RENObama! Blog

What You Have Done

2008-11-03T19:16:00.000-08:00

Dear RENObamans,

The battle ahead will be long. But always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change."

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we've been told that we're not ready, or that we shouldn't try, or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes we can.

-Barack Obama, 8 January, 2008

On the threshold of the 2008 presidential election, on a night when few of us will sleep soundly for the thrill and excitement of the final arrival of this day, let's take a look back over our nearly two years of the activism in which you have been engaged.

Reno was put on the national map of "draft Obama" sites in December of 2006. RENObama! began taking shape in the first week of 2007 as we joined the national movement to support Barack Obama for president. We held our first meetings in mid-February of 2007. By April we had weekly "Why Obama?" meetings at Washoe Dems HQ. On the summer solstice of 2007 you and I sponsored the first public mock caucus in Washoe County, at Washoe Dems. A few weeks later we ran the first mock caucus at Obama HQ in Reno where we introduced a down-and-dirty mock caucus style that got us in-and-out the door in 40 minutes with few questions called the "real-time mock caucus."

RENObama! members attended the the Washoe Dems Leadership Academy. We began walking our precincts as early as March 2007.

You sponsored booths at Cinco de Mayo and Riverfest. RENObama! members sat under the tent talking to folks about Obama, showing videos and signing hundreds of volunteers up. We took in hundreds of dollars over the six days across both events. Our engagement with the Senator was contagious.

We helped ignite a firestorm in Washoe County.

We raised funds, we knocked on doors, we became precinct captains, we canvassed, we called, we brought food to the staff and volunteers at HQ, we ran food drives, we attended meetings and special events, we met Michelle and we met Barack. We gave up the holiday season in 2007 to attend or lead mock caucuses. We learned the ropes and took the reins on 19 January as we lead precinct caucuses across northern Nevada as chairs, secretaries and support staff. In some precincts some of us performed all three roles.

Our activism paid off on 19 January 2007. By 1:00p it was clear that Barack Obama supporters had stormed Washoe County, beating Clinton supporters in the precinct caucus by 9%, the same number Barack had won in Iowa two primaries earlier. Northern Nevada counties swung strongly for Obama with the pinnacle in Elko and Esmerelda counties where Obama supporters in our sister group "ELKObama" turned the county out for Obama by 70%.

Obama won the state of Nevada on caucus day, though it took more than a month to get that across to the pundits. It was Northern Nevada that swung the state's national delegate count 12 for Clinton and 13 for Obama.

On January 19th, 2008, a northern Nevada myth was shattered: that Elko was a bastion of ultra-conservative racists. No longer.

Washoe County was now on the O map. Barack mentions Elko in speeches to this day.

For the next 4 months members of RENObama! worked hard making calls to other states and even traveling for the campaign and writing letters to the Sparks Trib, the Nevada Appeal and the RGJ. Lots of hand-wringing, nail biting and gnashing of teeth ensued in the spring, but we stayed together as a group and stayed engaged with the battle through the long primary season.

In February we were the organizers of the Obama presence at the Washoe County Democratic Convention. We developed an online collaborative space to get people organized for the convention while the campaign was off in other states.

At the county caucus Obama supporters swung his lead among Washoe County Dems by nearly 20% while Hillary's support in WaCo remained unchanged from the caucuses at 41%. Our movement was growing and our hard work over the previous year's time was paying off in a big way.

Because of record turnout for the Nevada State Democratic Party convention driven by the emergence of our movement for change, the Democratic Party moved the state convention from early April to May. This time we opened up our real-time collaboration of shared spreadsheets, docs and discussion lists to the grassroots members of the O campaign throughout the entire state of Nevada.

RENObama! members stepped up to the task of connecting hundreds from other counties to find homes in Washoe to stay in for the convention as gas prices spiked and transportation costs went through the roof. We opened our homes, and in some cases even our pantries to our rural and Clark County guests.

"Looks like all your hard work paid off," wrote Chris Wicker, the county Democratic chair and chair of the Dem state convention of RENObama! the day after the convention. "Washoe was the most pro Obama caucus in the state."

Over the spring, RENObama! members never let up. Breather? For whom? We put on an event in conjunction with UNR's Students for Obama, "OBAMA DAY in RENO!" with northern Nevada's best speakers, singers, elected officials, which ended in a shout out of "Yes we can!" heard round the country and a phonebank to states still in the primary phase.

While we waited for the campaign to return to the county we continued to keep engaged in lively discussion on strategies for the next steps. On our Website we created a compendium of photo and video galleries for all to share their images in one place. We created forums for further strategies, all the while our Website funneled people to BarackObama.com and raised funds for the campaign. Our primary monetary goals were bested by nearly 20%.

As the primary season drew to an end, RENObama! members turned to new Democratic Party voter registrations. First lead by Amy Curtis-Webber of the Democratic Party and then taken over by members of the campaign staff as they trickled back to NV.

For the National convention, members planned trips as volunteers for the Obama campaign in Colorado. Through them and through RENObama! member and national delegate Xiomara Rodriguez, we were all there in Denver as she and other volunteers posted text and photos live from Denver to the RENObama! blog.

The next two short months were to see an unprecedented amount of grassroots activism in Washoe County resulting in more Democratic voter registrations for the first time in decades. The success of the registration campaign was overwhelming as the Registrar of Voters announced on 14 October that Washoe was now a blue county.

Since the close of voter registration two weeks ago, you and I turned to getting out the early vote. On the first day of early voting we created "the Vote of Your Lifetime" marches through downtown to deliver fliers to homes and proclaim to passers by along the way that early voting had begun. On that day many of us thrilled to cast our vote, finally, for the first President of the World, Barack Obama. Later that day we learned of the loss of one of Washoe Counties newest activists, Dewey Swensen, who passed away while pounding the pavement for Barack that day, his first day committed to acting for the change that we are all a part of.

And get out the vote we have. Nearly 60% of expected turnout has already voted. In my precinct it's 87% who have already voted.

Which brings us all to the threshold of this election. This very night, where within 24 hours our state director of the campaign, Terence Tolbert, and Barack's grandmother, Toot, passed from this world, we wait the will of the people of the United States. Though we have tasks tomorrow, we have done our work: you and I have witnessed to our belief in the movement for change set in motion by our leader and inspiration Barack Obama and his lovely family, especially Michelle who still brings tears to Mom's eyes after they spoke at length when she visited during Hot August Nights, 2007.

