I have just finished reading a book...Obamanomics by John R Talbott. It is an excellent explanation of the current economic mess and what Obama will do if he can when he is President. I hope that some of you will read it and record your thoughts about the book.

Marsha alerted me to a problem connecting to Obama's transition site...Change.gov. I checked the problem out and the link as it has been transmitted by Podesta and others adds a // in the middle of the URL. So, you have to type in the address box....http://www.change.gov.
I have not tried to post a comment on the blog there, but if any one else does try and has problems...please let me know or let the Obama Transition team know... -Lee

I was watching Bill Moyer's Journal last night and his featured guest(whose name I can't recall...) was discussing the sources of our food. It is an important issue and touches on everything else which is so important...health, energy use, global warming, the economy, national security...in essence, everything is really interconnected. Barack seems to be leaning toward a man who is in the pocket of Agribusiness. This is not good and a bit disturbing. Check out Bill Moyer's Journal at pbs.org.

SPREAD THE WEALTH, REBUILD AMERICA
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Posted by Jim Hightower

When Barack Obama said, "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody," John McCain and his right-wing chorus blew a gasket and threw a hissy fit. He's a socialist, a Marxist, a "redistributionist" they screeched!

Obviously, they were more upset than the electorate was. Indeed, I think your average working stiffs perked up, high-fived one another, and said, "Oh, yeah â�" it's time to spread the wealth." After all, for the past three decades, Washington has been busily redistributing our wealth upward to the richest one percent of Americans.

Using everything from tax giveaways to trade scams, they've shoved practically all of the economic gains that everyone helped produce up to those at the top. Now, the top-heavy "tinkle-down" economy they created is crashing, bringing down the housing market, Wall Street banks, and a host of industries.

Of course, Washington reacted by rushing to bailout the bankers and the speculators who caused the crash. That hasn't seemed to benefit anyone but â�" surprise! â�" the elites. So, yeah, let's spread the wealth into the grassroots economy, so ordinary workaday folks can lift our country up.

One way to do this is with a massive, nationwide "Rebuild America" program, similar to what Obama has proposed, only bigger and bolder. Let's enlist millions of Americans to repair our deteriorating roads, bridges, schools, parks, etc. â�" while also developing conservation programs, solar and wind power, plug-in hybrid cars, high-speed trains, and other essentials for a new green economy.

Yes, this will be costly, but â�" unlike the gabillion dollar giveaway to Wall Street hucksters â�" this is a sensible investment that'll produce tangible results for every American and restore our nation's economic strength. Think about it: Money is like manure â�" it only works if you spread it around.

Lee ;-)((fist bump))
I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours.-Barack Obama

I really enjoy Jim Hightower's perspective. I used to live in Texas (1980-85) and actually voted for the man! You can check out more by Jim at www.hightowerlowdown.com.

REAL CHANGE DEPENDS ON US
Monday, November 10, 2008
Posted by Jim Hightower

Obama elected! Job done, right?

Uh� not quite. If last week�s sweeping vote for change is to mean anything substantive, We The People have stay alert and on the move. And the job begins now.

Like fresh-poured concrete, the shape of Obama�s presidency is going to set up quickly, and we can�t be lulled into thinking that casting a ballot is all that democracy requires of us. Now is not the time to crank back in our La-Z-Boys, trusting Obama to do the heavy lifting for us. Wall Street, the war machine, Republican Congress critters, weak-kneed Democrats, and other powerful forces of business-as-usual policies will be all over him. These insiders intend to shape him in their mold.

We have to be the counter force â�" an aggressive and vociferous Loyal Opposition pushing insistently and persistently from the outside. We must stand up and speak out on every move the insiders make; we must propose and propel progressive ideas and ideals; and we certainly must expose and vigorously oppose any capitulations that heâ��ll be pressured to make to the corporate powers. If his presidency is to be worthy of the deep potential of this political moment in our history, you and I have to step up.

Itâ��s real change weâ��re after, a fundamental shift in national direction and policy: Get our troops and our national reputation out of Iraq, provide good health care for all, end â��tinkle downâ�� economics, reign in corporate greedheads, reinvest in Americaâ��s infrastructure, deal with global warming, no more torture, get serious about green energy, restore our stolen liberties â�" and generally reinstate the Common Good as our nationâ��s governing ethic.

