsoring legislation that would prevent violence against immigrant women, establish transitional housing for women and children who are victims of abuse, and commemorate International Women's Day. During the 110th Congress, Rep. Schakowsky served as Democratic Vice Chair of the bipartisan Women's Caucus. Rep. Jan Schakowsky was elected to represent Illinois' 9th Congressional District on November 3, 1998, after serving for eight years in the Illinois State Assembly. She is in her fifth term.

Nancy Keenan began her tenure as president of NARAL Pro-Choice America in December 2004. Under Nancy's leadership, NARAL Pro-Choice America launched Prevention First, a values-based initiative encouraging lawmakers to focus on commonsense ways to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion. A Montana native, Keenan began her career as a teacher before serving as a state legislator and the statewide elected superintendent of schools.

Saturday, September 20th:
10:00 a.m. Canvass Kickoff at the Keene Campaign for Change Field Office
305 Park Avenue, Keene
RSVP to attend at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/officialevent/gs5hmf
11:00 a.m. Forum on Women’s Issues at Keene State College
Lloyd P. Young Student Center at Keene State College
Mountain View Room
RSVP to attend at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/womenforobama/gsx4fg
2:00p.m. Event on Women’s Issues
Aesop’s Table (inside Toadstool Bookstore)
12 Depot Street, Peterborough
RSVP to attend at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/womenforobama/gsx4cv

Taking Back Our Country

Grace — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:41:41 EDT

I like Obama's grassroots approach. If we want it, we need to go after it. That means work. I'm not sure how government becomes so big. Apparently we allowed that to happen. It's easier to have someone making decisions for us than doing things for ourselves. That comes at a price though. Sometimes too costly. Did we build "Big Brother"? We complain about the intrusion but the people haven't been aggressive enough to make changes. We aren't in big enough groups working towards the same goals.

Our time is split among work, family, education, hobbies, and maybe some volunteer time. I know it's not easy. It's apparent from my blog that I have a passionate cause. I'm at a time in my life when I can work to gain attention and try to build a force of more than one. There are other organizations devoted to the same cause but from a different perspective.

I don't know how to pull forces together. I've submitted policy suggestions through the channels on this website and followed the suggestion of the blog's overseer to put my policy out there through another channel to connect with others. No response so far. Maybe it's only a cause if Obama wins? I want him dearly to be our next president. Regardless, legislation to protect our children is going to be vital. I feel like a lost citizen but doing my best.

I'm not a door knocker or phone call maker. I write. It's the only way I know how to contribute until I can be heard through a greater forum. I would like to see people like me want to be making more of a difference. Let's take the country back. So many issues don't have to be about party lines. What has worked in neighborhoods could work in much larger areas. Who has the blueprints? Who can put a plan together? We can all get video cams and meet nationally.

I've always been a bit on the naive and overly positive side. I like it that way. It gives me hope. Where are the others looking to do the same? Maybe with everyone caught up in the election itself the issues being brought up now must, by necessity, take a backseat. I'm here to do what I can when the time is right. I hope I'll know when that will be.

An important issue

Barbara from Clermont, FL — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:33:11 EDT

Our country is broken in so many ways it's hard to know where to start. I believe a vote for McCain will not only fail to fix the problems, but make everything worse, because these problems are not static. They are dynamic, and if immediate action is not taken to fix them, they will get worse and worse. I am going to vote for Obama because I believe he can start to fix the entire system - BUT I do have one problem. An issue I consider VERY IMPORTANT is illegal immigration.

If we don't fix the onslaught of illegal immigration, it will adversely impact everything we are trying to fix, including, but not limited to, education, health care, jobs, drugs, crime, Social Security, and on and on. Don't get me wrong. I am all for immigration - but it has to be legal! What troubles me is that the candidates are not discussing the issue. Furthermore, Barack Obama voted for Bush's McCain-Kenedy bill that was soft on illegal immigration. Finally, I noticed that on this site, where we were supposed to check off the issues of concern to us, illegal immigration was not even in the list.

This creates a quandary for me. How do the rest of you feel about it?

On Health Plans

Pen — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:01:16 EDT

My theme this week is to post about the issues, today let's talk about the health plans proposed by the campaigns. Health Affairs, a policy journal on the health care industry, has published two independent studies on the proposed solutions to health care and insurance, to determine what the real impact will be on you and me. Now, being journal articles, they are slightly longer than a newspaper article.

Family Values and How to Convince People That McCain Isn't the Family Values Candidate

TJ Franklin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:09:05 EDT

The information to kill McCain's "Family Values" arguement are readily available to the public. He not only had an affair with Cindy McCain after his first wife had been in an accident, but he also left his first wife and married into Cindy's wealth. Clearly against America's family values. Yet, those on the right readily ignore this. It's time to take the arguement back and show them the hypocrisy.

On the same level, we also need to steal the neo-con's thunder when it comes to elitists. It's clear that Senator McCain has far more reasons to be called elitist that Senato Obama. With seven houses, McCain's arguements become silly and without merit. I've created designs reinforcing this line of thought, and my wife has added them to her online shop over at darkwolf-designs.com. That might sound like a sales pitch, but more than anything, it's a link for you to go and get ideas from. I currently have two designs, one for each topic: "John McCain Has 7 Homes. Who's The Real Elitist" and "John McCain Cheated On His First Wife. Family Values? I Think Not."

I'm not asking you to buy anything, but I am asking you to start using similar slogans. Senator Obama will probably never say anything concerning this, and I don't think he should. That's where we, the people on the ground come in. We CAN mention this points, without tying the statements to Senator Obama.

However, we need to keep them short and to the point, something I've suggested that Senator Obama do with his own statements. Keep it simple, make it a catchphrase, and pound it home until it becomes like one of those songs you just can't get out of your head. Let it be playing in the minds of the people as they make their ways to the polls on November 4th.

Howard Dean: Latino Issues -Translation into Spanish

Matiax — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:58:54 EDT

Audio in English @

http://lineasemanal.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/howard_dean091208email.mp3

------

Gobernador: La popularidad del senador Obama está incrementando entre los latinos. ¿Qué razones nos puede dar que expliquen este fenómeno?

El senador Obama es de la opinión de que todos los ciudadanos americanos deberían tener seguro médico. El senador McCain se opone a esto.

El senador Obama tiene un programa para mejorar las escuelas públicas. El senador McCain no considera que el Gobierno Federal debería participar en esto y así es que en asuntos de familia y educación, el senador Obama tiene más firmes convicciones que el senador McCain.

Además, el senador McCain le dio la espalda a los latinos al ni siquiera votar por su propia propuesta migratoria. El senador Obama comprende que en América todos deben ser incluidos, y no solamente en tiempo de elecciones. Y que no se puede usar a una parte de la población como chivos expiatorios.

¿Qué tipo de impacto tendría una administración Obama en la relaciones exteriores de los EEUU, específicamente en los países hispanohablantes?

Ya hemos visto que la personalidad del senador Obama es popular en otros países. Principalmente porque él cree que todos deberíamos trabajar juntos en vez de dictarles a los otros lo que hay que hacer. Esto es algo muy sensible para la gente en Latinoamérica.

Yo me he reunido con lideres latinoamericanos, como el presidente de México, y les he hecho saber que con el gobierno del senador Obama, las relaciones con Latinoamérica serían muy diferentes a las que se tendrían o se tuvieron con George Bush o John McCain.

La Fe es una parte importante de la cultura latina. Los republicanos se presentan como el partido de las gentes de Fe. ¿Qué filosofía se acerca más a la Fe, la Republicana o la Demócrata?

Los demócratas. Creo que el senador Obama ha expresado claramente que es una persona de Fe. Pero como dice la Biblia, La Fe sin hechos no significa nada. Los republicanos hablan de la Fe, los demócratas la ponen en práctica. Y lo más importante acerca de la Fe es cómo la ponemos de manifiesto en nuestras vidas personales.

El senador Obama es una persona honesta y honrada. La campaña de McCain está dirigida por "Lobbyists" (Agentes de los grupos de presión). Y se puede hablar mucho acerca de la Fe, pero si no se practica a diario entonces tenemos un problema.

La Igualdad Salarial es otro asunto. El senador Obama tiene la convicción de que las mujeres deberían ser remuneradas igual que los hombres. John McCain votó en contra de esto. McCain cree que las mujeres no deberían ganar tanto como los hombres y que el gobierno no tiene parte en esto. El senador Obama ha puesto su Fe en práctica. Y McCain habla de su Fe pero no incluye la igualdad de derechos para las mujeres.

Sobresale entre los grupos de presión el de "English Only" . Este es un tema muy importante para muchos latinos. ¿Cuál es la postura del Partido Demócrata sobre este asunto?

Nosotros creemos que es bueno aprender diversos idiomas, pensamos que los latinos que vienen a los EEUU aprenden inglés sin que se les diga que lo tienen que hacer; todos los inmigrantes lo aprenden. Pensamos que sería muy beneficioso para los americanos hablar otros idiomas también.

Nosotros sabemos qué es verdaderamente este asunto del "English Only". Sabemos en realidad que está dirigido contra los inmigrantes latinos. Nunca tuvimos una ley como esta para los inmigrantes irlandeses, italianos o judíos y no creo que la necesitemos para los latinos.

Se ha reportado que el senador Obama puede que esté listo para dejar que las "Organizaciones 527" como Moveon.org aumenten su agresividad contra la campaña de McCain. ¿Cree que es esta una buena idea? Y si es así, ¿Se debería haber hecho antes?