Thank you, all of you, you who are RENObama! for coming along on this journey with the rest of the people in this country and indeed the world who root for Obama's presidency. Our presidency.

Though we stand and metaphorically pause in this 24 hours, our hard work over these many months has given us none other than "hope" that in the next day's time Obama will be our president and we will soon see the closing of the calamitous mistake that is the illegal prison at Guantanamo Bay. We will soon see a statement of intent that disavows the use of waterboard torture at our national embarrassment in Iraq, the Abu Ghraib prison and those like it across that decimated land. We will see a drawing down of the war on Iraq and a building up the green energy economy, I, for one, have waited exactly 20 years to see come about. We hope to see a constitutional lawyer sitting in the Oval Office who will review all directives from the previous administration line by line and restore the rights of liberty that have been hampered by the failed Presidency of George W. Bush and his neocon cronies Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Scooter Libby, Perle, Wolfowitz and Card.

We, you and I, see great things coming. From our hands.

I expect a tsunami in favor of Barack Obama in the next 24 hours.

But if the tables and the tide turn against us we have this as our solace. The country and the world have changed around us. Our actions have allowed us to speak from the heart to hundreds of people: our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, grocery clerks, mail deliverers, pedicurists, dog shampooers and nearly everyone with whom we come in contact.

This movement for change has just begun. And there's no turning it off or back. It has only one trajectory: forward.

Whether we will continue our work under President Obama or we remain committed under Senator Obama: because of your actions over the past two years, life in these United States has forever altered. For the better. For the best. Because of you.

At the end of this general election we are 466 members. Cumulatively we hosted 1867 events, attended 6354 more, made 34,520 phone calls, knocked on 343 doors, posted 34,448 blog entries, and raised an astonishing $95,075.94.

These are the figures on the affinity group page, but we all know that they, if anything, are low. We knocked on more doors in the primary season alone.

Our hard work over these many months has paid off time and time again.

As my 88-year-old WWII ARMY Nurse Corps Veteran Mom wrote as her favorite motto on her O.com profile on 3/15/07, after she excitedly switched from supporting Richardson after seeing an Obama interview on TV, "Be prepared. Then, forward!"

Peace, my RENObama family.

-Billy

Dr King once said that the arc of a moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. It bends towards justice.

But here's the thing.

It does not bend on its own.

It bends because each of us, in our ways, put our hand on that arc and we bend it in the direction of justice. Because we organize and we mobilize, we march, we vote."

-Barack Obama, April 9, 2008. On the anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

American Stories, American Solutions - Obama's 30 minute message to YOU!

2008-10-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

BARACK IS BACK!

2008-10-28T00:31:00.000-07:00

Of course he never went away, but the stirring speeches of the primary where we sometimes were reduced to deep sobbing at "OUR time for change has come," and "WE are the ones we've been waiting for," had given way over the summer to political speeches highlighting differences in issues of the day and, sadly, fighting back against the out-and-out fabrications and name calling from the McCain-Palin camp.

But today, in Canton, Ohio, the Barack of January 2008 is back. The memorable speech on the win of the Iowa caucus that began, "They said... They said... They said this day would never come" was harkened back to today. The even more powerful speech on the night of the second primary in New Hampshire which he narrowly lost was harkened back to today.

The campaign may be calling this the "closing argument," but many of us know this is just the beginning of the commitment all of us have made to our movement for change that Barack Obama is leading us into. Though people have been joining our movement in droves over the past two years and it seems like a lifetime time has passed, we must do all we can to have this movement continue to be lead from the White House. Even if Barack were to lose, we would continue the work to help each other, but how much more powerful to give ourselves the win we deserve by working these next 8 days as hard as we can to win the White House with a powerful mandate.

The fact of the matter is when races are close, Dems lose. You, each and every one of you reading these words at this moment, have the power within you to make our movement for change a tsunami that crashes on Washington, washing the status quo away in the rising tide of change from the bottom up. Change courtesy of you and me.

You have the power to tell DC: this country is about us, not the pharmaceuticals who are spending more on cute names and convincing patients to tell their doctors what drugs they need over research and development.

You have the power to tell DC we are not a warring people and we will not accept the bloody battle in the Middle East over their natural resources which has destroyed the lives of so many people whose only crime was having been born in Iraq.

You have the power to tell DC we are better than a country who is responsible for 1m innocent deaths in Iraq and hundreds of thousands more in Afghanistan. We are a country who will solve the tough issues of the world through peace and engagement and thoughtfulness and giving everyone a seat at the table to be heard and understood as Jimmy Carter so successfully negotiated in 1980 where the peace between Israel and Egypt is still strong.

You have the power to tell DC: Cronyism over professionalism will no longer be tolerated. No more Brownies. No more Gonzalezes. No more friends in high place but strong professionals who know how to run a government agency.

You have the power to tell DC: the lobbyists are no longer in charge. Energy policies will no longer be crafted solely by CEOs of powerful corporations but a roundtable that includes not only CEOs but activists, non-profit directors, legislators from across the spectrum with an eye not for profits but for the best way forward for the American people and therefore the people of the world.

It may look dark tonight, but if I hold on to hope, tomorrow may be brighter.

Don't think for a minute that power concedes. We have a lot of work to do. We have to work like our future depend on it in this last week because it does depend on it this week.

We are one week away from changing America. In one week's time... we can choose hope over fear and 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'll knock on some doors for me and make some calls for me, and talk to your neighbors and convince your friends. If you'll stand with me and fight with me and give me your vote... together we'll change this country and we'll change the world.

Let's get to work!

-Barack Obama, 28 Oct 2008

Obama was right! John McCain was wrong!

2008-09-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

Palin Energizes Alaskan Obama Supporters

2008-09-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

When Billy and I were in a rural Texas county for their primary/caucus last February/March, we were surprised one Saturday when a family from Alaska showed up to volunteer. Brian and Andromeda and their two kids helped us for four days. Billy just mentioned them today in the RENObama discussion group, and I've been wondering how they feel about the Sarah Palin pick, so I asked them. Here's the reply:

Hi Dave, Great to hear from you! If I don't answer this email right away, I'll lose it -- ever since Sarah was chosen VP, it's been nearly impossible to keep up with email, with all the anti-Palin, rally-organizing emails flying around up here. (Which is a good thing, of course.) I'm attaching a photo someone sent me of the big rally held here last weekend. We were out of town and missed this one, but we'll be at the next one, which we hope will be even bigger, and our family was on the local news last night because we attended an Obama letter-writing party and the news guys wanted to film our 10-year-old daughter Tziporah writing a letter. Anything pro- or anti-Palin makes the news up here.

