Mama's Votin' For Obama by Bobby Gosh...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E40t8rzCnFg

 

Bobby Gosh wrote this song  when we were out in Denver.

 

 

Tunbridge Fair OCDC Booth

Helping Gaye Symington's Campaign

VPR is holding a live radio debate in 2 weeks. But they've opened an online space to submit questions here:

http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/vpr/posts/list/1565610.page

Help the Symington Crew set the tone for this crucial debate by clicking the link above and posting a question today. Then, make your comment stick in the public mind by following it up with a quick letter to the editor of your local paper. the VDP website makes it easy to send one, just click this link to get started: http://vtdemocrats.org/page/speakout/letters

Need some help coming up with a question or letter? Here's a few talking points to get you started:

Gaye's Green jobs and local Energy Plan

- Invest in Vermont-made electricity including wind solar and hydro so that we become more energy independent, and create over 4,000 good-paying jobs right here in Vermont.

- Develops a new biomass industry in the state so we can begin to 'heat local' as well as 'eat local' by using wood, and other locally-grown fuels to heat our homes.

- is innovative, harnessing new technologies, and allowing Vermonters to avoid the upfront cost of replacing an old furnace or insulating their home with her 'efficiency pays' proposal.

Gaye's education plan

- Creates a new program that bridges high school with the first two years of higher education so every student graduates ready to contribute his or her best to their community, and our state's economy.

- Continues her work to make pre-kindergarten education accessible to more families so all Vermont students enter school ready to learn.

- And working with Barack Obama to change the flawed 'no child left behind' program so we focus on teaching our kids not testing our teachers.

Douglas distorts on job cuts

-       The Douglas administration was caught trying to deceive the Legislature by making it look like they were not cutting social workers from state agencies when in fact they planned to.  The deception was motivated by a desire to keep the Governor from "looking bad" for cutting social workers.

- This proves that the Governor's obsession with public relations is affecting substantive decisions about services to Vermonters.  This must be stopped.

- This is really an abuse of power.  It shows no respect for the Legislative branch. Our system is based on checks and balances, and deliberately deceiving the legislative branch undermines that system.

- A Governor who believed in accountability would show leadership and take responsibility for his staff's deception and disrespect, and Vermonters should demand that Governor Douglas do so.

- No wonder the Governor refuses to reduce his million-dollar PR operation even as he cuts support for affordable housing. It's clear his paid PR team values protecting Douglas' image more than serving Vermont.

Fight the Smears

- Just like John McCain, Jim Douglas is using paid media to distort the record of his opponents. 

- Jim Douglas is running ads on radio and TV that claim Gaye Symington raised taxes on property, fuel oil taxes and gasoline. But many of the charges are outright lies.

- Jim Douglas claims to be a different kind of Republican, one who talks straight and doesn't engage in gutter politics. But these ads are just more Washington-style politics right out of the Karl Rove playbook.

- Jim Douglas should pull these ads from the air, and campaign on his record, and his ideas for making Vermont's economy stronger. 

- Gaye Symington has made specific proposals on growing green jobs, expanding access to higher education, and fixing out crumbling roads and bridges. Maybe Jim's afraid to talk about these issues because he hasn't got any ideas, and his promise that Jim would equal jobs has clearly fallen flat.

Drew Hudson

Field Director

802-272-9763

symingtonforgovernor.com

Drew Hudson

Field Director

802-272-9763

symingtonforgovernor.com

Gourmet Pasta Party, Saturday, September 20 @ 6 p.m.

Windsor County Democratic Committee 

Gourmet Pasta Party  Saturday, September 20 @ 6 p.m.

United for Change Potluck, Thetford, Sept 21

Barack video

Barack and his family at Invesco

Invesco

Joe Biden at Invesco

Gore at INVESCO

FROM INVESCO

From INVESCO

at VT breakfast

/

photo from Convention

Senator Ted Kennedy at the podium

Linda Weiss and Judy Bevans

service day

service day

service day

photo on Service day at the convention

photo from a VT breakfast at the convention

photo from convention

Senator Leahy at the podium

Senator Leahy

photo from the convention

Celebrating Michelle Obama

Joe Biden at the convention

from the convention

Vermont sign at the Pepsi Center

photo from the convention

Senator Bernie Sanders

photo from the convention

Denver The Rest of The Story!

Hello again everyone!

