Yet another letter to my Arizona son

Dear Kevin:

How's school? You know I have to ask that first. It's the irritating Dad in me.

I also want to irritate you about another matter. I know that you said you're going to vote. But have you? I ask for a couple reasons. Arizona has early voting, and it appears that the Democrats (at least according to tracking polls) are turning out in big numbers. But those numbers have to be really big because McCain still leads Obama 51-46 percent. That may seem like a lot, but last month McCain had a much wider lead of 59-38 percent. Sen. Obama has really closed the gap in the last month and it's getting tighter every day.

So you and your buddies have to get out and vote. Did you know that some national polls show that voters ages 18-30 are voting 2-1 for Obama? Your own Arizona Public Interest Research Group shows that this age group makes up a quarter of the electorate. That's not bad in a state known mainly for its cranky oldsters shriveling up in the Valley of the Sun. You know, people like John McCain, Arizona native.

So it's up to you and your peers. You and the guys (and some girls) who grew up on Dungeons & Dragons and Sonic the Hedgehog. We parents tried to inject some lectures on citizenship amongst all the videos and soccer games and school and driving lessons. Most of all, we tried to demonstrate what it means to be an engaged citizen, someone who really cares what goes on in his community. Some of that stuck, I know, because I've seen what you've accomplished and how you've behaved since you left home. Your Mom and I and sister are proud of you. We'd be proud of you even if you were a Republican. I was an election judge in Cheyenne when you came in to vote for the first time in 2004. I can't be with you this time but I know you'll do the right thing. Pressure!

I'll see you in January, when I'm in Phoenix on business. I'll even be there on Jan. 20, Inauguration Day for Barack Obama. Maybe we can watch it together on TV.

Love, Dad

P.S.: The Arizona Capitol Times reports this:

...at least one internal Republican poll conducted toward the end of the week showed McCain clinging to a tiny 3-point lead. McCain is tied in Maricopa County, usually seen as a death knell for any statewide Republican candidate, but he makes up the difference with a strong performance in the northern part of the state.

Tuesdays with the Democrats

The Laramie County Democrats will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., at the Historic Plains Hotel in downtown Cheyenne. The main topic of conversation will be GOTV -- Getting Out the Vote. Election Day is one week from tomorrow! All are welcome, even lapsed Republicans and Libertarians.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m., tired Democrats and fellow travelers (Socialists! Decembrists! Philatelists!) will gather together at the Plains Hotel to celebrate our victories, both nationally and locally. There will be food and a cash bar. Be prepared to stay up late -- or not. Polls will have been closed in some of the eastern states for two hours by the time we gather. Who knows?

VOTE EARLY VOTE EARLY VOTE EARLY -- TIME IS RUNNING OUT

Wyoming voters have until Friday at 5 p.m. to cast absentee ballots in person at their designated county voting sites. All mailed absentee ballots must be received in your county clerk's office by 7 p.m. on the day of the Election to be counted. The rest of us will be voting on Nov. 4 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Get out there and do your duty.

June Kronholz reported this today in the Wall Street Journal:

Almost 11 million voters already have cast ballots in the 2008 elections, and Democrats seem to have cast the majority of them, according to incomplete information compiled by George Mason University Professor Michael McDonald.

McDonald’s Web site, which he says he will update continuously between now and Election Day, reports that 2.1 million Florida voters have cast early ballots, with registered Democrats casting 45% of them, Republicans casting 40% and independents casting 15%.

The prof's Colorado numbers on early votes: 697,972.

What's this all mean? Heck if I know. It does reflect a tremendous interest in casting a vote. The majority are Democrats. Unless they're voting for Nader, all this voting is good for Sen. Obama.

See 3 Dems and 1 Repub on LCCC TV

LarCoDems' member Mary Lou Marcum sends this info:

Please help get the word out. The three Democratic Congressional candidates and Rick Kaysen will be appearing on LCCC Ch. 11 next week, from Oct 27 on. David Marcum, LCCC Political Science instructor will be interviewing them.