Obama himself has often said that he is not the change, we are. Through him, we opened the White House door to the possibility of change last Tuesday. Now, we must see it through.   Read More »

Hi everyone...I just started a new group, The Next Four Years. Now that Barack Obama is our new president on Jan. 20, 2009, I feel it is important that we continue the discussion on the issues and how you feel they should be addressed. I invite you to join this group and let the discussion begin!

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. -Alexander Graham Bell

   Read More »

I attempted a copy and paste to 'We did it!' forgetting that I did the body of the message first and the signature second...so, here is the body of the message I intended to have in 'We did it!'.

We did it!

Barack stepped up and asked for our help and we answered the call. I am so happy that this campaign has succeeded …this movement, as Bill Schneider of CNN put it. This movement has opened up a dialogue among people who held similar views and concerns who were not speaking to each other. We united and spoke not only to each other, but also to those who tried to suppress our voices. But the work (and we have put in so much work already) has only just begun. There is so much to work on…

 The Economy
 Fix our crumbling infrastructure
 Quality healthcare for all
 Ending outsourcing of jobs
 Ending our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels in general
 Development and implementation of truly alternative energy sources-solar, wind, hydro and biofuel
 Working on global warming
 Improving our image abroad-engaging in diplomacy…not unilateral military action…getting out of Iraq…targeting real terrorism
 More fairness in the tax burden to all
 Revoke the PATRIOT Act and restore privacy

These issues/priorities are all interrelated. The economy can not stay balanced when you cut the revenue coming in and increase spending at the same time. The incursion into Iraq is costing $10 to $12 billion a month and this does not count Afghanistan or the $$$ sent to terrorist nation for oil imports. The threat of terrorism, increase in global warming and its terrible impact on all of us (the world) is heightened due to our reliance on fossil fuels. Development and implementation of truly alternative energy lessens the effects of global warming, lowers the threat of terrorism, and helps to create jobs here that will help our economy. Fixing our crumbling infrastructure helps us to live better and safer and again, provides jobs. We can not continue to have jobs outsourced to other countries because it is cheaper for the corporations without regard for the citizens of this country. Also, large corporations and the truly wealthy need to pay their fair share of taxes and not put the burden on the faltering middle class and middle income folks. Quality healthcare for all…it makes for a better quality of life, we are happier and healthier and able to do more. We feel less threatened and more secure. If all of this can be accomplished, then our government will not need to spy on and keep such close tabs on us citizens. We will be happier, more secure and less afraid.

For the first time in a long time, I am proud to be a citizen of the United States of America and am PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

Lee ;-)((fist bump))
I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours.-Barack Obama

What can I say? I voted for Obama and then practically held my breath as the results came in. I watched with 2 friends and we had major sugar highs...we ate candy pumpkins every time Obama won a state...and also, when a new Dem senator was announced. I do not want to look at candy for the rest of the week!!! Of course, I am still wondering about Al Franken in Minn....that race is so close. I watched everything and went to bed late...I am so tired....but so happy and relieved. I think we have a chance to really change and fix this country...our economy...and achieve real peace and more fairness in the world.

Yet another Republican has endorsed Obama....William Weld, former Republican governor of MA! If McCain is declared the winner on Nov. 5 or later....it will be yet another stolen election.

I check out the McCain website every now and again and discovered that he now has something called 'McCain Space'...and while I was volunteering at the local Obama HQ, I mentioned it to a college student also volunteering. I checked it out and it seems like a silly and late imitation of this site and MyBarackObama. The student pointed out it was started with less than 100 days til Nov. 4 and that when people first went to sign up for a 'McCain Space' that the interface to actually sign up was non-existent. CNN featured this...I don't know how I missed it...but, I find it most interesting. First, McCain steals Obama's slogans....now, his web presence and flubbed up there too!

I was playing a game...and a bit of news came on the site....Sarah Palin at a rally citing how she and John McCain are standing with "Joe the plumber" and..."Ed the dairyman". Has anyone else heard this and who is "Ed the dairyman'?

was very pleasantly surprised at Powell's endorsement of Obama. I like the way he explained his decision...it is a reasoned and lucid one. I suspect that only those who have decided that they hate Obama(for whatever the real reason...)are still voting for McCain.

Lee ;-)((fist bump))
I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours.-Barack Obama