For me it's coming down to what we are preserving- or attempting to preserve- I think the bad far outweighs the good here- and I believe that if Obama sidesteps this it will be his downfall.
President Obama will forever be linked to the Bush Torture Coverup and our great victory over the establishment will be torn down.
"It's a trap are you blind?" (Hamish) ~Braveheart
Ten concerned citizens met on February 8 in Henderson, NV, to discuss the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, better known to many as the stimulus plan. They are incensed that Republicans in the Senate have, yet again, hijacked democracy and derailed not only our best chance at getting this country back on the fast track to recovery but quite possibly our only chance of survival in today’s rapidly (rabidly) declining economic conditions, apparently oblivious to what led to their demise in the recent election.
Poll results obviously have not changed our landscape, but the same rumble that rocked this country to its new leader is fueling the small groups gathering in dining rooms and living rooms in every state, to talk about how to light flickering fires and fan bigger ones. Ten people around a table watching a governor answer questions may not seem like much, but those ten people brainstormed ideas to push this stimulus through. The idea that ultimately saves our nation could come from a similar meeting.
The more important outcome is what happens with the ten people at this meeting: Each has committed to bringing more friends to the next meeting and growing a larger coalition of like-minded people devoted to healing our nation’s ills. They will strive to rebuild a sense of community that works together to link elbows to take on the forces of resistance that persist in blocking any and all proactive measures to correct the destructive legacy of the previous administration.
Another goal is to present to the Obama Administration, through the Organizing for America arm, a set of suggestions put together by the group that they believe will be instrumental in various aspects of what is happening at a particular juncture. Right now, of course, the primary focus is on getting the stimulus passed, helping more Americans understand its importance, and ensuring its transparency when it does pass.
The Las Vegas area has been hit particularly hard by foreclosures, unemployment, and – contrary to what Senator Ensign would have the country believe – dramatic state budget shortfalls ($2 billion) that will decimate our education system, state services like firefighting and peacekeeping, social services, unemployment, etc., at a time when the need for these services is at a pinnacle. Everyone in the state has a personal stake in this stimulus. If someone is not already personally affected by the economy, they likely will be in the very near term. Every homeowner has been affected by loss of equity, whether they plan to sell or not. Every renter is at risk of eviction without notice, because laws do not protect tenants if landlords are foreclosed. There is no notification process or requirement. Every worker is at risk of job loss, with the remote exception of the military (and even they are not exempt as the 1992 reduction in forces proved to the author of this piece). State employees are facing a forced salary reduction if our governor’s plan is passed.
There were thousands of meetings around this great country of ours similar to this one. The Henderson group is dynamic and diverse. They are serious and focused. Most of them have been politically astute for many years; however, they would like for others to become more involved in their communities and more politically active to effect the type of change that is needed in today’s climate. Just as it took a storm to elect this president, it will take a tsunami to bring about the type of change he promised and this country so desperately needs. The storm has subsided. The tsunami is building strength: it started with ten (times thousands); those ten will bring twenty more. Then those twenty will gather their forty. You don't have to know us to join our group. Please watch for future house parties to be posted on my.barackobama.com and be sure to RSVP on the website.
On Saturday, December 13, 2008 I hosted a Victory Now Change house party at my home. While I only had 5 guest, we had a very good discussion on a broad range of issue that we felt will have the greatest impact on our community and our country.
We discussed reaching out to our Republican counterparts during future house meetings since the issues being discussed affect all Americans and not just Democrats. We also believe it may be wise to join forces with the members of house party groups in our surrounding area to add emphasis of like type issues.
