Posts with the tag republicans for obama

3 New Videos

Unknown user — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:02:59 EST

Hey there!

There are 3 new videos on my blog.

1st video is about Obama's Supreme Court http://obama-videos.blogspot.com/2009/02/obamas-supreme-court.html

2nd video is about the Republicans who support Obama's plans http://obama-videos.blogspot.com/2009/02/gop-mayor-for-obama-plan.html

3rd video is an old one, but it reminds of the grassroots movement http://obama-videos.blogspot.com/2009/02/barack-obama-on-60-minutes.html

One Republican Explains His Switch to Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:31:12 EST

The post-mortems are being written on this cycle, even as we are two days away from Election Day. One of the more talked-about and controversial stories this year has been the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain's Vice President. Her obvious strengths as a charismatic campaigner who appeals very strongly to the conservative base have been offset by concerns that she's not ready to serve as President if needed (affirmed as strongly as ever this week with 59% saying she's not qualified) and an ideology that has motivated many Democrats as much as it's energized the Republican base. I bring up Palin, because she has been a key factor in some of the very high-profile Republican defections to Obama, including that of Colin Powell, Ken Adelman and just Friday, Ken Duberstein, who was Reaganâ€™s Chief of Staff.

All Walks of Life: Supporters in Ohio

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:02:06 EST

This election will be an extra special one for Barack supporter Suzanne McDaniel Hayes. Not only because Barack is a special kind of candidate, but also because Suzanne has cancer, and might not make it to next November.

TheStory.org has a profile of her on their site, which begins like this:

Suzanne McDaniel Hayes has always been a committed voter, but this year she is more determined than ever to vote. Suzanne is terminally ill with cancer, but she's hoping to live long enough to cast her ballot for the last time in her life. As she tells Dick, she's trying to set an example for her three children. She intends to go to the poll with her son, who will be voting for the first time.

Click HERE for the full story - just scroll down to "October 3rd."

Some people base their support in enthusiasm for the Vice Presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden--check out what a few volunteers cooked up for the Vice Presidential debate a couple weeks ago:

Some Ohioans have specific policy concerns: this well known Columbus blogger declares on his blog The Walker Evans Effect that he's supporting Barack because of his urban policy.

And then there are the not-quite-supporters. When Barack recently went on a five-city tour of Ohio, he stopped between Cincinnati and Portsmouth at a diner in Georgetown. He had a funny encounter with the self-declared die-hard Republican owner of the diner... Barack may or may not have won him over, but as the following article from the Dayton Daily News makes clear, he's certainly benefitting from his diner's newfound fame:

Don't tell restaurant owner Bill Seip that Democrat Barack Obama is bad for business.

Seip knows better.

It's been more than a week since Obama made his surprise stop at Seip's Fireside Restaurant in Georgetown on Thursday, Oct. 9, and folks in the Brown County village still are buzzing about it, said Seip.

The last presidential campaign visit came from William Jennings Bryan in the early 1900s, said Seip.

Ulysses S. Grant, the great Union Civil War general and the first Ohio-born president, moved with his family to Georgetown soon after his birth in Point Pleasant in nearby Clermont County in 1822 but nobody way back then knew Grant was headed for the White House.

At the Fireside, Obama ordered up a "Big O" burger — a double cheeseburger – and coconut cream pie to go. Gov. Ted Strickland, Obama's traveling companion and guide through Ohio's Appalachian region, had lemon pie.

The day after Obama's stop, Seip made the "Big O" the daily special and dubbed it the "Obama Burger."

"I liked the guy myself," Seip, 46, said of Obama. "He was really down to earth. The way he took care of everybody. He was a nice guy."

Why are you a supporter? Do you have a special story? Let us know in the comments section below.

A Look Back at Life in the Field

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:10:31 EST

With the Ohio Campaign for Change's sprawling and aggressive ground efforts, volunteers have been engaged for months now in every single part of Ohio. In terms of their activities, they've done everything you'd expect from a campaign, and much much more. Sure there's been canvassing, phonebanking, and data entry, but there have also been house meetings, debate watch parties, birthday pot lucks, booths at festivals--too much to name. Here is a look at some moments from all the activity in the field over the last five months.

Back in September, Field Organizer Liz, in Port Clinton, held a very special house meeting... on an island!

John Donne's observation that "no man is an island" was the theme of last week's Obama house meeting on, well, an island. Marty and Kelly, longtime residents of Put-in-Bay, rounded up a dozen of their friends to talk about how high the stakes are in this election. Every vote in every precinct of Ohio -- including the hundreds that will be cast for Barack and Joe at polling places in the middle of Lake Erie -- will make the difference this year.

In Marion, a debate watch party did its job--drew an undecided into the fold. Field Organizer Hannah snapped a picture:

Anderson Township, in Cincinnati, is known as a historically conservative area. Which is exactly why volunteers held neighborhood meetings there, so that Obama supporters would know they're not alone! Local team leader Vanessa writes a moving account of the Anderson Township meeting--where everyone seemed to be shocked by the turnout:

I have been campaigning in this little conservative village for some time now. People are very reserved and do not like to talk about politics. And I'm just witnessing the power of Obama message. People are tired of war, are tired of unaffordable health care or schools not up to the level of the global economy. But they have also find a leader who gives them hope that things can be improved if we just work hard. And people are demonstrating their desire for a better country that goes beyond their personal interest. We had about 50 people convening at the Anderson Center to learn about the campaign and its grassroots effort, and to share their extraordinary and ordinary stories. I myself learned form my parents and relatives, who lived the end of World War II, how horrible is the war from their stories. I moved from Italy, where I grew up, to Japan and now I have been leaving in Cincinnati for 7 years. I was never in favor of the war in Iraq since the beginning. I would like my daughters to grow in a world as peaceful as possible. Another lady at the meeting told us her story about her childhood in Korea during Korean War and Vietnam War, and described them as an horrible experience, and she wish other people don't suffer as she and her family did. Unaffordable health care and schools that are not able to prepare future generation to compete in the global economy were also some of the reasons Anderson residents are choosing Obama as their next President of the United States. The meeting was a very energizing experience and I'll keep working with those new friends to elect Barack Obama our next President of Unites States.

Finally, Courtney has this heartwarming story from canvassing last weekend:

TaLisa and I canvassed Ward 4 today, a very economically depressed area of Columbus. Several voters that we spoke to felt that their vote would not count even though they were registered.
Amidst all this, there two young boys that were playing football with an empty Gatorade bottle across the street from our targeted doors.

These two boys, in the third and fourth grade, helped direct us to which doors were occupied. After several not-homes, we stopped to talk to them and asked if they knew Barack Obama. The fourth grader did, but the third grader did not. We gave them literature and told them to take it to their parents…
And they sat down on the sidewalk where they were playing and began reading it out loud to one another and expressed they were excited about taking it with them to school.

Do you have a story from volunteering? What kind of Obama activity has gone on in your area in the last five months? Let us know in the comment section below.

And it's not too late to make some memories in these last days of the campaign. Sign up to get out the vote right now.

The Rev Wright Ads in Louisiana

gjoseph — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:49:01 EST

I am really dsmayed at the use of the Rev Wright controversy in New Orleans. They ads are even running on CNN! I have seen very few Obama ads on local CNN, and hope there will be more.

The Republicans even withough McCain's blessing are still trying to make people in LA, afraid.

But after Katrina, I don't see how anyone would want another Republican in the White House.

Al Gore was here in a helicopter resucing people- yes he even rescued my Preist- before Bush was anywhere to be found. All the southern states seem to go Republican, and I don't see how that has worked for us.

I noticed the parts of the country with the best jobs and opportunites are all Democratic.

I hope Louisiana surprises the nation and votes OBAMA!

Why A Republican Who's Always Voted Republican Voted for Barack Obama

Kevin from Washington, DC — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:57:38 EST

I write regularly on the blog What Should Be. I am a Centrist and as such steer away from the extremes of both political parties. In fact, I'm offended by the extremes. As a Centrist it would have seemed that I would have voted for John McCain who has a record of working across party lines. I didn't, however.

I voted for Barack Obama, the first Democrat in 10 presidential electons for whom I've cast a vote. I've written about my decision in two postings, A Vote for Change and And One More Thing. I close "A Vote for Change" with these words:

So, with my vote for Barack Obama today I broke 36 years of tradition. I will admit that it was probably the most emotional vote I’ve ever cast for President, for my vote today was as much emotional as it was intellectual. It was ultimately a vote for the America that should be. Only Barack Obama offered me that America. I accepted.

Kevin Bliss

Washington, DC

Only 5 days until Election Day

Michelle Aldis — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:24:55 EDT

"( John McCain) needs to do something to prove he has the judgement to lead and knows where this country wants to go. I've got it! Senator McCain, you need to endorse Barack Obama." -Stephen Colbert

Letters from the Field: "Here are 6 Republican votes for OBAMA"

Josh In Michigan — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:09:06 EDT

Dan in Berkley sent us this note:

My Grandfather was a Republican, my Father was a Republican, I was near Dwight Eisenhower when I was a child. I have been a Republican all of my life. BUT, this is NO LONGER my Grandfather's or Father's Republican party. I can plainly see that is NO LONGER my party either.
So, I am voting for Senator Obama and ALL of the Democrats on the national party (Senator Levin and Mr. Peters). I have 5 grown children that are registered to vote, are mostly Republican as well, but they TOO are voting for Senator Obama. I certainly hope that he wins in a HUGE LANDSIDE!
Anyway, here are 6 Republican votes for OBAMA here in this family.

Hope, Political Jujitsu and Evolving Republicans

David from Santa Barbara, CA — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:01:41 EDT

Thoughts on why I'm behind Barack Obama:

I first considered Mr. Obama after reading an article, "Barack Obama, Inc." in a magazine in late 2006. In that article, I was attracted by his work as early as 2000 on regulating against predatory lending in Illinois. I was impressed by his prescient early recognition of the systematic peril of deregulation aimed at inflating the housing bubble. In recent weeks, I’ve been even more amazed at his restraint in trumpeting his foresight on this very issue. Mr. Obama, it seems, favors action over ego.

In campaigning against Mrs. Clinton he responded to the Reverend Wright criticism with deep honesty and political jujitsu in his now famous speech. He has now handled the RNC with even greater jujitsu. For example, his campaign's work in preparing the short film on McCain's dirty hand in the $120 billion dollar Savings and Loan bailout was masterfully staged, and only released AFTER Mrs. Palin did the RNC's bidding and turned the campaign negative in Colorado 3 weeks ago.

This is how he will execute foreign policy. Just as he now has the RNC spinning while he builds momentum towards action and solution, Mr Obama will unite the country against unenlightened self-interest, and unite the world against Al Qaeda.

Back in late 2006, I had a conversation with Michael Powell, Colin Powell's son, who also served in the Bush administration as chair of the FCC. He also resigned from the Bush administration in early 2005. Thereafter I took great interest in the career of both father and son. They are great Americans, evolving conservatives, and, like my parents, republicans who will vote democrat on November 4th. The Uniting has begun.

We have great cause for hope in this country, and always have; but it has seldom been more obvious. Dare we be grateful that just when our citizens are feeling the full impact of banker greed ($1T) and oilwar profiteering (another $1T), Mr Obama arrives to address our despair with substance, style and the social network technology that reinvents community organizing and political fundraising, and destroys big money politics itself?

I'm feeling very grateful... for the Bush legacy and for Lehman and Countrywide and Halliburton and Enron and all the many thieves… for waking up America... but mostly for Mr. Obama and all his supporters, especially republicans who've put their ego aside.

And that's a good place to be at the start of something new. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

TOMORROW: Former GOP State Senate Majority Leader Phil Arthurholtz in W. Michigan

Josh In Michigan — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:26:52 EDT

Tomorrow, October 29th Michigan Republicans for Obama Chair, Former State Senate Majority Leader, Phil Arthurhultz, will travel around Western Michigan to speak with voters about how Senator Obama will bring the change Michigan needs. Former State Senator Arthurhultz will begin his road trip by stopping by a Get Out the Vote sign up table at the Aquinas College.

He will then travel to Holland, stopping by Hope College and the Holland Campaign for Change office, encouraging supporters to get out the vote.

Earlier this month, Senator Arthurhultz launched Michigan Republicans for Obama along with former Republican Senator Lincoln Chaffee. Join Michigan Republicans for Obama today on my.barackobama.com!

Wednesday, October 29th

3:15 PM          GOTV sign up table
1607 Robinson Road S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49506

6:00 PM          Holland Campaign for Change Office Stop-by
1 W. 5th St.
Holland, MI 49423

7:00 PM          Hope College Democrats Meeting
Martha Miller Center 159
E. 10th St.
Holland, MI 49423

A handy site to send to everyone you know, esp. in toss-up states - Republican Switchers (aka Conservatives for Obama)

Celeste W. — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 03:46:07 EDT

You might like this Republican Switchers site, which has been designed to be a handy, one-page, at-a-glance guide that one can easily send to conservative and undecided voters -- grandparents, relatives, colleagues, friends, etc. It provides up-to-date information on conservative leaders and newspapers who have endorsed Barack Obama.

The URL, or website address, is
http://inprogress.typepad.com/republicanswitchers

A shorter address (for Twitter, blogs, etc.) is http://budurl.com/c679

The current post is based in part on a wonderful compilation from John Martin at RepublicansForObama.org. (A friend and I followed his directions to another poster to "disseminate as widely as possible." We'll be watching for his updates and adding them. Thanks, John!)