No se nada de eso, no he escuchado esos reportes. Esto es lo que queremos hacer:

La campaña de McCain quiere hablar acerca de todo excepto de McCain. Quieren hablar de Sandra Palin, de lápices de labios, de todo, menos del propio McCain. Esto pasa por que McCain es un candidato del pasado. Nosotros vamos ha hablar sobre temas importantes. Como usted sabe el lema del movimiento del senador es "Si Se Puede" o "Yes We Can".

¿Y cómo se siente usted cuando ve que los republicanos están adoptando sus lemas y sus formas?

¿Pero quién les va a creer?

Gordon Smith y John McCain han estado en Washington casi el mismo tiempo, si se pone a sumar, del que yo llevo viviendo. Y la realidad es que nunca se van a obtener cambios con personas a las que que sólo les interesa hablar de cambios en las elecciones.

Sólo se obtienen verdaderos cambios con las personas que lo viven. Barak Obama fue un organizador comunitario, en la comunidad latina hay un gran número de organizadores; los demócratas se pasaron tres días burlándose de los organizadores comunitarios en Minnesota.

Sabemos bien del lado de quién está Barack Obama. Se sabe también de que lado está John McCain, y este no es el lado de los latinos.

Una última pregunta, y esta es una pregunta general: Si el senador Obama es elegido, ¿Cuáles son los cambios más importantes que podemos esperar de su presidencia, algo que la gente podrá ver?

Lo más importante es que habrá más trabajos disponibles, que todos los americanos tendrán cobertura médica y que pondremos fin a la guerra de Irak de forma honorable.

Traducción: Abelardo Magaña, Rodrigo Alvarez y Matías Trejo De Dios

Audio in English @

http://lineasemanal.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/howard_dean091208email.mp3

Obama -- What he'll do

Adam G — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:59:06 EDT

This is the companion to "Obama -- What's he done?"

Obama – What he’ll do.

The Economy

Protect tax cuts for middle class families, but reverse most of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers.

Enforce pay-as-you-go budgeting, which require new spending commitments or tax changes to be paid for by cuts to other programs or new revenue.

End subsidies for oil and gas companies that are enjoying record profits.

Create a 10% Universal Mortgage Credit for homeowners who do not itemize their taxes. This will provide an average of $500 to 10 million homeowners.

Stop the abuse of tax shelters and offshore tax havens.

Jobs

Create education accounts and retraining assistance for workers vulnerable to dislocation before they lose their jobs.

Increase the minimum wage and index it to inflation.

Eliminate capital gains taxes on start-up and small businesses to encourage innovation and job creation.

National Security

Increase security at chemical plants. Security is now voluntary, even though a single strike could release chemicals capable of killing over one million people.

Build up our special operations forces, information operations, and other units that are in chronic short supply; invest in foreign language training, cultural awareness, and other counterinsurgency and stabilization skill sets.

increase the size of the Army by 65,000 soldiers and the Marines by 27,000 troops.

Expand humanitarian activities that build allies (such as during the response to the tsunami in South and Southeast Asia).

Health Care

§ Make available a new national health plan to all Americans to buy affordable coverage similar to the plan available to members of Congress. No one will be turned away from any insurance plan because of pre-existing conditions.

§ Create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals who wish to purchase a private insurance plan.

§ Lower drug costs. Pharmaceutical companies sell the same drugs in Europe and Canada, but double the charge to Americans. Obama will allow Americans to buy medicines from other developed countries. He’ll repeal the ban that prevents the government from negotiating with drug companies. This could mean savings as high as $30 billion. He’ll also prohibit drug companies from keeping generics out of markets.

Veterans and the Military

Create a Military Families Advisory Board to bring families' concerns to the attention of senior policymakers. End the Bush administration's stop-loss policy and establish predictability in deployments so that active duty and reserves know what to expect.

Retrain and re-equip properly between deployments to decrease the strain on military families.

Increase investment in advanced technology like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and essential systems like the C-17 cargo and KC-X air refueling aircraft.

Fully equip troops. Never again delay the deployment of armored vehicles, body armor and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that save lives.

Reduce corruption and cost overruns in defense contracting. End the common practice of no-bid contracting.

Seniors

Protect Social Security. Have those making over $250,000 pay in the range of 2 to 4 percent more in total (combined employer and employee).

Improve programs like Senior Corps to connect seniors with quality volunteer opportunities.

Protect pensions by putting “promises to workers” higher on the list of debts that companies cannot shed.

Give seniors choices about their care, consistent with their needs, and not biased towards institutional care. Improve the quality of elder care by training more nurses and health care workers.

Families

Sign into law the Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act to:

1. remove some of the government penalties on married families
2. crack down on men avoiding child support payments
3. ensure that support payments go to families, not state bureaucracies
4. fund support services for fathers and their families
5. support domestic violence prevention efforts.

Expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover more businesses and cover more purposes, such as allowing workers to take leave for elder care needs and to participate in their children's academic activities.

Iraq and the Middle East

Press Iraq’s leaders to take responsibility for their future by making it clear that we are leaving.

Launch the most aggressive diplomatic effort in recent history to stabilize Iraq and the Middle East. The aim is to secure Iraq’s borders, isolate al-Qaeda, and support reconciliation among Iraq’s sectarian groups.

Push to achieve the goal of two states: a Jewish state in Israel, and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security.

Rural Areas

Create a loan forgiveness program for doctors and nurses who work in under-served rural areas. Increase pay for teachers who work in rural areas.

Education

Make college affordable through an American Opportunity Tax Credit. This will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans.

Energy

Increase Fuel Economy Standards.  
Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles.
Provide short-term relief through a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families.

Immigration

Increase personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at ports of entry.

Remove incentives to enter the country illegally by cracking down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants.

Obama -- What's he done?

Adam G — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:57:35 EDT

I put together a sample of accomplishments to answer the question above. It's a small sampling taken from the site and trimmed for punch and portability. I'll also post a somewhat longer "Obama -- What he'll do."

Obama – What’s he done?

Before entering politics:

· At age 23, helped get asbestos removed from apartments, and helped start a summer-job program for teens. Obama did not do these things. He organized others so THEY could.

· President of Harvard Law Review, perhaps the most important scholarly law journal in the country.

· Taught Constitutional Law at Columbia University. (The main role of the president is to enforce the Constitution.)

· Worked for a law firm that specialized in neighborhood economic development.

As state senator:

· Chief sponsor of bill aimed at moving people from Welfare to lasting employment.

· Created the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state

· Supported Republican Governor Ryan's regulations aimed at preventing home foreclosures.

As US senator:

· His first law, passed with Republican Tom Coburn, allows every American to go online and see how their tax dollars are spent.

· Introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 to provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America, maintain their headquarters in America, pay decent wages, prepare workers for retirement, provide health insurance, and support employees who serve in the military.

· Member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Fought to help Illinois veterans get their promised disability, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan.

· Traveled to Russia with Republican Dick Lugar to begin a new generation of efforts designed to stop the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction.

· Sponsored an amendment providing one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.

Why I support Obama for President

Brian Sharma — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:50:14 EDT

I support Senator Obama because I believe that he is the best candidate to solve the problems facing our country. Senator Obama has the judgment, the vision, and the leadership necessary to bring the country together and move forward (not backward, like McCain).

Senator Obama has had many experiences in his life that show me he is ready to lead our country in the right direction. He went to Columiba University on a scholarship, graduated at the top of his class, became the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, and he could've done anything he wanted with that kind of resume. What did he choose? He chose to help poor people in Chicago's South Side! Obama is the REAL DEAL!! Since then, he has gone on to become a Constitutional Law Professor, an Illinois State Senator, and US Senator. He has consistently shown inspiring vision, good judgment, and the ability to bring people together. I'm sure he would become one our country's greatest presidents.

McCain, on the other hand, has a terrible record. His only accomplishment seems to be that he was a POW. Since then, he has been a corrupt, pandering, lying politician. After his involvement in the Keating Five Scandal, he built an image (only the image) of being a "maverick". But since then, he has flip-flopped on EVERY important issue that he stood for... Bush's tax cuts, ethics reform, regulation, immigration... EVEN TORTURE! After 26 years of getting nothing done in Congress, McCain pretended to be the candidate with "experience" (he's only experienced in failure), but now pretends to be the agent of change because his party has ruined our country over the last 8 years! McCain has no principles, thinks the American people are all idiots who will believe his lies, and will do anything it takes to win.

Then, after becoming the GOP nominee, for his first major decision as a presidential candidate... he picks Sarah Palin! He could've easily picked someone who had more experience, more qualifications, or the ability to work in a bipartisan way. Instead, he chose Palin, who not only has no real qualifications to be VP, but also is the most polarizing figure in politics. She is pro-life, pro-guns, pro-war, pro-drilling, pro-creationsim, and pro-lobbyist. She has consistenly lied about her record as a "maverick" and "reformer", while the truth is she has asked for money in earmarks than any other governor in history! Rather than bring the country together, John McCain decided to pick someone who might ignite a culture war to help him get to 51% in a few battleground states so he might have a chance at winning the election. That was a purely political decision, it wasn't the best choice for the country, and it shows how McCain would make decisions as president.

Not to mention, McCain is a 72 year old man with a 1,500 page medical history. It is very possible that if he did win, Palin would become president! He met her ONCE and a had a 15 minute phone conversation with her before making this extremely important decision. That tells me one of three things about McCain - Either 1) he is insane, 2) he does whatever his lobbyists tell him, or 3) he just doesn't care enough about the country to make a better decision. Either way, he does not deserve to be the president.

