In support of President Obama's call for major national health care revision, Riverside for Change will join with Duval County for Change on June 27, 2009 to help bring this major issue to light. Duval County for Change will be hosting a National Health Care Day of Service at the University of North Florida at 1:00 pm. The event will feature a wellness and prevention medicine panel discussion and a screening of the documentary film, Money Talks, which is about the drug industry. The event will take place at the School of Health, Building 39, Room 1009.
To RSVP for the event or to get more information, contact: yeswecanduval@peacemail.com or register to attend at:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpcvbz
The decision for Riverside for Change to join forces with Duval for Change came about during our June 6th health care house party when 25 Riverside neighbors came together to discuss the current health care crisis. We felt that a greater impact would be made if we brought as many voices as possible together during this single day of service. Everyone is encouraged to come out to UNF and help expand our range of influence in order to bring about substantial change in health care policies.
In addition to this single day of service, there are at least two other health care oriented events/organizations that we are currently working on:
(reprinted with permission)
JOIN ORGANIZING FOR AMERICA AND DUVAL COUNTY FOR CHANGE IN OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO PASS HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION IN WASHINGTONDuval County For Change is asking every concerned citizen, health care professional, health care advocate, union leaders, union members, AARP, Planned Parenthood, NOW, JCCI, and all advocates striving for health care reform to build a "Health Care Team" in our community as requested by President Obama through Organizing for America. Join us at our next meeting, Saturday May 2, 1-3 pm at the Deerwood Branch Public Library on Deerwood Park Blvd. John Bivona, Florida director of Organizing for America, will be speaking about OFA's plan for Health Care Teams to be built around the country in a collective duty to achieve health care reform legislation.In order to realize the change that we all fought so hard for during the election, we must continue to reach out to our neighbors and leaders to involve them in this movement. Collecting pledges, and stories, building a team, and identifying what services, and groups right here in northeast Florida will benefit from health care reform legislation, will allow us to demonstrate the urgent need for leadership and support in Washington for the true need of health care reform.Our legislators can't ignore personal stories, professional support, a strong coalition of partners speaking in favor of the need for health care reform, and providing specific local services, and groups who will benefit from national health care reform. This effort will demonstrate the need of making this national policy a "local policy." It is our duty as Americans to work together and achieve health care for all and for future generations. Please contact 238-9744 for further details. Also visit www.my.barackobama.com for further information about this movement. (copied/pasted with permission)
Good morning!
An item of interest appeared in today's Florida Times Union that I wanted to share with you. Columnist Ron Littlepage mentioned an organization in his article this morning that you might want to consider supporting. It is Florida Hometown Democracy. http://floridahometowndemocracy.com/
This group is working to put comprehensive land use planning decisions in the hands of voters. Instead of leaving it up to city council, it would be put on the ballot for citizens to determine whether changes would best serve their communities. Here is an excerpt from their website:
What does the Florida Hometown Democracy Petition say?
This amendment, if adopted, will give you, the Florida voter, the right to decide whether your city or county Comprehensive Land Use plan should be changed. Currently, city councils and county commissions make those decisions.
Why is this amendment needed?
Currently, it is just too easy for wealthy developers to obtain comprehensive plan amendments - all they have to do is persuade a majority of a city or county commission to grant a change. Because comprehensive plan amendments determine the destiny of a community for generations to come, it is vital that changes to a comprehensive plan truly reflect the concerns of the voters. This will be accomplished through the Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment.
****I wonder if this referendum could have spared Mayport Village all their recent turmoil with Jaxport. Residents of San Marco opposed to the proposed changes on Hendricks Avenue would surely like to vote on that issue.
Please join Duval County for Change at our next meeting on Saturday, Feb. 21st, from 1-3pm. It will be held at the Univeristy of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Rd S., Building 51, 2nd floor, Political Science Confernce Room. Parking is available on any floor except the 1st floor, with a $2.00 parking fee.
We will review topics from the last meeting concerning OFA's outline for the economy and the economic stimulus package. We'll discuss plans for involvement in several local issues, such as the landfill and Mayport. Ideas are welcome and everyone is encouraged to give their input on how to bring positive change to Duval County.
Good morning everybody,
Our group received a request for assistance with mortgage payments and/or electric bills this week. While we don't have any monetary funds at this time, I would like to open up a virtual discussion about how we could solve these issues locally. If you know of existing groups or programs in place to solve these issues, please post them here. If you have ideas about how we ourselves could be of service, please post those as well.
