I Don’t Hate America!

Following up from our previous post, our MN leaders successfully received disaster declaration for southern MN.

Via press release:

WALZ, COLEMAN, KLOBUCHAR ANNOUNCE PRESIDENTIAL DISASTER DELCARATION FOR MN COUNTIES

Washington, D.C.—After sending a letter to President Bush supporting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for four southern Minnesota counties severely damaged by recent flooding, Senators Norm Coleman, Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Tim Walz announced today the President has responded and a declared major disaster for Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, and Mower Counties. The four counties sustained an estimated $8.3 million in damage due to the flooding. These counties are now eligible to receive aid through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program. Public Assistance is oriented to public entities and can fund the repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replace­ment of a public facility or infrastructure, which is damaged or destroyed by a disaster. State officials, assisted by FEMA, will conduct Applicant Briefings for State, local and PNP officials to inform them about the assistance available and how to apply for it.

“All four of these counties have experienced their second serious flood in just a few short years. This presidential declaration allows affected cities to obtain hazard mitigation funding that can help prevent flooding in the future,” said Congressman Walz. “Businesses like Austin Packaging Company are counting on federal dollars to help make it possible for them to continue operations in our area. I believe this declaration will make the difference for APC and others who are trying to recover and plan for the future.”

“These communities have shown tremendous courage and resilience since the floods hit,’’ Klobuchar said. “But at a time like this local communities should not be expected to fend for themselves. The federal government has an essential role to support communities as they recover and rebuild, and I’m proud that we will be able to deliver help quickly.’’

“Southeastern Minnesota is in need of assistance right now, and this disaster declaration will help the region recover,” said Coleman. “After visiting the flood-stricken areas, I saw firsthand the toll the storms took on these communities. A Presidential Disaster Declaration will deliver the assistance these counties need to rebuild their communities and their lives. I applaud the President for this decision — it will make all the difference for an area of the state that has endured great hardship.”

The support letter sent by Coleman, Klobuchar, and Walz, followed an official submission for assistance by Governor Pawlenty who requested federal assistance to help respond to the flooding of June 7-8th and 11-12th that severely impacted Houston, Fillmore, Mower and Freeborn counties.

The text of the letter follows:

Dear President Bush:

As representatives of communities devastated by last week’s flooding throughout the Midwest, we are writing to request your assistance as residents of southern Minnesota begin to recover.

On June 7-8, 2008, up to 10 inches of rain fell across southern Minnesota, causing flash floods, mudslides, evacuations, power outages, and numerous injuries. Just three days later, severe weather, including several tornado touchdowns, again developed over southern Minnesota. These storms dropped even more rain on already saturated ground and caused creeks and rivers to overflow their banks. This too resulted in devastation and one fatality.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has declared a State of Emergency in Freeborn, Fillmore, Houston, and Mower Counties. Additionally, he has determined that this incident is of such severity that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State, and to that end, he has requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for these areas as well.

Given the degree of damage to the region, we strongly encourage you to issue such a declaration and allow FEMA to begin to supplement state and local recovery efforts in these flood-stricken areas.

Tragically, Minnesotans have faced several disasters in the past year, and nowhere has this been truer than in Southeastern Minnesota where less than a year after historic flash flooding, they have been hit yet again with massive rainfalls which have tested their ability to recover. We are confident that, just as they did with the floods of last August, the residents of southeast Minnesota will recover and rebuild, and we urge you to make the federal government a full partner in that effort.

Thank you for your consideration of this request and for your assistance in helping the recovery and rebuilding effort in southern Minnesota.

Via press release:

WALZ, KLOBUCHAR, COLEMAN URGE QUICK ACTION FROM BUSH ON DISASTER DECLARATION

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Tim Walz, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senator Norm Coleman asked President Bush to quickly issue a Presidential Disaster Declaration for four southern Minnesota counties severely damaged by recent flooding.