I actually started the site for Kerry, in 2004:

http://chicagoist.com/2004/11/01/local_mom_creates_republicanswitchersco...

And this week, with much help form a good friend, I revived it.

To other readers, please help spread the word.

--Send to folks in your address book (especially in toss-up states --Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Missourit, Indiana, Montana, Colorado, Ohio, Virginia, and New Mexico),

--post on Twitter and on blogs, and

--share on discussion lists and forums.

And if you know of other conservatives for Obama, please let us know.

Thanks so much!

P.S. Also check out the Kids for Obama blog: http://inprogress.typepad.com/kidsforobama

A Sea Change

Jessica Eik — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:28:22 EDT

I want to commend the Jackson County, NC volunteers for consistently calling me back and helping me find out where to vote early! Thank you!!! After voting yesterday, I picked up a local paper, the Smoky Mountain News, where I read the most remarkable letter to the editor from a lifelong Republican voter who decided to vote for Obama. Please forward tis link on to anyone who might possibly be receptive to the truth!

http://www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/10_08/10_22_08/op_edlet_republican.html

It's A New Day

Patrice from Williamsburg, VA — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:22:03 EDT

The dawning of a new day is here, both for America as a whole and for those who call ourselves "compassionate conservatives," a code name for politically active Christians.

It's a time when our nation has the opportunity to break from the tradition of the past--from racial and class division, from partisan politics, from us against them--and to ride into a bright, new future of unified effort for the good of all Americans, truly non-partisan policy making and cooperation in Washington.

The undeclared but clearly evident leader of this new effort is Barack Obama, an American of mixed racial background (half white, and half black), and of mixed socio-economic background, a recent graduate from the struggling middle class to the echelons of upper class America. He is the leader we need right now not just because of superior intellect, highly effective communication skills, and his high level of educational attainment, but also because of the character and the temperament with which he has been divinely blessed. Character he has demonstrated in this election in quite distinct contrast to his Republican contender, John McCain.

It is for this reason that I, a social activist at heart for the poor and for the good of all men, and a Christian conservative as it relates to the two most pivotal moral issues of our time--abortion and homosexuality--have decided to vote for Senator Barack Obama to become the next president of the United States.

Though the Republican party may attempt to portray it--God is not the God of one political party. He is not more concerned about small government than he is about helping those in need. He did not only send His Son to die for upper class and upper middle class whites. He does not want us to lock-up first time, young non-violent offenders for most of their young adult lives and throw away the keys. He does not want us to ignore the social causes of crime. He does want his people involved with both parties so that both parties ultimately represent His interests, which are the best interests of us all.

This is our opportunity. In this election, we have the ability to show the rest of America that "conservative Christians" can make a balanced, intellectual, and still spiritual choice for President. We can choose to vote for Barack Obama, not because we agree with him on every issue, but because we agree with him on many. And we can make our voices heard during his administration to affect the way he governs on issues with which we do disagree.

Make the change. Take the leap. Make a new choice, and encourage other like minded people to make this choice as well--praying all the way for Christ to grant Sen. Obama the wisdom to make the right decisions at the right time, not swayed by what's popular, but based on the right foundation--God's Word--at "such a time as this" in our nation's and the world's history.

--Pat Perry

Another Republican Comes Out for Obama

Lawrence Lassiter — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:59:01 EDT

Conservative legal scholar and Reagan Solicitor General Charles Fried has announced that he will be voting for Obama-Biden. Fried has worked with many prominent Republicans over the years and expressed enthusiasm for McCain's candidacy during the Republican primaries. Fried identifies "the choice of Sarah Palin at a time of deep national crises" as a major reason for his decision. Fried wrote a letter to the McCain-Palin campaign asking that his name be removed from several campaign committees on which he had been serving.

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/10/24/reagan-appointee-and-recent-mccain-adviser-charles-fried-supports-obama.aspx

William Weld, former Republican governor of Massachusetts (and Mitt Romney backer), recently also endorsed Obama, as did Bush's former press secretary Scott McClellan.

How the Republican Party Has Fallen

John J. Davenport — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:11:51 EDT

The Republican Party began as a party devoted to moral principle, bringing liberty to slaves, public education to the poor, development of our infrastructure, and sound fiscal policy. In March 1839, while serving in the Illinois state government, where Barack Obama also began, Abraham Lincoln defended progressive tax policies that mirror Obama's: the proposed tax should be passed because it "does not increase the tax on the 'many poor' but upon the 'wealthy few'," Lincoln wrote to William Wait. Likewise in 1834, the great Republican politician Thaddeus Stevens, who later drafted the 14th Amendment, argued in his state legislature for free public schools "...that the blessing of education shall be conferred on every son of Pennsylvania -- shall be carried home to the poorest child of the poorest inhabitants of the meanest hut in your mountains." Words cannot adequately express the betrayal of these values by Republicans who today argue for a flat income tax and who define "rich" as making more than $3 million a year.

Once upon a time, John McCain opposed such extreme libertarian ideology, which has led directly to our current crisis. Five years of a war based on misinformation, economic collapse fed by deregulation, and tax cuts for the richest Americans that have left our federal government almost broke and our children and grandchildren saddled with over $10,000 billion in national debt. This tremendous injustice should be rejected by Democrats and Republicans alike. We should vote for new and visionary leadership that will rebuild our economy and inspire our allies around the world to work with us once again.

I respected John McCain in 2000 when, in true maverick fashion, he opposed George W. Bush's proposed tax cuts going primarily to the wealthiest Americans. But then McCain reversed course and supported the budgets including these insane tax cuts, which led to the richest 1% of Americans now earning 40% of our national income, and turned Clinton's federal budget surpluses to annual deficits: this doubled our national debt in eight years and left us no rainy-day fund to help us in our current mortgage and credit crisis. Against what he knows is best for the country and solely for political gain, McCain has returned to Republican ideology: he now wants to make those disastrous tax cuts that he once opposed permanent, and to extend more tax breaks to large corporations – even while hard times are forcing us to add another $1,000 billion to our national debt. McCain wants you to ignore the crushing mountain of debt we're leaving to our children, and instead believe that Obama is a communist because Joe the Plumber might pay $100 more in income tax if he starts making over $250,000 a year! He wants you to ignore the $800 billion he's spent on the Iraq war and focus on $1 billion in Illinois projects for which Obama sought federal funding. This is not honest leadership. Only Obama now has the guts to say that people in with higher incomes will have to return to paying a bit more, as they did before Bush, if we are going to return to fiscal sanity, repay the Social Security Trust account the billions we've borrowed from it, and eventually have that rainy day fund which ought to have been amassed in good times. Only Obama will make good health insurance policies available to uninsured families, while McCain want to break up employer-paid health plans by taxing them instead. Only Obama has a real track record of supporting renewable energy so that we have an stable environment, as well as balanced national accounts, to pass on to the next generation.

I respected John McCain both for his service in Vietnam, his personal courage, and his record in the Senate – no informed and judicious citizen could think otherwise. But with all my heart, I support Barack Obama in this election: his judgment has proven better in recent years, and he has the moral courage to make hard changes needed to return justice and credibility to this nation. John McCain was right to encourage the surge in Iraq – and the change in political strategy to get Sunni allegiance that really made the difference – but McCain made a fatal mistake in supporting our entry into Iraq in the first place; at that time, Obama was the maverick standing almost alone against the beat of the war drum, and he still risks political loss by supporting a more proactive diplomacy. I believe that as President, Obama stands a much better chance than McCain of being able to get our allies to do their share in Afghanistan, to secure a final two-state solution and permanent peace for Israel, and to bring the Iraq war to a successful close in which we recoup at least some of the $800 billion the Republicans spent on this venture in nation-building. The lives lost, of course, can never be restored; we can only hope for a new President who works in their name to bring democracy and peace to all nations. Though Obama will not ignore terrorist threats, he is a peacemaker; McCain is likely to lead us into new wars with Iran, or even with Russia, which thanks to his tax cuts and overhasty entry into Iraq, we lack the resources to fight.

I respected John McCain when, as a maverick Republican, he stood for the separation of church and state; but I lost that respect when he picked an utterly unqualified first-term governor for his running mate – after trying to argue that Obama lacked experience! Surely after the last eight years, we don't want another ill-spoken politician of less-than-average intelligence and education leading our nation. (But now we are told that wanting smart leaders is elitist? That's a pretty desperate ploy!). In their first presidential decisions, Obama made a wise and conservative call in choosing Joe Biden -- a man whose foreign policy experience equals McCain's -- while McCain made a huge blunder. Worse, he made it to pander to religious views he does not hold. He hopes that you will vote solely on a judgment that his ticket is "more Christian," and forget that Christians stand for peace with justice, aid for the poor, and stewardship of the Earth. Trying to make you forget these values with Sarah Palin is just insulting.

Today, the spirit of Lincoln and Stevens -- the spirit of everything that was once good and just in the Republican party -- is represented by Barack Obama. Let us now reach across party lines and recapture that spirit, for the sake of our nation, our children, and the progress of humanity across the world.

Coming together Republicans and Democrats

Molly Martin, MD — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:04:43 EDT

Today I spoke with a woman who has always voted for the republican candidate. This year she is voting for Barak Obama. And we know there are many more like her out there. If people vote based on the real issues the choice is clear. Enough with the tired political rhetoric. Let's get some work done!

And here is a link to Fareed Zakaria explaining his endorsement of Obama:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkzwjY7_ok8

The Truth about the Tax Proposal

Janine4Obama08 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:01:56 EDT

Warning:

This blog is boring.

This blog only shares facts and does not intend to feed fears.

It does not spout sound bites and incite anger.

Yes, there is no mention of "sarah and socialism" to be found. It's just the facts. And yes, it's true, the facts with what is going on these days are just - so - well - boring. A real snoozefest actually.

Nonetheless, if you happen to be one of the two people who chose to read a blog that has truth and tax in the subject header, misery loves company, so I welcome you.

This blog is in response to all of those who are tuning into Fox news, forwarding e-mails, engaging in conversations about their hard work and all those "damn bleeding heart liberals."

This blog is in response to those tuning into Rush to shake theirs heads in anger and to call and commiserate about "all those lazy 30% of Americans getting hand-outs."

Here it goes. In response to these accusations and the lack of real information readily available, a friend of mine sought to conduct some research and to seek out the truth about the tax plans on the table.

He is a non-confrontational, fair, objective person who is a supporter of Barack Obama. He is a CPA who loves to conduct research and engage in conversations based on fact and not emotion - yes, he's a real hoot some would think (not). The fact that he took the time to research this topic and write a blog in attempt to spread the truth is comendable to say the least - and I think the very least you can do is read it and pass the information along:

http://onemanparade.blogspot.com/

The tax socialist issue has legs - use this info to outrun it.

THANK YOU COLIN POWELL

Lydia — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:09:15 EDT

I was energized today by Colin Powell's endorsement of Sen. Obama.

It's been hard lately in my Republican community to stand for Obama. But the last month it has gotten ugly in my circles of friends.

And this has saddened me.

I've blogged on myspace about this and now for the first time, here. I have been looking for a sympathetic voice to what I am calling political bigotry.

I'm not normally a vocal person on issues, but have taken a more private stance on my political choice. Or, rather, I haven't had to be vocal because I have voted Republican. But I have become disenchanted with 'my party' this last year with the hate-mongering and slime that I see around me.

I have received hate emails. I was told "I can't believe you call yourself a conservative and you are voting for a Socialist!" -- in front of a large group of people. I was told I was using the race card by another friend. Then I was called a liberal -- I'm actually more of a moderate Republican. So, I'm getting used to the hostility now. And it is very hostile lately!

I am praying for our nation because I am concerned for the outcome either way on Nov. 5. People (especially on the Republican side) are inflamed and passion has been thrown out the window for hatred. McCarthy-esque sentiments are more evident (i.e. Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann).

I was even contemplating not voting for fear of retaliation in a 'Red' community. There are very few Obama signs out on the lawns here. Many have been stolen or defaced.

BUT THIS MORNING I JUMPED FOR JOY. THANK YOU COLIN POWELL! You put wind in my sails by saying exactly what I have been feeling for the last month and posting on my blogs.

I'm now considering working the polls on Nov. 4.

Colin Powell's endorsement adds muscle to conservative chorus for Obama

Barbara — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:46:37 EDT

In Ike's Words, why some conservatives like Obama

Colin Powell's endorsement today adds muscle to the growing conservative chorus for Obama.

This post features the endorsements by Susan Eisenhower (Ike's granddaughter) Wick Allison (former publisher of the National Review) and the Chicago Tribune, with their first endorsement of a Democrat since the paper's founding in 1847.

Scroll down the page at MakeFloridaCount.com to find -

resources to counter McCain lies

and The Fight for Florida - why we can't stop now. Encourage your friends in Blue States to use my.barackobama.com to call battleground states.

Be sure to make use of the resources on the left side of the page at MakeFloridaCount.com and MakeOhioCount.org to reach undecided voters.

Yours,

Barbara

Republican voting Democratic

Georgio — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:10:22 EDT

(sending this to all my republican friends)

For this blog - I am retired, 64 year old anglo-saxon homeowner. Married with 1 child.