To get you started thinking, I will post some of the ideas folks have come up with so far:
I had one thought, which was that Chris and I could unplug things and turn down the heat, lose the cable tv, etc. and then "adopt" a family to help with their electric bill. Riverside for Change families could decide to participate on a household basis, and maybe single folks could partner up to "adopt" a family. We'd be helping the environment and our neighbors.
Holly put forward that The Jacksonville Urban League has housing counseling programs, for buying homes and for finding subsidized housing. http://www.jaxul.org/
Anybody else have ideas?
Casie SimpsonRiverside for Change
Hey everybody,
Max Wood and the Young Democrats have alerted me of the need to contact city council and urge them to vote "no" on the $750,000,000, 35-year no-bid contract to give Trail Ridge over to Waste Management. All you need to do is e-mail cityc@coj.net. Let them know, briefly, that you'd like the Trail Ridge bid to be open, competitive, transparent, and fair. Ask them to vote "no" on the mayor's contract proposal. The e-mail can be as short as a couple of sentences. You can even copy my letter below and change it as you see fit!
Bringing this contract down would establish a mighty precedent: Jacksonville residents will not tolerate any more no-bid contracts.
Example:
Dear City Council Members, As one of your constituents, I urge you to vote "no" on the no-bid Waste Management contract for Trail Ridge. In these tough economic times, it seems both unethical and irresponsible to approve a $750,000,000 contract without opening the bid to other vendors. Jacksonville residents deserve a competitive, transparent, and fair bidding process for all contracts — especially one of such magnitude. Thank you, Casie
America and the world hare keeping palestinians in the largest prison in the world.
srael: positioning in israel for elections, Every leader in israel is looking out for the next election and the person who appears to destroy their enemy more will have more votes.
ethnic cleansing and genocide: Israel want to clean Palestine of its tribes and families to annex the palestine.
caving in to settlers. Israel want to clean Palestine of its tribes and families to resettle its own people.
Positioning in America: Israel wants to be the number one subject of america policy, not just policy. They want more tax dollars,and more lobby is out asking for money than they say. Reality is that Even journalists are making the case for more money to isreal. My take is that there is more problem in the world than israel. How about the congos, suddan, zimbabwe, somalia, and every place else in the world where poverty is killing people in silence?
The world has helped israel for centuries. Yet israel remain in the middle of every turn of help, despite the fact that it is the richest nation in that hemisphere.
Obama needs to tell israel that enough is enough. Obama needs to tell israel that it is high time America had other friends in the world and help the countries in the world that need American help enjoy a peaceful life, not a life of war.
America needs to start rewarding countries that exibit peaceful process to progress, to move faster, not those countries that are constantly vie for international and american attention with killings and genocide. WE NEED TO START REWARDING THE GOOD GUYS IN THE WORLD, NOT THE BAD GUYS.
I PROPOSE THAT THE US GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE A PRICE FOR ITS FOREIGN AID: 1ST PLACE GOES TO THE COUNTRY THAT HAS MADE MORE PROGRESS AND IN PEACE. AND SO ON, DOWN TO THE 5TH PLACE. NO COUNTRY WITH HUMAN RIGHT ISSUES WILL WIN, AND NO COUNTRY THAT HAD HAD A WAR IN THE PAST 5 YEARS WILL EVER WIN. EVEN IF THEY BECAME PEACEFUL, THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THE PEACE HELD FOR 5 YEARS.
We elected Obama for American problems, not for israeli problems.
The people's reaction is slow but steady, like a drop in the stream, or fast like a pouring deluge. Push them hard enough, and there is no stopping the resulting flood and devastation, one election rigging at a time.
Early Voting for the entire state of Florida has just been extended.
Every Early Vote location in Florida will now be every day from 7am-7pm up through November 2.
Please pass along this great news to everyone you know who will be voting in Florida. Click here to find your nearest early vote location.
Here's the release:
GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS ~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~October 28, 2008Contact:GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE(850) 488-5394TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008. "I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Governor Crist said. "I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote." Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting. Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county's Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting. Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29. Please see the attached Executive Order 08-217. STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 08-217 WHEREAS, early voting is scheduled to end November 2, 2008; and WHEREAS, early voting turnout has already reached record levels and is forecast to continue with record turnout. There are only 267 early voting sites throughout the state and long lines have formed at many of the early voting sites; and WHEREAS, a historic number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time in this election; and WHEREAS, new voting equipment is being used in 15 Florida counties; WHEREAS, as a result of this unique combination of circumstances resulting from the historic voter turnout in this election, there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and thus residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote; andWHEREAS, because of the existing and continuing possibility of an emergency occurring before or during the regularly scheduled election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process, and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote;NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, by the Florida Elections Emergency Act, and by all other applicable laws, issue the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:I hereby declare that, based on the above-described conditions, a state of emergency exists. It is hereby found and declared to be necessary to extend the voting hours during early voting. Accordingly, I order the Supervisors of Elections to open early voting sites from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. through October 31, 2008 and open early voting sites for a total of twelve (12) hours between 7 a.m. November 1, 2008 and 7 p.m. November 2, 2008.IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 28th day of October, 2008. GOVERNORATTEST:SECRETARY OF STATE
GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS
~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~
October 28, 2008
Contact:
GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE(850) 488-5394
TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008.