The schedule is as follows:
Gary Trauner & Chris Rothfoss: Monday at 9 a.m., Tuesday at 2 p.m., Wednesday at 8 p.m., Thursday at 3 p.m., and Friday/Saturday/Sunday at 10 a.m.
Nick Carter & Rick Kaysen: Monday at 2 p.m., Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 3 p.m., Thursday at 11 a.m., and Friday/Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

These are not debates but Q&A interviews. Should be interesting. Wish we could get the info to non-Democrats as well. The Republican candidates and Democratic condidate for mayor Jayne Mockler didn't respond to the invitation to appear on the shows.

Obama paddles toward victory

Manuel Olveda in Powell decided to take some yard sale items and made a sign for Barack Obama. Pretty creative, I'd say. This photo was on the Powell Tribune blog. On a separate post, the PowellTribBlogger wondered why there are so many more Obama signs that ones for McCain in a county that has five times more registered Republicans than Democrats. A trend?

More than 100,000 rally in Denver

Civic Center Park in downtown Denver. Denver Post photo. Go to Square State for a lot more.

Down in Denver and Ft. Collins, Obama rallies the Dem faithful

Meanwhile, Hummingbirdminds is on the road in Cheney country. Sorry to miss the Obama rallies in Colorado but duty called. This bronze statue of oil workers tells you where you are.

The only maveri(c)ks I've seen lately in Wyoming are full of gas.

Postcard from our Republican overlords

This mailer came to households around Casper, even to those who have deserted the sinking Repub ship. And why is this man smiling?

The other side of the card...

We are your trusty Republican team. Ask us about the latest bargains on Wall Street.

Dead dinos and maveri(c)ks abound in Casper

Casper is Halliburtonland

Waiting for Obama in Fort Collins

This Photo (and one below) taken by Cheyenne's Tom Burdette while he waited to see Sen. Obama in Fort Collins, Colo.

Lining up for the Fort Collins rally.

Walking door-to-door for Jim Byrd (HD 44)

On a windy day in Cheyenne, Democratic candidates for the Wyoming House and Senate gathered at IBEW HQ to distribute materials for a door-to-door walkathon. The photo above shows Jim Byrd, Democratic candidate for House District 44. I walked the North Capitol neighborhood for Jim this morning. As leaves and twigs and Republican yard signs swirled around me, I must have looked like Pooh on that legendary blustery day in the 100-Acre Wood. You have to be creative on days like this. You can slip the door hangers between the screen door and the doorjamb. Or wedge it between the screen and the iron bars some people have. You just want people to see your material. By the way, I must have been following a crew from Republican Cynthia Lummis's U.S. House campaign. Thise doorknobs were getting pretty crowded. Also, I had to pick up a half-dozen dislodged Lummis door hangers and put them back in their place. You don't have to thank me, Cynthia. Any former Boy Scout would have done the same.

Campaign getting interesting in Wyo. HD 8

A new postcard from Rep. Lori Millin came in the mail today. It shows her working in surgery. The text reads:

"Worried about health care? YOUR representative works in surgical scrubs! Re-elect Lori Millin. With her you can feel safe."

Lori represents me in the Wyoming State Legislature, House District 8. She did a great job during her first two years (2006-2008) and she'll do even better when she returns. I also prefer nurses to lawyers, especially Republican lawyers such as her opponent, Bob Nicholas. Lori beat Republican incumbent Dr. Larry Meuli in 2006 by nine votes. The closeness of the race required an automatic recount. Meuli's been a little ticked off ever since, it seems. The local paper had a letter from him this morning. It supported Republican Cynthia Lummis over Gary Trauner in the U.S. House race. He wrote: "I think substance should win out over presumptions and relative political neophytes every time."

In that case, shouldn't he be voting for Lori Millin over the presumptuous neophyte Bob Nicholas?

Just asking...

Newsweek: Obama leads McCain 53-40

This just in from Newsweek:

With less than two weeks left in the presidential contest, Barack Obama continues to hold a commanding double-digit lead over John McCain according to the latest NEWSWEEK Poll. Among registered voters nationwide, Obama now leads McCain by 13 points, 53 percent to 40 percent. Among likely voters, Obama's lead is similarly strong, 53 percent to 41 percent.

Don't these people know they're on camera?

And where does all this hatred come from?