Why I (past republican now independent) will vote

DEMOCRATIC In 2008

I. Where I am coming from

I am very fundamentally conservative in my basic beliefs and personal activities. My father, a laborer and low middle-class, was a republican and voted that way all the time I knew him. I voted Republican through 2000 but George W Bush has completely converted me.

I do not consider the fate of Roe v Wade to be an issue worth devoting thought to. The status of that is compelled to change with the Supreme Court partisan tide.

I believe that there should be limits to what the government takes on as responsibilities. That does not necessarily lead to a belief in “small government”. Fundamentally, I believe the government should provide the environment in which all citizens are able to achieve success to extent of their ability to contribute to productivity and creativity. Obviously, this does not in any way imply that everyone should be somehow made equal.

I believe in the fundamentals of our democratic / capitalistic government but not to the exclusion of public policy that might unfairly be classed as “socialism”.

I believe in the “law-of-the-land” the Constitution as the foundation and its (all law) essential role to order and peaceful dispute resolution. Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and last but not least, George W. Bush have made a mockery of the Constitution and have moved to create the “Unitary Presidency” of Dick Cheney’s dreams. Operatives like Carl Rove, John Woo and Alberto Gonzales among others have provided the methodology and protection for these traitors. I seek accountability and that means trial and punishment for all of them.

I was a believer in “trickle-down” economics and support to the capital makers of America. But not without oversight and regulation which is where we have drifted. Now that the Capital Makers are no longer “national” but rather multi-national, and now that the government itself encourages the outsourcing/migration of jobs to other countries by tax incentives and “free-trade” agreements, the “trickle” does not find it’s way to us. I can support incentives to truly small business because that continues to be at least partially (not those who employ illegal aliens) useful.

I believe that Illegal Immigration is the fault of Business coupled with encouragement from Government (failure to enforce the laws). U.S. Citizens benefit from lower labor costs and resulting lower prices while at the same time losing any advantage through increased taxes. I empathize with all immigrants – if there were a depression here, does anyone think we’d refuse to relocate to a country with similar attractions? I believe we’d do that legally or illegally.

I believe that the “backbone” of our nation is a thriving middle class. That means workers well educated, well paid, achieving the American Dream, and retaining enough wealth to sustain a reasonable level of consumption and banking activity.

I am not an “isolationist” but do not support U.S. colonialism or manipulation of dictator led nations. I do not believe in U.S. domination of the world and believe some of our current military deployments around the world could be cut. I believe in trade regulation that supports U.S. industry when that translates into protection of U.S. workers. The U.S. push to “democratize” the world is a disguise for pushing its economic philosophy – capitalism. I do support capitalism in its pure form but not in the twisted form it has evolved to here. This “push” as well as the activities of the World Bank and G8 etc. have been shown to be simply a way for the “haves” to obtain access to third world resources at a competitive advantage.

I support government regulation that supports an appropriate balance between capital and labor. This necessarily implies constant revision of the regulations to maintain that balance. Since Ronal Regan, the number of U.S. workers represented by labor unions has shrunk from around 50% to under 25%. Deregulation of labor laws that supported labor, coupled with the very real threat of outsourcing to foreign countries or even replacement of workers with illegal aliens conspire to gag workers and the unions that support them.

While I do not subscribe to their complete platforms, Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich and some others at least pointed out legitimate and serious problems. I don’t believe they had solutions but do believe they could have improved the discussion. They were ridiculed by the press as well as their peers and opponents (including John McCain) in the SHAM primary debates. The presidential debates are also SHAMs controlled completely by the RNC and DNC and do not allow other candidates to at least be heard as they once were when the League of Women Voters ran the debates.

I am not a NEOCON and definitely do not believe in the Republican revised National Security Strategy. That once was “containment” and now is “preemption”. This is something I would have expected from Russia or China – not the U.S. who at

least advertises itself (and a majority of citizens falsely believe is) as a force for good in the world. It may once have been so but our “leaders” have adopted the Wharton Business School philosophy that the bottom line is the only thing to worry about. John McCain is a NEOCON and is a signatory to the charter of “Project for a New American Century” (PNAC) and no doubt is a member of its associated organization the “Council on Foriegn Affairs” (AKA New World Order). Google some of this.

I do not support universal, single payer, and government run health care. However I do support heavy government regulation of the private health care industry and also support some government run programs – especially for those who can least afford to provide care for themselves, their parents, or their children. This is essential and I support Barak Obama’s plan to at least insist on coverage for all children. Republicans have opposed even the expansion of CHIP.

I never thought the ACLU was of value to anyone except the poor and minority groups. I didn’t ever put them down but... I now think the ACLU is one of the few strong protectors of our rights and will support them. They have a current lawsuit to challenge FISA.

I am sensitive to enviromental issues including extinction of species and global warming. With regard to global warming in particular, I accept that humans are contributing to warming and perhaps accelerating what would be otherwise part of a normal cycle (warming and cooling of the earth). Even so, my list of priorities for spending money puts this somewhere in the bottom half. We have an economic crisis to work our way out of before introducing the high costs associated with individual and industrial factors contributing to global warming. Nothing convinces me that we ate at THE CRITICAL point in this. We face a half-century or more effort anyway. What I do believe is that this should begin with the sacrifices each individual can make in conserving energy, reducing waste and the use of certain products like plastics. The more successful of us should switch to alternate energy sources now and aid commoditization of these sources while reducing energy consumption. Local communities can bring pressure on those industries acting in an incompatible way. To sum, I think this needs to begin as a bottom up movement and gradually infect corporate America. Expecting the top down method to work is unrealistic – the U.S. does not even support international “treaties” such as Kyoto and the government actually helps industry avoid penalty for violating the few environmental laws we do have. Both candidates have been forced to express concern as part of the OIL discussion but I find Obama’s words to be sincere.

This brings me to other current issues:

The War(s).

I believe the War in Iraq was illegal and that George W. Bush and his friends are criminals and should be tried and punished severely. However, we have done great damage in Iraq and should be responsible for helping them rebuild their country. Obama’s plan comes closest to that.

The war in Afghanistan can’t be won and a central government is impossible for a “nation” that values its tribal composition. We should end that war and bring troops home. All intelligence agencies should be reformed and strengthened and used to combat terrorism on a global basis.

We should not begin any further wars of “preemption”, nor should we use our agents (Israel and others) to precipitate wars that our policy demands that we support / involve ourselves in.

We should not be the world’s police force – especially if we continue to hold our position of the preeminent world power. Power corrupts as we have seen in the government supported class warfare between the 5% and the “rest of us”.

The Economy

The recent crash should be clear indication of the dependence of the very rich on socialistic support of the financial system. Carrying a multi-trillion (and many multiples of our annual GDP) debt should be prima facie evidence that Republican (with some complicit Democratic) actions such as deregulation for trickle-down economic growth and dilution of government support of labor unions as well as the blind free-trade advocacy, lead to disaster.

Rule of Law

Supreme Court – Seek balance always – we need more non-partisan justices. How is that possible when they are appointed by Presidents and confirmed by whatever party controls the Senate?

Presidential Signing Statements – Abused by George W Bush. McCain says he will abolish them – but, will he really? Obama commits to using them as they were intended (not to claim exclusion for the Executive from the law). I think this is a reasonable statement. Presidents however, never give up power once it has been “gotten-away-with” so our other hope is that we also put a truly veto proof congress in place that wants to get its delegated power BACK.

Constitutional Violation – It should not be possible for the White House to unilaterally take unlawful action based on the perverted opinions of the likes of John Woo and Alberto Gonzales. The only judge of the proper interpretation of the Constitution should be the Supreme Court and in the specific case of the Executive, this should not need to wait for harm to result as it applies to all other cases the Supreme Court hears.

The trials of the current administration officials should come before the Supreme Court and if punishment is judged appropriate, the Constitutional interpretations used in that decision should be the law of the land for all Presidents to come.

See Dennis Kucinich’s house resolutions to impeach Cheney and Bush for some crimes and violations of the Constitution. The Patriot Act, FISA, denial of Habeas Corpus, torture and extradition to countries that torture are all examples.

I do hold democrats responsible for delegating power to the President and hold Obama responsible for voting for revised FISA and hold Biden responsible along with Hillary Clinton for voting for the Iraq war although my anger toward them has lessened with news about the way Bush/Cheney withheld truth about Iraq/WMD from even them.

Police State

This will take you some research but I can help if you want. George W has changed the Constitutional prohibition “Posse Commitatis” against maintaining a President controlled Army inside the United States and an Army Brigade has been assigned and exists inside the United States as of October 1 this year. The Bush administration has also breathed life into several private Armies, which can be used on his order inside the United States. Blackwater was used in New Orleans following Katrina. Blackwater is the largest but there are others. Several States (including Minnesota) have passed their own Patriot Acts. Minnesota has used theirs to control demonstrators (even before the demonstrations) at the Republican National Convention. They even denied the Press the right to cover their actions. These items coupled with the passage of the revised FISA Act that allows monitoring of virtually everyone means that the most cherished right/responsibility, Public Dissent, has effectively been killed.

Free Press

People are too busy to investigate or are simply too lazy. The sound bites offered by the “Press” (now increasingly classed as “entertainment” by the FCC) of which the mainstream press (owned by 5 umbrella corporations/individuals) is a joke. White House and other access, moreover threats to deny continued access and the bias / control of the media owners, means we get nothing meaningful – see above Police State. The Internet is emerging as our only source and even then we need to filter through and weigh what we hear there. How long will it be before even that is controlled / stifled?

These are some, but certainly not all, of my positions based on a retiree’s leisure reading of blogs, podcasts, progressive publications, radio talk shows and countless books expressing both ideas I support and which argue against them or support alternatives.

Summary –

I do not think Barak Obama or a Democratic controlled Congress will be an answer to all these issues. I don’t believe they have the answers. I do believe they will “do no harm” and will offer a chance at the return to law and responsible public centered thinking that we need after so many blows to our national foundation by Republicans. McCain / Palin represent the fruition of the anti-intellectual movement on both sides of the political spectrum. I’d like more real experience than Obama offers but he alone demonstrates an understanding of the few issues we have been allowed to hear. He is presidential in demeanor and temperament. McCain is a blatant liar, has a host of demonstrated moral issues, and is in poor health. There is a growing expression that Sarah Palin is the Republican “stalking horse” and is actually intended to be the President either through McCain’s demise or by increasing the powers (she so stated in debate) of the Vice President in the demonstrated way Cheney has. She would be a “tabula rosa”, easily controlled agent for the same organizations that Cheney himself is an agent for – see above PNAC, CFA, New World Order. What would this mean? I really don’t know but I do know that I am not a participant in these non-transparent organizations. A good guess would be further concentration of wealth and power across the entire world and globalization of the third-world status – a few (as George W. Bush refers to his supporters “Haves & Have Mores”) wealthy and the vast population in the struggle for survival. The world was like this once – we came a long way. Should we chance a return?

The present “system” of government is not working and neither candidate will feel bound by the indications he made while campaigning. We need to “stay awake” following this election and bring constant pressure on our representatives at all levels to make sure we get some of what we were hoping to get. I am one of the previously guilty. No longer!

I encourage all of you and your friends to take the time to actually write down your own positions on these and other issues that may be important to you. Do this BEFORE you vote. In any case, vote – don’t waste it, and please don’t vote your traditional party because you haven’t time to think.

If you read all this, I welcome your comments and further discussion.

Still Friends? I remain Yours,

George Anderson

October 15th, 2008

OK, this one is HUGE...

Gordon — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:29:51 EDT

This blog post is probably mostly for the pure political geeks out there, those would know all about William F. Buckley, Jr., the magazine he started (National Review) and his spiritual guru-role to the modern GOP, dating from the days of Barry Goldwater, and peaking during Ronald Reagan's two term presidency.

But if you're not a political geek, trust me: this is huge:

Buckley's son Christopher - himself an established writer (author of "Thank You For Smoking" - which was made into quite a fine movie not long ago) - has essentially endorsed Barack Obama!

See it here, in a post titled (in typical Christopher Buckley fashion) "Sorry, Dad, I'm Voting for Obama:"

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-10/the-conservative-case-for-obama

And catch these bits from his piece:

"My colleague ...Kathleen Parker, recently wrote in National Review Online a column stating what John Cleese as Basil Fawlty would call 'the bleeding obvious': namely, that Sarah Palin is an embarrassment, and a dangerous one at that. .... New York Times columnist David Brooks, who began his career at NR (National Review), just called Governor Palin 'a cancer on the Republican Party.' As for Kathleen, she has to date received 12,000 (quite literally) foam-at-the-mouth hate-emails. One correspondent, if that’s quite the right word, suggested that Kathleen’s mother should have aborted her and tossed the fetus into a Dumpster. There’s Socratic dialogue for you...
"I have known John McCain personally since 1982. I wrote a well-received speech for him.......I thought at the time, God, this guy should be president someday.... John McCain has changed. ...This campaign has changed John McCain. It has made him inauthentic. A once-first class temperament has become irascible and snarly; his positions change, and lack coherence; he makes unrealistic promises...
"As for Senator Obama: He has exhibited throughout a 'first-class temperament,' pace Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.’s famous comment about FDR. ...I’ve read Obama’s books, and they are first-rate. He is that rara avis, the politician who writes his own books. Imagine. ...I am a small-government conservative who clings tenaciously and old-fashionedly to the idea that one ought to have balanced budgets. On abortion, gay marriage, et al, I’m libertarian....[Obama] is, it seems clear enough, what the historical moment seems to be calling for."