So, for those reasons, and so many more, I completely support Senator Obama for president. I've been paying a lot of attention to politics and the news for many years. I understand the important issues and I know why experts say Obama has better solutions on EVERY problem facing our country. If more people would do their research on the candidates, they would agree that Obama is the best candidate to lead our country. Instead, people are busy with the problems of their own daily lives (many of which McCain helped to create) or they are easily distracted by the nonsense in the media. I'm hoping people will see the clear differences during the debates, and that Obama can help lead this country on the path where we belong, to a better and brighter future for all Americans!

Where is your Message of Hope

Esther — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:42:39 EDT

You have let the Republicans plan to get under your skin and sway you from the issues, work. It is all a strategy to get you so defensive that you sway from your winning plan to change America. I hope you can stay focused on the people and the message.

Campaigning in Texas

VoteYourRebate in TX = Chrystal Hays — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:02:06 EDT

Doing a horse rescue errand in a small town, I was surprised to hear a woman telling us that she "knew who she was NOT going to vote for because she did not want a non-Christain in the White House". I guess I try not to buy into the small-town stereotype. But there it is. Of course, I tried to talk with her. She seems convinced that we must be at war and if it is not over there it will be "here" on our soil. What I saw in her was fear. And so I tried to asuage that, telling her that Obama is possibly the most truly Christian candidate since Carter. But she likes her fear. It's more fun to make snippy remarks than to study up on foreign policy, after all.

The frustration with this kind of reasoning has led me to wonder if we could turn it on McCain. Yes, he's a Christian....as far as we know....but he did spend a lot of time being tortured and brainwashed in a non-Christian country. And he did leave his first wife because she was no longer pretty...hardly a serious Christian approach to a life-long vow. Did he give 25% of his income to charity? Which ones? Does he attend a church regularly? If so, where? After all, he has seven houses. And twenty-one "pets". Can he tell us the names of these pets? Perhaps we have a Manchurian candidate situation here. The choice of Sarah Palin for VP is hardly in the interest of the nation. Could sub-conscious programming already be at work?

On a more serious level, I try to remain positive. There are many negative things to say about the Republican party and its candidates. But that is the "low hanging fruit". I let people say what they like, but still prefer to have positive things to say about our candidate Barack.

I really should have told her that if she wants to vote for McCain, then she can but she should find a more plausible reason. Maybe because Barack is a Virgo. Because at least that is a fact. Right? Or is he a Libra?

My old Jeep is an Obama-mobile. Last night I gave 7 bumper stickers and a button to someone in the parking lot. People honk and wave. When I am in the city, Dallas, especially. Not so much out in rural areas. When someone does come forward, it is with such joyful relief...to find another of our Kind here.

The horse rescue I volunteer with is in the small town of Waxahachie. This was the projected home for the super-collider project that got scrapped. Now, the Europeans are making headlines with their super-collider, which is far less super than ours would have been. 17 miles to our 54 miles. And it is sad to see so many people struggling, giving up homes and animals and dreams. I try to bring a little hope...or at least make them THINK about hope.

I meet people who say they don't plan to vote because "it doesn't matter".

I ask if they voted in 2004? (No)

I ask if they WOULD have voted for Bush? (No)

Then how do we KNOW your vote did not count?!

"My vote does not matter" is the exact philosophy that got us the Bush administrations.

And if you don't vote, then you give up your right to complain for the next four years. That's right, don't vote? DON'T COMPLAIN! And everybody loves to complain.

The real "black hole"

♫Parodee♫ — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:29:46 EDT

Where's John McCain?

Tim — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:44:24 EDT

Where does John McCain's stand on these issues?

$57 Trillion in debt (incl medicare and social security)
Energy (peak oil and its consequences)
Global warming
Trade Imbalance
Education reform
Crumbling national infrastructure
Permanent underclass
Foreign policy challenges; i.e. Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, China, North Korea. Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Cuba, etc. etc.

How about Sarah Palin? Do they agree with each other? I'd like to know. Where's John McCain?

The tide is high

extremepain — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:37:38 EDT

Seems like someone finally grabbed a few news anchors and shook them to the point that John McCain had been creating ads that were outright lies merely to dominate the news cycle. They worked with the knowledge that even bald face lies have to be responded to, thus accomplishing 2 things: 1.) Keep Obama off message and REAL issues. 2.)It keeps the McCain campaign from having to talk about plans and policies they don't have.

A third reason may have been to draw attention away from the outright incompetence Ms Palin demonstrated in her Interview with Charlie, Charlie, CHARLIE!!!.

Note: I truly underestimated Mr. Gibson. I fully expected him to do no more than softball her. He was direct, to the point, fair and asked the type of questions I expect from a responsible media. I hope from here out the news agencies will follow his lead and resist the hyperbole.

Now that McCain's lies have drawn fire from all sides, perhaps he will stop and get back to what the point of the election is. Hopefully America has hit its limit with slimeball politics, and for that matter, flavor of the day politics.

2008 Elections: What Happened to the Issues?

Jackie — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:46:02 EDT

The full article

When John McCain announced the half-term Governor of Alaska and former mayor of a city of a whopping 9,000 people as his running-mate, Democrats thought they saw a political piñata, and their eyes lit up.

Where to swing for first? Her pregnant daughter? Her alleged drug-abusing son? Her own marital indiscretions? How about the state trooper she had fired when he broke her sister’s heart? And hey…is that baby really hers?

Sure, Sarah Palin brings a host of questions with her to the general election. But whether it was a full-on setup or not, Democrats took the bait. In doing so, they forgot about every issue that was allowing them to pulverize John McCain in the months before.

They forgot about the housing crisis that McCain said didn’t even exist. They forgot about the simmering tensions with Iran after almost seven consecutive years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. They forgot about rising unemployment, a floundering education system, a faltering economy, and a rural infrastructure that has deteriorated over the last eight years while George W. Bush ignored it. Instead, they went after Sarah Palin.

Democrats should have attacked Palin for two things, and two things only: her frightening lack of any kind of foreign policy experience, and more importantly, her stances that are so diametrically opposed to the interests of American women on the issues most important to them.

The simple truth is that Sarah Palin never should have been an advantage to McCain in drawing female voters, especially the disillusioned former Hillary backers. Forget, for a moment, that she lacks a Y chromosome. On any Republican male, her issue positions would have been those of one of the most anti-woman politicians in the country. Even the most successful female Republican officeholders have some kind of moderate stance on women’s rights issues.

The full article

Issues People Hope for

Sanjiv_has_had_enough! — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:33:51 EDT

Hope is not a strategy, but here is 11 things people hope for after 8 long years.

We hope 46 million more Americans get healthcare.

We hope the rest of the millions of Americans receives affordable healthcare.

We hope America regains her stature in the world.

We hope our government will seriously fund renewable energy, not just pay it lip service.

We hope our government will seriously fund education, and stop leaving rural, suburban, and urban kids behind.

We hope our government becomes responsible and pays down our 9 trillion dollar debt.

We hope we can spend a little more time pursuing our dreams and a little less time worrying about our pocketbook.

We hope women keep the right to choose and receive equal pay.

We hope everyone organizes within their communities.

We hope our troops come home.

That’s our hope, and we know Obama has the strategy to bring it to us.

Replying to McCain

rwordplay — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:07:18 EDT

I should state at the top that I don't believe the recent polls—numbers in themselves are inherently deceptive and are used to deceived. Who was polled, what questions were asked, how the answers were tabulated following what methodology. To my mind they are pointless.

All of which leads me to believe that Obama et al, should stay on message. I would go so far as to say that it is unnecessary to answer any of McCain's or Palin's or their advocates' statements or charges. We should just move forward, move forward addressing the issues as we would address them and ignore McCain completely.

As a brand strategist I recommend we speak as if the outcome of the election is already known and the political theater is just that, an entertainment. We should focus on priorities and how we will deal with them. Obama et al should not even mention McCain by name—treat the man and his constituency as irrelevant. Nor should McCain's name be linked to the present administration—these tactics merely preach to choir—we have that vote. We have everyone damaged economically, emotionally and intellectually by the Bush & Co. The independents, the working class, deal with substance and with solid evidence. Let's provide it.

The issues, "reality," will earn us the election. I am annoyed by the tit-for-tat not because it is juvenile but because it is poor strategy. It makes us look defensive and uncertain. Rather than attack, let's define ourselves and rather than brawl, let's box. McCain could win with a wild roundhouse punch, but if we're smart we'll win on points.

Issue on Taxes may Make or Break this Election

Esther — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:18:14 EDT

Taxes seems to be a big issue with many independents. But you know like I know that we can't give the Republicans another term in office. The Obama campaign seems to be on top of things I found this new link on the site to help middle class families and small businesses understand that Obama is for them. http://origin.barackobama.com/taxes/
I think he needs to run commercial ads on this as well because it is a lie that the Republicans have said over and over again and it is not true. At the bottom of that page is a detail link and comparison of Obama's plan compared with that of McCain and McCain's plan does not look good for small businesses.

Making this new link is not good enough this should be a big part of advertisements as well. Show small businesses and middle class families that your plan will benifit them not McCain.

I can't even talk about the election to my co-workers it is a very touchy subject. The last time I talked about Obama they told me he just has talk, how will he do all these things he plans, he will take more taxes from us. So my small business owner, boss, and my co-worker, middle class American are not for Obama. But it is so sad they don't know the truth.

Obama campaign spread the word.