The request by members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation followed an official submission by Governor Pawlenty that requested federal assistance to help respond to the flooding of August 7-8th and 11-12th that severely impacted Houston, Fillmore, Mower and Freeborn counties. The four counties sustained an estimated $8.3 million in damage due to the flooding.

“Time and again, the residents and businesses of southern Minnesota have had their communities turned upside down by severe flooding,” said Rep. Tim Walz. “Some residents of this area are still recovering from last year’s floods, only to find themselves back in the same position. Help from the federal government is essential to getting residents of these communities back on their feet.”

“At a time like this, local communities should not be expected to fend for themselves,’’ Klobuchar said. “The federal government has an essential role to support communities as they recover and rebuild. The people and businesses in this area are clearly going to need some assistance and we need to get it there as soon as possible.”

“Severe weather has once again hit Southern Minnesota extremely hard, and federal assistance is greatly needed,” said Coleman. “Between last fall’s devastating floods and last week’s massive rainfall and tornados, these communities have had considerable personal and material loss, in addition to significant agricultural damage. It is my hope President Bush will listen to our concerns and issue a Disaster Declaration in order for FEMA to start supplementing state and local recovery efforts in these flood-stricken areas.”

The text of the letter follows:

Dear President Bush:

As representatives of communities devastated by last week’s flooding throughout the Midwest, we are writing to request your assistance as residents of southern Minnesota begin to recover.

On June 7-8, 2008, up to 10 inches of rain fell across southern Minnesota, causing flash floods, mudslides, evacuations, power outages, and numerous injuries. Just three days later, severe weather, including several tornado touchdowns, again developed over southern Minnesota. These storms dropped even more rain on already saturated ground and caused creeks and rivers to overflow their banks. This too resulted in devastation and one fatality.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has declared a State of Emergency in Freeborn, Fillmore, Houston, and Mower Counties. Additionally, he has determined that this incident is of such severity that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State, and to that end, he has requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for these areas as well.

Given the degree of damage to the region, we strongly encourage you to issue such a declaration and allow FEMA to begin to supplement state and local recovery efforts in these flood-stricken areas.

Tragically, Minnesotans have faced several disasters in the past year, and nowhere has this been truer than in Southeastern Minnesota where less than a year after historic flash flooding, they have been hit yet again with massive rainfalls which have tested their ability to recover. We are confident that, just as they did with the floods of last August, the residents of southeast Minnesota will recover and rebuild, and we urge you to make the federal government a full partner in that effort.

Thank you for your consideration of this request and for your assistance in helping the recovery and rebuilding effort in southern Minnesota.

Sincerely,

Amy Klobuchar            Tim Walz                   Norm Coleman

United States Senate   Member of Congress    United States Senate

While I was in Winona this weekend visiting to catch fall graduation ceremonies at the ole’ alma mater, Winona State, I missed quite a bit of news concerning transportation issues, especially those surrounding US Highway 14 in southern Minnesota.

With a h/t to Bluestem Prairie, the Star Tribune shows us it has the ability to publish thoughtful stories about the First Congressional District, as opposed to those based nearly solely on press releases from ambitious GOPers, with a thorough piece about the deadly stretch of road around Owatonna.

Several years ago, as newcomers to Winona State, my colleagues and I would light-heartedly write off Highway 14 as a possible route getting to the metro area (instead sticking with I-90) as it is likely to become stuck behind a tractor and limited to traveling at 15 mph. Later we would find out 14’s problems go beyond inconvenience into the realm of real danger. From the Strib:

The highway, a mix of old two-lane and reconstructed four-lane sections, has blind intersections, heavy truck traffic, narrow shoulders and unexpected curves. It may be the deadliest highway in the state.

Since the mid-1980s, more than 145 people have been killed on the highway, which winds through 265 miles of farmland from Winona to the South Dakota border. On average, someone dies on the road every two months. And 75 percent of the deaths between 2000 and 2005 occurred on the two-lane stretches, state rec­ords show.