When Palin was chosen, Obama campaigners seemed to lose hope in winning Alaska, but within a week or so the anti-Palin backlash had become so strong that I think it's too early to give up. I wasn't strongly against her as our governor (I didn't vote for her, of course, but once she was in, I thought she'd be better than the previous Republicans and wanted to give her a nonpartisan chance). But even those of us in the state who THOUGHT we knew about her learned a whole lot more once there was more investigative energy spent uncovering her religious background and right-wing actions as mayor of little Wasilla. She's not only very socially conservative, but more worrying to me, she seems like the ideal puppet, so eager to climb fast that she'll say and do anything. A perfect vehicle for a 3rd Bush Term.

But you know all that, no doubt. All I can add from the local view is that people are really energized up here, wanting to volunteer more than ever.

It was fun hearing from you. Keep up the good work!

Andromeda

Home from Denver!!

2008-08-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hi all . . . I'm home from Denver . . . totally whipped and still totally wound up!! What an amazing week!! As Dave said . . . we signed a non-disclosure agreement that prevented us from talking about anything at Obama Headquarters while we were there. I'll have to find out if we can talk about it now that the convention is over . . . not that we were privy to any important info!!! I'd hate to tell and then have to shoot everyone!! LOL LOL LOL

Thursday night was . . . well . . . I don't think there are words to adequately describe what Thursday night was like!! It was unbelievable . . . it was magical . . . it was magnificent!! I still can't believe that I was there to experience it!! The entertainment leading up to the speech . . . in between all the lead up speakers was great!!! Will I Am . . . Sheryl Crow . . . Stevie Wonder . . . Michael McDonald . . . all were great!!! Stevie Wonder, of course, did Signed, Sealed, Delivered!!! It was also an impressive list of speakers . . . Howard Dean, Tim Kaine, Bill Richardson, Mark Udall, Martin Luther King III, Al Gore, Joe Biden and others . . . all gave great speeches!! But . . . nothing . . . no one . . . came close to our guy!!! Barack hit it not only out of the stadium with that speech . . . he hit it out of the city!!! Everyone in the stadium got a flag and a change sign . . . the flags, the signs, the stage, the lights . . . I wish I could effectively share it with everyone!!! It was a night that I will remember for the rest of my life!!!

Getting out of Invesco Field afterwards was not so much fun!!! There were 84,000 people trying to get on public transportation!!! We . . . Dave Baker, John Lundin, Veronica's hubby Patrick, and I . . . decided to walk back to downtown Denver. It was quite the little hike but we all made it!! Veronica, Xio and David met us at the Marriott and we all had a bite to eat, a few drinks and toasted our next president!!! I crawled into bed at about 2am and then got up at 5am to catch my flight home!!

What a week . . . what a speech . . . what a man!!!!!

Futile attempt to attend convention

2008-08-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

After our volunteer shift on Wednesday, Barb and I were hoping to get floor passes for the convention so we could watch Xio's speech, which was scheduled for 6:35 local time. At about 6:20 we got our passes at the Westin and headed off the the Pepsi Center, knowing we would miss the speech, but we wanted see what it looked like.

After about a 15 minute walk, we arrived and hopped on a bus that was supposed to take us to a security area at another entrance where there were no lines. We spent about 20 minutes on the bus, then went through security, walked about 1/2 mile to the entrance, and worked our way up through the crowded Pepsi Center.

At each entrance to the floor, there were people posted that prevented anyone from entering, since there was no more room. The only way one could watch was via big screen monitors scattered throughout the corridors outside the main floor. There were also huge crowds around these monitors, so it would have been better if we had just gone home and watched.

So we left and walked up and down the 16th Street Mall, picking up some souvenirs before we came home, very tired. Not as tired as the delegates, I'm sure.

Here is a link to a set of photos I've taken over the last couple of days. Tonight--the main event!

Guerilla Theater Surfaces on the Streets of Denver

2008-08-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

Democracy Now! is reporting a group of Iraqi war veterans are reenacting life in Baghdad under the siege on the streets of Denver.

“Operation First Casualty”: Outside Democratic Convention, Iraq Veterans Against the War Re-Enact Raids on Iraqi Civilians

See video at the Democracy Now! Video feed. Story starts at 76:50 [If you missed Dennis Kucinich's brilliant "Wake Up America!" speach, it's at 71:30]

Read the transcript here.

We haven't seen art like this in decades. The first global renaissance has begun.

Carnival atmosphere in Denver

2008-08-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

Having signed a non-disclosure agreement at my volunteer assignment with the Obama for America headquarters, I'll only be able to post about outside activities. Here are some pictures from the 16th Street Mall:

Day 4 and 5

2008-08-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

Day 4 and 5

Sorry guys that I did blog yesterday trust me I tried but we where in Rawlins, Wyoming and it seem as was some where there was none or very little coverage.

The trip there was great, I took some photos of some amazing wind turbines and there was some super great land escape. It was a beautiful country sight.

We stop at Fort Bridger it first was a traders post, then it was taken over by the Mormons’ and then by the US Army after the Mormon wars. Took some great photos, that as soon as am able to download them I’ll share them with you.

The trip to Denver was easy and enjoyable; Saw my first demonstration against the war and against abortion. Tons of cops. Needed my hotel key to be able to get into the hotel.

Well guys got to run I’ll talk to you guys later.

Xiomara

It's finally here!!

2008-08-24T11:36:00.001-07:00

It's finally here . . . the day I leave for Denver to be part of, and witness, history!! My flight leaves in 2 hours and 29 minutes!!

Spent the night up at Tahoe last night and went to see Sheryl Crow in concert at Harvey's! After the show we should have gone to the room and got some sleep . . . but did we do that . . . noooooo . . . we were all wound up after an awsome show, so we continued to party!! I'm a little hungover and alot tired . . . but I can sleep on the plane!! Drat . . . I hate when I show my age!! LOL LOL

Tomorrow at noon Dave Baker and I report to Obama Headquarters Hotel to start our volunteer positions with the campaign!! I can't wait!!

More tomorrow from Denver!!

Barb

Some Photos from Denver

2008-08-24T06:09:00.001-07:00

Some exhibit swag

Free advertising

Obamaman!

Ordering pizza from the Oval Office

Harry getting out of his limo

Top Secret: View of the Pepsi Center Stage

Day3 part 2

2008-08-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

Today was a very interesting day. Before we left Reno, I had an interview at Univision. It was in Spanish and that made it so much easier.