Issue # 6 - Why It is Time For a Change

Arthur from Laguna Hills, CA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:40:53 EDT

If you have been reading my blog, you know that its purpose has not been to denigrate John McCain, but to intellectually explain why I believe that Barack Obama is the right candidate at this time in our country's history. In fact, I truly admire Senator John McCain and will welcome his return to the US Senate.

It is candidate John McCain that I have had difficulty supporting.

In 1964, I was attracted to the Republican Party by the campaign of Barry Goldwater, a larger then life figure who stood tall for honesty in government, economic conservatism, and the concept that the best government is the government closest to the people.

Now, the traditional base of the Republican Party has been replaced by a group of ideologues who care little about the party of Lincoln or Goldwater. They are quick to try to segregate those who disagree with their social conservative philosophy which in truth is neither a philosophy nor conservative. Instead they attempt to brand those who disagree with them as RINOs (Republicans in Name Only), when it is they who are the converts, as many of them were formerly southern Democrats.

This group of ideologues has no problem switching back and forth between state's rights and federal intervention depending on whether the issue is aid to public education or aid to parochial schools, climate change or offshore drilling, right to life or right to die, and cell stem research or health care services.

Candidate John McCain has done an 180 degree turn in his views of this social conservative segment of the Republican Party that not too long ago, he called "intolerant".

What this country needs now is less partisanship and more tolerance. As Abraham Lincoln so eloquently stated, " A House Divided Against Itself Can Not Stand". Barry Goldwater may have said "Extremism in the Defense of Liberty is no Vice". What he did not stand for was tearing this country apart.

I have received many well reasoned comments from friends and others disagreeing with my analyses and stating why they believe that John McCain is the better choice for President. What I find interesting is that most of them rely on the belief that Senator McCain is the real John McCain, not candidate McCain - that he has been "forced" into this highly divisive campaign emphasizing issues he barely thinks are critical because of his need for an alliance with the new Republican base.

I find that reasoning to be highly suspect. What makes them believe that the influence of those he previously disagreed with will just go away on the day after election day? Where is the experience and integrity that we so sorely need?

Enough of the negative, where is all the positive?

My support of Barack Obama rests on two different planes - issues and philosophy.

In the five previous posts I have discussed five issues that I believe are critical to this country. In all except one, I find that Barack Obama has the better plan. On the issue of tax policy, I am afraid that neither candidate recognizes the extreme crisis America now faces where such a large percentage of the country have chosen to ignore the taxes they are required to pay.

With regard to philosophy, I end where I began.

There are times in every country's history where someone appears who is the right person at the right time. In this time of economic crisis, extreme partisanship, racial and religious intolerance, and skepticism about our country's future, I believe that Barack Obama is the best person available to lead this nation back to reclaiming the American Dream.

Michigan Republicans for Obama video

Josh In Michigan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:09:31 EDT

Are you a Michigan Republican for Obama? Join the group on my.barackobama.com, and tell us your story here!

Issue #5 - Ethics in Government

Arthur from Laguna Hills, CA — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:02:35 EDT

As an author and speaker on ethics in business, it might seem peculiar for me to be posting an article on government ethics. But is it really that different from ethics in business, especially during the last dozen or so years? What is the difference between Alaska Senator Ted Stevens and Enron Chairman Ken Lay? They both broke trust with their constituency and the public in general.

I do think it is important to address the skeptics out there who believe that everyone who goes into politics is corrupt. Having worked around politicians for nearly half a century, I can say without hesitation that most of the men and women I met who go into government service truly believe that they can accomplish something worthwhile for their fellow citizens. It isn't that different from those who go into the ministry, the medical profession, accounting, or law. Yet who can disagree that each of these professions has seen more than its share of corruption...and in case you think your occupation/profession is exempt from its fair share of crooks, let me assure you that public and private charities, teachers, and as we so well now know, bankers and financial advisers, have plenty of unsavory characters in their midst.

So what makes ethics in government special?

That is the point. It isn't, but we would like it to be so. Most of us want to believe that the people we help put in office through our votes, support, and/or money try to do the right thing.

You did notice that I said most of us. Because in politics as in life, we have groups (you can decide whether they are large or small) who get involved in politics only to have undue influence on their elected and appointed officials so that they can benefit personally. I say undue influence because it is part of human nature to want to be recognized for our efforts. When that recognition crosses the line is a matter for voters, ethicists, and sometimes even the courts to decide. I would add that it is not only those people who are looking to personally benefit who help corrupt our system of government. People who are looking to unduly influence government officials to support their particular cause can also corrupt a system that works best when actions are transparent and all potentially affected parties are brought into the debate. Government in the sunshine trumps government in smoke filled back rooms any day.

If most people initially enter government service for the right reasons, what goes wrong?

It's really not that different from how, and why, people are corrupted in other professions - knocking heads against those in power (politics), frustration in getting anything done (bureaucracy), and good old fashioned greed. In addition, it becomes so much easier to justify going down the wrong path, when everyone else is doing it. Once you get away with it once, it becomes so much easier the second and third time.

I mentioned one of those situations in my discussion of Issue #2 - Balanced Budgets and Deficits. Five US Senators, including John McCain, met privately with Federal regulators in an attempt to dissuade the regulators from continuing their investigation into Savings & Loan executive, Charles Keating. In any case, two of the Senators, John McCain and John Glenn, were given a lesser reprimand as their participation was deemed to be more being in the wrong place at the wrong time. For those who would like to know more of the story, you can go to John McCain's own account included in his book, Worth the Fighting For (Chapter 8) or for on the web you can go to: http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/mccain/articles/2007/03/01/20070301mccainbio-chapter7.html.

As I stated before, it is not the transgression which concerns me as much as McCain's failure to learn an important lesson from his mistake. While researching my book on the Enron debacle, another equally massive bankruptcy took place within a month of Enron's filing. Global Crossing was a telecommunications company whose facts were remarkably similar to those of Enron. I discovered that the US Senator who received the most amount of campaign contributions from Global Crossings was also the chairman of the subcommittee who oversaw the telecommunications industry. That senator was John McCain.

Why should I expect different behavior from John McCain then from others facing similar situations?

After eight years of perhaps the most secretive administration in history (Richard Nixon wasn't in office that long), I just do.This country needs it. This country deserves it.

John McCain had the opportunity to provide that kind of leadership and at times has met the challenge. His support of campaign finance reform was an example of trying to reform a system that rewarded undue monetary influence. The Republican leadership fought him every step of the way and the bill that eventually emerged did little to provide a meaningful impact. His opposition to special interest legislation has been largely ineffective as opposition from both parties blocked the way.

Why do I believe that Barack Obama will be more effective in providing a more ethical administration?

To fully understand my answer, I encourage all of you (those who support John McCain and those who support Barack Obama) to read his book, The Audacity of Hope. I am truly surprised and disappointed at how many political junkies have not read the biographies of either of the two major candidates running for President of the United States. I have read both of John McCain's books and nearly two years ago read Barack Obama's, Audacity of Hope. For those of you who are only peripherally interested in Presidential politics, I've got news for you. You wouldn't be reading my blog if that were true. So why not be more fully informed about the men who may be the next President of the United States.

Anyway, I was enthralled by Barack Obama's book. Just as his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic convention could have been delivered at the Republican convention, the book outlined a philosophy for the country that broke through partisan rhetoric. It was a broad-based statement of goals for the future of this country. Obama has recognized the complexity of many of the difficult issues that have separated the people in our country, while laying out a framework for us to move forward together in reaching a workable consensus. The harsh and divisive rhetoric of race, faith, and equal opportunity are replaced with thoughtful terminology most Americans can agree on.

As a State Senator in Illinois, Barack Obama helped pass ethics reform legislation and one of the first bills he introduced as a US Senator was ethics legislation patterned after that same ethics legislation. Although that bill did not pass, Senator Obama helped the Senate to pass the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act, a comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform bill, by a 96-2 vote.

Certainly, it is easy to question the extent of the track record Barack Obama has when it comes to ethics in government. But his attempts during the campaign and Presidential debates to lower the volume of the partisan rhetoric are a welcome relief. I was also impressed by the speech given by a former government official, Dennis Ross, who has worked for both Democratic and Republican administrations, that Barack Obama is the first politician he has seen who so quickly grasps the nuances of foreign and domestic policies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqMpHOLxvYc. Like Ronald Reagan he has the ability to gain the trust of those he meets in a very short period oftime.

With all that is going on in the world today, trust is an important asset.

On the issue of ethics in government, I choose Barack Obama .

Republican for Obama

Republican — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:35:05 EDT

I have voted Republican for just about every office for my entire adult life. But our country has been on the wrong path for quite some time. Now is the time for a change.

Education:

Despite our inflated property taxes and the money the lottery provides, our schools struggle. We live in an affluent neighborhood and have A+ rated schools. But I have to ask, why do teachers ask parents to make copies of lessons for the class? Why do our children have to share books? Each student is allowed to take the book home only one, maybe two nights a week. This is the USA. Shouldn’t our schools provide books, paper, and teach in a real building with a working bathroom versus a portable?

Infrastructure:

As far back as 1992, we knew that the nation’s bridges and railroads were in serious disrepair. I’ve worked in manufacturing most of my career. In the early 1990’s we had to start rerouting trucks and rail shipments because bridges and rail systems were in such bad shape. Neither President Clinton nor Bush II did anything to help the situation. These logistical challenges add considerable cost to every product we purchase. Now, we also have the challenges of the failing electric grid. The US infrastructure may be in the worst condition ever during my life time.

The Grand Fraud:

As long as the economy is churning along well, most Americans are not interested in world events like 2 wars. Basically it doesn’t affect them. However, economics tells us that the annual diversion of hundreds of billions of dollars out of an economy obviously harms the economy. The only way to conduct two simultaneous wars that cost trillions of dollars and not affect the economy is through financial engineering. Thanks to deregulation and securitization by the investment bankers, home prices appreciated unrealistically. (If you bought a home in the last 5 years, you probably paid $100,000 too much for it. After interest, it’s going to cost you an extra $170,000.) Housing is the single greatest catalyst of the economy. And the juice was obviously poured on during the last 8 years of war.

Unfortunately, the fraud is over. It took years to build up this fraud, and it will take years to unwind it. The current unemployment rate in Brandon is near 8% with projections of up to 12% by the second quarter of 2009. My biggest fear is that we could return to the early 1980’s Central Florida unemployment rate of 18%. I will never forget what that felt like.

Health care:

Emergency Rooms are like an ignored war. If it doesn’t affect you, it’s hard to pay attention. The nation’s emergency rooms are slammed with people that don’t have health insurance. If you actually needed the services of the emergency room, you could easily die waiting. Healthcare costs keep increasing exponentially, Americans are the most obese of any county on earth, and insurance companies dictate what preventive and predicative maintenance procedures we can have. I don’t know what the answer is, but I do know that the Republican plan of taxing the $14,000 cost of the health insurance benefit my family receives and then giving me a $5,000 credit back (which is phased out at higher incomes) is not the answer.

These are the challenges and the Democrats have a plan to deal with them. The Republicans just throw dirt and hope that the American public is too stupid to see through it. It’s time for a change, NOW.

Senator Chafee launching Michigan Republicans for Obama tour tomorrow

Josh In Michigan — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:24:43 EDT

Tomorrow, former Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) will travel across Michigan as part of the Republicans for Obama tour to highlight how Barack Obama will work across the aisle to bring the change Michigan’s middle class families need. Senator Chafee served as a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island from 1999-2006, and previously was the mayor of Warwick, Rhode Island.

Senator Chafee endorsed Barack in February, saying: “I believe Senator Obama is the best candidate to restore American credibility, to restore our confidence to be moral and just, and to bring people together to solve the complex issues such as the economy, the environment, and global stability.” Join Senator Chafee and other Republicans for Obama on the Michigan Republicans for Obama tour!

Thursday, October 9

Republicans for Obama Press Conference w/ Lincoln Chafee and Former Republican State Senator Phil Arthurhultz

10:00 a.m.

Grand Rapids Campaign for Change Office

1433 Wealthy St., SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Stop at the Jackson Campaign for Change Office

12:30 p.m.

Jackson Campaign for Change Office

634 N. Mechanic St.

Jackson, MI 49201

Republicans for Obama "Main Street Conversation" w/ State Representative Pam Bynes

1:55 p.m.

Zou Zou's Café

101 Main Street

Chelsea, MI 48118

Republicans for Obama "Main Street Conversation"

3:20 p.m.

Law Office of John Stewart

1142 S. Main St.

Plymouth, MI 48170

Stop at Sterling Heights Campaign for Change Office

5:45 p.m.

34238 Van Dyke Ave.

Sterling Heights, MI 48312

Issue #4 - Religion and Politics

Arthur from Laguna Hills, CA — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:50:21 EDT

I recognize that this may be my most controversial posting. So let me start with a little background about how I grew up in South Florida with religion in public schools.

An Opportunity for Tolerance and Education

I went to public schools from kindergarten through high school. Every day we started the day with a prayer. Sometimes it was said over the school wide loudspeaker, but most of the time it was done in the classroom. Each time a different student would pick a short (less then 2 minute) passage from the Bible. It could be from the new or old testament, but most of the time, the passages were from the Book of Psalms, because they fit the time slot and more of the students were familiar with them. While people may have different opinions about such issues as prayer in schools, no one took advantage of the time to advocate for their religion. In fact, I viewed it as a time for us to learn more about other religions and the issues they valued.

