Lawrence

We'll be at Free State this Tuesday night from 8 until 10. Ask for us at the front desk.

Here is part of Barack Obama's speech from today in Ohio:

In this election, we cannot afford the same political games and tactics that are being used to pit us against one another and make us afraid of one another. The stakes are too high to divide us by class and region and background; by who we are or what we believe.

Because despite what our opponents may claim, there are no real or fake parts of this country. There is no city or town that is more pro-America than anywhere else – we are one nation, all of us proud, all of us patriots. There are patriots who supported this war in Iraq and patriots who opposed it; patriots who believe in Democratic policies and those who believe in Republican policies. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America – they have served the United States of America.

It won’t be easy, Ohio. It won’t be quick. But you and I know that it is time to come together and change this country. Some of you may be cynical and fed up with politics. A lot of you may be disappointed and even angry with your leaders. You have every right to be. But despite all of this, I ask of you what has been asked of Americans throughout our history.

I ask you to believe – not just in my ability to bring about change, but in yours.

I know this change is possible. Because I have seen it over the last twenty-one months. Because in this campaign, I have had the privilege to witness what is best in America.

I’ve seen it in lines of voters that stretched around schools and churches; in the young people who cast their ballot for the first time, and those not so young folks who got involved again after a very long time. I’ve seen it in the workers who would rather cut back their hours than see their friends lose their jobs; in the neighbors who take a stranger in when the floodwaters rise; in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb. I’ve seen it in the faces of the men and women I’ve met at countless rallies and town halls across the country, men and women who speak of their struggles but also of their hopes and dreams.

I still remember the email that a woman named Robyn sent me after I met her in Ft. Lauderdale. Sometime after our event, her son nearly went into cardiac arrest, and was diagnosed with a heart condition that could only be treated with a procedure that cost tens of thousands of dollars. Her insurance company refused to pay, and their family just didn’t have that kind of money.

In her email, Robyn wrote, "I ask only this of you – on the days where you feel so tired you can’t think of uttering another word to the people, think of us. When those who oppose you have you down, reach deep and fight back harder."

Ohio, that’s what hope is – that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better is waiting around the bend; that insists there are better days ahead. If we’re willing to work for it. If we’re willing to shed our fears and our doubts. If we’re willing to reach deep down inside ourselves when we’re tired and come back fighting harder.

Hope! That’s what kept some of our parents and grandparents going when times were tough. What led them to say, "Maybe I can’t go to college, but if I save a little bit each week my child can; maybe I can’t have my own business but if I work really hard my child can open one of her own." It’s what led immigrants from distant lands to come to these shores against great odds and carve a new life for their families in America; what led those who couldn’t vote to march and organize and stand for freedom; that led them to cry out, "It may look dark tonight, but if I hold on to hope, tomorrow will be brighter."

That’s what this election is about. That is the choice we face right now.

Don’t believe for a second this election is over. Don’t think for a minute that power concedes. We have to work like our future depends on it in this last week, because it does.

In one week, we can choose an economy that rewards work and creates new jobs and fuels prosperity from the bottom-up.

In one week, we can choose to invest in health care for our families, and education for our kids, and renewable energy for our future.

In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo.

In one week, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once more choose our better history.

That’s what’s at stake. That’s what we’re fighting for. And if in this last week, you will knock on some doors for me, and make some calls for me, and talk to your neighbors, and convince your friends; if you will stand with me, and fight with me, and give me your vote, then I promise you this – we will not just win Ohio, we will not just win this election, but together, we will change this country and we will change the world. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America.

Hi. We will be at Free State Tonight from 8 until 10 p.m. Ask for us at the front desk.

I hope to see you there!

Don't forget that you can advance vote now at the Douglas County Courthouse (if you live in the county!).

Here a snippet from a KC Star article on why Colin Powell is endorsing Obama.

.... Powell replied that he was, then reminded viewers that he had known McCain for 25 years and had gotten to know Obama “quite well” over the last two years. “Either one of them, I think, would be a good president,” he said.

But Powell then added that he had begun to have doubts about McCain in the past two months. He said he found McCain’s response to the economic crisis “unsure.”

“Almost every day there was a different approach to the problem” from McCain, Powell said, “and that concerned me, sensing that he didn’t have a complete grasp of the economic problems that we had.”

McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate was also disconcerting, Powell said, “and raised some question in my mind as to the judgment that Senator McCain made.”

“I don’t believe she’s ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president,” Powell said.

“It isn’t easy for me to disappoint Senator McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that,” Powell said. “But I strongly believe that at this point in America’s history, we need a president that will not just continue — even with a new face and with some changes and with some maverick aspects — will not just continue basically the policies that we have been following in recent years.

“I think we need a transformational figure, I think that we need a president who is a generational change, and that’s why I’m supporting Barack Obama.”

Hi folks. Come out tonight and join us. We will be meeting at Vermont Street BBQ 728 Mass tonight from 8 to 10. 15% of all food and beverage receipts will go to the Lawrence Humane Society. Marilyn will have the necessary info to make that happen for us. I will call them and warn them we will be there.

See you tonight!

Phil

Reminder that early voting for the November 4 election (you know the one) begins in Douglas County on October 15th. Last day to register is October 20th.

Hi Folks. We won't be at Free State tonight. We'll be at Abe and Jake's.

Tonight is the 2nd debate. It should be a good one. I sure want to watch it. Abe and Jake's is hosting a debate watch party with Jim Slattery from 7 until 10. That is where I will be. For more event details look here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/debatewatchparty/gsh4ll

Alas they do not serve food. I think they are in the little pub.

I hope to see you there. I will try and get word to FSB to let them know where we'll be. It is unfortunate that they had a fire at their off-site brewing location. There was no impact to their downtown restaurant site.

It is somewhat disheartening to see the election begin to disintegrate into the negative blather from the republicans. This is from Dailykos.com:

The Dishonorable John McCain
by BarbinMD
Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 07:00:19 AM PDT
From FactCheck.org:

McCain-Palin ad distorts Obama's remark on Afghanistan and support for troop-funding bills.

Summary

A McCain-Palin ad calls Obama "dishonorable," while distorting his words and votes on troop funding.

The McCain-Palin campaign released the ad, titled "Dangerous," and said it would be televised nationally. It recycles a misleading, 14-month-old charge that Sen. Barack Obama disrespected U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan by accusing them of "just air-raiding villages and killing civilians." It also misrepresents votes in favor of withdrawing troops from Iraq as being votes "increasing the risk on their lives."

It's almost sad to see John McCain throw his character and honor under the bus like this...well, it's sad until you realize that he's done so by hurling lies, smearing others, and fostering an atmosphere of hate in a desperate attempt to save his failing campaign. And that's not sad, it's simply dishonorable.

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