Then David and I hit the road. Our first stop for the night was Salt Lake City. The drive was peaceful and very interesting, I took some pictures but I forgot the cable to download the camera.

I loved the mountains and the open road. Every time I look at the mountains I wonder about all the stories those mountains could tell. I just want to explore and sometimes I even come up with ideas for stories about some of the caves I see from the road.

We stopped at a rest area where they do the speed car try, you know where they go and try to break the sound barrier and things like that. I promised David that on the way back we will try to stop and take a closer look at the area.

I remember the first time I traveled thru Utah, it was in 1984 when we were been transferred back to the east coast. The trip was with the girls, one was 9 and the other 8. The car was small and the girls had wanted to bring with them some stuff animals by the time we got to DC the car was full with stuffed animals and you could barely see the girls.

Well back to Salt Lake, on the way to Salt Lake we stop so the girls could see up close the lake and they took a piece of salt and the tried to eat it, the darn thing traveled with us all the way to Chicago, were some how it got lost.

Why I’m I talking about all this, because as we traveled I was remembering those days.

We are at the hotel right now. Getting ready to call it a night. A bit tiered but feel at ease during the way here I practice my speech and I’m feeling a bit more comfortable with it.

Well guys I have to call it a night. I’ll talk to all ya all tomorrow.

X

Friday in Denver

2008-08-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

Today I did my first of 3 volunteer shifts at The American Presidential Experience- the nation's largest traveling exhibit of presidential memorabilia.

We were told not to bring anything we couldn't carry with us all day, so I left my camera behind. Tomorrow I'll take it with me and get some pics. I did crowd control at the original 1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine, which featured a life size Harry Truman figure inside. My team included Dale, a Nebraska farmer who grows corn, hay, and cattle, and Mboka a Republic of Congo born resident of Bloomington, Il who works at Illinois State University. Occasionally, Natasha, a political science graduate from LA would come by with water and bottled drinks as we protected the car from scratches while schoolkids drew sketches of the car for their field trip assignments.

On short breaks we could visit a display of shoes worn by former presidents, walk through replicas of the Oval Office and Air Force One, and other attractions.

Items of interest:

There were 200 copies made of the Declaration of Independence. I'm talking about copies made in 1776, not facsimiles you can buy online. The one at the exhibit is the only one on the road, and is owned by Norman Mailer. Or his estate, since he died almost a year ago. It is kept in a temperature and humidity controlled case, but it got to warm in the exhibit tent, so it had to be removed to a more protected environment.
CSPAN will broadcast the convention wall to wall, while CSPAN-2 will feature highlights of the day in it's programming.

After my shift, I walked through the parking lots of Invesco Field to a walkway by the Platte River, to the confluence of the Platte with Cherry Creek, and on downtown to the hotel which will be the Obama Headquarters. Then over to the 16th Street Mall, one of Denver's main attractions, where I hopped the shuttle to where my daughter works, and then home.

Later I stopped by the Golden (CO) Campaign for Change office where I met super volunteer Jan from Florida. She's been to nine states--AS A VOLUNTEER. One thing we had in common was the feeling we had when we saw Barack deliver the keynote speech in Boston in '04. She told me she turned to her father and said, "Mark my words, that man will be President someday", to which her father replied, "Are you crazy? He's the wrong color." Well, her father eventually came around, became a supporter, and then a while later, as his health began to fail, he said he just wanted to live to see the acceptance speech. Well, her dad died two weeks ago, but Jan is working harder than ever, sometimes putting in 15 hour days FOR NO PAY. She said she has to go get 200 votes for him.

Denver or Bust!!!

2008-08-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

It doesn't seem possible that we are all leaving for Denver over the next few days. The convention always seemed so far down the road . . . and now it's only days away!! I'm still trying to figure out where the summer went . . . between Barack and ballooning it has flown by!!

I got the official work schedule today for the "housing department" . . . I'm sure Dave probably got it also. Dave and I will both be working at the Westin Hotel each day. During the convention the Westin is Obama Headquarters Hotel, so Dave and I are both excited to be working there all 4 days as Obama volunteers!! Michelle from the campaign staff assured me that both of us will be off work Thursday in time to get to Invesco Field for Barack's acceptance speech!! We will be picking up our tickets to the speech Tuesday morning in Denver!

I think I'm almost ready to go . . . I have my usual abundance of checklists posted everywhere so I don't forget anything!! LOL LOL While Xio and Veronica will keep everyone posted on the delegate's doings, Dave and I will be posting what it's like from the volunteers view of things!!

Dave is already in Denver . . . he is the "advanced scout" and is checking everything out!!

Count down to Denver departure . . . 2 days and 3 minutes . . . and counting!!!

Xio, Veronica and Matt . . . knock 'em dead in Denver!!! We all know that you'll do Reno proud!! We'll see you there!!

Barb

Day 4

2008-08-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys: Well the time has come to hit the road. We will be leaving today at about 1:00pm. David and I will be driving straight to Salt Lake City. We hope to get that about 9:00 pm.

Is going to be a long day, but the next days are going to be a bit shorter.

I have to admit, I'm getting really nervous, and I just want to get there and get it over with.

Well I'll talk to all ya all later on.

Have a great day.

Xiomara

2008-08-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

I just found this today and am psyched to learn how to blog. Thanks, Billy, for creating this great communication tool!!
Today was my last day of work and now it's starting to sink in. We are leaving for Denver in less than 36 hours!! I am so honored to be going with Xio, Matt, Dave and Barb. We are so grateful for everyone's support and we will do our best to represent the Reno Obamaniacs with all of your energy, enthusiam, brilliance and commitment to the vision of the campaign. YES WE WILL.

And, I have to say, Xio did such an amazing job on the live interview tonight. She rocks!
Xio, you will do great next week!! We will be with you on that stage!!

More tomorrow.
Hugs to all,
Veronica

Day 3 Part 2

2008-08-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Well guys, the day is coming to an end. It has been a very exciting and eventful day. I finally got my speech, is not exactly what I wrote but I can definitely leave with it. I understand that I have I point to make and I AM going to make it.

I still have another interview tomorrow with the Spanish network and then I'll be on the road.

I'm really looking forward to the trip and working on my speech.

I will talk at all ya all tomorrow.

Goodnight.