"I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Governor Crist said. "I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote."
Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting.
Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county's Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting.
Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29.
Please see the attached Executive Order 08-217.
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 08-217
WHEREAS, early voting is scheduled to end November 2, 2008; and
WHEREAS, early voting turnout has already reached record levels and is forecast to continue with record turnout. There are only 267 early voting sites throughout the state and long lines have formed at many of the early voting sites; and
WHEREAS, a historic number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time in this election; and
WHEREAS, new voting equipment is being used in 15 Florida counties;
WHEREAS, as a result of this unique combination of circumstances resulting from the historic voter turnout in this election, there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and thus residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote; and
WHEREAS, because of the existing and continuing possibility of an emergency occurring before or during the regularly scheduled election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process, and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, by the Florida Elections Emergency Act, and by all other applicable laws, issue the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:
I hereby declare that, based on the above-described conditions, a state of emergency exists. It is hereby found and declared to be necessary to extend the voting hours during early voting. Accordingly, I order the Supervisors of Elections to open early voting sites from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. through October 31, 2008 and open early voting sites for a total of twelve (12) hours between 7 a.m. November 1, 2008 and 7 p.m. November 2, 2008.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 28th day of October, 2008.
GOVERNOR
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE
Dear Obama supporters,
I have come up with what I believe to be an unusual and yet obvious way to garner votes for Barack. I am calling it the 'Friends and Family plan'. Choose an issue close to your heart, and simply write a general, personal letter to your friends and family to whom you think may be on the fence this election season.
Send the letter regular mail...NO EMAIL! It will have greater impact. In the letter, simply ask for them to vote for your cause this time around through Barack. Sounds a little crazy, I know. But you would be amazed at how many times I hear how some republican and independent friends are just not thrilled with McCain. So why not simply ask them for their vote this year? If they do not exhibit passion about voting this year, but plan on voting, ask them to throw the vote your way this time.
The secret is to be non-political, contrite, polite and personal. When it’s personal and not ‘Us’ versus ‘them’ people will respond because you have put a face to this election.
If every one of the 2.5 million Obama contributors convinced one person, that would be the election right there!
Here is my letter:
Dear (Friend, or Family member),
Everyone knows that it is perhaps not polite to discuss politics with people to whom you are not sure of where they stand. I have utmost respect for the personal act of voting. If you have made a decision this year for whom you will be voting, then you have thought this election through, and I commend you for that. However, if you have not made a decision, and are not particularly happy with your choices this year, then I wanted to take the time to do something very unorthodox. I want to explain to you my reasons for voting for Barack Obama.
As many of you know, being Gay or Lesbian in this country we are not entitled to thousands of rights that most non-gay people take for granted. For years, Sam and I have had to jump through hoops in terms of attaining some of those rights through proper channels. Here is a small example of what I had to go through one day. I was riding my bike and a car cut me off, I landed on my head and had to be hauled away in an ambulance. My first reaction was that I would be in the hospital alone, and Sam would not be able to get in. I remember asking the staff there, while in shock to be sure to allow him to see me. Now, my first reaction should have been, what is the extent of the injury, and how do I heal. Not wondering whether or not I will be alone for all of this because of some archaic Florida law. That is one example. The fact of the matter is, simply by virtue of my birthing order, I have had to jump through unnecessary hoops, constantly. Hoops that if the general public had to deal with on a daily basis, there would be no less than rioting in the streets. I have many reasons for voting the way I do, this is one very personal example.
It’s no secret that this election year is important, however if it does not exactly matter to you who you vote for this time around, I am asking you to throw your vote my way, and Sam’s way. It means an opportunity to get the wheels of our cause moving again in a major way. A cause that has been ground to a halt for eight long years.
I know your major concerns are small government and taxes. So take it from one who has truly done his homework on this election. Your taxes will actually decrease under Barack Obama’s plan, and our government will be fixed by someone who is not beholden to special interests and lobbyists. There is little to no conflict of interest.