Rely on Your Own Gray Matter

Allison — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:50:07 EDT

You know what irritates me more than the McCain/Palin campaign? THE MEDIA!!! They assume we, the voters, are SO STUPID that we'll believe any petty thing they choose to harp on instead of the issues. People, we have to rely on our own gray matter more than ever right now. This isn't about lipstick and pigs, this is about the economy and healthcare. This isn't about a girl who might or might not have given birth to a baby with Down's Syndrome, but about ending the war in Iraq. I think the media from CNN down to my local newspaper is as negative to the 2008 general election as the negative attacks coming from John McCain. We need the news, obviously, but we need to be smart about how we choose it. For example, if an article or interviewer is NOT sticking to the issues, but running an "Entertainment Tonight" like forum, the channel gets changed. If the article I'm reading becomes something out of Rolling Stone, I move on to a different writer and article. Barack Obama has dismissed the idea of being called a "Rock Star" as nonsense. Too many people having enough and finding courage in a candidate over the other is common sense (and hope) and that makes sense. My thinking comes from being a constant "outsider", one who didn't become a sheep. The more I was abused for being different, the more I embraced it even though I yearned for friends and a place to belong. Now I yearn only for purpose, solace and the satisfaction at the end of my life that I will have made a LASTING difference somehow. I don't think that wish can happen without new leadership in Washington carefully chosen by voters with common sense and a firm mind.

Please join us

Jill and Andrew — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:50:24 EDT

The Scottsdale for Obama Group will be hosting a meet and greet Wednesday, 9/17/2008 at Coffee Plantation Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85260. We will discuss everything from canvassing, to recruiting and everything in between. If you are unavailable to meet us please feel free to post any ideas you may have to promote events and get voters support.
-Jill
"We are the change we've been waiting for"

Watchdog group says McCain aired negative TV ad in violation of 9/11 pledge

Jennifer Mohr — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:22:24 EDT

Associated Press | 6 hours, 52 minutes ago in Politics

An independent watchdog group says that Republican John McCain's campaign violated a pledge not to air any negative TV ads on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Read more of the article

Civics Class

Nicole — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:33:27 EDT

Welcome to Civics class. I have decided to put my blogging time where my mouth is and look at the "real" issues. The next few posts will be a compare/contrast of Obama and McCain on points of policy. Most of the information I will be using, unless otherwise noted, comes from the candidates' websites, where you can see for yourself. Enjoy!

You may be an Obamican if…

Germaine — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:59:53 EDT

1. You’re tired of special interests and lobbyists writing the federal government’s fiscal and foreign policies, and you want a candidate who passed the most comprehensive ethics reform bill since Watergate.

2. You want your government to be more transparent and open about how they spend our tax dollars. See the “Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008” - (S. 3077)

3. You make $250,000 or less and want a $2,200 tax-cut (McCain’s plan would only provides a $1,200 tax-cut for that range according to the independent group the Tax Policy Center).

4. You believe senior citizens drawing $50,000 or less per year in social security should not pay income taxes at all.

5. You don’t think the recent economic policies have been good for the country (McCain) and that we are just a nation of whiners (Phil Graham – McCain’s Chief Economic Adviser).

6. You believe that every American has the right to affordable health care.

7. You think we need a sound energy independence policy that won’t be written by oil companies who make record profits while we pay record prices for gas.

It’s time we all stopped believing the stereotypes and started getting the real facts about the candidates’ policies. In short, stop repeating talking points and start thinking for yourselves.

This Year's Issues

Nicole — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:26:48 EDT

On TV, in my email box, and on the subway, everyone is abuzz with the “lipstick on a pig” story. If you think Sen. Obama was describing Sarah Palin, you haven’t been paying attention. If you want a story to get your dander up, well, here you go.

In an election year marked by the issues of war, housing, global warming, the threat of peak oil, healthcare, Social Security, why are we wasting the time and talent of our journalists, bloggers and candidates on such silliness? I for one would rather discuss the issues, and I would like to think the rest of America would as well. But there must be an audience, or they wouldn’t keep rehashing the story.

Maybe some voters always think “this is the most serious election ever”. But when we are dealing with the issues I listed above, I see how it could be anything but serious.

It is my intent to have this be the only post about the “lipstick” story. I refuse to give it the dignity of any more.

Focus people. Focus.

We need talking points!?!?!?!!?

Katie — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:15:47 EDT

My best friend from high school is an intelligent man who was raised in Connecticut by his black father and white mother. AND YET I had to spend an hour on the phone with him, debating against the simplified republican speaking points he threw at me (one after another), to convince him to vote for Obama. The conversation surprised me, and the implication of it broke my heart. I am at a loss. If my friend Jason isn't a die hard supporter, how can I believe enough of the country will be? I don't know what I can do, but I want to try. I need help.

I don't feel like I'm comfortable enough with the necessary facts to debate McCain supporters. I need short and sweet talking points... a handful of very specific reasons why someone should vote for Obama, and a few very specific reasons why someone should not vote for McCain. For example - a very clear and succinct rebuttal to someone who says Obama will further increase our debt with his plans.

McCain has hijacked the "change" concept. People actually believe he will be a maverick in the white house. I have no idea how that happened. I need a very clear rebuttal for this as well.

We need our talking points to be as powerful as theirs. I want to do what I can, but I need to know exactly what to say when someone comes up with one of the BS republican arguments against Obama or for McCain.

Does anyone know where I can find something like this?

Katie

Keeping Them on the Issues

Claudette from Saint Petersburg, FL — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:57:40 EDT

Thank you, Barack Obama for refusing to tolerate the old republican playbook of scandal, distraction from the issues, and lies. Not even today's Republicans recognize the party. I know, I live with a registered Republican who has been and continues to vote democratic. He says that the Republican Party has moved so far to the right that he does not even recognize it. I am a descendant of Alexander Hamilton with family ties to Western Virginia, and have watched my husband’s western Virginia family farms lost because of the inability of small farmers to compete with national and multi-national agricultural conglomerates, we need to return to our American values and away from the Republican protection of big business.

Civil liberties have disappeared. We are in wars (yes, more than one) and losing our brave young men and women to a commander-in-chief who believes that the body count is all he needs to know about the war. Our economy is a disaster. Health insurance for the middle class is non-existent or financially out of reach. The world no longer views America with respect. Our government and the powerful oil conglomerates want to drill, drill, drill (which is only a stopgap solution and will lead to environmental disaster). They will not face the emerging changes necessary to explore and develop new and varied sources of energy. Did I mention our food and water are barely safe in America?

This is America, once the greatest country in the world. Without real change, all of the above will only get worse. Obama is the real change we as Americans (Democratic, Republican or Independent) need. The tactics of the same old McCain and his "any woman will do candidate for VP," Palin, shock the conscience of this American, middle class, fifty-one year old, white woman.

Claudette Siar

Saint Petersburg, Florida USA

Ladies, from the man who wants your vote

Kahlena — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:12:27 EDT

Thought you might find this interesting especially women voters.

“At least I don’t plaster on the makeup like a trollup you cunt.”…John McCain to his wife during the 1992 Re-Election Bid.

“Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father.”…John McCain at a 1998 GOP Fundraiser, Washington D.C.

“Honey, sweetie”…”bunch of Pat Schroeders.”….John McCain during a visit by Female Air Force Pilots to the Arizona Senate Office 1991

“The French remind me a little bit of an aging actress of the 1040’s who is still trying to dine out on her looks but doesn’t have the face for it.”…John McCain during an interview with FOX News

"Did you hear the one about the woman who is attacked on the street by a gorilla, beaten senseless, raped repeatedly and left to die? John McCain speaking before the National League of Cities and Towns in Washington, D.C. 1986

Likening the experience of being raped to bad weather, he said, "as long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it."…one of McCain's top fundraisers, former Texas GOP Gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams1990

"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago,"….John McCain laughed. June 2008

"The purpose of the military is first to defend this nation's vital security interests throughout the globe and only second to ensure equality."…John McCain after the end of Gulf War 1991 on the idea of increased roles for women in the military.

"I was looking at the Sturgis schedule, and noticed that you had a beauty pageant, so I encouraged Cindy to compete. I told her with a little luck, she could be the only woman to serve as both the first lady and Miss Buffalo Chip."…John McCain as he volunteered his wife, Cindy McCain for a "beauty pageant" before some 50,000 bikers at the annual South Dakota motorcycle rally (Sturgis)

NOTE: Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant is topless and occasionally bottomless that includes booty-shaking, banana-fondling, pickle-licking simulated fellatio during the weeklong boozin', druggin' hogfest known as Sturgis.

Mostly Lies vs. Mostly Facts

SpottedDog — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:32:19 EDT

The McCain campaign continues to tell lies about obama as well as about their own people. Just look at factcheck.org to see how much of the truth they distort or even trie to unmake and how little Obama is told off by this organization.

Looking at Obama's and McCain's plans on healthcare, the economy and education, it seems to me that Obama is by far the better candidate, working really for the American People whereas McCain may have some good ideas but they are always disturbed by some corporate interests of his donating lobbyists.

Being not a citizen of the United States, the subjects that matter most to me are: the environment, human rights and foreign politics.

Whats important!

Alex Bateman — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:46:52 EDT

I am so sick of everybody talking about Sarah Palin. The last time i checked Barack was runnin against John McCain! I live in a conservative dominated region of Mississippi and all i hear is..."oh Palin is so great she has so much in common with people". I believe that you are doing yourself an injustice for liking someone solely because they have a common thread with you. America has become such a narcissistic society that the candidate has to be just like them! They are scared of a highly intelligent, witty, ambitious man. I think people need to look past the irrelevant surronding circumstances of the candidate and concentrate on the main issue. Who will lead our nation out of its rut and into prosperity?? Barack Obama is my clear choice!

A different type of P.O.W

Andr�a- (You've called him everything else- now call him Mr. President!) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:05:14 EDT

I am a P.O.W (Pissed Off Woman).

I'm pissed becasue with 55 days left before the election, the news media is still falling for the circus tricks of Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin.