Instead of investing in transportation projects such as Highway 14, we keep getting empty political rhetoric from Republican officials. On TPT’s Almanac last month, John Kline called this year’s House Transportation bill, which had funding for Highway 14, the I-35W bridge and other projects, “fiscally irresponsible.” What’s really fiscally irresponsible: fixing the infrastructure now, or continuing to clean up wrecked vehicles, bringing accident victims to the hospital and taking the pieces of wrecked bridges out of the river?

On that same program, Rep. Tim Walz asked Kline why he should have to give up Highway 14 for his district when the President Bush won’t compromise on anything. Kline’s response: “We should all have to give.”

Meanwhile, GOP state Sen. Dick Day, who represents a district bisected by the highway, shows signs of being out of touch with what’s really going on. From the Owatonna People’s Press (I know I’m late here, but other stuff was on our minds when it came out):

Day and Ruth, both members of legislative committees concerning transportation, told the audience that transportation has been a low priority in Minnesota. The pair said they hoped to bring more funding and attention to transportation issues in Southern Minnesota.

“[Highway] 14 isn’t ever on the radar, yet,” Day said. “Everybody said health care, education are more important. The Bridge had to come down before a certain group of people would say that transportation is important.”

Barring a presidential veto, Highway 14 will soon be in line for federal funding. U.S Representative Tim Walz has sought funds in the 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill for the expansion of the highway.

According to Meredith Salisbury, Walz’ press secretary, Walz earmarked $850,000 for Highway 14 in the current version of the bill. The revised bill still has yet to pass through the U.S. Senate. President George W. Bush threatened to veto the first version of the bill in October.

Day and Ruth did not mention the bill pending in the U.S. Congress, but explained to Chamber members that they hope to pass a comprehensive transportation plan and find state funding for Highway 14 and other road projects without resorting to a gas tax.

This is a classic article in the sense that Day forfeits any credibility even before reality is presented.

Not even on the radar? Was Day awake in the Senate chamber this legislative session (before the bridge collapse) when Sen. Steve Murphy, Senate transportation chair, spoke clearly about “Highway 14 in Sen. Day’s district” multiple times (among countless other things)?
Funny too is how Day says people think “education and health care are more important” when he’s made it clear his campaign theme is rounding up illegal immigrants.

Well, he convinced the Strib’s Mark Brunswick of that anyway.

As this photo shows, Day should put the toy glasses he got early from Santa away and worry about the issues important to southern Minnesota such as education, health care and oh yeah, transportation.

The US House of Representatives today approved a transportation and housing bill today by a vote of 270-147.  The only members of the Minnesota delegation voting against the bill were Reps. John Kline and Michele Bachmann, both Republicans.  The bill includes $195 million for funding the reconstruction of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis.

Steve Sarvi, the only announced DFL challenger to Kline so far, released the following statement:

“I’m in shock. John Kline has been grandstanding on this issue for the past month – and now, when he actually has the opportunity to deliver the funds authorized to Minnesota in the wake of the bridge tragedy, he votes against the bill. He chose a smoke-and-mirrors attempt at convincing his constituents he’s willing to invest in the infrastructure they count on every day over actually doing anything about it. This was a horrible vote for the people of Minnesota. An unthinkable vote.”

President Bush has threatened a veto based on grounds it “doesn’t hold spending to reasonable and responsible levels.”  It’s too bad that Kline and Bachmann are more concerned with helping Bush reinvent himself as a fiscal conservative with a year remaining in his term than investing in infrastructure.

Want to talk about playing politics with the bridge?  Kline, Bachmann and Bush offer the prime example of that with their votes and threatened veto, respectively.

In a ditch effort to look like a fiscal conservative, regardless of the record spending growth during the first seven years of his administration, President George W. Bush vetoed the Water Resources Development Act.