Our top 4 issues include:
i. We believe that the federal and state government to should limit new home construction if there is more than a certain percentage of available houses in the area. Continued building is causing the market to be oversaturated and is driving down the value of existing homes. New homes could still be built if the construction would replace an existing home.
ii. We believe that banks should be encouraged to loans in default to extend the loan term and set a fixed interest rate. An entry should be made on the borrower’s credit reporting to reflect this renegotiation of terms.
iii. We would also like to ask that these borrowers who are in default be required to have their finances reviewed by a non-profit credit counseling agency prior to being considered for restructuring to see if the default is as a result of bad lending or poor personal financial management.
i. Americans who can afford it should be provided additional options to pay for an upgrade to their coverage which would include addition service.
ii. We think there should be a not for profit organization designated to oversee this universal healthcare program. As long as for profit insurance companies are involved medical care in America will continue to deteriorate.
iii. We would like to see these benefits limited to citizens who are paying their far share (taxes) to support the needs of our country. We cannot continue to provide people (non-resident and non-tax paying Americans) a free ride.
iv. We would like to see an overhaul of the Medicare/Medicaid that would streamline the program and provide patients with the proper treatment for their doctor’s diagnosis.
v. We would like to see oversight to speed the implementation of online medical record that would speed patient treatment and reduce cost.
i. Period of Transition from deployed troops from Combat to Civilian
ii. Medical care
iii. Job Training and Placement
iv. Housing Assistance
i. Need to inventory and replace inadequate, worn and outdated equipment
1. Provide the manufacture of MRAPs assistance to speed production and deployment of MRAPs to combat zones to replace the outdated and inadequate HUMVEEs.
a. Perhaps as a condition of an auto industry bailout the big 3 auto makers could be enlisted to improve production
ii. Need to immediately return all National Guard troops to the U.S. These troops are designed to protect and defend our homeland.
1. Many of our troops currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have been over-utilized and need to be replaced.
2. Need to consider at least a limited draft that would require young men to serve a period of two years in what could be called a non-deployable ready reserve. At least a percentage of these draftees would elect to re-enlist and would then be deployable. The others would incur a 5 year inactive reserve commitment.
a. In return we should offer them a 4-year college education at one of their state’s universities.
i. Home or neighborhood officing
1. Using broadband to perform administrative duties from home or community office.
2. Create jobs converting uninhabited buildings that are available in nearly all communities to be used as individual office space with IT support and an office environment.
a. Worker or employer would basically rent an office space within the community.
3. Reduce daily commute times from 2 or more hours to just a few minutes.
a. Reduce carbon emissions
b. Reduce Fuel Consumption
c. Reduce Highway and public transportation congestion.
d. Reduce employee stress
e. Increase involvement in the family and community
ii. Four day work weeks
iii. Limiting businesses and retail to 6-day weeks
i. Mandatory conversion of truck stops with in window power/heat/air and communications.
ii. Change from Interstate trucking to Regional trucking using increased rail transportation of goods.
iii. Development of more efficient trucks
As a group we agreed that during this holiday season that it would be difficult to develop and conduct a public service project other than those we are already involved in. We did discuss contacting our respective cities to see what committees or boards have openings and submitting an application to serve on one or more of these committees.
· Salvation Army Angel Tree
· Operation Care Dallas – Christmas Gift 2008(Worlds Largest Homeless Christmas party) http://www.operationcaredallas.org/
· Projected for 2009
o MS Walk in Fort Worth – Team Txnerd
o Salvation Army
o Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Post-election organizing.
Our group host Gene and his wife Linda opened their home on a cool and cloudy Sunday (14-Dec-2008). We introduced ourselves, watched a short video, and then went around the room sharing with each other this issues that are important to us.
We decided that we wanted to take action immediately by delivering 10 pounds of food each to our local Food Bank in one week (December 21, 2008). We wanted to do something to support the Food Bank before the week of Christmas.
Since leaving the House Party we have kept in touch through email and two more people have joined the Group.
Check back here for more reports on Group activity.
Change is Coming!
A few pictures of the Dawn of a New Day, Change is Coming event in Menlo Park, CA, yesterday on 12-14-8. Friends and neighbors will meet to discuss how we can help Barack Obama bring about the change for which we elected him. Hosted by Amar Singh and his wife at the Peninsula School.
About 35 people showed up to contribute to the lively, thoughtful discussion. The great thing was the amount of enthusiasm and energy people want to contribute to help Barack Obama achieve success of his visions. Looking forward to having more and deeper discussions on issues facing the United States.