As for religious displays in schools, student made artwork was displayed for nearly all the major holidays and we even had a Christmas play every year. Parents often came into the classroom to help the teacher explain some of the religious symbols and the significance of holidays that the teacher might not be knowledgeable about. But what I remember most was the year we held a Christmas play where all four members of the quartet from the chorus that sang Sanctus in Latin were Jewish. (Yes, I was one of them.)

My point in telling this story is to remind me and tell you of how things once were in my neighborhood. Things may have been different in yours. I can't tell you when it all changed or who was responsible for the change. It really doesn't matter, because the fact is that it did change. Tolerance was replaced with righteous indignation. Learning opportunities were replaced with charges of indoctrination. Responsible speech was replaced by political correctness.

So how does religion fit in with our society today where the influx of a whole new generation of immigrants has brought much more diversity in the number of religions and in the way they are practiced?

The Separation of Church and State

This is not going to be a virulent attack on religion (see Bill Maher for that ). Nor is it going to be a staunch defense of the right of religious organizations to have free reign in the areas of taxpayers dollars or political activities (We will leave that to the Moral Majority).

What I see is the need for a much more judicious approach to religion in the public sector. While I don't agree with those who believe that the Constitution bans any religious activities on public grounds, the push by others who want to evangelize the superiority of one religion over another makes me greatly concerned about the rights of religious minorities.

I think we need to recognize that others may not believe as we do or that they may not believe at all. Since our country was founded on the principle of government "Majority Rule with Minority Rights", we need to tread carefully when so many minorities may be affected.

So how does all this affect my view of the Presidential candidates?

No single part of the of the campaign has had a greater influence on me than the "conversation" with Rick Warren at Saddleback Church right here in Orange County, California. Until that time I viewed the religious beliefs of the candidates as a nonissue. But in that conversation, John McCain threw his support behind those who believe that religious doctrine trumps tolerance.

I empathize with many of the sub-issues in the debate about personal choice versus pro-life. I even believe that Roe v Wade was a bad decision. But it has come to be seen as a symbol, little different from the idea of drilling in ANWR. I believe it is more important to recognize issues on which people agree then concentrate on issues that are bound to draw a negative reaction.

In that conversation, John McCain displayed no willingness to reach across the aisle or work with people who disagree with his positions. Instead he felt it was more important to cement his political base than exhibit any hint of tolerance to those who may not agree with the religious convictions of the powerful social conservative sector of his party.

Barack Obama chose a more tolerant path. While he did not kowtow to those in his party who believe that religion has no place in governmental activities, through his thoughtful answers, he did try to convey the complexity of the issues. Some viewed these responses as weak or wavering. I viewed them as thoughtful and perhaps the first step in moving to a more tolerant way of dealing with conflict.

On the issue of religion and politics, Barack Obama is the clear winner.

Focus on: Ohio Republicans for Obama

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:16:05 EDT

With this blog post, the Campaign for Change formally presents the group OHIO REPUBLICANS FOR OBAMA. Ever since the beginning of the primaries, Barack has found the support of a wide swath of Republicans or former Republicans, who after the failed policies and bitter partisanship of the last 8 years are happy to make the move for something different. As a different kind of candidate, Barack aims to find common ground with all Americans, regardless of race, background, socio-economic status, and certainly political affiliation. Click here, or go to http://OH.BarackObama.com/OHRepublicans, to join now.

The group is hosting an inaugural event with none other than the President of Ohio Republicans for Obama, former Senator Lincoln Chafee (R - Rhode Island). Details, and link to RSVP are below:

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH SEN. LINCOLN CHAFEE
Wednesday, October 8 at 2:00 PM
RUSTY BUCKET (Columbus, OH)
1635 W. LANE AVE
Columbus, OH 43221
RSVP at:
http://OH.barackobama.com/Chafee

In the Campaign for Change field offices, and amongst the volunteer teams, it is an ordinary occurrence to run into someone who considers themselves conservative, or a Republican, or formerly Republican. Just this past Sunday, the Neighborhood Team that knocked on more than 4000 doors for the opportunity to introduce Bruce Springsteen at the OSU rally, was headed by a lifelong Republican named Dave. Watch the video below for a profile of another Ohio Republican for Obama, Gene, from Smithfield.

Click HERE to join Ohio Republicans for Obama.

An Interesting Encounter

Harold from Oakland, CA — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:46:02 EDT

I went canvassing for the first time today after a banner morning registering new voters.

In walking an interesting neighborhood, with single family homes and apartment complexes, I came upon a house at the top of a hill. There was a covey of Quail in the yard, and the house was at the top of a rise, and had a panoramic view of the mountains that ring Las Cruces.

I rang the bell, but really didn't expect for anyone to answer, but soon after I rang, a man who I would guess to be in his early seventies came to the gate. I explained that I was searching for Obama supporters, and he smiled and said that he generally always voted republican. However, he said, this year is seriously considering voting for Obama. He was clealy a thoughtful man, sort of the classic republican of old - back when the republicans had a legitimate agenda.

I hope there are many more traditional republicans like this man, who know that we have to change our direction and bring our country back in the right direction. I hope I helped a little to legitimize his decision to support Barack Obama!

Why I am Voting For Barack Obama

Dineen — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:22:34 EDT

I had written this in response to Republican family members and others who want to know why I am voting for Barack. I have gotten feedback from serveral people saying they were touched and that I should share it. So here it is:

A Former Republican - Why I Am Voting For Barack Obama: Barack’s experience (or lack of experience): There were expected attacks regarding Barack’s level of experience. His responses, performance and plans counteracted those attacks and assured me that he is ready to lead this country. I feel Obama is a true leader, who energizes and empowers people. I've seen this first hand during my volunteering to help his campaign. Foreign Policy: I believe he will address foreign policy issues with great diplomacy. With Biden’s foriegn policy experience and Barack’s diplomacy, understanding and vision, we will make great strides in repairing our status around the world. We do not need a president who sings songs about bombing other nations. That is insane and dangerous. It is not funny! Campaign: Obama’s campaign has been much more honest, factual and specific than McCain's. I’ve lost so much respect for John McCain with his bogus attacks. He has really disappointed me. The man is grasping at straws! More on Experience and the VP Picks: One more point on experience - "experience" has not done us so well in the past. Let's get a fresh view from a leader who hasn't been in Washington long enough to be corrupted by it and owe so many favors. The difference between Obama's so called "lack of experience" vs. Sara Palin's is that he is able to have an intelligent detailed conversation about the issues and he has actual plans to address them; where as she is only able to deliver talking points after being heavily coached. I think in this election the VP pick is more important than ever. McCain is older and his health details aren't really fully known (minimally, we know he has had reoccurring melanomas which is not a good thing). McCain’s choice for VP shows the security of our country is not on the top of his list at this time. Also, it does not say much for his judgement. As far as Barack, as much as I hate to say this, I think there are deranged radicals in our country that won't be happy with a black president or a president with such a strong message for the people (like that of John & Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King). Therefore, I am afraid he is at great risk for assassination (God forbid that should happen!). So, I want to be very comfortable with the VP picks. Joe Biden was actually my 2nd choice during the primary after Obama. I am very confident in his ability to lead this country should that need arise. The thought of Sarah Palin as president scares the heck out of me. She can't "You Bettcha" or “Joe Six-Pack” her way out of presidential responsibilities, negotiations or decisions. The stakes are much too high right now. Also, her ultra conservative views and record do not separate church and state enough for my taste nor does she support women’s issues at all! No abortions for those raped or victims of incest. That is extreme and ludicrous! Energy: If we won’t feel the benefits for 10 years, then why do more drilling now? I hope we are using a heck of a lot less oil in 10 years. If more drilling now, would help us now, I would be 110% for it. Barack’s energy plan makes much more sense to me. War on Terror: Barack’s stance on the War on Terror and the urgency for focus in Afghanistan and Pakistan is correct. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 and I am sick of it being falsely associated that way! On economy – Barack has Warren Buffet’s support and advice. Enough said! I especially love his plans for tax cuts for companies that create and keep jobs in this country and using funds (that John McCain would use as additional tax cuts for the oil companies) to create green jobs here. John McCain changes his opinion and position on our economy hourly. The man is confused. We don't need anymore of the "Cut Regulations" mentality that got us here. John McCain can not deny his beliefs and record regarding cutting regulations. Lastly, I believe Barack Obama truly wants to help this country. He moves me more than any political figure in my lifetime. These are the reasons that for the first time in my life I can not wait to go out and vote. This is the first time I've ever felt compelled to get involved. I adopted my son from Guatemala to bring him here to the USA, the greatest country in the world. I want him to live the American Life and have a shot and the American Dream. Those are the reasons his birth mother unselfishly gave him up. This is not the America we had intended for him. I want our country back.

These are the reasons I am PROUDLY voting for Barack Obama! (for more info on Barack’s stance on issues and his plans, please visit his website www.barackobama.com)

- Dineen -

(a South Florida and Long Island, NY resident)

Voices for Change: Lisa in Nevada

Sarah Ramey — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:48:12 EDT

We just spoke to another Republican voting for Barack Obama.

Guess you'd call me a Reagan Republican, but at this point, you have to vote for whoever has the best ideas about the issues that affect you.

First and foremost, the economy is the issue that affects Lisa and her family in Las Vegas, Nevada the most. For two decades she worked in the food industry for one of the country's largest food companies -- only to be laid off with thousands of other employees when the company was in trouble. While she tried to figure out what to do next, she watched her old company's CEOs go out with multi-million dollar golden parachutes.

You just can't reward that kind of behavior. That philosophy is what's gotten us into this mess economically.

Lisa is right. And she thinks it's critical that Obama has been clear about opposing corporate greed from the beginning -- unlike John McCain, who only seems to have come around to that conclusion in the last week. She says this country is due for a very serious change, and the only candidate whose policies actually reflect genuine change from the failed policies of the Bush Administration, is Barack Obama.

The biggest thing on my mind -- on everyone's mind -- is the economy. We bought a house two years ago, and now that house isn't worth what we paid for it. We're being responsible and making our mortgage payments, but the government needs to do its part and get control.
It's pretty simple: we have to have real leadership, here and around the world. I think that's what Barack Obama provides as a candidate -- he can change how people look at us by changing the way we do things here at home.

You can read more about Barack Obama's plans for the economy, including substantial tax cut proposals for working class families like Lisa's, by clicking here. There you'll read about Barack Obama and Joe Biden's plan to enact a windfall profits tax on excessive oil company profits to give American families an immediate $1,000 emergency energy rebate to help families pay rising bills. This relief would be a down payment on the Obama-Biden long-term plan to provide middle-class families with at least $1,000 per year in permanent tax relief.

You can also read Barack's speech about the economy that he gave in Reno.

Before we got off the phone with Lisa, we just double checked to see if she was registered to vote.

Of course! Did it outside the grocery store.

And now we have great news: you don't even have to go to the grocery store to make sure you can vote. Just go to our extra-easy one-stop voter registration site, www.VoteForChange.com, and you can get it done in just a few minutes.

November 4th, 2008: Democrats, Independents, and Republicans -- voting for change.

You can help us bring that change as we work to keep registering voters and spreading Barack's message to people like Lisa by making a small donation today.

The Invisible Statistic

Susan Kirkland — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:37:57 EDT

You might wonder what would make a person completely change their political party. After all, a political party is a group of commonly held beliefs, a platform of government and completely shifting gears on such a broad spectrum takes gumption--or real life trauma. This brings us to the heart of the invisible statistic or what pundits might call the missing demographic.

The missing demographic is comprised of people who never recovered from the crash in 1987, followed by those who joined the crowd in the mid-1990s, and the late comers from the tech bubble in 2000. They are the people who for the first time in their adult lives found themselves depending on help from the government to survive. Single professionals with no family to rely on; engineering professionals who live in their cars; one time home owners who escaped eviction to the nearest trailer park. They found themselves experiencing their conservative politics first hand. Like the elderly lady who didn't have enough money to buy oil for her furnace last year; unfortunately, charity organizations were only helping "families", not people like her who worked all her life and never felt economically stable enough to have children. So she had to sit, cold and shivering, in her unheated house because our Republican government reduced regulations controlling oil speculators. Her social security income that allowed an annual tank fill up of kerosene at $1 a gallon wouldn't stretch when food, gas and oil quadrupled to $4 a gallon. Don't worry, though, she soon lost that house even though she had an FHA mortgage. Government stipulations said the bank was expected to help her keep that house if she fell on hard times. No, that bank couldn't be bothered by those stipulations their lobbyists wrote into the legislation as "a voluntary option". There were no options for her when the sherif came to evict her. But the bank made out just fine, just fine. Out of an $825 monthly payment, only $129 went to the principle; the rest went into the financial and insurance industry. So she didn't lose much; just human dignity and face. Should we ask why mortgage insurance is $250 a month when insuring the entire property is $450 a year? No, those banks made out just fine.

Independent Voter: Obama gets my vote

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:14:05 EDT

Democrats, Republicans, and Independents from across Minnesota are coming together in support of Barack Obama, united by their belief that only Barack can bring about the change America needs--fiscal responsibility, a robust economy, a responsible end to the war in Iraq, and the safety of every American family

Leah Thompson of Fergus Falls is one of the many supporting the only candidate who will change the way Washington works from the bottom up.

