"Build the Party"

A Call To End Our Culture War

Tim — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:19:28 EDT

No articles today. I usually have articles from the New York Times and more recently, the Huffington Post, but today, there is no need to use them for the motivation support.

I was in middle school and high school when George W. Bush was "elected" President. I remember the 2000 election like one would remember what age they had chicken pox.

After Bush was "elected," I really paid attention on how his policies, words, and actions played out for us as a country. How this "uniter" started the absolute, engraved -in-stone division of this country. Earlier, this country was considerably harmonious when it came to agreeing to disagree with each other. Since Bush took office, the division has led to countless battles on the homefront over every hot button issue this side of Baghdad.

I am not writing this to complain, I am writing this so the person we hope and will do our best to get elected will be aware of the work he has to do domestically with complete understanding and know the severity of the experience it has been if you have been a liberal, a Democrat, a pro-choice supporter, a pro-civil rights & liberties supporter, a human rights activist, and the list we all know have been considered the blacklist goes on. Not that I don't think Barack Obama doesn't understand this, it is just, as a direct beneficiary of the previous generation's legacy, I really hope that this gets worked on.

Here is why this needs to happen:

I don't like the idea that its okay that people my age and under are encouraged to be ignorant about politics by media sources and other modes of socialization. Just the other day I heard someone say : " George Bush is a great President. You could party with him" and I practically died a little inside and wanted to say something, but didn't.

I don't like the idea that because I disagree with Bush that I an considered a liberal nutjob who doesn't know what he is talking about. I don't like the idea that other people who think liberally regarding their politics are considered crazy because of it.

I don't like that it is okay to demean, debase, devalidate, and degrade human life if the person you are arguing with is a liberal Democrat, but seek high holy praise if you are a conservative Republican simply because your guy in in the office. And it even reflects itself in the media. "The View" for example: Bill Geddes donates a great chunk of his money to the Republican Party and has very close business ties to FOX News, Rupert Murdoch's love child. When Rosie O'Donnell was on, it wasn't because she had a new perception to bring to the table nor because she is a big name and would raise publicity for the show, but to purposefully make her look like a fool and make a liberal opinion look foolish to have in the first place. They are doing the same thing with Whoopi Goldberg now. It is hard for every liberal in this country since that asswipe took office.

Debate is healthy for a democracy, but recently the current trend is "agree with me or face the wrath of being demonized by me for disagreeing with me," which is EXTREMELY unhealthy. It's practically fascist when you think of it. It seems we can only have one opinion in America, and that is our President's opinion on things.

Now, its not that I haven't called for responsible accountability from others for these actions and words, but, I am almost ( and this is VERY sad) used to getting blamed for other people's words and actions against me than the ideal possibility. Why is it MY fault that YOU can't hold yourself accountable for YOUR negative words and actions against me? SERIOUSLY!

This is EXACTLY why I am asking for a call to end this culture war once and for all. It doesn't require a winner/loser end result, it doesn't require a treaty/negotiation, it doesn't call for the development of an organization with the original intention to stop war from happening ( like the U.N. take the hint). All it requires are enough voices that just say: " STOP!"

1. Tim Collingwood, Boston Heights, OH- "STOP!"

We need you!

Lincoln Park Dem — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:05:46 EDT

We have started a new group on the DNC Party Builder site for all grassroots organizers like you. We will be sharing info, flyers, helping each other with talking points and encouraging and sharing info to get on the phones, knock on doors and raise money to help Democrats win.

Organize your neighborhood. If you don't know how...we'll help you. You can do it on your own or we'll do our best to hook you up with Democrats in your area that could use your help.

We have less then 60 days left and need your ideas and help.

http://www.democrats.org/page/group/PartyBuilderVolunteerActionGroup

Can we put Palin to the side

DeeDee Obama-Biden 08 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:26:49 EDT

........

"Partisan Rancor" with a Side of Fries

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:11:39 EDT

As an English major, McCain could have had a better acceptance speech.

He thinks that if he borrows some of Obama's rhetoric and make it look like the Republican Party has truly been the oppressed party of the past 8 years and that George W. Bush, a self-defined Republican, doesn't have a negative legacy, even though Bush has a negative legacy and the Republican Party has been the OPPRESSOR party.

But, honestly, "partisan rancor?" It's like insulting somebody and saying that they were insulting you. At least Barack Obama stated our country's problem at little nicer, and a little less fear-mondering.

Honestly, his speech is as cheap as a McDonald's Happy Meal.

Seems Like Old Times

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:00:10 EDT

Was the song Diane Keaton as Annie Hall sang in the 1977 movie, Annie Hall. But, I am not here to talk about my favorite movies.

It does seem appropriate for what I am here to show you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM3oww9Vk-c

Seems the "party of change" is only the party that recycles already rotten tactics.