Xiomara

On the ground in Denver

2008-08-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

I arrived on Wednesday evening and headed to Morrison, where I'm staying at my daughter's home. Barb will join me here on Sunday. Morrison is a small town (pop. approx. 470) west of Denver situated at the base of the Rockies, nestled between the foothills and the "hogbacks", and borders The Red Rocks park. The park is known for its very large red sandstone boulders, and is the location of the awesome Red Rocks Amphitheater, where concerts can be enjoyed in the crisp open air (and occasional rain).

The view from the deck

I'll spend some of today (Thursday) trying to gather useful info to share with the others who will be arriving here. So far I've learned that it could take 2-3 hours to go through security at Invesco Field next Thursday, and there will be extensive road closures. This is from a security update I received:

Downtown Denver Route Shuttle (RTD Busses): Shuttle service will start from 22nd and Blake down Broadway to 8th to Zuni, to 13th and Decatur, to INVESCO Field at Mile High on Howard Pl. from 11AM-2PM providing [free] shuttle service for people parking downtown. (The last shuttles will leave at 2PM.) These shuttles will stop at all existing bus stops along the route and will be available for people with disabilities, and accessible drop-off points will be available.

One thing I haven't found out is at what time the Next President of the United States will be giving his speech at Invesco. There's lots to find out, but first I'm going to have to recover from last night. My granddaughter's pet hamster decided he was going to start exercising on the noisy wheel in his cage at 2:57 a.m. That's another thing I've learned--hamsters ARE nocturnal, despite what Wikipedia says. If only she'd wanted a gerbil!

Day 3

2008-08-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Goodmorning Guys, I still have no idea about the speech, so I'm getting a bit on the nervous side. We shall see what happens.

Xiomara

Barack Obama -Taking the high road in Lynchburg, VA

2008-08-21T00:32:00.000-07:00

Day 2 Part 3

2008-08-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

Today has been a long day. I feel very tiered but very satisfied. I feel like I am finally accomplishing something. People are hearing what I have to say and that is a good feeling. But at the same time I feel like there is so much more still to do.

In a way I feel guilty about leaving for a whole week. I want to go out and knock on door, call people and register more people.

But at this time I think I just have to hold on tight and take the ride on this convention rollercoaster.

I still don’t have a speech, I guess and I hope I get it before I have to stand on that stage.

Lots of call and people wanting to ask me questions, about my life and how I got involve with the campaign. That is a long story, but what is more important for me is that I feel like I’m giving a voice to the Veterans and the Latino community and I feel like people are seen this beautiful city through my eyes and I hope they are getting a good picture.

Another great thing that happened today was reading Barb’s story, it was so great seen this event through her eyes. I really hope she continues to blog.

Well I think I’m calling it a night, I’ll watch the interview on TV and hope I don’t look or sound too bad.

Tomorrow is going to be a long day, I have some interviews with the Latino press and I have to be ready for that.

Talk at you all later.

Xiomara (Beboman)

Xio on Ch 8 Wed, 11p

2008-08-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

Xio was interviewed by Reno Ch 8, KOLO. Broadcast is at 11p, Wed, 20.Aug.2008. We'll post a link to any Web stories they might do.

Barb: 19 Aug

2008-08-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

Posted to the RENObama! listserve by campaign volunteer at the convention, Barb Muscutt. Join RENObama! to get our listserve updates.

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The Denver Adventure!!

As I write this I am 5 days, 4 hours and 26 minutes away from the beginning of "Barb's Great Adventure"!! Sunday at 2:51pm I will be on a plane for Denver to watch history being made!! I will arrive in Denver at 6:02pm to start my volunteer assignment at the Westin Hotel which is the Obama Headquarters in Denver during the convention! I still can't believe that I'm going . . . let alone that I got a position at the headquarters!! When I got the brilliant idea to volunteer specifically with the campaign in Denver, instead of for the actual convention, I really didn't think it would happen . . . but with a few good words from a few good people it actually happened. All I can say is WOW!!

I have known for 4 years that I wanted to vote for Barack Obama, but if you had told me even two years ago that I would be getting ready to go be a volunteer for the campaign in Denver, I would have told you that you were crazy!! Other than to vote, I never get involved in politics . . . I never get involved in campaigns . . . I sure never contribute my hard earned money to campaigns!! Then along came this man named Barack Obama and everything changed . . . never say never!! This person who never gets involved became a volunteer here in Reno, a precinct captain, a caucus chair, a county delegate, a state delegate. I became a houser of Obama interns, volunteers and staff . . . I became a storer of Obama office furniture . . . I became an organizer of Obama events!!

This has been an amazing adventure for the past 16 or 17 months! What my brother said to me 4 years ago I have heard echoed by so many people, myself included . . . "This is the man I have waited my whole life to vote for!" Someone like Barack Obama comes around only rarely . . . we are so lucky and blessed to be part of this! When I was 10 years old I got to meet and shake the hand of someone else who changed our country and our way of thinking . . . John F. Kennedy. It took 45 years . . . but, finally, we are seeing it happen again . . . we are helping it happen!! As my brother also says . . . "Every time I hear Barack Obama speak I feel like I need to be more involved, that I need to be a better person . . . work harder, try harder". This is what Barack Obama inspires in people. He is showing us that we can make a difference . . . we can make our city, state, country and the world a better place . . . for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren and beyond.

I am so excited to be going to Denver!! I am so thankful that I got involved and that I am helping to make Barack Obama the next President of the United States. Beyond that though, I am so very thankful for the things that will endure, I hope, long after the elections are over and President Obama is settled in at the White House . . . and that is the wonderful relationships and friendships that I have made during the past 17 months . . . friendships that I would not have if not for this amazing man called Barack Obama . . . friendships that I hope will last forever!

So now it's off to Denver where Dave Baker and I will do whatever they need done at the headquarters next week . . . I can't wait!!

5 days . . . 3 hours . . . 53 minutes . . . and counting!!!

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Day Two Part 2

2008-08-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

Just got of the phone with the speech writer, we have to cut my speech to 400 words. But I really think this will work. Terry (the speech writer) was really nice and he sounded really interested in what I had to say.

We shall see what happen I will get his draft by today the latest tomorrow morning and I have to approved it. It has to be approved by close of business tomorrow.

Xiomara

Day Two

2008-08-20T06:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys:

Have not slept that much.

As you know I will be speaking on Wednesday, sometime between 6:30 7:00 MDT. We will see what happens.

Why I have not been able to sleep. I have so much to get done before I leave and I feel like there is not time. I'm still waiting for the re-write of my speech. I have not been contacted regarding the logistics of rehearsal and backstage before the speech.