            The rest of the story! Wednesday was a day you could all be very proud of your Vermont delegation. There was a community service project in which several States participated, even California; we sent the largest group near 30 while California and others sent 5-10, yea! VT. The day continued with Caucus meetings and culminated with a speech to the convention by our own Senior Senator, the Honorable Patrick Leahy.  Senator Leahy spoke about the concerns of Rural America and the need for support for the rural parts of our country and that if we have four more years like these the demise is inevitable. Then later we heard from President Bill Clinton who gave one of his most electrifying and energizing speeches ever, as noted by over eleven minutes of applause. After President Clinton, Senator Biden's son Beau the Attorney General of Delaware and National Guardsmen, being deployed to Iraqi, introduced his father moved us all especially his dad. With a tear in his eye our Vice presidential candidate delivered a great speech. We were introduced to his family and then to our surprise Barack came out and congratulated the Senator and his family.

Our last day started with breakfast and presentations by Senator Sanders who put Senator McCain's record into perspective and Jeffery Wolfe, CEO of groSolar. Jeff's company is helping Vermont lead the charge in the development of the energy alternative revolution. His business has gained national acclaim and it is based in White River Junction Vermont. We took our delegation picture and went off to more Caucuses and then worked our way to INVESCO Mile High Stadium. To help clarify the stage design, that was critized by many, it was designed to represent the backdrop of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his memorable "I have a Dream Speech" forty five years ago today. (August 28, 1963). Dr Martin Luther King III spoke to us and then a number of regular people spoke one of my favorites was by an Indiana factory worker Barney Smith, a life long republican, who was laid off after 31 years when his job was shipped overseas. He made a fantastic statement:"We need a president who puts Barney Smith before Smith Barney," and the whole audience of 80,000 plus went into thunderous applause. Our friend Jamie Hess, OBAMA Fellow, from Norwich Vermont ran into Barney on the convention floor, wearing the unmistakable red checkered shirt.
 "Where did you get that line about Smith Barney?" Jamie asked him. "Well," he said, "My brother called me this morning and told me, 'Barney, have I got a line for you!' I had to call the speechwriter and ask if it was OK, but he said 'Go for it Barney!' "
See Barney's speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuAVw_v3br8

The star studded lineup from the presentation of the colors, Pledge of Allegiance, National anthem and time with Stevie Wonder Came the Brass. Just before Barack Came to the stage one after another 22 retired Generals and Admirals came to the stage, three women, also including general Westmorland. The message they shared with all present and viewing on TV was that they could serve under Barack as there Commander in Chief. Then came Barack!! He did great as always. After the speech came the grand finale, confetti, streamers and impressive fireworks.

I wore my regalia home on the plain and it was a great experience sharing the energy of the convention with so many people on the way back to Vermont.

What an honor to be part of history and represent Hartford, Vermont and my family WOW.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Kevin

As I get some pictures from some of the professional photographers and bloggers, I will pass them on.

---

Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.

FOR THE BLOG

Convention Reports:

From Billi Gosh:

It was an historic convention in many ways. The first time a black man of a major party was nominated for POTUS. The first time the runner-up was a woman, and she earned 18 million votes. The greatest number of delegates who were under 35 years old. The largest venue ever for the acceptance speech.

From our front-row seats we heard the best speeches of their careers delivered by Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Barack Obama. What a privilege and what a thrill!

 

From Sherry Merrick:

The experience was phenomenal. I was so honored to be part of the Vermont Delegation at this historic convention. Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" Speech. Hillary Clinton delivered one her greatest speeches on the 88th anniversary of women acquiring the right to vote.

 

Some of my highlights of the convention:

Edward Kennedy's personal appearance and speech http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/08/25/democrat-convention.html?ref=rss , Michelle Obama's speech and Barack's surprise appearance, and Susan Eisenhower's speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ccy8UZdkd8 .

Thursday's entire experience at  Invesco Stadium from start (finding my way to the field via shuttle, attempted light rail, back to shuttle and finally a delegate bus) to finish with  Barack's  most amazing speech capped off with a surprise of confetti, streamers and fireworks.  Also,Barney Smith, one of the citizens' speeches that night had a great line http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuAVw_v3br8 . The energy and high expectations within the stadium of 80,000 like minded people was a rare and exceptional occurrence.  Yes We Can! I  have photos posted on the  OCDC blog. More will be posted  this weekend.  http://ocvtdems.blogspot.com/

 

I hope to have more delegate reports next week.

Delegate Service Day at the Convention:

As part of the convention's focus on engaging the community, the Vermont delegation spent last Wednesday morning building a playground for the students at Force Elementary. Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Peter Welch joined the delegation for the service project.

Delegate Service Day, an effort co-chaired by Michelle Obama and Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter, aimed to inspire a renewed commitment to service. Projects range from canned food sorting, painting at local schools, serving meals at shelters, reading to children, removing graffiti, landscaping at local schools, tree planting and park maintenance.