What issues are most important to your group?: Environment, particularly important in the upper delaware watershed which provides drinking water to 25 million people, and there are many threats including a gas drilling gold rush, pipeline and powerline expansions, loss of farm land and development.
Other issues include sustainable local agriculture, permaculture, energy production, education, healthcare, Supreme Court appointments, Cabinet level appointments (members of group are against Joel Klein for DOE), ineffectivenes and lack of participation in local democratic party, federal deficit. Who are your local officials and representatives? Does anyone in your group have connections to them?:The group encompasses people from two states and 4 counties (Delaware and Sullivan in NY and Pike and Wayne in PA). We have contacts with local reps. How will you build relationships with your representatives and let them know which issues are important to you?: We discussed infiltrating the local democratic committees. What are your local media outlets? Do you have any relationships with the local media?: We will contact the local newspapers including the River Reporter, Hancock Herald, Wayne Independent. We have relationships with them. How do you plan to publicize your actions and amplify your voices?: We will encourage members to invite new people to join. What will you do even before Barack Obama is President? Describe the service event your group has committed to before inauguration:
The group discussed two actions.
One involves publicising the existence of the local group as a conduit for communications of local issues to local representatives and the Obama organization. This entails distributing flyers, posters and links at local libraries to the group's blog and whatever other mechanism the Obama organization develops to funnel up communication. We encourage you to create such a system, through multiple online and offline media, to fulfill the promise of increased transparency and local democratic participation. The second event, potentially scheduled for 1/19 would be a celabaration of the innauguration in the courthouse square of Honesdale, the county seat of Wayne County.
Women's Weekend of Action Schedule Thursday, September 18th 4:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Women for Obama Statewide Phone Bank Night Join women supporters in your local field office to call undecided women. Find your local office Thursday, September 18th - Sunday, September 21st Women for Obama House Parties Hosted by women for women House Parties Thursday, September 18th The Hub Cafe (Rugby, ND) 215 Highway 2 SW 7:00 p.m. House Parties Friday, September 19th The home of Lois Schneider (Fargo, ND) 1117 3rd Ave S 5:00 p.m. House Parties Saturday, September 20th Campaign for Change HQ (Williston, ND) 205 Main Street 9:00 a.m. Home of Delcie Light (Devils Lake, ND) 2326 14th Ave SW 2:00 p.m. Home of Carolyn Nelson (Fargo, ND) 1 2nd St S Apt 5-402 3:00 p.m. Dan and Francoise Buchanan's Home (Jamestown, ND) 216 15th Ave NW 4:00 p.m. The Home of Sarah Vogel (Bismarck, ND) 1203 N 2nd St 4:00 p.m. House Parties Sunday, September 21st The Home of Carol Christianson (Bismarck, ND) 1731 Hamburg Dr 3:00 p.m. Wolf Residence (Minot, ND) 1420 78th St SE 4:00 p.m. Keeley House (Grafton, ND) 7187 Highway 81
Women's Weekend of Action Schedule
Thursday, September 18th 4:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Women for Obama Statewide Phone Bank Night Join women supporters in your local field office to call undecided women.
Find your local office
Thursday, September 18th - Sunday, September 21st Women for Obama House Parties Hosted by women for women
House Parties Thursday, September 18th
The Hub Cafe (Rugby, ND) 215 Highway 2 SW 7:00 p.m.
House Parties Friday, September 19th
The home of Lois Schneider (Fargo, ND) 1117 3rd Ave S 5:00 p.m.
House Parties Saturday, September 20th
Campaign for Change HQ (Williston, ND) 205 Main Street 9:00 a.m.
Home of Delcie Light (Devils Lake, ND) 2326 14th Ave SW 2:00 p.m.
Home of Carolyn Nelson (Fargo, ND) 1 2nd St S Apt 5-402 3:00 p.m.
Dan and Francoise Buchanan's Home (Jamestown, ND) 216 15th Ave NW 4:00 p.m.