I still have to pack and get a few things done here in the house.

BTW for those of us that get the RGJ there is suppose to be a small mention about the speech in there and they are planning a larger coverage for tomorrow.

Well guys I'll keep all ya all posted.

Xiomara

Waiting for Information

2008-08-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

Day One Denver or Bust

Hi guys: This is my first time blogging so please bear with me.

Let's see this whole process started the weekend I was in Oregon, taking my grandson to his basketball camp. I got a call from a very nice young man from the Chicago Obama campaign. He asked a bunch of question which I answered and I thought it had to do with me been a delegate.

This last Saturday, as I was heading to the volunteer meeting for the Obama visit the same young man Chris called and he said that I was selected to speak at the convention.

Those of you, who know me, know that many times I am a one track mind person. So I told Chris that I could not speak to him at the time because I was heading to a volunteer meeting for the Obama visit, and I hanged up.

After the volunteer meeting, when I got in the car David (my husband) asked if he had heard right and that I had been asked to speak at the convention. That is when it hit me, I immediately call Chris back and he was laughing and told me I had heard right.

Yesterday, I was contacted by the person in charge of the invitation committee and that is when I found out that they had a wrong address for me and they e-mailed me the invitation package.

That was when it became official my invitation and I could tell people about it.

I have not been able to tell the press about it, because I still don't have the date and time I will be speaking, and until that happens I was asked not to tell the press.

The people in charge of the speakers want to make sure that they have the complete list of speakers and the dates and time they are speaking before that information is given to the press.

End so far of day one.

Xiomara

Barack Obama in Reno - August 17, 2008

2008-08-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

Baracky II

2008-08-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

open thread: MICHELLE

2008-07-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a place where you can add your thoughts, stories, hopes, dreams and well-wishes about Michelle Obama.

This photo is from her visit to Reno in August 2007.

At that meeting in Pioneer Center she moved mountains. Mom got to meet her and was reduced to tears when as she walked away. To this day she gets emotional when she thinks of Michelle, "The best first lady the Unites States will ever have," according to that 88-year-old WW2 ARMY Nurse Corps veteran.

Hit "Comments" to tell us your story or your feelings about the next first lady of the land, Michelle Obama.

O Unity Press Conf @ WaDems

2008-06-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

Sheila Leslie and Kate Marshall joint hosted a press conference at Washoe Dems HQ at noon, Monday, 23 June.

Kate Marshall was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton for president and was elected a Clinton national delegate from Washoe County; while Sheila Leslie was the O person on the ground since way back after the Carson City debates almost 1.5 years ago.

Kate wore purple to show the direction the state is heading with Republicans and Democrats alike supporting Barack Obama. Pam du Pre, Clinton campaign director for Northern NV was in attendance as well as Alison Gaulden, strong Hillary supporter and County Dems Vice Chair. She plans on running for President of WaDems next term. Photo

OPEN THREAD: How Do you feel right now?

2008-06-03T14:29:00.001-07:00

With Barack Obama having won the Democratic nomination and poised to win the Presidency of the United States: tell us how you are feeling. Or you want to share that's going on for you right now.

2008-05-30T16:18:00.001-07:00

Reno Pride, August 16th, Wingfield Park

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism, and militarism. -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Years pass and for many there is still the thought, "What is Memorial Day?" A day off from work. Time to spark up the bar-b-que and have a few hours among friends. Something about wars. Don't we remember wars today?

Some confuse it with November's Veteran's Day. The day we honor those who have served. And returned.

Memorial Day is the day we remember and honor those Americans who have lost their lives in war. We honor those who did not return.

Decoration Day was the first version of the holiday created to honor Union soldiers of America's costly and melancholic Civil War.

After the tragic and almost equally enormous loss of life in World War I, the holiday came to be as it is now, a day of silence, so to speak, for those who gave their very lives for us, the citizens of the United States.

For some of us this day is personal, as it is for my mother who lost six of her good nurse friends, many surgeons, ship crew and 100 of the wounded she had only just begun to tend on board the USS Comfort in April 1943 when it was stuck--against the rules of war set down in the Geneva Convention--by a kamikaze pilot in retaliation for the sinking of a Japanese hospital ship in the bay of Manilla. If you have not read my account of Mom's story of that heartbreaking event known to this day as the single greatest attack on American women in war, today is the day to do so.

The deepest tragedy of reading such a story is the painful realization that it is but one of innumerable stories that make up the tome of the tragedy that is war.

To the families of those who have experienced loss throughout the history of American wars we say, we remember with you:

Those who can say "My great-great-great grandfather fought on Harlem Heights to secure the island of Manhattan from the British, but was overrun."

We remember with you.

"My mother's great-grand-mother brought bread to the troops and was shot on the way."

We remember with you.

"My great grandfather's brother died of scurvy in the Andersonville prisoner of war camp" as thousands did in that most frightening and shameful of American memories.

We remember with you.

To those whose families and friends lost their lives in the wars of the 20th century--WWs I and II, Korea, Viet Nam, Granada, Panama, Gulf War I, Boznia-Herzgovina, Kosovo, the bombing of Belgrade and George Bush II's war on Afghanistan and the 2nd assault on Iraq--we remember with you: The images of chaos and horror flash before our eyes. The sounds of thunder and streaks of fierce light coruscate on our face as we remember with you the day our loved one's life ended, for those who gave, gave to all of us. Abruptly. Finally. In far too many cases, unnecessarily but in every single case, heroically.

No matter the circumstance of justification of sending our troops, whether voluntarily or forced through the mandatory draft to fight in war, what we remember today is the fact that our relatives and friends gave their all.

From this day forward we say collectively to those who wish to make war: no more. It is finished.

From here forward we will not charge without the brilliance of plan that makes only the most necessary of maneuvers a quick and fierce strike in defense.

From this day forward, pursuit of those who would wish any country or people harm be made with enjoining them in the greatest and most sober of diplomatic efforts before sending out the machines and mechanics of death and destruction.

From this day forward the people of the United States say we will not tolerate our own leaders who prevaricate and simper and cajole and shout to make war on a people who's only crime was to have been born in Iraq. Or Iran.

From this day forward the United States with its powers of terrifying "shock and awe" will not use them but only most wisely, if ever at all. And never, ever on a civilian population.

From this day forward we will--everyone one of us--be engaged and fully conscious in the process of electing our leader.