I'm pissed because today, an entire newscycle was dedicated to the "lipstick on a pig " story. Anyone with even half a brain could see that Sen. Obama in no way called Gov. Palin a pig.

I'm pissed because we find out that there is an Ass-for-Oil program in our own government. Yup, Ass-for-Oil. The Dept. of the Interior has been engaging is some disgusting stuff. Drug use, sex with oil executives in exchange for contracts, the list goes on. This is how our country spends tax payers money.

I'm pissed because tomorrow is the 7 year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and this nation is still stupid enough to believe that Republicans can keep them safe and Democrats cannot. The Republicans have taken this tragedy and turned it into a gimmick. A cheap trick that spits in the faces of the 3,000 dead and their families.

I'm pissed because Sen. John McCain has said repeatedly that he knows how to catch Osama bin Laden but refuses to share this information with the FBI, CIA, or even Pres. Bush.

I'm pissed because the news media will not do it's stinking job and expose Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin for the liars and manipulators that they are.

Finally I am pissed because all the important issues of this election: ECONOMY, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, POVERTY, ACCOUNTABILITY et al are being ignored.

There I feel better, now its time for me to register more voters.

Let's discuss the "REAL ISSUES"

Unknown user — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:06:38 EDT

I believe that the Palin issue is overextended. Now let's discuss the "REAL ISSUES"; economics, high end jobs, mortgage crisis, endless war, and our disintegrating relations with all of our neighbors here and abroad.

Neither party is really discussing what the issues are, and HOW to tackle them.

I believe the public, especially the undecided are smarter and are waiting to see which candidate actually discusses the issues and really discusses HOW to solve the problems.

It doesn't matter if it's a women, but it would have been GREAT, right now it's just which candidate talks about solving the problems, and not just "mud swinging"....

Since I'm a former U.S. High School Educator, now an American Canadian, who moved to Canada due to lack of jobs in the U.S. (4 years ago) and both my spouse and I have Masters degrees, we need to see WHO WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEMS.. We do have "Absentee Ballots" from our last residence of Michigan, (plus our 20 year old daughter) so we will vote!

;>)

;>)

Shoes and ships and sealing wax and lipstick tubes and pigs

extremepain — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:57:01 EDT

As I've grown older I have seen so many of these utterly regrettable tactics by republicans. I've come to believe that the reason we have up to 20% undecided voters is due to the inability of these fence sitters to develop an opinion of their own. They are perhaps the only group that does not see through these transparent attacks. They buy into cheap clichés and slogans. Tax and spend liberals, Wrong on Family Values, Wrong for America, Universal healthcare is socialism and of course the latest: Obama wants to teach sex ed to kindergarteners.

I have always admired the fact that Democrats have always tried to take the high road. No More. I say kick em in the teeth. If thats what the swing voters understand, then do it. It's ugly, I don't like it, but if you don't go toe to toe with them, you lose, plain and simple. Bill Clinton had a response team that responded to every negative attack within one hour. It worked. It didn't hurt that he was a Rhodes Scholar that came across like a fishing buddy, but thats not Barack's personality.

Both Barack and Joe have to dig deep and go bare fisted. Biden is particularly good at this, but the media is so taken with Palin that Biden's rallies get little to no coverage. He speaks so well to the common man, and he can cut like a knife without being condescending.

People may disagree with me but Palin was picked as much for how much the camera loves her as anything. The most sexist thing that has happened is McCain's selection of her with the idea that Clinton women would vote for her based on her genitals. Ask yourself this: Had Palin looked like Bea Arthur, would she have been picked?, and if she had been picked despite that, would there be this buzz about her? No

Another Palin point: If this woman is so damn tough, why can't she speak for herself about these non-issues, and just why isn't she tough enough to talk to reporters, or take questions from plain ol Americans at all the events she appears at with John?

Folks, the truth is, she is not ready, not now, not in November and not in January. They are hiding her from real questions. The press is debunking her "reformist" image daily and the more they dig up, the less likely McCain will expose her to "Meet the Press". We know Charlie Gibson will set softballs on the tee for her, so that can go in the fluff category. As an unimportant aside, is anyone else sick of her shrill grating voice? She can assert on the topic of the "Bridge to nowhere" "Thanks, but no Thanks" as many times as she wants, but that has been disproven. The point is, she comes across great with a acript, lets see her have to speak her own words.

The McCain campaign has zero policy ideas, they have zero substance, so distraction and slimeball attacks are what they use to keep Obama defending rather than asserting the issues. So I say slap him down on the dirty stuff, and let the 527 groups play in the mud, then hammer him on the issues and force him to answer about the policies he doesn't have. They admitted they don't want this to be an election about policy and issues, they want it to be about the candidates, well force him into the issues, he's given us the roadmap on exactly what his weakness is.

Is America broken or just the GOP?

Rob — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:35:23 EDT

Quoting from a commenter at ABC News, consider what the United States over the past 8 years:

"8 years of Bush/Cheney =
1. Iraq war (6 years and 4 trillion dollars later)
2. Foreclosures
3. Gas Prices
4. Health Care Crisis
5. Joblessness
6. Bear Stearns, Indymac,Fannie Mae , Freddie Mac failed
7. Katrina mismanagement
8. Enron
9. Halliburton
10. Abu Graib
11. Osama still alive
12. Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia/Georgia mess
13. Global Warming
14. Price of food up
15. Deficit 9.6 trillion
16. Middle Class shrinking, poverty rate increasing
17. The economic gap between the poor and the rich widened significantly"

If you truly love your country, you won't let us be signed up for this again? What did we accomplish in the last 8 years that warrants another 4 under the GOP?

Let's keep the focus on communicating the issues to the rest of the country! We want to attract them, not alienate them!

STRATEGY

BRGHTSD1 HOPE & COURAGE — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:27:40 EDT

The strategy of the McCain/Palin ticket is simply to RUN OUT THE CLOCK....we simply must not allow this to happen, falling for their daily grabs for the newscycle (oooh...Barack called Sarah a pig, how awful). WE WIN on the ISSUES...no matter what is being said, inferred, attempted to divert attention from the issues, REJECT IT.

Don't blog

Don't talk

Don't call

Don't discuss

Don't be outraged

Move past it....let it be, let them stew in their bile

Like Grandma always said "You can wrestle with a pig and you'll both get dirty, only the pig will like it"

Sweatshops

Lydia from Springfield, MO — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:17:56 EDT

I would like to bring the issue of sweatshops up so everyone can discuss and share there thoughts. Personally, I think they are WRONG and should be STOPPED immediately. Unfortunately that hasn't happened. Do you think Obama will change this if he is elected president?

Election Ads

Monica F. Koziol, OCP — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:22:32 EDT

Dear Barack, Michelle, Joe and Jill:

I am so proud to suppport you! I have been watching the campaign ads on "corporate" media stations and am disgusted with the oppositions' use of negative attacks which twist your words to fit their agenda! I know it's par for the war before the elections. {I am a Chicagoan born and bred}
When Senator Clinton was campaigning, her campaign manager wanted suggestions about what they'd [supporters} like to see and hear from Hillary. Well, I thought that you would like to hear from me - for what it's worth.

I wonder if you, Senator Obama could come out plainly in an ad to say that you are not running for office to slander {their words}, malign, or bicker about the facts of your campaign that are at the forefront of voters in this Election year---and that you are running only two ads- The one where you speak about equal pay so that your daughters can achieve an equal footing and living wage as our sons -- AND to talk about the issues and plans you have to bring about a genuine change. By listening to the people - by letting the people become informed at your website, by involving the people in their government. By being in touch with the people who are not just the middle-class, or the upper-class but those who are classified as the working-poor in this country. Because these are serious times and it is the time to stop mudslinging and name calling. It is the time for Democracy for the people and by the people; no matter what their class.

I wonder if this would place you in the position you were before - above the fray. note: Please don't cave into them. We need you!

Blessings to all of you, this is a challenging road to the White House, and I want you to represent me, my friends and my family!

Please visit my website:http://www.economicturn.net

Dear Senator Obama

Esther — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:30:04 EDT

Dear Barack Obama,

Please remember who you are fighting for. Please remember those families that can't put food on their tables to feed their kids. Please remember those troops who are dying everyday and the mother with cancer with no health insurance. Don't forget the people, don't forget why you are running.

"Forgive them for they know not what they do"

The Substance: A New Issue Every Day

Eric Graham — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:28:30 EDT

I'm concerned about the direction in which the 2008 Presidential race is headed because I'm not hearing much talk about the issues. The major news outlets provide an endless stream of stories about the worst, least meaningful aspects of electioneering but do precious little to facilitate a public debate on the positions of the candidates. As a student of history I understand that the phenomenon isn't a new one but the past two Presidential elections have especially suffered for a lack of practical information.

To wit: I know far more about Sarah Palin's eyeglasses, firearms expertise and family life than I ever cared to know, but John McCain's positions on the economy aren't covered on the front page of CNN.com. I've seen plenty of stories about Senator Obama's birth certificate, lapel pin and lipstick-related metaphors, but no coverage of his actual policies. If I hadn't spent extra time researching the candidates then I would enter the voting booth armed with little more than the knowledge that one candidate is in favor of change and the other is a maverick. I know that I can do better, even if the press corps won't.

South Carolina Needs Your Help to Elect Obama

Blue Girl in South Carolina — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:35:01 EDT

Now, more than ever -- this country desperately NEEDS a President who can steer this Nation in the RIGHT direction. The American people need Barack Obama's leadership, and our country's future depends on Barack's leadership.