The Home of Sarah Vogel (Bismarck, ND) 1203 N 2nd St 4:00 p.m.
House Parties Sunday, September 21st
The Home of Carol Christianson (Bismarck, ND) 1731 Hamburg Dr 3:00 p.m.
Wolf Residence (Minot, ND) 1420 78th St SE 4:00 p.m.
Keeley House (Grafton, ND) 7187 Highway 81
Join North Dakota Women's Weekend of Action Today!
So I've been watching the Democratic National Convention on C-Span every night, and I"m so happy to be a democrat. The speeches by Michelle, Hillary, and of course, VPCantidate Joe Biden. Last night was fabulous, and having Barack show up was phenomenal... I'm so glad he got the chance to see all of his delagates together, in one place, not to say that they won't be there tonight, but the intimacy of the Convention at the Pepsi Center is unlike anything. Sure, I'm not there, I don't really know that, but it's an atmosphere that can never be recreated, especially after just being nominated. and now, this night, the final night, is so exciting! I'm at a party at the Steelworkers local union hall, and we're having a "house party" they're welcoming us here... and it's so cool to be here, to be a part of this campaign... I'm signed up to do volunteer work, and I'm psyched.
More later, but this night is so amazing... I'm glad to share it with the entire country!
~E
I never thought I would be "politically active" (other than donated to Obama online), but tonight we're hosting a House Party for the Obama acceptance speech. This came about by talking to the Chase City Obama office manager who suggested it and then put my name in the online Obama network for this area. With Virginia being one of the battle ground states, we can expect more Obama offices to open and more knocks on our doors asking us to get involved in creating the country we want. We can expect more house parties.
You know, this message of Yes We Can is a deeply spiritual message that goes right to the core of our relationship with God and our self, a relationship that in our time is changing right beneath our feet. The existential question being asked is simple: are we the created or are we co-creators in this life we are all living? In other words, are we separate from God, just puppets in His show or some game of chance, or are we also the sleeping puppeteers who have unknowingly handed over the string of our life to our conditioned ego and social institutional powers? Do we have the power to create our world or are we just the created characters in some absurd play signifying nothing. Is our story given or can we write our own story? There are so many ways to frame the question but only one solution.
The fundamental message of Obama and his campaign is a spiritual one, a radical message when taken to the heart that awakens our souls and moves us to action. Yes we can take back America and our lives. Yes we can choose to be who we really are. Yes we can take affirmative action and change the stage of our play. We are the authors of our existence.
But for Obama and his message, this is not an intellectual belief, not an armchair philosophy; this is a belief with muscle. This is a faith with arms and feet and a voice. This election is a call to life and to reclaim our birth right of freedom from the frozen ideologies of the past.
So yes I'm excited about Obama, but not only for his personality, for his policies, and for his promise. I'm excited about Obama because I'm excited about our own freedom that Obama through his courage helps us get in touch with.
Jenny and I are hosting a house party in Grafton! Join us for wine, beer, coffee, snacks and (hopefully) some lively discussion about the Obama campaign.
When: Friday August 15, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Where: 261 W. Maple St. in Grafton
Look in the "Events" section to RSVP.
-Scott W.
I just recieve an email from Medhi Alhassani, the Regional Field Director for CD-5, about the organizational meeting to celebrate Barack's 47th birthday they held at the Campaign for Change office in Minneapolis.
There was great turnout for the meeting/party, just another sign that Minnesotans are eager for change, and ready to help make Barack Obama our next president.
Here's how Medhi described the night:
The party was a huge success. At the start of the event, people went around the room introducing themselves and saying each person would give Senator Obama for his birthday. Field Organizer Andy Holmaas said he wanted to give the Senator 47 voter registration cards for his birthday.By the end of the party he was at 44 but claimed he still had three hours to get the remaining three…he’s currently in the field trying to fulfill his promise. UPDATE [10:50 PM] Medhi just emailed me to say Andy called him... he hit 50 voter reg cards! One of the highlights of the evening was that the party was accompanied by local Jazz Legend “Cornbread” Harris. The 82 year old musician wants to do everything he can to help the Senator win and everyone enjoyed the rhythm he brought to the party. As in so many campaign events we’ve seen, the crowd was very diverse. A pastor from Fridley, some college students, to Southside Minneapolans- all coming together because they believe Senator Obama has the right judgment and message to bring about the change Americans are yearning for.
