Hey, everyone,

Just saw this new app, called ask 500 people dot com. Looks like it’s still in beta. Beyond it being fun to play with, it seems like a great way for a campaign to gather views and maybe even make this site a little more sticky. I don’t think any of the other campaigns are using it yet. Don’t know how to contact the relevant members of John’s campaign, so I’m posting it here hoping they read it…

http://www.ask500people.com

I have nothing to do with the site.

Thanks,

Bill

Original post by Kent Snyder

I joined the John Edwards online campaign several weeks ago but only made my first contribution this morning. What did it? A feeling of inspiration- that a sea-change had begun and that now was the time to join in something I really believed.

John’s answers in the recent debate were inspiring and chart a clear course to the America I believe in– the America of the people.

There’s been a lot of talk in the media about “frontrunners” in this race. I wish this talk had less to do with some big narrative the media needs to spin to keep itself alive, less to do with money and perpetuating the status quo, and more to do with who is actually out in front, taking real stances and acting like the leader we need for this country.

This morning it became absolutely clear to me that this leader is John Edwards.

Original post by Kent Snyder

Dear friends,

The nursing shortage threatens to dismember the entire health care system.

Yes, the insurance companies and Hospital Corporations haven’t helped matters.  

But when the nurses are squeezed out of the equation because of mandatory overtime, disrespect, and a general disregard for our profession from Doctors,
(I am a nurse!!) then we as a society will have to face the consequences.

Naturally, life will go on.

But this is a problem that can be prevented.

Thank you John, for at least bringing the issue up for closer scrutiny.

http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com

Original post by Kent Snyder

An article in today’s, Oct. 31, 2007, Washington Post on Judge Mukasey states the following:  ”The nominee said it is ‘an open question’ whether a U.S. citizen seized on U.S. soil can be detained indefinitely after the president declares that he is an enemy combatant.  He also reiterated his view that the president can ignore surveillance laws if they infringe on his powers as commander in chief.” (see this statement in article  continued from front page of W.P. on page A8 the last column 3rd paragraph down)

This is much more important than Mukasey’s position on waterboarding.  It implies that any U.S. citizen can be deprived of all civil rights on the president’s say so.

Original post by Kent Snyder

Tomorrow, we celebrate the grand opening of our Idaho headquarters in Boise. In so many of the critical February 5th states like Idaho, there is tremendous grassroots energy on the ground, and we’re harnessing it with campaign infrastructure and organization.

I just spoke with TJ, an Air Force veteran and community leader in Boise — and one of our strongest grassroots organizers in Idaho — who’s helping with the big launch tomorrow. 

"He has such a strong presence here compared to the other candidates," says TJ. "We’ve had three official mock caucuses in different parts of the state and he’s won all three of those. Several state repreprentatives have come out publicly for Obama. And the grassroots presence is huge. We started organizing back in March as an group of volunteers who met on My.BarackObama.com, and since that time, we’ve indepedently collected over 500 people on our list." 

"It’s developed into something amazing here," says TJ.

Here’s TJ with Tim, Joey, and Kassie (from left to right) at Idaho HQ.

During the recent Canvass for Change, TJ and other canvassers distributed 2000 Obama brouchures which unfold into signs. "When we made our way back home," TJ recounts, "we saw so many of the houses that we had visited with the Obama signs in their windows."

TJ says Obama is generating so much enthusiasm because people in Idaho genuinely connect with his message of hope. "Obama represents hope. Public officials use that word loosely and so few actually represent it. But with Obama, hope actually means something to people. People here respect him for standing up to an unncessary war."

He also says Obama appeals to folks in this traditionally Republican state because they believes his election will help local candidates.

"Individuals here have been disappointed with our national representatives, who are all Republicans. It’s brought a lot of Independents and moderate Republicans to the Democratic Party," says TJ. "And people in Idaho realize that having Obama on the ticket is really going to help our local campaigns. He’s not divisive and he attracts Independents and Republicans, unlike some of the other candidates. I went to Idaho Falls recently — it’s one of the reddest cities in all of Idaho — and there alone we were able to get 30-35 people to attend an organizational meeting for Obama."