Do you want a healthcare system that works for all American citizens?
Do you want an economy that will help this nation grow financially and into a more prosperous one?
Do you want resolutions for the housing crisis and other economic issues?
Do you want education and higher education for you and your children?
Do you want a country that is secure and free from harmful regimes?
Do you want to restore the respect and dignity that this great nation once had?
Do you want a country that allows equal freedoms, liberties, and equalities to all American citizens?
Do you want a country that believe in changing this nation to a more einvironmentally-friendly one?
Do you believe in preserving our precious resources -- including forests and wildlife, like polar bears?
Do you believe that America can once again be a prosperous, healthy nation where hope is no longer a mere word, but a reality for ALL citizens?

Let's turn South Carolina PURPLE.

VOTE BARACK OBAMA/JOE BIDEN

Our lives depend on it.

Are Voters Being Sucked Into A Political Black Hole?

Sperry For OBama — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:27:37 EDT

Please click on link to read my newsvine article.

http://sperrys.newsvine.com/_news/2008/09/09/1845909-the-black-hole-experiment-will-the-earth-be-sucked-in

words are like arrows...if u miss them, they can kill your interest.

Lester from Miami Beach, FL — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:52:17 EDT

i sent the campaign a message about the language of the candidate, because it seems so obvious to me why he may seem to have a hard time connecting with segments of the public we WILL need to win this election: the simple, hardworking, str8 to the point talking americans painfully aware of their dire economic situation, but dubious about the message laid in froint of their eyes by the obama campaign...because they CAN"T understand it...

it went like this:

CRITICAL...what follows is CRITICAL in nature for the campaign, PLEASE read in it's entirety:

i just saw a keith olberman interview of obama (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/08/obama-olbermann-interview_n_124955.html)

and it became SO clear and OBVIOUS to me, one of the reasons why the senator may seem to have a tough time "connecting" with segments of the general public in relating his message...case in point:

in comparing mccain's and palin's to bush's policies he says, and i quote..."there's no DISCERNIBLE difference from george bush..." discernable??? i mean, HOW MANY americans can even understand the message if they can't "get" the vocabulary...he should've said "BASIC difference from george bush".

in quoting rick davis saying this election would not be about the issues he says..."that was his ASSERTION"....really?? what happened to "that's what he SAID"???

he throws words like "genuine" and "thrust" and "resume" and "ultimatedly" like free beer in a fest instead of "real" and "emphasis" (or message) and "record" and "in the end"....like when he talked about the soaring price of arugula at....whole foods??? arugula?? at whole foods?? what happened to lettuce or tomatoes and supermarket?? and you wonder why they can label him an "elitist"?? really?

honestly, i was for hillary to begin with but now i KNOW we have to unite behind obama but, for crying out loud, who is advising this man on his rhetoric? i want him to CONNECT with the millions that will need to understand his message in PLAIN english, because MOST americans are not that verse on our vocabulary (specially rePUBICans,...LOL) and it would be a shame to lose the election over such simple fix.

thanks and i hope he gets some coaching on this issue...PLEASE.

i really hope they heed my advise, because words can be easily misconstrued or missunderstood and when the speaker is perceived blabbering, one loses interest in the message...even when the message is so important.

I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!

srvlonghorn — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:12:58 EDT

I can't take it anymore! I am so disgusted with the Republican's tactics of fear mongering and emphasis on non-critical issues. While one man speaks of hope, peace, respect, bi-partisanship, and self-reliance, the Republicans go on the offensive with ripping the man's character, using crass generalizations, and attempting to prove how naive we all are by selecting a VP who makes Dan Quayle look like Sameer Mishra (2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion) and whose only achievement is having breasts.

Surely we put aside our differences and address the real issues that affect us all:

our EDUCATION budget (less than 10% of our military budget – how can we compete globally?),

the increasing national DEFICIT (nearly doubled under Bush's term, we are basically borrowing/stealing from our children and grandchildren),

HEALTH CARE (US ranks 37th according to the WHO, just behind Costa Rica),

eliminating NAFTA (free trade isn't free when we can't compete with other countries' low pay, and lack of environmental standards),

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION (ask yourself why are those people coming in, but our jobs going out? Would Christ deny basic human care to a needy person or build a wall to keep him out?)

diminished MIDDLE CLASS (our standard of living has declined over Bush's term),

ENVIRONMENT (Bush abandoned the Kyoto treaty and actually made corporations adherence to some environmental standards voluntary, now that's obviously not going to work),

HELPING THE POOR rather than helping the rich(one child going to bed hungry at night is one too many),

IRAQ WAR (we cannot defend our country with an exhausted military, and without backing from strong allies - and no, although Palau, Tonga, and the Marshall Islands are indeed our allies, they're not exactly going to deter terrorists with tiki torches),

MILITARY POWER (our so called "military president" can't even provide our troops with the proper equipment - armored vehicles, body armor, helmet padding),

reinstating our CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (we must set an example for all other countries to follow),

putting an end to CRONYISM (Harriet Miers, Michael Brown, David Safavian, John Bolton, Sam Fox, Craig Roberts Stapleton, Alberto Gonzalez, Katherine Harris, Jack Abramoff, Ken Lay - just to name a few).

Obama has revived my disillusioned soul. Let's take our country back!

Obama Wants To Cut Taxes Not McCain

Esther — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:27:03 EDT

We have all heard lately McCain claiming that he will cut taxes where he can and Obama will raise them. According to http://www.johnmccain.com/Issues/JobsforAmerica/relief.htm there is no plan to cut taxes excpect for a gas holiday. However, According to http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/#tax-relief Obama will:
Provide Middle Class Americans Tax Relief

Obama will cut income taxes by $1,000 for working families to offset the payroll tax they pay.

Provide a Tax Cut for Working Families: Obama will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 150 million workers the tax relief they need. Obama will create a new "Making Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. The "Making Work Pay" tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.
Eliminate Income Taxes for Seniors Making Less than $50,000: Barack Obama will eliminate all income taxation of seniors making less than $50,000 per year. This proposal will eliminate income taxes for 7 million seniors and provide these seniors with an average savings of $1,400 each year. Under the Obama plan, 27 million American seniors will also not need to file an income tax return.
Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans: Obama will dramatically simplify tax filings so that millions of Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than five minutes. Obama will ensure that the IRS uses the information it already gets from banks and employers to give taxpayers the option of pre-filled tax forms to verify, sign and return. Experts estimate that the Obama proposal will save Americans up to 200 million total hours of work and aggravation and up to $2 billion in tax preparer fees.

IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO

Kaz — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:43:07 EDT

"The republicans win by throwing the first punch. They win by not being defensive. And they win by not punching back. They always start the attack, and follow it up until you cry uncle and admit defeat. They don't get in a defensive posture, mainly because one has to be attacked first in order to defend ones self. And they certainly never go over and over and over what their opponent's talking points are in a whiny, silly attempt to defend ones self!"

"Go, OBAMA, go!! Take them down with those one liner's your so good at. Why does your opponent keep attacking you? Because it works. They win the news cycle and make you look weak because now you have to defend yourself or come off as looking weak. Where are those brilliant come backs? Those one liners that shut them up and make them look stupid! To win the news cycle is to win the day!!"

The first time we lost to Bush was an outrage. They lied and cheated and stole and WON.

The second time we lost to Bush was ridiculous, to know that that many people actually voted for Bush and not Kerry. It was absurd. It was a time of great cynicism in politics and America and the future.

The third time we lose to Bush? I will be so angry at the Democrats for being given the white house on a silver platter. And still losing. I was angry the first two times. Every time I hear about some Republican outrage ( Iraq, Iran, the constitution, the federal corporate bail outs, the lies and indifference about the economy, etc., etc.) I get more cynical and disillusioned. Are there really that many people in this country that don't know a terrorist from a Muslim?

To put salt on the wound is the fact that we now know that they stole the 2000 election. We now know they sanctioned torture. We know that there were no weapons of mass destruction and THERE NEVER WERE. We know that Carl Rove and Cheney bullied the press into passively going along with their outing of Valerie Plame. We know that they wiretapped us illegally. And WE let them. So whose to blame for the sad state of affairs? And we seriously wonder why there are so many disenchanted, apathetic youth in this country? Maybe because they see Republicans lying and us Democrats hoping that if we fight for what is right, that people will be drawn and inspired to us. UM...newsflash! This is not working!

Democrats, heck even Republicans are angry at the way this country has been mishandled. We're frustrated.

It's time to teach the world how to win the good fight. Democrats say, don't attack a woman, it's un presidential for the presidential candidate to go after the vice president, people are tired of division and scare tactics. Well, have fun losing another election to a bunch of lying thugs.

Why is it wrong to expose Republicans of all their wrong doing? Why do we think that we can beat them on the issues when the average American on the street doesn't know what Obama's stance on taxes is? Why do we stubbornly stick to the issues and only the issues when no one listens? Have these last eight years really taught us that little? We are tired and angry and fed up. We have not waited this long to see another gentlemanly debate about issues. We want to see them sweat. Heck, after all the money the campaign has raised, you owe it to your supporters to at least go down swinging. This is not some academic historical exercise.

So what do I suggest? Change the topic, please!! Before it's too late. Make this campaign about their failures, not personal attacks, or underhanded viciousness. There are a bazillion ways to show the Republicans' mistakes in a honest, straightforward, no nonsense way. Barak did it during his convention speech. The crowd loved it when he took a punch. It was a punch for all of us who have had to simmer on the sidelines. And it felt good! The crowd loved it. The press loved it.

How is this election going to be won? By who wins the news cycle. Their attacks are going to get more vicious because the press and public are loving it. And they have always worked. Always.