Leah writes in the Fergus Falls Daily Journal:

As an Independent voter, my vote will go to Barack Obama for many reasons, but above all, for his position on holding Corporate America (big business) accountable for paying their share of taxes that loopholes have long allowed them to skirt around.
Billions of dollars worth, billions in uncollected taxes. Obama wants big business held accountable to the same rules as you and I.
Contrast this to the policies that John McCain espouses; he opposes federal oversight to big business in-country and out.
For example, he opposed federal oversight to the very financial markets that wiped out last week from making risky mortgage investments for the past three years.
Now, the taxpayers have to bail them out to the tune of $700 billion.
John McCain admits he doesn’t “know much about the economy” on a larger scale.
He couldn’t even recall the number of houses he personally owns. He thinks it is seven. He knows for sure he owns 13 vehicles. These facts alone should cause anybody to wonder how he could possibly relate to working class folks. Read that again. How can he possibly relate to working class folks?
Last week, with the Chernobyl-sized meltdown on Wall Street, he insists “the fundamentals of our economy are strong.” Huh? Do we want this guy writing financial policies that will affect us, our families, our communities?
“The fundamentals of our economy are strong” His solution to this Wall Street mess is to propose a study group for fact-finding, and maybe even dismantle the Washington Good Old Boys Network — of which he is a member by the way — and has been a member for years and years.
Said “network” is funding McCain’s campaign by the millions of dollars. Can we really trust that he wants to dismantle the system that fills his pockets?
The Good Old Boys Network in Washington is (has already?) ruining your financial future. And your children’s financial future. Our belief for a better future seems all but a long shot.
The Good Old Boys grease the wheels of financial markets and big business by letting them loophole out of paying their fair share of taxes on their profit. Millions, billions, that could be funneled to the needs of our whole American society and take the pressure off the ordinary taxpayer.
Executives of said corporate America live a life of decadence and greed while you and I work one, two, three jobs to support our families.
John McCain proposes that it is only fair to allow big business tax breaks. That’s not fair. That’s greed.
Barack Obama will establish oversights so that all Americans, business and citizen, pay due taxes, not just the working class. Now that’s change. Change we can all believe in.
Leah Thomason - Fergus Falls

Leah is just one of hundreds of Republicans and Independents that are supporting Barack. Learn more about these supporters and join the community.

Granny Goes Viral - Viral Video, That Is!

Brady — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:36:18 EDT

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

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

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

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

Former National Review Editor endorses Obama

John Cavanaugh — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:08:12 EDT

Wick Allison, current editor-in-chief of D (Dallas) Magazine:

In 1964, at the age of 16, I organized the Dallas County Youth for
Goldwater. My senior thesis at the University of Texas was on the
conservative intellectual revival in America. Twenty years later, I was
invited by William F. Buckley Jr. to join the board of National Review.
I later became its publisher [...]

[T]oday it is so-called conservatives who are cemented to political
programs when they clearly don't work. The Bush tax cuts-a solution for
which there was no real problem and which he refused to end even when
the nation went to war-led to huge deficit spending and a $3 trillion
growth in the federal debt. Facing this, John McCain pumps his
"conservative" credentials by proposing even bigger tax cuts. Meanwhile,
a movement that once fought for limited government has presided over the
greatest growth of government in our history. That is not conservatism;
it is profligacy using conservatism as a mask.

Today it is conservatives, not liberals, who talk with alarming
bellicosity about making the world "safe for democracy." It is John
McCain who says America's job is to "defeat evil," a theological
expansion of the nation's mission that would make George Washington
cough out his wooden teeth.

This kind of conservatism, which is not conservative at all, has
produced financial mismanagement, the waste of human lives, the loss of
moral authority, and the wreckage of our economy that McCain now
threatens to make worse.

I now see that Obama is almost the ideal candidate for this moment
in American history. I disagree with him on many issues. But those don't
matter as much as what Obama offers, which is a deeply conservative view
of the world. Nobody can read Obama's books (which, it is worth noting,
he wrote himself) or listen to him speak without realizing that this is
a thoughtful, pragmatic, and prudent man. It gives me comfort just to
think that after eight years of George W. Bush we will have a president
who has actually read the Federalist Papers.

Most important, Obama will be a realist. I doubt he will taunt
Russia, as McCain has, at the very moment when our national interest
requires it as an ally. The crucial distinction in my mind is that,
unlike John McCain, I am convinced he will not impulsively take us into
another war unless American national interests are directly threatened.

"Every great cause," Eric Hoffer wrote, "begins as a movement,
becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket." As a
cause, conservatism may be dead. But as a stance, as a way of making
judgments in a complex and difficult world, I believe it is very much
alive in the instincts and predispositions of a liberal named Barack
Obama.

Republican Mayor Richard Riordan Endorses Obama for President

Sarah Gallagher — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:43:42 EDT

Press Release from Gabriel Sanchez, Obama for America, California
Former LA Mayor Says "Clearly, Obama is the Best Candidate

LOS ANGELES - Former Los Angeles Mayor Riordan, a Republican, today formally announced his endorsement of Barack Obama for President. Crossing party lines, Mayor Riordan said he supports Obama because "we want the best person to be President of the United States, whether they are Republican or Democrat, and clearly Obama is the best candidate."

Senator Obama is the kind of leader we need to get us through these tough economic times. If you truly want to do what's best for the country, you should vote for Barack Obama for President.

"Senator Obama is the kind of leader we need to get us through these tough economic times," said Riordan, explaining why he favors Obama over McCain. "If you truly want to do what's best for the country, you should vote for Barack Obama for President."

Riordan, a registered Republican, was elected Mayor of Los Angeles in 1993 and served until 2001. During his tenure he worked successfully with community and business leaders to revitalize the city of Los Angeles, which was struck hard by the recession of the early 1990s and several natural disaster including the Northridge quake in 1994.

Albert Lea Tribune: Sen. Barack Obama's campaign listened

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:18:46 EDT

Clinton Meyer of Wells writes in the Albert Lea Tribune about one of the 24 stops on the Minnesota Heartland for Change Tour, which visited 24 communities across Minnesota last week, listening to folks across Greater Minnesota about the issues they're dealing with in their everyday lives.

Last week I heard a whole lot of stuff in St. Paul coming from John McCain, George Bush, and the same ol’ talking heads that back them in Washington. Didn’t hear much different or interesting, just the boilerplate Bush lingo I’ve heard for the eight years since I voted for Bush in 2000.
That was quite the contrast to what I heard from the Barack Obama campaign when they actually came to Austin on Sept. 7 to (gasp!) listen to us and our concerns. It was well worth the trip from home to hear other people with the same concerns as mine.
What a great idea, actually listening to what voters think, instead of listening to the Washington lobbyists who run McCain’s campaign. Obama’s campaign is going around the whole state on what they call the Heartland for Change Listening Tour. I got a chance to talk directly to the campaign at an economic round table at El Mariachi restaurant. We were one of the 24 stops they’re making around the state of Minnesota.
This is exactly the kind of change that we need and that Sen. Barack Obama offers. Sure the campaign talked about Obama’s plans like tax cuts for 95 percent of families and investment in new American energy to create jobs. But they also told me things I hadn’t heard before. Like that Obama was raised by a single mother who was from a small town in Kansas, how her mom and dad helped to raise him, too. They weren’t too well off and had to go paycheck to paycheck. I can relate to someone, especially a president, who has actually had to live through what a lot of “regular” people are going through right now in this economy. Obama has lived it and it shows.
I made a terrible mistake eight years ago and voted for Bush. Then he forgot what he promised and only listened to the lobbyists. Now it’s the same playbook, the same promises from the same people, lead by Bush’s chosen heir, Sen. McCain. I’m done with the same old stuff Bush and McCain have given us the last eight years. It’s time to turn things around with someone who gets it, and who listens to us and has a comprehensive plan, not just trash talk. That’s why I travelled from home to Austin. That’s why I’m going with Obama this election.

Clinton Meyer
Wells

To read more about the Heartland for Change RV Tour, and to see pictures from each of the 24 stops, visit http://mn.barackobama.com/mnheartlandtour.

North Dakota Republicans Side With Obama Plan To Invest In Renewable Energy

Becky Furgason — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:32:57 EDT

Like Obama-Biden, North Dakotans Back Ethanol, Comprehensive Approach to Solving Energy Crisis

As families in North Dakota and across the country struggle with soaring energy costs, Senator McCain and the GOP are refusing to take bold steps to invest in renewable sources of energy such as ethanol. By contrast, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will provide short-term relief to American families, invest in renewable sources of energy, and help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.

Last week, John McCain and his party's platform called for an end to a program that promotes important investments in renewable fuels like ethanol that are good for North Dakota's economy and are critical to ending our nation's dependence on foreign oil. North Dakota Republicans disagreed with McCain's position and seemed to side with the Obama plan to make the kind of significant investments in renewable energy and that are good for North Dakota and in the long-term interests of America.

Obama's Plan to Boost Biofuels and Fight Our Dependence on Foreign Oil

A Long Record of Support for Ethanol and Advanced Biofuels. Thanks to a law Barack Obama championed, gas stations are now eligible for tax credits for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps. The tax credit covers 30 percent of the costs of switching petroleum pumps. Obama also sponsored legislation requiring oil companies that made at least $1 billion in profits in the first quarter of 2006 to invest at least 1 percent of their total reported first quarter 2006 profits into installing E85 pumps. Obama also introduced legislation with Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) to require 2 billion gallons of alternative diesels, including biodiesel, to be produced domestically by 2015.

Develop the Next Generation of Sustainable Biofuels and Infrastructure. Advances in biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol, biobutenol and other new technologies that produce synthetic petroleum from sustainable feedstocks offer tremendous potential to break our addiction to oil. Barack Obama will work to ensure that these clean alternative fuels are developed and incorporated into our national supply as soon as possible. He will require at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels by 2030. Obama will invest federal resources, including tax incentives and government contracts into developing the most promising technologies and building the infrastructure to support them.

Mandate All New Vehicles are Flexible Fuel Vehicles. Sustainably-produced biofuels can create jobs, protect the environment and help end oil addiction - but only if Americans drive cars that will take such fuels. General Motors is the largest producer of flexible fuel vehicles in the United States, and Obama will work with Congress and auto companies to ensure that all new vehicles have FFV capability - the capability by the end of his first term in office.

"Proud" crossover supporters

Scott C. Jackson — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:37:06 EDT

Recently I heard a report in the media about polling data which showed that so far, the number of crossover voters (both Reps planning to vote for Obama and Dems planning to vote for McCain) are similar to the crossover vote patterns in recent past elections.

However, I find it interesting that I hear about so many "proud" / openly enthusiastic people who are crossing from Republican to voice support for Obama, but very few in the other direction...with the possible exception of Senator Lieberman (though I'm not sure he counts as a crossover).

Was that report incorrect? Are my own observations incorrect? Or perhaps the Democrat -> McCain crossovers are uncomfortable to voice their support publicly...

Time will tell, I guess.

North Dakota Republicans for Obama

Becky Furgason — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:41:58 EDT

Obama for America today announced "North Dakota Republicans for Obama," an organization of committed North Dakota Republicans who are supporting Senator Obama. The organization will spearhead efforts to mobilize support for Barack Obama among Republicans in North Dakota. Senator Obama has developed a broad coalition of support among Democrats, Republicans and Independents in North Dakota who have responded to his message of bringing America together to deliver the change we need.

"I've been a Republican my entire life, but I strongly believe that Senator Obama is a leader who will get our country back on the right track," said Ellen Dehn, a retired small business owner from Hatton, ND. "With the challenges that our middle class families are facing here in North Dakota, this election presents a clear choice: more of the same failed economic policies of the Bush administration or the change we need."

Republicans for Obama is dedicated to the ideal that while we may call ourselves Democrats and Republicans, we are Americans first.

The initial membership of North Dakota Republicans for Obama includes, among others, a Registered Nurse, a former Truck Driver, an Insurance Agent, a Waitress, a Teacher and a retired Postal Worker. While each has their own reasons for supporting the Democratic candidate in this election, they all agree that change needs to be brought to Washington and that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the ones who can and will bring that change.

All North Dakota Republicans who agree that change needs to be brought to Washington are welcome and encouraged to join. You can learn more about where Barack stands on the issues and sign up to join North Dakota Republicans for Obama at ND.BarackObama.com/ndrepublicans.

A Season of Change

Chocklit — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:37:34 EDT

School has started. The leaves on the trees here in NC are beginning to change into their party duds of Autumn. The General Election draws near.

I started 2008 with a simple prayer--Lord, please control and direct me in th way You would have me go.

Many changes followed. My title insurance & settlement company--the one I had dreamed of, worked so hard for 4 years to start up and operate successfully--was forced to close due to the national mortgage crisis. My sons, 19, 16 and 14, decided to stay in FL with their dad when i choose to moce to NC. I lost my beloved townhome, my SUV, and my cat. The job in NC fell through and I took a job waiting tables, reducing my income by $40,000 a year. With constant prayer and steadfast faith, I came to accept these changes as necessary for me to prepare for the next chapter of my life. I would pull myself up from my bootstraps, and rebuild. I was a good Republican, after all.

But after years of taking verbal abuse from friends and family for my Rebublican status, can you imagine my horror to find that I am not type of American the GOP wants to represent! I am a 42 year old African American female, college- educated entrepreneur. At the peak of my career, my income was $70,000 a year. Three children in college, two at home and no health insurance. I paid my taxes, volunteered locally, and sponsored a Little League team. My EXhusband and I lived in the same home, because living separately denied our children of more things than we were prepared to live with. We thought our party supported our efforts, and represented us on the Hill.