TJ believes that ordinary Idahoans can make a big impact in the election, especially since Idaho is a caucus state. "Once people understand what the caucus entails they’ll realize their vote counts a lot more. Also in Idaho all Independents, Republicans and Democrats can vote in the caucus. So people shouldn’t feel like they cant play a role just because they’re not Democrats. If you indentify with politics of hope, you can be a major stakeholder in the nomination process. This could be the state that puts him over the edge and sends the message that we’re not just a red state and that he crosses party lines."

For folks in the Boise area, head down to the office tomorrow

4346 W. Rose Hill
Boise, ID 83705
208-345-6210

And make sure to check out Idaho.BarackObama.com for events, news and to learn how you can make an impact in Idaho.

Original post by Sam Graham-Felsen

“‘Iowans are a lot better off by virtue of their being able to trade,’ Romney said. ‘They?re not better off when trade is not done in a level playing field.’”

Original post by Sam Graham-Felsen

"We were a very vocal group — there was a lot of unanimous clapping and standing up to cheer."

Just talked to Michelle, a teacher and one of the very active organizers of WNC For Obama (West North Carolina for Obama) who reports they had a great turnout last night for their debate watching party.  And they all agreed: Barack turned in an excellent performance. 

The WNC group meets every Tuesday at the Asheville Brewing Co., inviting any and everyone to come out, socialize and talk informally about Barack Obama.  So last night’s debate falling on a Tuesday worked out perfectly.  

"We had a lot of people wander over — some Obama supporters, some undecided — but everyone seemed very open to Barack."

The next debate is just around the corner — November 15 — so you can create your own debate watching party here, and start getting the word out now… 

Original post by Sarah Ramey

We’re now officially on the ballot here in South Carolina! Yesterday afternoon in downtown Columbia, Obama supporters from across the state rallied at the State House and marched to the South Carolina Democratic Party Headquarters.

The crowd was really fired up as we began our march with the sounds of the Columbia High School Marching Band leading the way.

We were met with a lot of fanfare by store owners and pedestrians as we marched down Main Street.

After arriving at the SC Democratic Party Headquarters, Chairwoman Carol Fowler thanked us for helping Barack put his name on the ballot. Chairwoman Fowler was so impressed by the crowd and the marching band that she joked that over the next four years she would work to ensure:

“…that in 2012, no one will be on the ballot if they don’t come with a marching band.”

.

The campaign held a voter registration drive and block party to cap the successful march and rally. Supporters and members of Columbia High enjoyed great food and several musical guests, such as The Elements.

.

Original post by Alex Baker, SC Obama Staff

• Sacramento’s KCRA interviewed Fred:
• Jonathan Martin:
  

  Also today — at a press avail before a fundraiser in California — Thompson asked, “Why aren’t they being apprehended and sent home if they come in and announce that they’re illegal?”

  “We’ve either got to be serious enforcing our laws or not. I don’t think we can afford to be selective in that regard.”

• The San Francisco Chronicle:
  

  Thompson also turned his attention to his possible Democratic rivals, especially front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has been pummeled repeated by the Republicans.

  Clinton was grilled at Tuesday’s Democratic debate about her past statements that giving driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants “made sense” - a statement she appeared to step back from.

  “It’s another example of dodging hard issues,” Thompson said. “She is taking the typical political position … that if you have got a lead in the polls, you tend to get real restricted in what you answer for fear you will make some kind of mistake, instead of saying what is in your mind and on heart. … She is trying to straddle the fence and be noncommittal.”

  “As far as I’m concerned, giving driver’s licenses to illegals is a bad idea for a lot of reasons,” he said.

• The Shooting Wire:
  

  Meanwhile, presidential hopeful Fred Thompson is making his bones with the firearms community. He has issued a statement regarding his position on the United Nations and their campaign to regulate “small arms” globally. We don’t have a favorite in the Republican primary candidates, but it would seem former Senator Thompson from Tennessee has taken a page from the playbook of another plain-spoken Tennessean Senator, Senator Davy Crockett.

• The Fishing Wire:
  

  Former Senator Fred Thompson and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney have also said they have reservations about the [Law of the Sea] convention. A Romney spokesman says he has concerns because of the granting of more power to “unaccountable international institutions.” Thompson is even further, saying flatly he opposes it because it “threatens U.S. sovereignty and gives a United Nations organization far too-much authority over U.S. interests in international waters.”

Original post by Sean

Questionable campaign contributions by DNA pioneer and racist Nobel laureate James Watson to Hillary Clinton and other Democrats leads to a quid pro quo earmark.

Original post by Kent Snyder