CHANGE

DeeDee Obama-Biden 08 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:16:01 EDT

The republicans are now trying to use "CHANGE" as McBush's theme...isn't it a bit too late to try and change the theme your campaign run on...... Beside what would you rather have OBAMA'S CHANGE...OR MCCAIN'S CHANGE

SHOW VISIBLE SUPPORT

marsha — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:46:15 EDT

I'm sure we all volunteer but, there is a simple thing we all can do....
WE NEED TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT!

Wear buttons!
Put up YARD SIGNS!
Use BUMPER STICKERS!
(Put them on the outside window, you can take it off with a razor-blade)

I drove to NC from Indiana on vacation and saw 2 McCain bumper stickers and about 10 Obama in 10 days... THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

I wore my button everyday and didn't see ONE other person doing that! THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

The general population needs to see that YOU, normal, good, nice, friendly, people support Barack.... then, when they ask you why, TELL THEM... IN YOUR OWN WORDS. This is as good as knocking on doors....
and you can do it anywhere, anytime. In the grocery, the gas station, the pizza restaurant... Show that you are a PROUD supporter!

OUR DIVERSITY IS AN ASSET, BUT WE HAVE TO SHOW IT!
People need to see that middle aged women support him, that people of all ages, not just the young, support him. Supporters are of all colors and creeds, of all religions and sexual orientations.

It is so simple, and will offer you the opportunity of gaining voters for our cause without saying a word... Just be the nice caring people you are and others will take note.

IT WILL TAKE US ALL TO WIN THIS!
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

People will follow a winner... the more support they see the more it will snowball. We can battle media imbalance in this way...

WE HAVE TO WIN THIS...OUR COUNTRY AND OUR CHILDRENS' FUTURE IS AT STAKE.

Feel free to reuse this post anywhere! Get the word out!

peace,
marsha

One blog at a time....

Cactus Wren - FIRED UP to take on McBush! — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:49:51 EDT

So good to see the PB Blog returning to it's old vitality! I have been lurking, but have also been overworking a bit, and only have had time for one blog...posting on my O'site, when I can.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/AZKiki

You are all essential - watching the RNC convention was a great picture of what most country clubs, but few communities, look like.

Let's get this done!

The Facts vs. Sarah Palin

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:35:58 EDT

Surprisingly borrowed from the Associated Press:

PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."

PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform â€" not even in the state senate."

THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."

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

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

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

MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.

THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state â€" by population.

MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.

THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.

FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."

THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right â€" change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington â€" throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."

THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.

Please Note: The facts aren't "borrowed" from the AP, although they did come in the form of an article within the AP

Fine Posts IMHO

marsha — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:24:22 EDT

For those with limited time, (like me), to read through all the posts..
These are a few of the fine posts, now buried, I have read today.
Sorry, I can't get the HTML editor to work today.

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/
post/rjsnj/CCqm

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/
post/leefiore/CCq7/commentary#comment-gG5vPn

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/
susangordon/CCvt

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/
post/UnitedWeStandTogether/CCvR

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/rjsnj/CCvy

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/
MattBlankenship/CCrl

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/
elizabethberry/CCrf

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/
leefiore/CCv7/commentary#comments

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/
post/UnitedWeStandTogether/CCv8

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/
post/UnitedWeStandTogether/CCvf

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/
post/gretchenweisselliot/CCqT

peace,
marsha

Poll: 51 percent say reporters are trying to hurt Palin

DeeDee Obama-Biden 08 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:33:30 EDT

Over half of U.S. voters (51%) think reporters are trying to hurt Sarah Palin with their news coverage, and 24% say those stories make them more likely to vote for Republican presidential candidate John McCain in November. Thirty-nine percent (39%) also believe the GOP vice presidential nominee has better experience to be president of the United States than Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. But 49% give Obama the edge on experience, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken before Palin's historic speech Wednesday night to the Republican National Convention. While Republicans and Democrats predictably favor their party's candidate by overwhelming margins, the experience gap among voters unaffiliated with either party is even narrower than the national totals. Forty-two percent (42%) say Obama has better experience to be president, but 37% say Palin does. The potential problem for Democrats is that Obama, the junior U.S. senator from Illinois and a former state legislator, is the party's standard-bearer, while Palin, an ex-mayor and now governor of Alaska, is number two on her party's ticket.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20080904/pl_rasmussen/palinmedia20080904

Colorado Surpasses the Goal

Jan CO — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:34:46 EDT

Dear Jan --

In the four days after Barack's acceptance speech in Denver, supporters like you helped us far surpass our goal of registering 4,000 new voters as Part of the Campaign for Change's 4K in 4 Days challenge.

With help from Forward Colorado volunteers, we beat our goal and registered more than 5,500 new voters. Supporters like you proved that when faced with a tough task, we can succeed by coming together and working hard for change.