We have all learned our lesson that each and every vote for the president makes a difference.

From this day forward America will be the beacon of leadership and example throughout the world for the "right way" moving into the 21st century.

We vow today to restore America's standing in the world and relight the torch of Lady Liberty as a beacon of HOPE to all the world.

Though we have power and might and lives at the ready: we will use them under the guidance and leadership of one of the greatest minds and hearts present among us.

From this day on, Americans will come forward in a huge wave of numbers to vote for the wisest, brightest, the most well informed, the most willing to discuss and debate, the most thoughtful, careful and accomplished among us.

As we remember today those who died in the name of America's causes, we vow never to allow a single drop of our own, collective, precious blood to be drained into the soil and sands of faraway places without the utmost of powerful reasoning.

With the profound leadership of first-class citizens such as Barack Obama, we place our vote of confidence that America will be everything it once was, once again.

May President Obama be the first in a long line of consummate presidents of the United States and exemplary leaders of the globalized world for centuries to come.

Hillary's ~Gaffs~

2008-05-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Post a comment as we gather the long list of notable Clinton remarks this campaign season.

I'll start with some I gathered by watching the various YouTubes I've posted on RENObama.com and included in my E-mail to the "Super" delegates recently.

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• "Let's just get everybody together, the sky will open and everyone will know we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect."

• "I have a lifetime of experience, Senator Obama has a speech he gave in 2002."

• "Every so often I just wish that [the Presidential race] were a little more of an even playing field." Implying Obama's run was not a challenge.

• On the Iraq war resolution, she said she "thought it was a vote to put inspectors back in." Though the title of the bill was, "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002."

• Of the bankruptcy bill she voted for, "It was a bill that had some things I agreed with and other things I didn’t agree with, and I was happy that it never became law." So why did she vote for it?

• "I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base."

• "I remember landing under sniper fire. There was no greeting ceremony. And we were basically told to run to our cars. Now that is what happened."

• "So I made a mistake. That happens. It proves I'm human. Which, you know, for some people is a revelation."
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Add your favorite by taking the comments link below >>

"Assassination"

2008-05-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

She was simply referencing her husband in 1992 and Robert Kennedy in 1968 as historical examples of the nominating process going well into the summer.
-Reuters

This comment seems to be passing many by. It is at best an exaggeration or it is simply another in a long line of propagandic tactics used by the C campaign. Mid-June and 4 June, respectively are not "well into the summer." They are not even IN the summer. Summer solstice, the beginning of summer, usually occurs on 21 June. To be well into the summer we are talking mid-summer, 1 AUGUST. These exaggerations are disconcerting at best.

Hillary's husband's nomination campaign was over in March, not June. California voted in June, but the last competitor dropped out in MARCH. As Alter points out in Vid 2 on RENObama.com.

This is, of course, the least of the flap. Some believe that the Senator is subconsciously telling the world she remains in the race waiting for something terrible to happen to her opponent. Others see it as a merely a historic reference to time.

No matter how she meant it, the statement is another in a long, LONG line of more than inappropriate comments made about everyone from Putin to Howard Dean.

How do you feel about what was said by Senator Clinton?

Post a comment below. Olbermann vids can be seen on RENObama.com.

Open Thread: Your feelings about the Cornvention.

2008-05-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

You were there. What did you think? What happened to you? What concerned you? What made you smile or mad? How was it overall? What is your favorite story? What did you eat? Let 'er rip: Give RENObama! the word. Click "Comments" below and let us know>> [send pics to blog.admin@RENObama.com and we'll post.]

Recent C tactics are like NV Carcass

2008-05-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

The Clinton campaign disputes that figure [2025] and instead insists on using 2,210 as the key metric—a number predicated on the counting of delegates from Michigan and Florida—but Obama’s victory Tuesday left her at the mercy of the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee, which meets May 31 to determine appeals from the two wayward states.
Obama all but declares victory
Politico
By BEN SMITH & CHARLES MAHTESIAN
5/21/08

Now why does that remind me of the carcass? Well, remember the Clinton supporters had a handbook? And the handbook told their supporters to get up and close the doors at 11:30a?

• Not: Remind the chair the doors should be closed (which was not correct. Folks were allowed in until the first alignment at 12n).

• Not: Ask the carcass staff to please close the doors.

• NOT: Raise your hand and work with the volunteers who have been trained (and trained and trained and trained, ad effing nauseum) by the party to run the carcass.

• DO: Take over the caucus and run it by the rules we have written for you EVEN IF THEY DIFFER FROM THE STATE'S RULES.

The Clinton camp continues to write the rules. And we are all told that we will play by them. The Clintons say the rules are one way and that's that, Party be damned.

Clinton's only argument to win is to break the rules (among others) that were set forth by the party months ago.

But why is she doing this really? $$ As long as she tells women she's fighting for them and Floridians she's fighting for them (emphasis on fight), they will give her their dough to keep fighting.

Clinton gets $25m worth of prime commercial airtime for free whenever she makes a speech and declares "Go to Hillary Clinton dot com and give me some of your money."

Ever hear Barack do that?

NV Dem Cornvention Recap by Erin Neff

2008-05-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

Democrats leave Reno with common goal
Erin Neff
Las Vegas Review-Journal
May 20, 2008

RENO -- The mood Friday evening between Clinton and Obama delegates at the Democratic State Convention was still cooler than the ice cream station during a Western-themed reception.

Sen. Hillary Clinton's delegates mingled freely with each other, still talking about how hard it was going to be moving forward if their candidate of choice didn't win the nomination.

"If" wasn't really part of the vocabulary in the other camp, so the happier delegates representing Sen. Barack Obama were clearly more fired up.

Before the convention opened Saturday morning, you could tell Obama had won the registration game. The line for a breakfast co-sponsored by state Sen. Steven Horsford, the public face of the Obama campaign in Nevada, was snaking so far out of the appointed room it neared the entrance to the convention floor down the hall.

It wasn't really until Bill Clinton spoke, though, that reality came into focus for the Clinton stalwarts. Although Clinton was greeted with hearty applause, his call for unity drew plenty of "O-ba-ma" responses. Clinton soldiered through his remarks with a nod to last-minute efforts his wife's campaign had made to stop the hemorrhaging of her delegates' support.

More >>

XIOMARA & MATT D. going to DENVER

2008-05-17T20:36:00.000-07:00

1 Dem Insider and 1 Grassrootser.

Xiomara's O.com profile.

and

Matt Dickson, WaDems Treas., State Party committeeman, County Cornvention Chair.