But McCain wants to take my sons to some ungodly place to fight and shed their American blood, for no other reason than oneupsmanship. He wants my family to struggle to pay for his and his cronies' homes and lifestyles. He doesn't care if my 18 month old granddaughter is vaccinated, educated or unwillingly pregnated. To top it all off, he showed me yesterday, with the announcement of his VP pick, that he thinks I am a MORON incapable of reason and willing to follow the party line, no matter how ridiculous. Our leaders in the present administration have 'partied like rock stars' for the last 8 years, and we are less than groupies. I WILL NOT BE A GROUPIE FOR ANTOHER 4 YEARS.

To give my children and grandchildren a life worth looking forward to, something has to change. I believe in the greatness and goodness of this United States of America. I believe we are NOT stuck with what we have, or the future as it is seen today. It's a new Season, a new Day! I can feel the breath of the dogs at my heels--but I am detemined to GO FORWARD, and to greet this New Day with open arms. I believe....

Obama-Biden 2008.......and Beyond

Questions Republicans For Obama Want To Ask Obama

Chuck — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:48:53 EDT

As posted at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chuck-lasker/questions-republicans-for_b_121869.html

As a Republican for Obama (RFO), I've been all over the Internet for the past year and a half defending my belief that Barack Obama better supports founding Republican principles than John McCain. I believe the choice is clear for any true classic Republican who is willing to open his or her mind to defying the GOP leadership's commands.

While we understand that Barack Obama is a Democrat, we're encouraged by many of his policies that are conservative in the truest sense. There are some questions, though, that we'd like Senator Obama to answer. I've sent a request to the Obama campaign for a one-on-one interview by a Republican but have not heard back yet. I think they're a little busy right now - something happening in Denver from what I hear. Since I've been featured on television, local papers, the New York Times and XM Radio as a very active Republican for Obama, as well as being a Huffington Post citizen journalist, I'm hoping it is being considered.

While I've been waiting, I decided to come up with the questions I'd ask. Taking that a step further, I decided to ask other Republicans for Obama for help. I posted at barackobama.com RFO groups, at independent RFO sites, and personally asked RFOs that I know. Below is a list of questions that I received. For duplicates, I worded them to represent the overall sentiment, and have given credit to the first submitter. The first four are my original questions.

1. Republicans have historically been opposed to excess accumulation of power in any government branch. Hypocritically, President Bush has accumulated an unprecedented amount of power to the Executive Branch in the name of safety, with record use of Executive Orders and Presidential Signing Statements. Do you intend to work with Congress to roll back those changes to permanently avoid these attempts in the future, and if so, how?

2. Many Republicans are worried about your position on guns. However, you have expressed your respect for the Second Amendment and tradition. Can you explain why you believe the founding fathers created the Second Amendment, and why limiting some gun ownership is necessary in your opinion in 2008?

3. Your stated positions are mostly centrist, and from the very beginning you have stated your desire to "work across the aisle" with Republicans. President Bush called himself "a uniter, not a divider," but has been more divisive and partisan than any previous president in my lifetime. How can we believe you will not become a total partisan, caving to the extreme left wing of the Democratic Party and leaving us Republican supporters in the dust?

4. President Reagan's "trickle down economics" was based on tax cuts for the rich leading to the rich spending and investing their increased wealth in such a way to create jobs and increased money to the middle class and poor. What is your opinion on this philosophy, and why do you think it didn't work with the recent Bush tax cuts?

5. When selecting a Supreme Court Justice or federal judge, if a candidate has a strong history of wise discernment and consistent Constitutional interpretations, yet is strongly pro-life, would you still nominate the candidate?
- Steve Richardson, Texas

6. As an Eisenhower Republican, I have a question. Most Presidents have had budget deficits. It is immoral to pass on such huge debts to our grandchildren. You propose modest tax cuts for the middle class, modest tax increases on the rich, and some reductions from Iraq spending. Is that enough to reduce the deficit?
- William Morgan

7. You've talked vaguely about rebuilding our infrastructure. As a Rockefeller Republican, I'd like you to explain why you believe it is important to rebuild our roads, bridges and tunnels.
- Rev. Donald "Skull" Powell, South Carolina

8. Please explain how a windfall profits tax on oil companies will lower the price of a gallon of gas at the pump.
- Brian Lathe, Arizona

9. As a Senator from Illinois and an admirer of Abraham Lincoln, in what areas would Republicans be moving closer to Lincoln by supporting you?
- Sue Rudd, Massachusetts

10. After your Democratic Convention speech in 2004 several people branded
you as a "conservative" and said it was "Right Speech, Wrong Party." More recently
Andrew J. Bacevich wrote, "The conservative case for Barack Obama" and gives
his definition of conservatism: (1) A commitment to individual liberty, tempered by the conviction that genuine freedom entails more than simply an absence of restraint; (2) A belief in limited government, fiscal responsibility, and the rule of law; (3) Veneration for our cultural inheritance combined with a sense of stewardship for Creation; (4) A reluctance to discard or tamper with traditional social arrangements; (5) Respect for the market as the generator of wealth combined with a wariness of the market's corrosive impact on humane values; (6) A deep suspicion of utopian promises, rooted in an appreciation of the sinfulness of man and the recalcitrance of history. Would you say that you are a truer conservative than John McCain?
- Sue Rudd, Massachusetts

11. Every four years the Republicans come out as the party of national security, implying that Democrats are weak in this area. Can you address national security directly to overcome this perception?
- Gary Lehman, Indiana

12. What will you do to create more efficiency in government?
- Matt Theobald, Indiana

13. We Republicans know what our Party leadership is doing to you with smears and attacks. What are you going to do to fight back against those kinds of attacks while maintaining the integrity of your campaign?
- Ailene, Indiana

Some people might wonder about giving a candidate questions in advance. There's a certain desire for that "gotcha" moment. Personally, I just want to know the answers, even if they're prepared in advance. I'll let you know if the Obama campaign responds, and I'll post the interview here if I get it.

MN Republican: "Joe's got an edge on John"

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:36:07 EDT

Former Republican U.S. Senator David Durenberger, from the Star Tribune:

"I am very pleasantly surprised," said David Durenberger, the former Republican U.S. Senator from Minnesota. Durenberger, who served in the Senate with both Biden and John McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee, said that he admired both colleagues but added that "I think Joe's got an edge on John" on judgment issues."
Durenberger said Biden would be a formidable match for Pawlenty should McCain make the Minnesota governor his running mate. "I admire Tim Pawlenty, but he's not Joe Biden," Durenberger said.

From Bush-Cheney to Backstage with Barack

Michael in Ohio — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:41:37 EDT

A couple months ago, the campaign launched a contest that encouraged supporters to share their story, with the special reward for a lucky 10 being a trip to the Convention, and the chance to meet with Barack backstage before his big speech next Thursday.

Now the winners have been chosen, and Ohio will be represented mightily by Jim Fondriest, who has a captivating personal narrative on how he came to be a Barack supporter. Jim got plenty of exposure on the local news recently, but we'll let his own essay tell the real story:

With 30 pails of chalk and 15 fellow College Republicans at my side, I anxiously anticipated how the Kerry campaign would react. The eve before his outdoor appearance with Bruce Springsteen on the campus of The Ohio State University, my group of ardent Republican's set out to cover our sidewalks with pro-Bush messages.

At that time 4 years ago, I would have never bet that I would ever vote for anyone other than a Republican. No one would have ever thought, not even myself, that I would be sitting here today giving my second contribution to the Democratic nomination for president, Barack Obama. It disappoints me that I cannot donate more to Barack, but I am beginning law school this fall and am already in debt thousands of dollars for my education. ...The past four years have been a difficult time to be a Republican in Ohio. Disheartened and frustrated with the leadership of the Republican Party, Barack Obama has inspired me to believe in politics again and, most importantly, the power of the ordinary citizen. Although I still identify as a Republican and still stand for some conservative values, I finally feel like America has found a leader it can look up to and trust.

I had the excitement of working on Barack's grassroots efforts leading up to he Ohio Primary and made over 500 T-shirts reading "Buckeyes for Obama" and donated the profits to his campaign. He is a role model for me as someone whose character I aspire to have as I enter the next chapter of my life... He is a symbol of Hope for myself and many of my friends. If I had the money to fly to Denver, I would be there in a heartbeat, but my donations are all I have. To whoever is reading this, thank you for giving your time, passion, and energy to this movement. More people than you could ever imagine appreciate your efforts. Let's send this country in a new direction.

Now Jim will have that chance to go to Denver, and meet with the man himself. We hope to hear more from Jim on his journey to the Convention. O-H, I-O!

**Get in on the excitement of the Convention by attending a Watch Party in your area!

Republicans For Barack?

Peter from Reading, PA — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:13:54 EDT

Sick and tired of OUR PARTY only being able to win through inference and outright smear?

Yes, we can still be conservatives and vote for Obama. No question about it.

The truth is OUR PARTY needs to CLEAN HOUSE. We need to fess-up to the fact that the Contract With America was a LIE. We need to admit that the Bush Administration has been, by far, the MOST CORRUPT group of gangsters ever to hold public office in this country. We need to ADMIT that the whole time we have been calling the Democrats "tax-and-spend liberals" WE REPUBLICANS have been "borrowing-and-spending" and selling the nation down the river.

And it looks like NOBODY in MY PARTY's leadership has the guts to do what needs to be done.

The only recourse is to throw them all out! Join me, my fellow Republicans.

www.politicalprisonerblog.com

Senator Obama...PLEASE challenge Jerome Corsi to sit down with you on the same stage!

Yesterday in the News: Jim Leach Endorses Barack Obama

Zachary Scott Edwards — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:58:30 EDT

Jim Leach endorses Obama

"It's been a very difficult thing for me because I've never endorsed a Democrat before...but sometimes in life you come to a juncture where it's very clear the national interest trumps party discipline," former Iowa Congressman Jim Leach said in a noontime interview with Radio Iowa.

…

"Like many, I'm astounded at Barack Obama's meteoric rise as a candidate, but I have no doubt that his is the leadership we need and that the world is crying out for," Leach said during a telephone conference call with reporters, arranged by the Obama campaign.

"I also have no doubt that a lot of Republicans and independents are going to be attracted to his call for a new era of nonideological, bipartisan decision-making."

Leach is now part of a group of Republicans who are actively encouraging other Republicans to back Obama. "Barack Obama's platform is a call for change, but the change that he is so gracefully articulating is more renewal than departure," Leach said. "...It is rooted in very old American values that are as much a part of the Republican as the Democratic tradition. There's an emphasis on individual rights, fairness and balance at home and progressive internationalism."

Republican stalwart endorses Obama

Former Republican Congressman Jim Leach endorsed Barack Obama’s presidential bid Tuesday, surprising some people in a state where the Davenport native has been associated with GOP politics for 30 years.

Leach said Obama offered inspiring new leadership and a more internationalist approach to foreign policy.

“Above anything else, I’m convinced the national interest requires a new approach to our interactions with the world,” he said.

Leach, a moderate leader in Congress, represented eastern Iowa for 30 years, all but five years from a base in Scott County.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Republicans for Obama Website

Mickiboop (P.O.B.) Be the Change — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:32:33 EDT

This is a must read for our supporters, and GOOD news that the other media isn't sharing. It really throws a bright spark in our camp after hearing all of the Clinton crap over the last few days. This article is from MSNBC's "First Read" section of their web site. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/12/1261942.aspx ENJOY!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Republicans for Obama video testimonial

Chuck — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:43:37 EDT

I am going to do a series of posts on issues from a Republican perspective. I feel, as a Republican for 27 years and political junkie, I can help Democrats understand our thinking and help other Republicans see that Barack Obama is our candidate this election. I am also going to post to my other blog:

http://conservativesforobama.blogspot.com/

To start, here is a script I wrote that I will be using for a video testimonial for YouTube.

I'm Chuck Lasker, and I'm a Republican for Obama. My favorite president was Ronald Reagan. I loved him. He put country before self, as no other president has since. The economy was strong. Americans could travel the world with heads held high, feeling safe, and rich from the strong dollar. If we'd had candidates like Ronald Reagan since then, the Republican Party would have remained in full power.

Since then, however, the Republican Party leadership has pulled the Party off course. The extreme right evangelicals and the corporations have taken over. From Bush Senior's New World Order to the current administration's free pass for monopolies and conglomerates that crush small businesses and innovation, the Party is barely recognizable.

Do you remember how upset we Republicans were when Clinton wrote executive orders? Now Bush rules with them everyday. Remember the Republican phrase, “we are not the world's police” when Clinton sent our troops to fight foreign wars? Remember how Bush Sr. had us out of Iraq in 100 days? Remember how pro-life meant reducing pregnancies and abortions, not failed attempts at discouraging premarital sex for moral reasons that have nothing to do with abortion? Do you think pro-life Reagan would support killing over a million Iraqis in order to “free them?” And at what point did it become Republican to believe safety is more important than liberty – after 9/11 or when the public started disagreeing with the Bush administration?

Remember when the War on Drugs was about arresting drug kingpins, not drug users? Do you think Reagan would approve of us having a higher percentage of citizens in prison than China, mostly being people who smoked a little weed? And prisons being private companies owned by judges, prosecutors and sheriffs? That doesn't fit with smaller government and keeping government out of our personal lives, does it?

