One Year Ago

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Read The Full Article:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamaforamerica/gGMmn4

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Election Results Open Thread

Special thanks to everyone who helped make calls, knocked on doors, and got out and voted today...

Read The Full Article:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamaforamerica/gGMmnX

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GOTV Calls: Only a Few Hours Left

UPDATED: Polls in Virginia are now closed, but voting is still underway in New Jersey and New York, as well as other races across the country. 

Polls in Virginia close at 7:00 p.m. Eastern; polls in New Jersey close at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and polls in New York close at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

We've only got a few hours left to make as much of an impact as possible. No matter where you are, you can help out in the final stretch by making GOTV calls from home: 

Click here to call voters in Virginia. (polls are now closed)

Click here to call voters in New Jersey.

Click here to call voters in New York's 23rd District.

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"By the People" Hawaii Preview

Last week, supporters in Hawaii were treated to a sneak-peak of the new HBO documentary "By the People," which chronicles Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Ria Beldevia, OFA State Director for Hawaii, and her team played host for the event, and were able to capture pictures and quotes from individuals at the screening. 

Damion T. in Honolulu remembers going "to New York for a rally in Washington Square Park, and the feeling of so many people from different backgrounds coming together for one cause was so inspiring."

"By the People" premieres tonight, and there are watch parties planned throughout the country.

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Urgent: House Vote Soon

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

The House's first full vote on health reform legislation may come as early as this week. It'll be the first time in more than 60 years that the full body votes on comprehensive reform, and we expect it to be very close.

But with just a few days before the vote, the insurance industry and their allies are putting extraordinary pressure on every representative to defeat it. We know that their expensive lobbyists will be dashing to each congressional office, attempting to twist arms. The only question is whether the phones will be ringing off the hook with constituents supporting reform while that happens.

Can you call your representative right now and tell them to vote in favor of real health insurance reform?

The House bill incorporates the best ideas from Democrats and Republicans to guarantee security and stability for those with insurance, provide affordable options for those without -- including the choice of a public insurance option -- and reduce costs for families and small businesses, all while decreasing the deficit.

Many representatives are standing with the President and fighting hard for reform. They need to know that they have our thanks and our support.

And we need to remind the rest of Congress that Americans need them to rise above partisan divides and stand up to the special interests. Please call:

http://my.barackobama.com/HouseVote

It's down to the wire. Your hard work helped bring us to this historic moment. Now let's bring it home.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

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U.S. Interior Departments Clean Energy Forum

Watch a few minutes of C-Span?s coverage of the Interior Department?s Clean Energy Forum held November 2, and you?ll see something both ordinary and extraordinary:

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, his Deputy, Assistant Secretaries, Directors and Commissioners presenting an intelligent and persuasive case for the Obama Administration?s Clean Energy Strategy.

Contrast this group of professionals with the cast of characters at the highest levels of the Interior Department during the Bush era.

Remember Gail Norton, who ran the Department for six years, using her office to turn federal land and resources over to her friends in the mining, timber, oil, gas and coal industries. Norton is now under investigation for conflict of interest related to oil shale leases in Colorado. She was followed as secretary by former Idaho Republican Governor Dick Kempthorne, known for his animosity toward open space in the West.

Disillusioned Democrats, frustrated by stalled legislation in Congress and a cautious White House, should keep in mind that this administration is slowly and steadily shifting the internal practices and policies of federal departments, agencies and commissions.

This takes time. While it?s not exactly a ?purge,? populating the federal bureaucracy with appointees who believe in the mission of government is an enormous asset for environmentalists, unions, consumer advocates and progressive organizations from A to Z.

Read The Full Article:
http://laborlou.blogspot.com/2009/11/us-interior-departments-clean-energy.html

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GOTV Calls: "Felt like old times"

As voters in a number of states head to the polls today, many long-time supporters are back on the phones, making calls to help get out the vote. In New Jersey, Jersey Girl reports:

Turn out is slow like any other non Presidential election no surprises there. This afternoon I volunteered to take people to the polls for now to the phones. Let's go NJ, NY and VA GOTV.

From Cookemon, in Illinois:

I'm making calls to Virginia, reminding folks to vote and let them know how important their vote is... I'll be calling off and on today.

And from Sharon, in Maryland:

Just finished 50 calls to New Jersey. Felt like old times. Time to stretch my legs and go back for more.