As our momentum continues to build, Coloradans are more excited than ever to help Barack this November.

But you don't have to wait until Election Day to cast your vote for change -- there's a simple way you can take action right now to show your support for Barack.

Apply for a mail-in ballot and help Barack succeed in Colorado.

Mail-in ballots are the easiest way to vote for Barack and Democrats up and down the ballot who are working to bring change to Colorado.

The process is simple, and voting by mail will guarantee that you'll be able to volunteer on the most important day of this campaign -- Election Day, November 4th.

When you apply for a mail-in ballot, you'll also have the opportunity to make sure your voter registration is up-to-date. But the deadline is barely one month away, so you need to request your ballot now.

The Colorado Campaign for Change has all the resources you need to apply for a mail-in ballot, and staff can answer any questions you have about the process.

Make your voice heard today and apply for a mail-in ballot:

http://co.barackobama.com/COmailin

Thanks,

Kevin

Kevin Puleo
Field Director
Colorado Campaign for Change

P.S. -- Our 4k in 4 days challenge was a great success, but we need to keep building our movement. Registering new voters is an easy and rewarding way to get active with the campaign in your community. Join us:

http://co.barackobama.com/COregister

Visit: CO.BarackObama.com | Email: Colorado@BarackObama.com

"Washington Elite"

Tim — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:40:37 EDT

I just read from the Huffington Post about Palin's acceptance speech, and, honestly, what nerve has she to call Barack Obama and other Democratic leaders in government the "Washington elite?"

What does the elite look like to you Sarah?

I had no idea that people who lost their homes to foreclosure; workers who lost their jobs to outsourcing; families who lost their families to the war in Iraq AND returning veterans who go homeless AND wounded veterans with poor health care to handle the readjustment; people who get arrested without a warrant and call for habeas corpus for politics and just to get inhumanely tortured; women who want the right to make reproductive choices without resorting to a back alley abortion or a wire hanger; GLBT Americans who want hate crime legislation enacted; people who want civil rights and liberties preserved and maintained rather than disregarded for the sake of "protection"; and the list gets longer. I had no idea Palin considers a majority of Americans and the people who honestly stand up and DO THEIR JOBS and represent their constituents are the "elite."

Governor Palin, just look in the audience you are speaking too. Look at those rich, white faces. Have you ever noticed that the audience at the Republican National Convention looks like they are at a business convention? I guess there is a reason why they call it the RNC.

Gov. Palin,

Look at yourself. You are an eltist because you cater to a party that only cares about 1% of America, and tries to keep the rest of us in line by scaring ourselves out of our freedoms and rights.

Sarah,

You are a member of the Washington Elite. Stop peddling that reality into a party that has nothing to do with your group!

60 DAYS

DeeDee Obama-Biden 08 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:02:33 EDT

The Next President and Wife, Vice President and wife Of The United States Of America.....who cares what the media say

TALK ABOUT UNITY

DeeDee Obama-Biden 08 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:34:06 EDT

While Republicans pow-wowed in St. Paul, supporters of Ron Paul threw their own party in neighboring Minneapolis.

Texas. Rep. Ron Paul kicked off his political action group Campaign for Liberty at Tuesday's rally.

"Freedom brings people together," Paul said before a sold-out crowd at Tuesday's Rally for the Republic. var CNN_ArticleChanger = new CNN_imageChanger('cnnImgChngr','/2008/POLITICS/09/02/paul.convention/imgChng/p1-0.init.exclude.html',1,1); //CNN.imageChanger.load('cnnImgChngr','imgChng/p1-0.exclude.html');

Paul, who said he entered the presidential race reluctantly, told the roaring audience, "I lost my skepticism. I hope you lost your apathy."

As the congressman stepped on stage, red, white and blue confetti fell from the ceiling during a two-minute standing ovation.

Paul said he entered the presidential race not because of what he wanted to do but because of what he did not want to do.

"I did not want to run people's lives. I did not want to run the economy and I did not want to run the world. I didn't have the authority to do it, and I didn't have the Constitution behind me to do it," said Paul, who has served in the House of Representatives for more than 30 year

TALK ABOUT UNITY>>>>>

POW Brother States " John Not Cut Out"

Tim — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:00:44 EDT

I understand how close our troops might be with each other, like brothers and sisters.

And, even though we all know McCain's POW story inside and out, it is kind of well....interesting that a former POW that McCain knew in Vietnam states this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjsEs46C70

Makes you question his leadership abilities, doesn't it?

What's the prize Fred?

JESSICA "The Glamorous Democrat" — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:48:21 EDT

I sit here and grind my teeth and listen to the lies that Fred Thompson and the RNC are trying to force the bright and knowledgable people of this to country believe.
Do they really think that anyone...other than the lack luster people sitting in that audience, will believe any of it?
So I ask Former Senator and might I add much better actor than I thought Mr. Thompson, We are winning the war are we?
Well whats the prize dumb@$$?