The party was a huge success. At the start of the event, people went around the room introducing themselves and saying each person would give Senator Obama for his birthday. Field Organizer Andy Holmaas said he wanted to give the Senator 47 voter registration cards for his birthday.
By the end of the party he was at 44 but claimed he still had three hours to get the remaining three…he’s currently in the field trying to fulfill his promise.
UPDATE [10:50 PM] Medhi just emailed me to say Andy called him... he hit 50 voter reg cards!
One of the highlights of the evening was that the party was accompanied by local Jazz Legend “Cornbread” Harris. The 82 year old musician wants to do everything he can to help the Senator win and everyone enjoyed the rhythm he brought to the party. As in so many campaign events we’ve seen, the crowd was very diverse. A pastor from Fridley, some college students, to Southside Minneapolans- all coming together because they believe Senator Obama has the right judgment and message to bring about the change Americans are yearning for.
Did you attend a House Party somewhere in Minnesota? Do you have a video or photo to share from a campaign-related event or grassroots activity? Share them with us!
Visit http://mn.barackobama.com/mnshare and tell us your story!
Right now I'm at one of the many Obama Birthday House Parties going on across the state.
So far, five neighborhood supporters are gathering, looking over a copy of Newsweek from 2005, which featured Barack on the cover. I'll have more in a few!
You still have time to find a local house party, click here to find the one nearest you.
I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Though meteorologists called for gloom, the sun peaked its head through the clouds and happily exposed itself, lifting my spirits as I called my two Republican friends to help me set up. Belle, Karen and Jen, two of whom had voted for George Bush, were on their way to my house to help me Unite Americans for Change. We set out shrimp cocktail and croissant sandwiches along with an assortment of sodas, and breathed a sigh of relief as we finished and the doorbell rang. At promptly 12:00 p.m. guests came rolling in, with big smiles and hellos, and even a few "YES WE CANS!" I put on a DVD of Barack's speeches while we ate and got to know one another. It's amazing what happens when people actually stop and take the time to say "hello" to their fellow American. Next, I told my story of why I am supporting Barack and Ryan (an Obama fellow who helped to run the event) shared his as well. We then let all who attended share why they were here. We were a group of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Catholic, white, latino, and black. Asians, sports fans, CEO's, and line workers.....Americans. Americans who all sat inspired and ready to get this country back on track. An investment banker at Merrill Lynch, who said he came because he was interested, but not a supporter, yet by the end of the meeting, he signed up to volunteer for Obama! A Republican who was worried about taxation from Dems, who stated that all her life she had voted 'Republican' yet after learning the truth on Obama's taxation policies that she would change this year. A Hillary supporter, as passionate about Universal Health Care as anyone I had ever met, who came because she believed that Obama would finally be the one to deliver it. From those who have been with the movement since Obama's Senate run in Chicago to those who just signed on with movement; through all our differences, sitting in my basement and out on the patio, there was so much more we had in common.
Obama's ideas for our country and message to Americans are attainable, doable, common sense policies that I know will help to turn this economy around. When people stop to listen and learn, not just vote a party, but voting from knowledge of proposals the choice is clear. We learned this day that your options this election are Obama's policies of new ideas to lower taxes for the working American, health care for every American, new jobs through energy independence. Or John McCain's policies that are the same Bush policies that have and will continue to destroy our economy, obliterate the middle class and increase poverty levels and therefor crime, while selling our country to China and Europe. As I said before, the choice if very clear for anyone willing to listen. Americans came to my home, every religion, race, class and age. They came to unite to make our country a better place for us and our children. Together we will.