Too bad this was a bill full of projects which are important, and in some cases crucial, to home districts of those in Congress, including those of Republicans.

With all members of the Minnesota delegation voting to override the veto (will Bachmann get the opportunity to get smoochie-smoochie with Bush anytime soon?), the House re-passed the bill 361-54; the Senate 79-14.

Remember Gov. Tim Pawlenty saying something along the lines of “welllll ya just because ya  don’t get as much local government aid as yall want, ya don’t neeeeeed to go araising property taxes and local fees!”

While all nearly all municipalities provide services people generally like such as fire, police and schools, others have unique challenges.  One of those is Goodview, Minn., which was told to reduce radium levels in its drinking water.  To help pay for the $4 million treatment plant when other funding fell through, they had to goto the federal government.

They asked Rep. Tim Walz and Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar to secure funding under cries from fiscal hawks like Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, of “NO! NO EARMARKS! NEVER! IF THEY WANT IT BAD ENOUGH, THEY CAN PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES! FISCAL CONSERVATISM AND ACCOUNTABILITY!!!!!!!”

Yes, the sprawling metropolis of Goodview, already saddled with tremendous hardship following this year’s flooding and with a booming population of just over 3,000 is going to afford to pay for a $4 million treatment facility to meet an otherwise unfunded mandate on its own?

That brand of conservatism is quite compassionate, indeed.

Walz, who has shown his list of earmarks with almost unmatched transparency, released the following statement today.  We say “Well done!” for coming through for a community in your district.

“I am pleased by the overwhelming bi-partisan majority that voted to override the President’s veto on this important legislation. President Bush has shown he is not serious about addressing the significant infrastructure problems facing this country.  This is the first WRDA bill in more than seven years and this legislation authorizes important projects like an upgrade to the locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River and a water treatment facility in the City of Goodview.  I’m thrilled to see this important legislation become law.”

Barack Obama has the judgment and experience to lead this country. Just look at who got the single most important foreign policy decision since the end of the Cold War right, and who got it wrong. Who had the conviction to buck Washington’s conventional thinking, and who will make the right judgments for America going forward.
Barack Obama opposed the Iraq war from the start – at a time when going to war was politically popular. He was convinced that it would distract us from Afghanistan, fan the flames of extremism around the world, and enflame sectarian tensions in Iraq. So he went to a rally and argued against “a rash war” and “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences.”

The American people were failed by President Bush, but also by conventional thinking in Washington the joined the rush to war, particularly by a Congress that voted to give the President the open-ended authority to wage war. Let’s be clear: nobody thought Congress was debating whether or not to give the President the authority to conduct diplomacy - the debate was about whether to go to war. Without that vote, there would be no war.

Barack Obama isn’t running for President to conform to Washington’s conventional thinking – he’s running to challenge it. He’s not running to turn back the clock – he’s running to turn the page.

There is a window of opportunity in this election, and if we don’t seize it, we might not get another chance. We’re not going to face down unconventional threats with the same old conventional thinking that got us into Iraq. We’re not going to bring this country together with the same old conventional politics of trying to beat the other side. Barack Obama is the only candidate who has the right judgment and experience to unite our country and restore our standing in the world.

Barack Obama will turn the page to a new era of American diplomacy. The Bush-Cheney diplomacy of not talking to other countries doesn’t make us look tough – it makes us look arrogant. To protect America, we need a President who is willing to talk to all nations, friend and foe. And that is exactly what Barack Obama will do.

Barack Obama will turn the page to a new American leadership in the world. The UN has embraced the Millennium Development Goals, which aim to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015. When Barack Obama is President, that will be America’s goal. While the Bush Administration tried to keep the UN from trumpeting these goals, Obama will double foreign assistance to $50 billion to lead the world to achieve them.