No matter where you are, you can help out in the final stretch by making GOTV calls from home using our online tools: 

Click here to call voters in New Jersey.

Click here to call voters in New York's 23rd District.

Click here to call voters in Virginia.

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Election Day

In many places across the country, today is election day. There are governor races in Virgina and New Jersey, Congressional races in New York's 23rd District and California's 10th District, as well as countless other important local races.

Voters in New Jersey can find their polling location here.

Voters in New York's 23rd District can find their polling location here.

Voters in Virginia can find their polling location here.

No matter where you are, you can help get out the vote in these key states by making phone calls from home using our online tools. Turnout is key in off-year races, and just a few minutes on the phone can make a huge difference in a tight race. 

Click here to call voters in New Jersey.

Click here to call voters in New York's 23rd District.

Click here to call voters in Virginia.

One year ago, we saw firsthand the impact that these phone calls and conversations can have. It's election day, and you know what to do. 

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Morning News

From ABC News

While spinmeisters from both sides will do their best after tomorrow’s results are in, it's a dicey business to draw broad conclusions from state and local off-year elections. The turnout's different and the issues and candidates are idiosyncratic, meaning conclusions need to be hedged. Nonetheless there are themes worth watching – economic discontent chief among them, given its customarily awesome political power.

But first things first: Is tomorrow's voting a referendum on Barack Obama?

Pre-election data suggest that notion's a tough sell. Consider for example a Washington Post poll last week, in which likely voters in the Virginia governor’s race divided essentially evenly on whether they were voting in part to express support for Obama (14 percent) or opposition to him (15 percent); the rest – and most by far, 70 percent – said he wasn’t a factor in their vote one way or the other…

From the Washington Post

Wall Street's top bankers were given a Feb. 1 deadline to submit proposals for how they plan to improve their pay practices, people with knowledge of the meeting said.

The meeting, convened by New York Fed President William C. Dudley, was brief -- no more than 30 minutes -- and to the point with Fed regulators making it clear that they are serious about enforcing the executive compensation guidelines they proposed late last month.

While the rules have yet to be finalized, Dudley told Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein, J.P. Morgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon, Morgan Stanley chief executive John Mack and others that he wants the banks to begin incorporating the new practices as they set year-end bonuses in the coming months….

Fed officials urged the banks to do more to align pay with long-term performance, such as by awarding a significant portion of compensation in stock, sources familiar with the meetings said…

From the San Franciso Chronicle

Democratic leaders of a key Senate committee vowed Monday to forge ahead with climate change legislation despite a planned boycott by Republicans on the panel.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee she heads would begin working on the global warming bill today - with or without the Republicans.

"We look forward to working with them if they decide to participate," Boxer said. "But if they do not, we will move forward in accordance with the rules of the Senate and of this committee..."

In response late Monday, Boxer decided to bring EPA officials before the committee today to discuss the bill's economic effects. She also extended a deadline for Republicans to submit amendments, making it the close of business today...

Boxer said the legislation has already been subject to extensive review, including three days of hearings with testimony from 54 witnesses last week...

The Kerry-Boxer climate bill would impose steadily tightening limits on the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. Refiners, power plants, manufacturers and other polluters could comply with the new caps by cutting their emissions or buying and trading allowances to release the substances.

From the Washington Times

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said the New York special congressional election, which is roiling after the Republican nominee pulled out and endorsed the Democrat, will be a chance for voters to send a message that the Republican Party has become too extreme….

Mr. Biden, speaking at a rally here for Democrat Bill Owens, cited the withdrawal of Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava over the weekend as proof that the "most extreme wing" of the party won't tolerate dissent.

"I say to all those moderate Republicans ... join us, we welcome you," Mr. Biden said. "Join us in teaching a lesson to those absolutists."

…The state assemblywoman -- who has bucked the party on abortion, gay marriage, union "card check" legislation and the economic stimulus bill -- endorsed Mr. Owens on Sunday, while Republican leaders in Washington threw their support behind Mr. Hoffman. Her name sparked tremendous applause among Owens supporters gathered at the North Side Improvement League.

"We don't want to go back to the failed Bush economic agenda and ideological approach to governing," Mr. Owens said. "It's clear that my opponent has come to embrace the latter..."

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