Go, OBAMA, go!! Take them down with those one liner's your so good at. Why does your opponent keep attacking you? Because it works. They win the news cycle and make you look weak because now you have to defend yourself or come off as looking weak. Where are those brilliant come backs? Those one liners that shut them up and make them look stupid! To win the news cycle is to win the day!!

The republicans win by throwing the first punch. They win by not being defensive. And they win by not punching back. They always start the attack, and follow it up until you cry uncle and admit defeat. They don't get in a defensive posture, mainly because one has to be attacked first in order to defend ones self. And they certainly never go over and over and over what their opponent's talking points are in a whiny, silly attempt to defend ones self!

Oh, and don't underestimate Palin's ability to hold her own in a debate or interview. She can't be worse than Bush and he beat Gore AND Kerry.

Obama vs McCain on Issues

Jerome Jones — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:06:27 EDT

A closer look at the issues: The War, Obama was right from the beginning and McCain was Wrong on the Vote. 2. On the Withdrawal of Troops: Obama was right with 16 months and McCain was Wrong with 100 years. 3. On Troops to Afganistan Obama was Right with sending 2 batallions 15 months ago and McCain was Wrong. Clearly Obama had the right Judgement all the Way before the Bush and McCain who now has come to the same position. They had to change their position to Obama's position on this.

On Tax Cuts: Obama's Plan help 95% of Americans While McCain's helps only 5% of the Wealthiest Americans. McCain want to keep the Bush Tax Cuts and make them permanant. This too is a change for him because he Voted against the Tax Cuts but now has change his position again.

On Energy: Obama has a 150,000,000,000.00 plan than will get us off depending on foriegn Oil. It includes all of our options. McCain thinks that we can Drill our way out. This too is a Change in his position. He has Voted against Drilling over and over. An by the way the Government already have 68,000,000 acers under contract that they can Drill if Drill was the Issue but it not for the McCains its about padding the Oil Companies pocket.

On the VP pick: Obama has shown the right Judgment in selecting Biden, who has years of experience in the right areas. McCain with Palin have a good speaker and a list of distorted records. 1. Earmarks: She received Millions for her town as Mayor which she actually hired a lobbyest to get and now she suddenly changed to be against Earmarks. This need to be Front and Center before the people. 2. On ethic reform: that bill was crafted by the legislator of Alaska and not Palin. This too need to be Front and Center before the people. 3. On a Voice for the Special Needs Children: She cut the Budget by 68% as Governor. That's not the right Voice Needed.

Check out where she stands on the Consevative issues. She's trying to stay hid from the media. We have we ever had a Vice Presidential Candidate that has not and will not make themself available to the news media to tell their story and answer questions? She want you to Vote for her before America get the chance to question her positions and record. This is a change that she'd love to have as well as McCain who is using her to say what He don't know How to say. But America will not have it and the truth shall be told. Their ticket seems to be the Palin/McCain ticket for a change that America cannot have. No Not this time.

RNC - ---> Republicans today are not standing for own values and moral

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:28:27 EDT

RNC - Republicans are not standing for own values and moral

Post of green antiwar blog "Change for better world -"

- Ron Paul on November Ballot for President

- Cheney colleague admits bribery in Halliburton oil deals

- Insane Neocons Will Drive Us to War with Russia and Nuclear Confrontation

- Out of Touch: Cindy McCain's Monday Outfit Cost $300,000

- 5 Deeply Disturbing Things About Last Night’s RNC

- McCain operatives stole American Flags for a political stunt

- "Republican Flag Pins "Made in China"?

- Stop the greed at home too! Obama and McCain Tax Proposals

- McBush - Election speeches of Bush and McCain compared... (movie)

62 diggs (Monday 8.)

8 Comments

RNC ---> Republicans today are not standing for own values and moral

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:24:45 EDT

RNC - Republicans are not standing for own values and moral

Post of green antiwar blog "Change for better world -"

- Ron Paul on November Ballot for President

- Cheney colleague admits bribery in Halliburton oil deals

- Insane Neocons Will Drive Us to War with Russia and Nuclear Confrontation

- Out of Touch: Cindy McCain's Monday Outfit Cost $300,000

- 5 Deeply Disturbing Things About Last Night’s RNC

- McCain operatives stole American Flags for a political stunt

- "Republican Flag Pins "Made in China"?

- Stop the greed at home too! Obama and McCain Tax Proposals

- McBush - Election speeches of Bush and McCain compared... (movie)

62 diggs (Monday 8.)

8 Comments

RNC - --> Republicans today are not standing for own values and moral

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:20:45 EDT

RNC - Republicans are not standing for own values and moral

Post of green antiwar blog "Change for better world -"

- Ron Paul on November Ballot for President

- Cheney colleague admits bribery in Halliburton oil deals

- Insane Neocons Will Drive Us to War with Russia and Nuclear Confrontation

- Out of Touch: Cindy McCain's Monday Outfit Cost $300,000

- 5 Deeply Disturbing Things About Last Night’s RNC

- McCain operatives stole American Flags for a political stunt

- "Republican Flag Pins "Made in China"?

- Stop the greed at home too! Obama and McCain Tax Proposals

- McBush - Election speeches of Bush and McCain compared... (movie)

62 diggs (Monday 8.)

8 Comments

RNC - -> Republicans today are not standing for own values and moral

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:15:29 EDT

RNC - Republicans are not standing for own values and moral

Post of green antiwar blog "Change for better world -"

- Ron Paul on November Ballot for President

- Cheney colleague admits bribery in Halliburton oil deals

- Insane Neocons Will Drive Us to War with Russia and Nuclear Confrontation

- Out of Touch: Cindy McCain's Monday Outfit Cost $300,000

- 5 Deeply Disturbing Things About Last Night’s RNC

- McCain operatives stole American Flags for a political stunt

- "Republican Flag Pins "Made in China"?

- Stop the greed at home too! Obama and McCain Tax Proposals

- McBush - Election speeches of Bush and McCain compared... (movie)

62 diggs (Monday 8.)

8 Comments

RNC --> Republicans today are not standing for own values and moral

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:08:50 EDT

RNC - Republicans are not standing for own values and moral

Post of green antiwar blog "Change for better world -"

- Ron Paul on November Ballot for President

- Cheney colleague admits bribery in Halliburton oil deals

- Insane Neocons Will Drive Us to War with Russia and Nuclear Confrontation

- Out of Touch: Cindy McCain's Monday Outfit Cost $300,000

- 5 Deeply Disturbing Things About Last Night’s RNC

- McCain operatives stole American Flags for a political stunt

- "Republican Flag Pins "Made in China"?

- Stop the greed at home too! Obama and McCain Tax Proposals

- McBush - Election speeches of Bush and McCain compared... (movie)

62 diggs (Monday 8.)

8 Comments

RNC - - Republicans today are not standing for own values and moral

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:03:50 EDT

RNC - Republicans are not standing for own values and moral

Post of green antiwar blog "Change for better world -"

- Ron Paul on November Ballot for President

- Cheney colleague admits bribery in Halliburton oil deals

- Insane Neocons Will Drive Us to War with Russia and Nuclear Confrontation

- Out of Touch: Cindy McCain's Monday Outfit Cost $300,000

- 5 Deeply Disturbing Things About Last Night’s RNC

- McCain operatives stole American Flags for a political stunt

- "Republican Flag Pins "Made in China"?

- Stop the greed at home too! Obama and McCain Tax Proposals

- McBush - Election speeches of Bush and McCain compared... (movie)

62 diggs (Monday 8.)

8 Comments

RNC -- Republicans today are not standing for own values and moral

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:58:34 EDT

RNC - Republicans are not standing for own values and moral

Post of green antiwar blog "Change for better world -"

- Ron Paul on November Ballot for President

- Cheney colleague admits bribery in Halliburton oil deals

- Insane Neocons Will Drive Us to War with Russia and Nuclear Confrontation

- Out of Touch: Cindy McCain's Monday Outfit Cost $300,000

- 5 Deeply Disturbing Things About Last Night’s RNC

- McCain operatives stole American Flags for a political stunt

- "Republican Flag Pins "Made in China"?

- Stop the greed at home too! Obama and McCain Tax Proposals

- McBush - Election speeches of Bush and McCain compared... (movie)

62 diggs (Monday 8.)

8 Comments

RNC - Republicans today are not standing for own values and moral

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:47:24 EDT

RNC - Republicans are not standing for own values and moral

Post of green antiwar blog "Change for better world -"

- Ron Paul on November Ballot for President

- Cheney colleague admits bribery in Halliburton oil deals

- Insane Neocons Will Drive Us to War with Russia and Nuclear Confrontation

- Out of Touch: Cindy McCain's Monday Outfit Cost $300,000

- 5 Deeply Disturbing Things About Last Night’s RNC

- McCain operatives stole American Flags for a political stunt

- "Republican Flag Pins "Made in China"?

- Stop the greed at home too! Obama and McCain Tax Proposals

- McBush - Election speeches of Bush and McCain compared... (movie)

62 diggs (Monday 8.)

8 Comments

RNC - Republicans today are not standing for own values and moral

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:27:42 EDT

RNC - Republicans are not standing for own values and moral

Post of green antiwar blog "Change for better world -"

- Ron Paul on November Ballot for President

- Cheney colleague admits bribery in Halliburton oil deals

- Insane Neocons Will Drive Us to War with Russia and Nuclear Confrontation

- Out of Touch: Cindy McCain's Monday Outfit Cost $300,000

- 5 Deeply Disturbing Things About Last Night’s RNC

- McCain operatives stole American Flags for a political stunt

- "Republican Flag Pins "Made in China"?