We need to turn the page on a nuclear policy that is still focused on deterring the Soviet Union. Barack Obama will set the goal of a world without nuclear weapons. He’ll work with Russia to dramatically reduce the stockpiles of nuclear weapons, and to seek a global ban on the production of fissile material. He’ll set a goal to expand the U.S.-Russian ban on intermediate-range missiles so that it is a global agreement. And he’ll lead a global effort to secure all loose nuclear materials during his first term in office.
As President, Barack Obama will lead a new era of openness and accountability. He’ll give an annual “State of the World” address to the American people laying out our national security policy. He’ll create a new National Declassification Center to turn the page on unnecessary secrecy. He’ll make the Director of National Intelligence an official with a fixed term, because we don’t need any more officials who just tell the President what they want to hear. And he’ll establish a standing and bipartisan Consultative Group of congressional leaders on national security, because he believes that foreign policy should not be a partisan issue – it should be an American issue.

Doing all of this won’t be easy. But throughout our history, America has made the right choice over the easy choice, the ambitious choice over the cautious choice. And if we make the right choice in this election, we’ll not just turn the page on the same Washington conventional thinking that got us into this war – we’ll turn the page to a new beginning, and unite this country to meet urgent challenges.

Now that Congress is done voting on resolutions condemning newspaper ads (notice I didn’t say “attacking free speech,” but yeah I should probably have a post on that specifically sometime), the House today is taking up H.R. 3121, legislation about the national flood insurance program.  The legislation would expand coverage to include wind damage.  Big surprise here: President Bush intends to veto the bill.  From Reuters:

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The Bush administration on Wednesday threatened to veto a post-Katrina bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would expand the federal government’s flood insurance program to cover wind damage.

The bill sponsored by California Democrat Maxine Waters was expected to reach the House floor on Thursday.

Among other steps, it would add wind damage to perils covered under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), set up in 1968.

The White House said in a statement it opposes adding wind coverage to the national flood program.

“Shifting liabilities for windstorm damage from the private sector to the NFIP would be fiscally irresponsible. Federal government insurance would displace insurance that is already provided by the private market,” it said.

In addition, the White House said including wind damage would mean all taxpayers would have to subsidize insurance rates for people in high-risk areas.

The White House also objected to aspects of the bill that would widen the national flood insurance program’s scope.

“Increasing the coverage amounts could further encourage expensive development in high-risk areas and leave the federal taxpayer with a larger debt burden following the next catastrophe,” the White House added.

There is no similar measure currently before the Senate.

Lawmakers have put forward numerous proposals after three hurricanes in 2005 — Katrina, Rita and Wilma — killed hundreds and caused billions of dollars in damages along America’s southern coastline.

Later today Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, will offer an amendment to the bill which would add a requirement that FEMA map areas in “the 100-year floodplain that would flood if not for a levee, dam, or other man-made structure.”

I’m sure he’s only offering it because MoveOn.org told him he could.  Hee hee.

Minnesota Republican Rep. John Kline has arrived in Iraq for the fifth time since the war started.  From the Star Tribune’s Kevin Diaz:

WASHINGTON - Minnesota Republican John Kline, one of the strongest congressional supporters of the U.S. war effort, arrived in Iraq Friday, beginning his fifth visit since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

The trip, coming as Congress debates the future of U.S. troop deployments in Iraq, will also include a stop in Afghanistan. Kline is part of a congressional delegation made up of three Republicans and three Democrats. The group is being led by Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii.

In an interview before he left Washington, Kline said he was encouraged by reports of progress given to Congress last week by Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. But, he added, he wanted to see the latest conditions for himself.

“I’d like to see with my own eyes what progress has been made — or the lack of progress,” he said.

Kline, a retired Marine colonel, said he’s particularly interested in assessing the morale of U.S. troops, which is critical to military reenlistment rates. “I want to know what the soldiers and Marines feel about their mission,” he said.

He also said it will be important to meet with regional Iraqi leaders to assess the prospects of national reconciliation for the central Iraqi government.

