I just received this email from the Obama campaign. 

We need your help right now.

In Quincy, Illinois and surrounding areas, the river is expected to crest on Monday or Tuesday.

There are emergency sandbagging operations going on right now and public officials have put out a call for all available volunteers. Your help is desperately needed.

The widespread flooding in the Midwest has affected millions of people. We have an opportunity to use our grassroots movement to make a real impact at a time of urgent need.

If you can assist, please travel to one of these areas this weekend:

QUINCY, IL

Oakley-Lindsey Civic Center
South 3rd St. and Kentucky St.
Quincy, IL 62301
Map and Directions

Saturday and Sunday, June 14th - 15th
6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Volunteers are asked to come through the north doors of the Oakley-Lindsey Center. Everyone will be asked to sign a registration sheet as they enter and leave so the city can keep track of the volunteer service.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring shovels, gloves and sturdy shoes.

NIOTA, IL

If you'd like to help sandbag in Niota you can call Hancock County emergency services at 217-357-6004 for more information.

URSA, IL

Volunteers are still needed in Ursa. The operation is underway at Shaffer Farm, along the Ursa blacktop road, 1/8 mile west of the North Bottoms Road.

Volunteers are also requesting cold bottled water for those who are working.

More information on volunteering in this area:

http://my.barackobama.com/floodvolunteer

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by the recent flooding through the Midwest.

If you are not able to make it to Quincy but would like to help, visit the American Red Cross to donate to their relief efforts or find out how to get involved.

Thanks,

Obama for America

I've never been asked for anything by any politician besides money.  I've never received an email that was about anything but politics - who said what about whom - or policy. 

Maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing, but the campaign is using its donor list to get help for folks who really need it right now, and I am so proud to be on that list.  I can't explain it fully, but...I'm glad this person will be President in a few short months.

After 9/11 our "president" only asked us to shop.  For the first time in my life I'm proud of a leader I elected.

But enough about Obama...I'm going out to get an oil change and some air in my tires, 'cause it looks like I'm headed to Quincy tomorrow.

If any of you are anywhere near the Midwest, the folks in Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska and Kansas are not only dealing with the floods but have been devastated by the worst tornado season we've had in 10 years.  If you have time, come and help sandbag.  If you are far away or can't make the trip, please contact the Red Cross to donate blood, clothes and food.  It's really, really bad out here - people have lost everything they own to wind and water, and we know we can't yet count on our government to help them (not until January, anyway).

Thanks :)

So I have CNN on in the background while I'm working (the constant loop of daytime stories is generally easy to ignore...sorry CNN), when they cut to part of McCain's town hall meeting in Philadelphia (?). 

I heard these two snippets within less than a few minutes of each other (I might not be quoting exactly, the video isn't available yet 'cause I think the meeting is still going on):

1)  "I don't think the people of Pennsylvania are bitter" (essentially re-hashing the bits and pieces of "bittergate" - old news, old man!)

2) "We need to move away from soundbite politics.  I want to hear more full quotes coming from the media - in context!"

So, what McCain the hypocrite is saying is, it's important to look to context and understand the full meaning of a statement, not just an abbreviation of what was actually said...unless it's something Obama said, in which case soundbites, or maybe only a key word or two, are just fine.  I guess McCain didn't really expect to be held to his "Straight Talk" standard.

Either that, or he was having another "senior moment" and forgot he referred to the context-free "bitter" soundbite two minutes prior.

I'll keep checking for the video and will post more exact quotations when I have them...feel free to add them if you spot them first.

I don't remember how to screen capture, so pardon me if I screw this up, but right now on the main page Josh has a (mistaken?) double post.

Until now, we'd only seen such slips in the Cafe, but it seems we're not alone! 

Maybe now they'll feel our pain and let us edit!

(Light pouring, choirs singing, etc.)

And if the link didn't work, my apologies - it's not like we can preview to test our links...(ohh!...idea light bulb!).

Politico ran an article today that discusses the difficulties Democratic congressional candidates will have in abiding by the ban on accepting money from PACs and lobbyists implemented by Sen. Obama and the DNC.    In fact, the DCCC and the DSCC both say the probably *won't* stop accepting handouts.

Specifically, the lobbyists whine, candidates can't raise money any other way - and the Dems want to win, right?

Before I go any further, I just want to point out two things that I find to be hilarious about the article:

1) Most of the quotes came from disgruntled lobbyists - not too many candidates want to speak out against Obama just now.
2) Although these same lobbyists resent the fact that Obama's edict has painted candidates who do accept their donations as "scumbags" they don't deny the fact that their donations come with big fat strings and are effectively tainted.

Now back to the point:  when I first read this article, I got a little worried that if too many candidates protest the DNC's policy that it won't take and Obama will look like he can't control his own party. 

But I'm wondering if this Congressional and Senatorial temper tantrum only serves to reinforce his point while providing him cover from the Republicans.

Here's why grassroots fundraising has worked for Obama:  he introduced himself to his constituency (both the one he has and the one he wants).

Obama was able to build a lot of national excitement for his presidential campaign primarily from the base he had been cultivating in Illinois for a number of years.

For example, way back after his first session in the Senate, Obama went on a statewide town hall tour where he reported back to Illinois on what was happening in Washington and asked us what we needed him to know about our towns, cities, counties, etc.  I attended one of these town halls and he showed up with our local state legislators.  I had never laid eyes on any of these guys before, but there they were, participating in what was a remarkably interesting, localized conversation.   Together they showed us how our concerns were impacted by events in Washington and Springfield and vice versa.  It was amazing to watch.

Since then, I see these legislators around town and they seem more like people who are approachable, who listen and who represent us well - so when they ask for funding for re-election I happily cut a small check.  And there are many others here who will do the same.

Until this year I have never donated to single campaign and now I try to help our good representatives as much as I can - and I have to admit, if I hadn't met them this wouldn't be the case.

I think the policy Obama and the DNC are trying to enforce proves a really valuable point:  our elected leaders and their constituencies do not know each other.    Maybe if our leaders are forced to be beholden to us for support, WE will get the attention and quid pro quo that is currently reserved for lobbyists and PACS.

Further, I think it proves another point:  campaigns waste a ridiculous amount of  money.  If candidates are forced to rely only on what they can raise from citizen donors maybe they'll spend more wisely and rely on more direct, inexpensive (electronic and face to face) forms of communication with their constituencies. 

Can you imagine a campaign where you actually get to meet and talk to the candidates who want to represent you?  I get faint at the very thought! 

Of course, this will work mainly for incumbents, but even the DCCC could use Obama's grassroots strategy (and infrastructure) to raise excitement and hopefully cash for Democratic challengers.

Also, I know there are a TON of down ticket races going on right now, but it would be nice to see Obama showing support for candidates who reject PAC and lobbyist funds by showing up at an event for them (like a parent using reward teaching).

And, I think it's great to see lobbyists get angry as their influence flees like guests at a skunk picnic.

In the meantime, while the party debates this out, they get some cover because until Republicans reject lobby and PAC donations they can't use this issue against Dems - they'd look like the raging, corrupt hypocrites they are!

Anyway, I feel like this is an excellent exercise bringing government back to the people, but I'm curious to hear if others see holes in this (admittedly idealistic) logic.

[and don't forget to click recommend, please]