"3 Hours Behind Sched."

2008-05-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Reports of people "dropping like flies." Long, emotional day.

BUT NO ONE CAN LEAVE!

Why? That Add-on delegate. The whole superdelegate thing is a figment of the Dems imagination. The dastardly Republicans don't have them! Why should Dems?

Because they need CARROTS! Stay to the end! Get your candidate another delegate! Step right up!

Campaigning for national delegate going on in all corners of various rooms.

O supporter verbally attacked

2008-05-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

2 older Hillary supporters attacked a female Obama supporter out of nowhere this afteroon.

Ursula Sindlinger, wearing her "Women for Obama" pin, was sitting in her chair watching the events of the convention unfold when two older woman picked her out of the crowd.

After saying a few choice words they flourished with "You are a disgrace to your gender!"

Ursula responded. "Barack didn't send my nephew to a lying war and we'd better stop it."

Later, she talked it over with some Hillary supporters who were sad and surprised to hear of the assault.

C 11 O 14!

2008-05-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Now why do I think that O will end up with 15 since he has more dels. There's an add-on, no?

Anyway, here's the real-time delegate counter from RENObama.com:

"Obama way ahead"

2008-05-17T14:44:00.001-07:00

Just got the subject in an SMS. I guess that's the first vote?

No, it's 2:44. Must be final vote, post realign.

C'mon y'all: realign behind the obvious nominee. Get out there and unite like Bill finger-pointed you to do!

Voting on Exec Board

2008-05-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

I'm getting calls, "Who to vote for?"

I sent the message: "Doesn't matter except Shaun Gray."

Can't really talk right now anyway. Throat still all tore up and I cough all the time. If it were natl dels, that would be different. Though even that doesn't matter so much as long as Barb Muscutt goes.

OH NO! Shaun Grey's paperwork was "not correct" (right... PROVE IT!) so he's not on the roster. VA Cain is a big C supporter; DN Holmes, big O-er; Chuck Fulkerson, big hero to my family... big C supporter, which crushed Mom. She's very well read and at 88 keeps it up all day and all night long. She and Chuck are both Vets and he vindicated a story she seemed to be the sole possesor of for 65 years. Something that happened to the USS Comfort.

Doris feels that if people read more they would understand why this is not Hillary's time nor will there ever be a time for her kind of presidency. She thinks people aren't doing enough homework.

C seems to have a penchant for taking files that don't belong to her and hiding 'em around. Mom telling folks she was fired for that back in Watergate days. Well, I guess that's a lot of watergate under the bridge. But wait! Files about Whitewater in Vince Foster's office? How'd they get there, Ms. Maggie Smith? And now she doesn't need to hide them, hub is doing it for her in the library, legally (?) and with YOUR donor money and somebody else's, but don't ask who.

Folks getting bored, head for bar.

2008-05-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Reid spoke and made many sleepy. Reid was snubbed by Newsweek as a relevant SuD* this week. Too bad he just didn't come out and endorse early like every one else in NV had to do FOUR MONTHS AGO! I know, I know, he's the most powerful man in Washington and above all that...

The processes of the war should be coming to a close and I'm sad that Barack is having to run on getting our damaged peeps home. Damaged, yes! Those that make it back. Too many families are rent asunder; minds are aggrieved; abilities to cope compromised perhaps for life. Unless Barack gets in there and gets them the help we all want them to have. And I'd like some PTSD counseling myself for the past 8 years of assault on just about everything non-Carlyle.

Anyway. Dems in search of drinks are walking out on Kal. Hey, priorities!
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*Automatic or "Super" delegate. SuD. Pl SuDs.

Prescient, as usual.

2008-05-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

It is NOT Johnny-boy at the cornvention for O. It is Kal Penn. So far he's tanking.

It is a thing of naught. Votes aren't going to shift because Kumar's in the House. Nor Bill. So maybe it will soon be time to get on with it.

Wonder who ended up being the permanent temporary convention permanent chair temporarily?

Rumors abound: E to speak for O.

2008-05-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm. I don't buy it. #1 OF COURSE that rumor is going to surface, what took so long? 3200 hungry, sleep-deprived, drunk/hungover Dems from their damned pub crawl from last night and that rumor hadn't started until NOW?

But one truth: The O surrogate has not shown. Yet.

Bill flapping + "Game over."

2008-05-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

The RENObama! delegate counter, BTW, is flipping away. Another SuD today. And I posted a vid of that awesome speech O gave in SD about the end of McBush McSame. Check it under "~Now Playing~"

Mike just wrote in with:

Yesterday I got home and saw Obama respond to the "appeasement" thing in a speech. Chris Matthews said this most recent episode basicly involved two bullies on the beach kicking sand in the skinny guy's face, and the two bullies ended up flat on their back. Obama now OWNS the national security issue.

Game over.

Oh, yah. Here's some of Bill's campaign speech for Barack at the cornvention.

C talking unity!

2008-05-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

Bill Clinton talking to Reno about unity. Good thing.

Gone are the lies ("prevarications" to the squeamish) about casino votes being worth 5 to 1. Hey! He said it, I didn't. Just pointing to facts, Max.

Gone is Bill's accusation Jon Stewart made excellent hay out of that Obama "people" were plotting behind his back.

"Look! There's Bill Clinton! Let's make sure he overhears our schemes!" As Stewart noted, "In a casino?" With all that fruity casino noise? With all those SS and Luftwaffe surrounding you? With all the reporters falling all over themselves and their boom mics and asking non-stop Monica Lewinsky questions? And you overheard the union plotting to thwart C supporting carcass-goers? 15 Pinocchios!

Wave of Baker

2008-05-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

From the bowels of hell, I mean the Dems Cornvention, we bring you an updated version of "Inferno" where all the local polly glits (political glitteratti) are ringing their way to the frozen center.

Here's Dave Bakereno bein' his sweet self. Ah, RENObamans! The cream o' the crop.

Dave's a RENObama! Rock Star! y'know.

"People are Mad"

2008-05-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

This shouting thing has to do with a Consent Agreement or Consent Agenda. I don't know from nothing about it. But the word is the peeps is getting hot here in Reno at 10:20 in the wee hours of the cornvention. I guess they want to toss the temp chair and make him not permanent permanently.

Shouting match at NV Dems Conv.

2008-05-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

Convention is finally getting underway in typical style.

Big fight over the temporary chair. Lots of folks want him to stand down. 25 mins already.