An article on a local blog finally explained far better than I could why I'm so eager for Health Care reform.

While I technically have health insurance, I have an individual policy which is hardly any insurance at all.

What that means is so well put in this article, it could have been written about me. The last paragraph is also me: sometimes I think about taking the money I spend for insurance that never gives me any tangible benefits and just spending it on all the preventive care I know I should have but am postponing due to out of pocket cost.

If you can relate, please consider recommending this post. It might help others to understand and then to articulate what's happening to us.  It's hard to knock on doors and lobby your neighbors when you're not sure how to talk about the problem.  I know my next stop is to once again lobby my senators for the public option rather than a solution that creates more individual policies.

http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/08/24/11049/individual_policies_the_subbasement_of_health_insurance

Dear Josh,
A great leader cultivates great talent and gives it wings to fly on it's own at the right time. You are clearly demonstrating that kind of leadership.I am most grateful for it. May your leadership be recognized far and wide for the gift it is to our society.

Dear Greg,
You are a formidable talent. I have enjoyed your good work and look forward to keeping it in front of me and supporting it as I can.  Hopefully there will be a link from TPM when your new home site is launched.

Dear TPM community,
As surely as a peaceful domestic regime change is a sign that democracy is alive and well in the United States, this kind of happy succession is a sign of a healthy business, of fair exchange and an empowering environment. How wonderful to be part of this!  It is a great return on my investment as a reader and contributor. We have much to celebrate!

Star Tribune Minnesota poll.:Minnesotans are thoroughly soured on President Bush's performance and are even more sour about the nation's path.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/19159959.html?location_refer=Homepage

Reuters: Nigerian Rebels considering Obama truce appeal
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0444578520080504?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Video: Kentucky Rep. Ben Chandler Endorses Barack Obama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Ypv-NGo6o

When facing discouragement in the face of obstacles I believe in doing 5 things that are encouraging. Since Josh reports hearing from a lot of discouraged Obama supporters,  I offer the following possible actions for building our collective resolve.

1. See how Barack has fine tuned his stump speech to focus on "regular folks"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFfhEQUdx04

2. See how Barack has fine tuned his stump speech to directly address some of the recent trash talking and at the same time see that Barack now is effectively reminding people he's one of them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7NAcKtlTkw&feature=user

3. See how the campaign is getting excellent connection to regular citizens (especially republicans and independents) by having regular citizens (not always elected officials) introduce Barack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp_Xut5R8G4&feature=user

4. Take heart in Barack's own resolve. Toward the end of this wonderful but rather long interview with Dan Rather Barack says when he gets exhausted after 15 mos of campaigning he thinks about the troops on 15 month rotations in Bagdad and figures he has no room for complaint. Talk about the character of the man!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZa1KIR5o-U

5. Do one thing to encourage at least one other Obama supporter.  If this post worked for you, an easy step could be  to recommend it so others see it. Other options include making some phone calls for the campaign or making a donation to the campaign since Obama supporters also take heart in those counters going up and up.

We ARE this campaign. It's up to us to keep up the energy.
Yes We Can!