Thanks for your time-
Love,
Mark
I have decided I can no longer be a registered Republican. For the first time in my life I announced my support for a Democratic candidate for the presidency, in February of this year. This was not an endorsement of the Democratic platform, nor was it a slap in the face to the Republican Party. It was an expression of support specifically for Senator Barack Obama. I had always intended to go back to party ranks after the election and work with my many dedicated friends and colleagues to help reshape the GOP, especially in the foreign-policy arena. But I now know I will be more effective focusing on our national and international problems than I will be in trying to reinvigorate a political organization that has already consumed nearly all of its moderate “seed corn.” And now, as the party threatens to trivialize what promised to be a serious debate on our future direction, it will alienate many young people who might have come into party ranks. My decision came at the end of last week when it was demonstrated to the nation that McCain and this Bush White House have learned little in the last five years. They mishandled what became a crisis in the Caucusus, and this has undermined U.S. national security. At the same time, the McCain camp appears to be comfortable with running an unworthy Karl Rove–style political campaign. Will the McCain operation, and its sponsors, do anything to win? Read on…
It's official, Barack sent out the email this morning, did you get it?
Friend --I have some important news that I want to make official.I've chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate. Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois -- the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.I'm excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can't do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.Please let Joe know that you're glad he's part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we'll make sure he gets it:Welcome Joe Thanks for your support,Barack
I have some important news that I want to make official.
I've chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate.
Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois -- the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.
I'm excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can't do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.
Please let Joe know that you're glad he's part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we'll make sure he gets it:
Welcome Joe
Thanks for your support,
Barack
Send Joe a note! Welcome Joe!
Make sure to turn on your TV at 3:00 p.m. to join Obama and Biden in Springfield, Illinois. Or, watch online at http://www.BarackObama.com.
The LA Times ran an article about the news coverage bias in regard to the McCain and Obama campaigns. The study confirmed what many of us knew all along. McCain is treated with kit gloves, and although senator Obama received more coverage it was 1/2 as positive as McCain's for the same week. So much for the liberal bias in the media.
Baracks trip overseas was a triumph by any measure. Yet, the McCain camp has decided to go really dirty and appeal to the lowest common denominator of voter in our country. It is my belief that no matter how outrageous the lie, if you say it enough people start to believe it. There is a name for it: "Truthiness" ie: "Iraq is the central war on terror" (biggest lie of all). And "Obama cancelled his visit to the wounded troops" insinuating in TV ads that somehow Senator Obama is less patriotic than McSAME. Even though vote after vote of McCain goes against our troops. Vet organizations give McCain a 'D' on his voting record, and Obama a B+. But this never gets out in the media.
Why am I going on about this? Well, here it is folks. Sadly negative campaigning works. I am not suggesting the Obama camp engage in negative campaigning. But how about pushing back the lies in a more heavy handed manner perpetrated by the McCain machine?
I don't see the push back that I would like to see by Barack's surrogates, or himself. My concern is that we are allowing ourselves to be swiftoated. Tell the truth over and over with force, speed, and fight back. Keep McCain on the deffensive, or we will lose this thing .....again. Enter, the honorable John Kerry.
The latest polls seem a bit odd, one shows a bounce for Obama this week, and another more disconcerting shows Obama losing ground in the battle ground states, substantially. McCain's negative attacks are working people, and we need to wake up and PUSH BACK! I am tired of hearing things like "John's comments were unfortunate".... screw that. Unfortunate is haveing to wait at a red light a little longer and missing an apointment. This is about taking back an entire branch of government from the thugs of the last eight years. We need strong words, the plain truth, and calling these poeple out on the carpet.
Let's pledge to encourage the powers that be in the Obama camp to fight back, quickly, loudly, and truthfully. Exposing McCain's record is not going negative, it's imperative.
McCain = BUSH.
Joe Biden?? where are you.
When Senator Obama started to become the front runner, the right tried to paint him as either too black, too Muslim, and just plain too different. Is he just like say, Jesse Jackson? They would say to place the fear in white America. "He seems nice, but he probably is just like oh.....I don't know....perhaps Jesse Jackson?
Well, I would like to personally thank Jesse Jackson for his insane rant. His remarks put to rest any perceived connection of Barack to the "political angry militant black man of the seventies" Moniker. Jackson is so irrelevant and ridiculous they should put a muzzle on him. Even his son would agree to that.
One would think that after all these years in public service, and especially on Fox of all things that your mic is ALWAYS hot, someone is always listening. So it makes me wonder if it was really a mistake, or just political serendipity that actually will turn into a big positive for Senator Obama.
Jackson is a womanizing hypocrite, and after these most recent comments we can add two faced to that list. This is a big win for Senator Obama, so on that note I say.
Thank you Jesse, now shut up.