Almost unwavering from George W. Bush’s Iraq policy.  “The surge is clearly working,” is what Kline will likely say upon returning.  Or if that quote has a “but” following it, his visit might bring back evidence of how salvageable things really are over there.

Meanwhile, anger is growing among Republicans, specifically House Armed Services Committee members Kline and ranking member Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-California) and the amount of corruption surrounding military contracts in Iraq.  The investigated contracts in these situations alone ring to the tune of $6 billion for “essential supplies” and $88 billion for body armor.  Some of the story from the New York Times:

Representatives from both parties pummeled the panel with angry questions and comments, assailing the Pentagon for having failed to overhaul the procurement system more than two years after Congress had identified serious problems in defense contracting and passed legislation aimed at helping the Pentagon correct them.

Someone refresh my memory: how much were those cases of Coca Cola being sold for?

The lawmakers also challenged assertions by the Pentagon officials that the corruption being uncovered was the work of a few isolated individuals. Several committee members suggested that the abuses were far more systemic.

“The problems were so severe that I fear they could represent a culture of corruption,” said Representative Ike Skelton, Democrat of Missouri, the chairman of the committee. “I am extremely disappointed to learn that so many individuals violated their integrity and undermined the oaths they made to this country.”

Representative John Kline, a Minnesota Republican and retired Marine colonel, said he was “doubly, triply, quadruply appalled” at the “clear breakdown in leadership” that allowed some Army contracting officers to corrupt the procurement system. He said it was inexcusable that it took so long for the Army to put adequate checks in place.

Pentagon officials did not dispute the seriousness of the problems. However, they took issue with lawmakers’ characterizations of their scope. “I think it’s isolated incidents,” said Thomas F. Gimble, the principal deputy Pentagon inspector general. “The real issue is a lack of control, a lack of integrity and lots of opportunity and lots of money.”

With the no-bid contracts over in Iraq, isn’t it inexcusable of Kline to take so long to start an accountability process?

As of Sept. 12, the Army reported that it had 78 cases of fraud and corruption under investigation, had obtained 20 criminal indictments, and had uncovered over $15 million in bribes.

Lawmakers scolded the Pentagon for just recently ordering the creation of a special contracting corps of experienced procurement specialists — authorized in the legislation two years ago — to bolster purchasing teams in the most active combat zones, and to report directly to a regional military commander.

“That it’s taken two years to do this is an indication of a system that’s quite slow,” said Representative Duncan Hunter of California, the senior Republican on the committee. “That’s half the time it took to win World War II.”

Hat tip to Bluestem Prairie.

Previously Missing in Action Minnesota second district Rep. John Kline (R-Some non-disclosed shelter) will debate first district DFLer Tim Walz about the future of America’s presence in Iraq tomorrow night on Almanac. Almanac airs locally on TPT 2 (KTCA) at 7:00 p.m. with replays on TPT2 and can also be viewed online at www.tpt.org/almanac.

Kline was very conspicuously absent during the August congressional recess from town hall meetings or forums and performed virtually no other constituent outreach efforts with the exception of a “telephone town hall meeting,” the legitimacy of which was to say the least, questionable. Kline continues to have unwavering support for President Bush’s Iraq war policy with little explanation to his constituents. Meanwhile, virtually ever other member of Minnesota’s congressional delegation did constituent outreach work within his or her district, most notably Walz’ work on flood relief efforts in southeastern Minnesota.

As I’ve said before, I’m quite an Almanac fan, especially of David Gillette’s visual essays.

Jason and I will be playing softball tomorrow night (go Diamond Runners in the Prior Lake Co-Rec league!) but I will be sure to have my thoughts after viewing a recap.

Time for another dinner with Barack Obama. While I most certainly knew that I would not get chosen to attend this dinner, I figured that it never hurts to donate earlier than anticipated. Maybe me winning a sweet sweatshirt from the recent Moutain Dew promotion “Transform your summer” in conjunction with the July 4th release of Transformers got me excited, but either way whatever. Here is the text of those that have been chosen to attend Barack’s dinner….