- Stop the greed at home too! Obama and McCain Tax Proposals

- McBush - Election speeches of Bush and McCain compared... (movie)

62 diggs (Monday 8.)

8 Comments

Palin is Fair Game

Janet from Bridgeport, WV — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:19:07 EDT

The media are talking about how careful Biden must be in the Vice-Presidential debate. Why??? It’s offensive and patently unfair to give her any slack because she’s a woman. If she wants to be Vice-President of the United States, she’d better be able to take as good as she gives.

I agree that family issues are off the table, although I do wonder why no one has discussed her ties to the Alaskan Independence Party, an organization that wants to separate Alaska from the rest of the United States. She was apparently never a member, but her husband was and she gave a videotaped address for their convention opening after she was Governor. She also has ties to lobbyist and special interests that have not been fully explored.

This campaign should be about Obama vs. McCain; not Obama vs. Palin. On the other hand, it's understandable that attention be given to her qualifications because she could conceivably become President if McCain were to win and then to die or become disable while in office. I don’t for a minute believe that’s the reason the media are so smitten – and that’s what they are – smitten. She’s attractive, photographs great, and delivers scathing one-liner lies with her beauty-queen smile. Her ability to be condescending and dismissive of anyone who doesn’t agree with her makes her a true Republican.

Tax Increase, Shmax Increase

Kathy T - CD 53 Central Data Co-Coord — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:38:15 EDT

The McCain campaign and Republicans continue to use the "well, he's going to raise your taxes!" threat... unfortunately, pretty effectively because it's an easy sound byte. I read the following counterpoint on (of ALL places!) PerezHilton.com (yes, the celebrity gossip artist!).

"THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.

Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise"

So - McCain will cut your taxes... but you'll only see 3% additional post-tax income. Obama's plan increases middle-tax income by an ADDITIONAL TWO PERCENT! Though this might not seem like a lot, but it's pretty easy to say, "If you had to choose between an extra 3% of take-home income or an extra 5% of take-home income (plus improved individual and company access to health insurance, improved educational opportunities, energy independence), which would you choose? I don't know about you, but I'd pick the 5% any day of the week and twice on Sundays." :)

The issues are on our side! It's tough to resist striking back against the sometimes petty criticism we're receiving, but this is about RESPECT, INCLUSION, and EMPOWERMENT! Resist that temptation (don't worry... I'm now repeating this mantra to myself as well!), especially when you're out there volunteering! I support Obama because I believe that he can inspire change beyond Washington. It's not about what government does for us, its about what we can all do together!

Why I Still Support Barack Obama

Breeze Bryson — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:04:36 EDT

Why I Support Barach Obama to be President of the United States

I support Barack Obama because I believe he has the wisdom, judgment, experience, and stamina to become one of our greatest presidents. His character and charisma and his eloquent ability to get at the heart of issues will help him bring change for the better for all people. He sees the spiritual nature, moral values, and actions of each person as being more significant than any religious affiliation. He has already demonstrated that he can improve our image in the world and can build self-esteem among all the citizens of our country, regardless of age, color, creed, gender or sexual orientation.

I also support Barack Obama because he agrees with me on the direction I think this country should take toward ending the war in Iraq and preventing other wars by putting diplomacy before military force, talks before bombs! He will have a foreign policy that stresses the building of coalitions in all parts of the globe. He will provide us with security within and without our borders. He will address the causes of poverty, disease, and violence and not just treat the symptoms. He will prioritize achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.

I believe that he believes in equality of opportunity, civil rights and civil liberties, the right to privacy and the right to dissent. He understands the yearning for peace and social justice, economic fairness in our tax structures, environmental protection and conservation; an effective energy policy; public infrastructure to put people to work; improved transportation; good government with ethics and electoral reform; universal, affordable, and preventive health care; and new and better goals in education.

As an educator, I am particularly thrilled to have a candidate who is informed on what’s needed to really not leave one child behind. He reminds us that critical thinking and conflict resolution skills are an important part of learning and should be taught in our schools. I’m happy to have a candidate promoting earlier childhood education and offering the possibility of college expenses being paid for by community service, which would allow all those who are ready to study and serve the advantage of a degree and the satisfaction of being of help to others. Increasing the salaries of teachers, rewarding them for work and creativity beyond the call of duty, and giving them on job mentoring and in-service training, and doing the same for principals are part of his plan for schools. Insisting that we educate the whole child with a curriculum that goes beyond math, science, and literacy to exposure to music, visual arts, and performing arts are his goals, and they confirm my philosophy of education.

I also support Barack Obama because he gives me hope. He inspires me and educates me in the possible. I trust his integrity. I respect his accomplishments. I admire his intellect, sense of humor, and speaking skills. I’m convinced that his ability to be a good listener, to see more than one side of an issue, and to get his viewpoints across will make it possible to mediate conflicts and solve what has seemed unsolvable. He will know when to compromise and when to be resolute. He is calm under stress and able to disagree without being disagreeable. He is willing to change his mind when circumstances suggest doing so will bring a better result for more people.

I believe that Obama’s majoring in International Studies at Occidental College and Columbia University and his law degree from Harvard helped prepare him for the issues he will face as president. His ability to teach and his experience in teaching constitutional law will serve him well as a president who will, no doubt, have to nominate judges to the Supreme Court.

His books have allowed me to know him in a way I have never known a candidate in the past. In them, he reveals his faults and failures, but also shares his victories and his ability to love deeply, his strengths and his tenderness. His attention to detail in his books indicates that he is a man very aware of his surroundings. Wherever he is, he seems to be totally present.

His life story has exposed him to the third world cultures of Asia and Africa and the neglected world of large American cities. In addition to the countries of Indonesia and Kenya, he has lived with the people of Hawaii, California, Kansas, Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts. He truly is all American AND a world citizen.

In his wife, Michelle, he has a partner that will truly enhance his presidency, one who confirms his good judgment in choosing her, and one who shares his inspirational speaking talents, his educational background, and his visions for our country. His children will give him balance and motivation, and his sisters and grandmothers will add to his reservoir of love and help him understand the special needs of women. The stability and camaraderie of his nuclear and extended families could make them role models for all families.

I am proud to be in the elder class of women who support Barack Obama for president. I am Breeze Bryson and I approve this message on August 1, 2008 and on September 6, 2008.

Why We're HERE!!

deliziosa: 8 is Enough — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:25:10 EDT

We all have come from various walks of life to end up here. Not just on this site, not just as supporters of this campaign, but here in the sense that we've (hopefully) arrived to a new state of mind and a new view of what the future can hold for us. I can speak for myself in saying that before I was not interested in politics, or really anything to do with our government. With the candidacy of Barack Obama and the message he brought with it, I found a renewed sense of pride in my country and first time interest in how my country "works". And I don't care how the media spun it, but I think most of us understood what Mrs. Obama meant when she said that about "The first time in her adult life..." There has been such a disconnect with the American people from it's government, and even the America people from one another. Times have gotten so hard that it's hard to take the time to care for your fellow man, nor, in these dog eat dog days, are we encouraged to do so.

It's hard for me to understand how some people don't want to see things change for the better. Quick anecdote: I recently volunteered at an elderly care facility. My goal was to make the residents there happy. It didn't take much. Simple things like talking, touching their hand, playing UNO, painting their nails, or putting in an "oldey but goody" movie in the VCR was all it took to make their day. The employees though, soon grew frustrated with me. I faced constant confrontation whenever I tried to do any activity with the residents. They began to feel as though I was trying to show off, show them up, or show them how horrible they were that they never took the time to do these things. They didn't realize that I wasn't there for them, I wasn't even really there for me (although I was equally rewarded by making them happy), I was there for the residents. I couldn't understand how some people didn't want good things to happen to people, especially those who are the most likely not to find much good in life.

Pick a side, any side!

deliziosa: 8 is Enough — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:53:48 EDT

Am I the only who has been feeling like the coverage from the media is becoming more and more... biased? I don't want to be like those whiney Republicans who claim that "to question = to attack", but I must say, most of us Obama supporters have given the so called "liberal" media the benefit of the doubt when they have been hard on Obama over the months. Though they seem to obsess over every little thing done by the Obama campaign, especially the gaffes. I know for myself I thought, well, he is relatively new on the scene, maybe that's why they spend their every waking coverage dissecting his speeches & requesting "more substance", investigating relatives abroad, playing clips of poorly chosen words over and over again, looking at any poll that suggests a Hillary gap, a Working Class gap, a Women gap, a blue gap, or a red gap.

I, for the most part, gave them the benefit of the doubt. John McCain has of course been in the senate for 26 years trying to "shake up Washington" ( i kid, i kid), so maybe they are just trying to give the viewers balance. Fast foward three to four days ago...

McCain announces a vice president whom no one in the media, "the google", not even spokespersons in the McCain camp know anything about. First the media begins by giving us campaign talking points. She's a reformer, a fresh face, a maverick, they said... examples? No.

Change Anyone?

deliziosa: 8 is Enough — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:00:45 EDT

I think it's apalling how the McCain campaign has decided to try to "steal" the change idea. It shows that indeed they really don't understand this at all. When we're yelling "Change", when Obama talks about change, it's not just something cute to say. I can speak for myself, when I'm talking about the changes I want to see, I'm talking about wanting my country and, probably for the first time in my life, BELIEVING my country can change for the better.

I'd like to ask John McCain what changes he's offering, besides, as Biden put it, the billions of dollars worth of change he's offering to put into the pockets of the oil companies. And if there were to be real changes in Washington under a McCain presidency, who would they be catering to? Based on his vice presidential selection, I'd guess the far right, ultraconservatives. I don't want those kinds of changes in my or my son's lifetime.