MoveOn.org in Bayside, CA

This afternoon I attended a MoveOn.org Party for Obama.  I was amazed to find 15 people as I entered the room all of whom were there to call and encourage people to help personally in many of the swing states.  We watched a video about how to call, did some practice work with a partner and then were off on our own with three pages of numbers and our cell phones.  We asked those that we called if they could help in their local Obama office going door-to-door or phoning next Saturday or Sunday.  We did find many who would help and directed them to the Obama office in their town.  Many were not home or their phones were answered with  a machine, but all in all it was a great experience to feel that you were a grass roots effort of many different kinds of Humboldt people all trying to make a difference in this election that is a turning point in our country's history. 

I will be phoning again the day before the election.  You too can help.  Come down to the Democratic office (5th Street between B & C in Eureka) starting at noon Saturday, Sunday or Monday of this next weekend and help us get out the vote. Call first 445-3366

Campaigning in Nevada

Three of us from Humboldt, Barb Carolyn, Cheryl Esparsa and myself, traveled down to Napa on 10/10 for an Obama campaign weekend.

Saturday morning, we joined some enthusiastic young people from Mike Thompson's office for a early morning ride to Fernley, Nevada where the Obama/Biden campaign has a headquarters. They gave us instructions and sent us off to walk the neighborhoods in pairs and convince the undecided to vote for Obama and the decided to vote early starting October 18th. As you can tell it was cold after the first snow in the Sierras and windy, but we walked a lot and that warmed us a little.  Sunday was warmer, but the "blocks" seemed longer.  After walking for 4 hours we began our journey back to Napa and then home to Humboldt the next day.

Thank you Mike Thompson's office for all your generosity to your Humboldt country cousins.  It was so much fun especially the great political discussions at dinner and the ride home.

Grandma went to Denver and we got these awesome t-shirts

My new grandbabies, Cecilia (left) and Lincoln (right) get ready for their first election!

Now the work begins

Thursday I planted a table at our local junior college - College of the Redwoods - and registered new and returning voters. Many young people wanted to know how to help. Some were interested in really finding out why they should vote for Obama/Biden. I had some good discussions and interesting inquiries. It was especially gratifying to register a first time voter who was a 21 year old. Three students had just turned 18 and were so happy I was there because they didn't really know how to get to the registrars in Eureka. I gave them a free bumper sticker for doing the right thing for their country. Milt - don't worry, I donated to the sticker fund for them.
Nevada is a state that could go either way. I think I'll travel there on the weekend of Oct. 17th and help the Obama campaign in Reno. Would anyone like to join me?
It is definitely time for a change!

Pictures From Around the Convention

Pink protesters for peace.
An interesting hat.
Stevie Wonder's hands on the key board as he entertained us.
The thousands (90,000) who enjoyed the positive vibes at Invesco Field
The last night at the Obama acceptance speech.
George Dukakis traveling through the crowd.
I meet Gavin Newsome.

Barack Obama - The next President of the U.S.A.

What a thrilling and hopeful night. Sitting with 3 Hillary delegates and a young first voter, each representing a different culture and different race, we held hands and marveled at how far we've come. Barach Obama represents that journey and speaks to all of us about how we must, together not divided, move toward the future, not the past, towards change, hope and policies that lift all of us, women,men, children, poor, middle class, rich, gay, lesbian, heterosexual, to a better life.
It was an inspiring speech an inspiring program and a wonderful night. I am coming home ready to work for his campaign and am asking all those who helped me with Hillary to help me work for an Obama/Biden ticket. You also need to know that she truly wants him elected and without him policies that she has worked so hard for concerning women and children's rights, education and universal health care will not come about. She spoke to her delegates in a special meeting and I came away truly convinced of her desire for us to follow her lead and support Barack Obama.
For those of you, like Den and I, who will be using Medicare or Social Security, you need to help me to. Obama and Biden will strengthen and repair (eliminate the donut hole) these helpful and even life saving programs. John McCain will privatize them which is a way of making us pay for all of those services and lead to large profits for drug companies and Wall Street investment firms.
You will be hearing from me soon. Go Obama/Biden!!

California's Vote

A couple people have been wondering about last night's vote and why California passed.

California has 441 votes and with that many cast at the beginning of the vote, many of the small states would not matter. We usually pass and let each state have a say and then come in at the end and put it over the top. This night, the point was to let Illinois (his home) put it over the top, but in a beautiful move to show unity, Illinois passed to New York to allow Hillary Clinton (one of their two Senators), to call for a unanimous vote for Barack Obama. The reason this was so important;
1) her supporters thought the roll call was being taken from her and a voice vote would be rammed through
2) her supporters petitioned to have a roll call vote as an honor to her and won one
3) knowing this, Hillary in an effort to show her support for Obama, moved for a voice vote
It was all brilliant.
Pam