Any one know what he thinks?

Obama's resume vs Palin's resume ~ Had to do it

Wendy ~Democrat For Life — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:58:06 EDT

1980 - 1984
Obama: B.A. in political science with a specialization in international relations from Columbia University.

Palin: Wasilla High School, captain of the state-champion basketball team.
Miss Wasilla, runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant, also Miss Congeniality, although that is now disputed.

Him: Ivy League degree. Her: tiara.

1985 - 1990
Obama: moved to Chicago; became a community organizer as director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based community organization on Chicago's far South Side. During his three years as the DCP's director, its staff grew from 1 to 13 and its annual budget grew from $70,000 to $400,000, with accomplishments including helping set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization.

Moved to Boston to attend Harvard Law School. Selected as an editor and then elected president of the Harvard Law Review, a full-time volunteer position functioning as editor-in-chief and supervising the law review's staff of 80 editors.

Palin: Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism, with a minor in political science from the University of Idaho. Brief stint as a sports reporter for local Anchorage television stations; left to join her husband in commercial fishing.

Him: sterling legal education.
Her: sportscaster.

1991 - 1995
Obama: graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School; received contract and advance to write a book ("Dreams from my Father") as well as a fellowship at the University of Chicago Law School. Directed the Illinois Project Vote from April to October 1992, a voter registration drive with a staff of 10 and 700 volunteers that achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state, leading Crain's Chicago Business to name Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be. Appointed as a Lecturer in constitutional law at the University of Chicago. Joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a 12-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development. Active in several community organizations, usually as a board member.

Palin: member of the Alasaka Indepence Party which advocates "Alaska First". Elected to Wasilla city council.

Him: Expert on our nation's fundamental legal principles.
Her: plotted to leave the Union; thinks Pledge of Allegiance was written by our founding fathers.

Obama's statement "families off limits"

Wendy ~Democrat For Life — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:25:25 EDT

THIS IS WHY I CHOOSE THE WONDERFUL, CLASSY MAN TO BE MY PRESIDENT.

MONROE, Michigan (CNN) â€" Barack Obama told reporters firmly that families are off-limits in this campaign, reacting to news that Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter is five months pregnant

“Let me be as clear as possible,” said Obama, “I think people’s families are off-limits and people's children are especially off-limits This shouldn't be part of our politics It has no relevance to Gov Palin’s performance as governor, or her potential performance as a vice president”

Obama said reporters should “back off these kinds of stories” and noted that he was born to an 18 year-old mother

“How a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn't be the topic of our politics and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that’s off-limits”

The Illinois senator became aggravated when asked about rumors on liberal blogs speculating that Palin’s fifth child - Trig - is actually her daughter Bristol’s A Reuters report Monday quotes a senior McCain aide saying that Obama’s name is in some of posts, “in a way that certainly juxtaposes themselves against their 'campaign of change,’”

“I am offended by that statement,” Obama shot back, not letting the reporter finish his question “There is no evidence at all that any of this involved us”

“We don’t go after people’s families,” Obama said “We don’t get them involved in the politics It’s not appropriate and it’s not relevant Our people were not involved in any way in this and they will not be And if I ever thought that there was somebody in my campaign that was involved in something like that, they’d be fired”

Help on Signs

! Bob M. Obama-Biden South Texas! — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 12:57:37 EDT

We need some information here in South Texas from those of you who may have experience to share. A group of us are trying to collect money to buy some Obama or Obama/Biden signs to put along roadsides and on fences at strategic locations. Most of what I have been able to find are the small yard signs and we want to get 48" x 48" signs to put up.

Our high winds tend to tear up anything less sturdy than the corrugated plastic type. The National party has us either at the bottom of the list or off the list for such signs, but we still plan to turn the state blue again. We feel that Obama can turn out enough voters to counter the Republican majority in my area if we get everyone out to vote. We are also putting up signs for Rick Noriega for US Senate and Juan Garcia for our State Rep. We have plenty of signs for those candidates.

Can anyone tell me a good printshop that makes or has made OBAMA 2008 signs and hopefully is also union? We want to buy union if we can. We are currently putting together the nickels, dimes and dollars that will be necessary.

If you can send me to someone, or better yet know someone with an excess of signs I would appreciate it. Most emphasis from the campaign is to our south in the Rio Grande valley because there are a million votes down there. We need to get this area going too. Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Portland, Aransas Pass, Rockport, Sinton, Ingleside, Victoria and many more cities and towns are positioned to turn our state lesislature blue and change the US Senate as well.

I would live your feedback because there is no need to re-invent the wheel if someone else already has a good supplier with print ready graphics.

Thanks,

Bob