Gabrielle Grossman of Exeter, New Hampshire
Gabrielle worked as a 7th grade teacher but recently became a stay-at-home mom. She’s been volunteering with the campaign for more than a month. The day she signed up to volunteer, she received some tough news: her two-year-old son was diagnosed with autism.In her letter to Dinner with Barack, Gabrielle said, “Autism is an epidemic, there is not enough funding to get kids the services they need. So many kids are getting diagnosed, and there just aren’t enough resources out there for kids. That’s a huge issue for me personally.” The campaign has kept her motivated and energized throughout this tough time in her life. She adds, “At a time when you don’t feel like you have a lot of hope, it’s done the total opposite, the campaign has got us involved and given me more hope than ever.”

Brittany Washington of Los Angeles, California
Brittany is a Howard University student who wants to join Teach for America, get her doctorate in education and public policy, and possibly open her own charter school. She currently volunteers in Washington, D.C.’s public school system and says, “The windows are broken out, and there are never enough chairs or lights. It’s just ridiculous. And we expect these kids to compete with other kids who have chairs and windows.” Brittany’s mother, who relied on California’s welfare medical coverage, recently passed away at the age of 38. Despite Brittany’s repeated pleas for a cancer specialist, she was told doctors wouldn’t look at her mother because she didn’t have the right kind of insurance.
She says she admires Barack’s style of politics because “it’s honest and realistic.” As a political science major, she’d want to ask him how he’s able to work in politics and stay true to his beliefs.

Michael Wilson of Cocoa Beach, Florida
Mike is an Air Force veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who disagreed with why we went to Iraq. He plans to talk to Barack about some of the people he met an Iraq — for example, an Iraqi physician who invited him into his home and wanted to talk about anything except war and politics — and a young Iraqi who dreamed of coming to America. Although Mike is a registered Republican, he believes Barack reflects “what America is and what America needs.” And that, he explains, is the place where “people look for freedom and hope. It’s not imperialistic; it offers a light.” He hopes that Barack will position the country to be that light again.

Dorothy Unruh of Lakewood, Colorado
Dorothy is a senior citizen who is fed up with the current state of our government. As she said in her letter, “I’m sad that our great nation has lost its stature in the eyes of the rest of the world. I have been a registered Republican for years, but recently officially changed parties so I can attend the Democratic caucus and help elect Senator Obama. He is like a breath of fresh air to my husband and me.”Dorothy has never taken part in a political campaign before, but she and millions of other voters who want change are going to be the key to Democratic victories up and down the ballot next year.

Gabrielle, Brittany, Michael, and Dorothy are just four of more than 258,000 individuals who have made a donation to support our movement for change.

Thank you so much for being a part of this drive. By participating you are making good on Barack’s promise to run a campaign funded by ordinary people, not Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs.

Think about what you would ask Barack and submit your questions now:

http://my.barackobama.com/dinner

Just like last time, we’ll film the dinner and share the experience with everyone online. It should be an evening full of good conversation and good ideas about restoring the power of our government to the people.

P.S. — There’s one other opportunity to join Barack and help build our movement that we’d like to share with you.

Next week, Barack is going to be a guest on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. You and a friend could receive free tickets and travel to New York to be part of the studio audience.

http://my.barackobama.com/dailyshowtix

To participate, all you need to do is invite someone to join the campaign this week. We’ll choose an interesting story from those we receive, and send a new supporter to attend the taping. They’ll get a ticket to the show along with the person who invited them — you!

Invite as many of your friends, family, and colleagues as you want. Our movement is about reconnecting regular people with our political system, and restoring a government that serves everyone.

If they join our movement and share their story, you could be heading to Comedy Central’s World News Headquarters in New York.

Click here for more details and to participate:

http://my.barackobama.com/dailyshowtix