Remember when trickle down economics worked because the rich would spend their money in America and invest in small businesses? Today they spend their money overseas and invest in oil and foreign investments, so it's trickling away, not down. That's why Bush's tax cuts for the rich have not helped our economy at all, but has created a debt to China it will take generations to repay. There's another one Reagan would love, a trillion dollar debt to The People's Republic of China.

So, my fellow Republicans, I put it to you. Is the current Republican leadership truly Republican, the Party of Lincoln, the Party of Eisenhower, the Party that created the civil rights movement, the Party of Ronald Reagan who attracted people from both parties to his campaign?

No, the Republican Party – at least the national leadership – has betrayed us. They've sold out to mega-corporations, lobbyists, the far right, and the military industrial complex. The economy is in the tank, our military is stretched to the limit on an unnecessary war, and our Constitution has been shredded with government spying, free speech infringement, and more Executive Orders than all previous presidents combined. Heck, Americans now claim to be Canadians when they travel oversees because the world hates our arrogance. But FoxNews actually claimed that European people liking Barack Obama is a “red flag” against him, as if it's a Republican desire for our allies to hate us. How does that fit with the Republican free trade agenda?

And the maverick John McCain? He is not even recognizable from the John McCain of 8 years ago, since he lost the primary in 2000 and realized he needed to pander to the new Ultra-Right Republican leadership so they'd give him a chance to be president. His voting record of 95% yes votes on Bush initiatives last year shows he's not a maverick anymore, and his recent reversals on so many issues shows he'll do and say whatever it takes to win the presidency, where he'd be completely beholden to the corporations who funded his campaign. As an example, McCain reversed his opinion on new drilling for oil, and his donations from oil and gas companies increased ten fold immediately. His current hateful personal attack ads against Obama that question Obama's patriotism and support for the troops show a do-anything-to-win moral vacuum that he claims to be above with his "Straight Talk Express." McCain 2000 would simply hate McCain 2008.

There is an alternative to blindly following the orders of the Party leadership. The alternative is Barack Obama. Just as Reagan's non-partisan, big tent agenda attracted Democrats in both of his elections, Senator Obama is attracting Republicans like me, who feel betrayed and ignored by the current leadership, and who don't believe John McCain represents us.

Do I agree with Obama on everything? No. Do I believe he loves this country before self, and do I trust him, and believe he's a brilliant leader? Yes I do. I am voting for Obama, not against McCain because I truly believe nobody can better get us out of the horrible situation we're now in. It's time for a new direction – not just any new direction, but one that pushes against special interests, Washington corruption, and the pork barrel status quo.

If you're feeling disaffected, like me and thousands and thousands of other Republicans throughout the country, please read “The Audacity of Hope” by Barack Obama. Go to an Obama event, especially if he'll be speaking. Go to www.barackobama.com and read up on the issues. If your mind is open, you'll see that he is not a “tax and spend liberal,” that he's not an elitist or leftist, but instead, is a centrist with amazingly nonpartisan ideas. Then, join us in our nonpartisan effort to clean up Washington and bring back the freedoms we've lost in our misguided attempt at making us “safe.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hatemongering

Peter from San Clemente, CA — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:14:33 EDT

Last election, the "Anyone but Bush" crowd led the attack. I don't think the results were that successful.

As a lifelong Republican who plans to stay that way, I was first drawn to Obama's rejection of the hatemonger's approach to politics. Obama went out of his way to say he would not insult the President of the United States, but he would disagree with his policies. When members of his own party attacked McCain's prisoner-of-war experience as unimportant for the presidency, Obama jumped in to defend McCain.

I found that so refreshing after enduring years of Clinton bashing within my own party.

Is it so illogical to believe that most of our leaders are patriots who love this fine country, that they are motivated by the common good instead of innumerable conspiracies for money and power?

Obama will be the president of Democrats and Republicans alike, and he is acting like it from the start. The "Anyone but Bush" crowd and the "Anyone but McCain" crowd are missing the point that Obama is a lot better than anyone who has run for president in a very long time.

I'm not saying politics should be sweet and kind. It is a battle where Obama is right to counterattack smears, but the opposition is not the enemy. Among his many admirable qualities, I believe Obama will unite Americans who have for too long found it fashionable to hate one another. As his supporters, we need to set personal peeves aside and buy into that part of his message, too.

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

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

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

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

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

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

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

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

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

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

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

TigardObamanators: A Meeting for CHANGE, Wed 7PM Tigard

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

Republicans Voting for Obama

Barbara — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:38:47 EDT

I love this. Americans are beginning to wake up. It's not about whether you are Democrat, Republican, Independent - not about what color your skin is, not about your religion, it's about what is the best thing we as Americans can do for America.

Republicans, against great and powerful criticisms, even at the expense of losing their careers, are banning together to share the truth about Obama. See http://www.republicansforobama.org

Obama never claims that he can 'do it alone', never claims that he has all the answers. He in fact, tells us what we know but have forgotten. This country works, our government works, when 'we the people' hold our representatives in Washington, in our cities, in our states, ACCOUNTABLE for their actions or inactions. It's about setting aside our differences, setting aside the labels, and rolling up our sleeves to work together intelligently.

Congress has got to stop behaving like high school kids. Our elected officials, our employees, need to conduct business in a more honest and transparent manner. We need to rid ourselves of the liars, the dangerous, and the elite 1% who are rejoicing at the downfall of the American working middle class.

Embrace your Republican friends - and send them to the site - Republicans for Obama (www.republicansforobama.org) and let's start working together. Our country, our families, the entire world, depends upon it. I truly believe we are witnessing what history will dub, The Tipping Point. Let's make that history a positive one!!!

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

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

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

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

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

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

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

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

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

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

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

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

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

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

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

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

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

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

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

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

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

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

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

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

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

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

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

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

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

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

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

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

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

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

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

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

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

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

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

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

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

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

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

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

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

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

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

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

Obama Beaverton HQ GRAND OPENING, Thurs July 23

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

OBAMA '08 WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND OPENING THIS THURSDAY IN BEAVERTON

GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED, SPECIAL GUESTS, REFRESHMENTS AND HUNDREDS

OF FELLOW OBAMA & DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS JOIN TOGETHER

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

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

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

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IMMEDIATELY:

WE NEED HELP SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND MAKING CALLS

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

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

IMMEDIATE HELP Needed to Set Up New Washington County Beaverton Office

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

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

The address is: 14025 Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BikerBamaMike, TigardObamanators OAT Leader for Alexjandro Hoekstra

Needs Wish list for the

Washington County Obama '08 Campaign office:

14025 Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR

Business Equipment

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

Appliance

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

Office & Operations Supplies/Equipment

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

Kitchen Supplies

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

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

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

OBAMA Campaign Material

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

Maintenance & Cleaning

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

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

IMMEDIATE HELP Needed to Set Up New Washington County Beaverton Office

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:21:10 EDT

Needs Wish list for the

Washington County Obama '08 Campaign office:

14025 Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR

Business Equipment

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

Appliance

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

IMMEDIATE HELP Needed to Set Up New Washington County Beaverton Office

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:14:18 EDT

Needs Wish list for the

Washington County Obama '08 Campaign office:

14025 Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR

Business Equipment

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

Appliance

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

IMMEDIATE HELP Needed to Set Up New Washington County Beaverton Office

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:09:52 EDT

Needs Wish list for the
Washington County Obama '08 Campaign office:

14025 Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR

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

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

Office & Operations Supplies/Equipment

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

Kitchen Supplies

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

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

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

OBAMA Campaign Material

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

Maintenance & Cleaning

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

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

IMMEDIATE HELP Needed to Set Up New Washington County Beaverton Office

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:09:52 EDT

Needs Wish list for the
Washington County Obama '08 Campaign office:

14025 Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR

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

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

Office & Operations Supplies/Equipment

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

Kitchen Supplies

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

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

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

OBAMA Campaign Material

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

Maintenance & Cleaning

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

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

National Platform for Change Open Forum (Platform Meeting)

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00:00 EDT

What is Most Important to YOU is the Question?

YOU are the answer if WE are to affect CHANGE from a true grassroots level.

Gary Lee Jelinek invites you to join an open forum regardless of party or affiliation in an engaging discussion about what is important to "the people" in regards to issues, government legislation, local, state and world concerns. Your input is vital to creating a "national platform" for President-Elect Barack Obama.

Monday, July 21 at 7:00 PM

Host: Gary Lee Jelinek

12805 SW Blue Heron Pl, (Corner of Walnut & 124th) in Tigard. Click to RSVP below.

Mapquest Driving Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Tigard&state=OR&address=12805+SW+Blue+Heron+Pl&zipcode=97223

If you have burning questions that just can't wait, contact or email Gary at 503-679-8482, gleejeli@gmail.com If something is just eating at your insides or simply annoys you whether it's rising gas prices, the war, healthcare, our sagging economy or our environment, and you need to get it off your chest! Than this is the place to share your thoughts in a civil but engaging evening of people talking with people. Don't miss this opportunity! It's the beginning of CHANGE in real-time.

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National Platform for Change Open Forum (Platform Meeting)

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00:00 EDT

What is Most Important to YOU is the Question?

YOU are the answer if WE are to affect CHANGE from a true grassroots level.

Monday, July 21 at 7:00 PM

Host: Gary Lee Jelinek

12805 SW Blue Heron Pl, (Corner of Walnut & 124th) in Tigard. Click to RSVP below.

Mapquest Driving Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Tigard&state=OR&address=12805+SW+Blue+Heron+Pl&zipcode=97223

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National Platform for Change Open Forum (Platform Meeting)

BikerBamaMike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00:00 EDT

What is Most Important to YOU is the Question?

YOU are the answer if WE are to affect CHANGE from a true grassroots level.

Monday, July 21 at 7:00 PM

Host: Gary Lee Jelinek

12805 SW Blue Heron Pl, (Corner of Walnut & 124th) in Tigard. Click to RSVP below.

Mapquest Driving Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Tigard&state=OR&address=12805+SW+Blue+Heron+Pl&zipcode=97223

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TigardObamanators Team Organizing Meeting

BikerBamaMike — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:41:37 EDT

Mark this Date on your calendar: Wednesday, July 23rd, 7PM Joe Santana's house, 14656 SW Rask Terrace, and Bull Mountain Road in Tigard. Look for the American flag in front of the house.

Agenda: Campaign Strategy/Overview Goal, Voter Contact Building OUR Volunteer Base, TigardObamanators (TOB)Organization - Michael "BikerBamaMike", Training - Laura Fisher Team, Strategy Discussion "Progressive ideas" - Gary Lee Jelinek. LOCKING and LOADING OBAMA VOTES TODAY! Commitment to the Cause = Taking Action NOW!

RSVP BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44psm.

Mapquest Directions: To Bull Mountain Road from Roy Rogers, Barrows, or Hwy 99W. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Tigard&state=OR&address=14656+SW+Rask+Terrace

Contact: Michael "BikerMamaMike" classicisland@yahoo.com, 503-522-1259 http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/TigardObamanators

TigardObamanators Team Organizing Meeting

BikerBamaMike — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:41:37 EDT

Mark this Date on your calendar: Wednesday, July 23rd, 7PM Joe Santana's house, 14656 SW Rask Terrace, and Bull Mountain Road in Tigard. Look for the American flag in front of the house.

RSVP BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44psm.

Mapquest Directions: To Bull Mountain Road from Roy Rogers, Barrows, or Hwy 99W. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Tigard&state=OR&address=14656+SW+Rask+Terrace

Contact: Michael "BikerMamaMike" classicisland@yahoo.com, 503-522-1259 http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/TigardObamanators

TigardObamanators Team Organizing Meeting

BikerBamaMike — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:41:37 EDT

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

WHEN OBAMA SPEAKS...EVERYONE LISTENS

BikerBamaMike — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:49:09 EDT

Come closely my friend and pay careful attention:

WHEN OBAMA SPEAKS...EVERYONE LISTENS!!

BE PART OF THE HISTORY. JOIN THE TIGARDOBAMANATORS AND WATCH BARACK OBAMA ACCEPT THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!

WHERE: MACADAM'S GRILL 5833 SW MACADAM AVENUE, PORTLAND
WHEN: AUGUST 28TH,THURSDAY. Meet time is 6pm!

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MEET FELLOW OBAMA SUPPORTERS, PUT A FACE TO THAT E-MAIL FRIEND, SHARE FUN STORIES, AND NETWORK YOUR STRATEGY TO MAKE THIS AMAZING MAN OUR NEXT LEADER! TO RSVP OR ANY QUESTIONS: E-MAIL REGINA regi49@msn.com or RHONDA rhleep@gmail.com

Directions to MACADAM'S GRILL: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&cd=1&msa=0&msid=108307788076978704078.00045198aac4fba15e80a&ll=45.484485,-122.674857&spn=0.160309,0.241013&z=12

Note: This is a REVISED POST with the correct date change listed above. My apologies for the change of date. BBM

WHEN OBAMA SPEAKS...EVERYONE LISTENS

BikerBamaMike — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:47:54 EDT

WHEN OBAMA SPEAKS...EVERYONE LISTENS

BikerBamaMike — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:44:22 EDT

WHEN OBAMA SPEAKS...EVERYONE LISTENS

BikerBamaMike — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:42:31 EDT