This filmed at John McCain's rally this morning at the Stock Show Arena in Denver.

MTV concert brings attention to returning veterans' issues

You've probably seen Paul Rieckhoff on CNN and MSNBC interviews (notably Keith Olberman) talking about our overseas wars. Rieckhoff, head of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), announced on Huffington Post a petition initiative to bring attention to the plight of returning veterans: The Bill of Rights for American Veterans (BRAVE). You can check out the petition here.

To publicize this effort, IAVA has teamed up with MTV to air a concert, "A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE." It will be on tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT and (probably) 6 p.m. MT. The concert will feature Beyonce, Kanye West, Kid Rock, 50 Cent, Ludacris, Fall Out Boy and Nelly.

Over the weekend, CNN will air its special, "Back from the Battle," featuring interviews with Reickhoff and IAVA veteran spokeswoman Carolyn Schapper. "Back from the Battle" will air Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT) on CNN.

As Reickhoff says:

We worked closely with MTV on BRAVE, because there is a tremendous amount
at stake for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in this election.

BRAVE includes the following calls to action:

• Properly treat veterans' mental health issues.
• Prevent homelessness among veterans.
• Give disabled veterans the benefits they have earned in a timely manner.
• Fully fund veterans' hospitals across the country.
• Compensate troops who are made to serve longer via Stop Loss.

IAVA will be encouraging its thousands of members nationwide to sign the BRAVE petition - and you can sign on as well. Just text BRAVE to 66333 or log on to Choose or Lose. And you can also watch the show, scheduled to air on MTV on Friday, October 24, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Tune in and learn something.

Obama in Denver and Ft. Collins on Sunday

As reported here a few days ago, Barack Obama is coming to Denver and Fort Collins on Sunday, Oct. 26. Fort Collins, as you may know, is located across the border in Colorado and is considered by some to be a Cheyenne suburb.

Here are the details, courtesy of Square State blog in Denver:

EARLY VOTE FOR CHANGE RALLY WITH BARACK OBAMA at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver (located between the Colorado Capitol and the Civic Center), Sunday, October 26, gates open at 10 a.m. Program begins at 11:30 a.m. RSVP Here

EARLY VOTE FOR CHANGE RALLY WITH BARACK OBAMA in The Oval on the Colorado State University Campus in Fort Collins (my alma mater). Use the public entrance at University Ave. and West Drive. On Sunday, October 26. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. and program begins at 3:30 p.m. RSVP Here

Both events are free and open to the public. Tickets are NOT required, but an RSVP is strongly encouraged. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dem lit drop set for this Saturday

Nicole Novotny, communications director for the Laramie County Democratic Party, sent this:

Please sign up to help hand out information for our Laramie County candidates during this weekend's literature drop!

When: Saturday, October 25, 2008

Times: Two Hour Shifts - 9-11 AM, 11-1 PM, 1-3 PM

Where: Meet at 810 Fremont Street (IBEW Bldg.)

Questions: Contact Betty Jo at 635-7901 or Mike at 634-9001

Gov Dave endorses Gary Trauner

Wyoming's Democratic Governor, Dave Freudenthal, endorsed Gary Trauner today for Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat. As he noted in his remarks at a noon press conference, he doesn't do many endorsements. In fact, some of us Dems have been a bit upset that his endorsement didn't come earlier. But, better late than never. In Sunday's Casper Star-Tribune poll, Trauner led Republican Cynthia Lummis 44-43 in this squaker of a race. Gov Dave's endorsement may help. The Gov is wildly popular, his approval rating in this Republican-heavy state hovering around the 81 percent mark. During the summer, he was the second-most popular Western governor, ranked just behind Sarah Palin of Alaska. But her numbers have taken a hit since emerging into the national spotlight.

I won't quote all of the governor's remarks about Trauner. You can get a transcript and an audio at http://www.traunerforcongress.com.

Here are a few choice paragraphs:

It's the same thing in another of the ads that his opponent [Lummis] runs that talks about during her tenure, she developed $5 billion in state money. Well, the truth is, anyone can take credit for that. I can take credit for that, the Legislature can take credit for that. The real reason that that money exists is the way that this economy has been over the last five or six years. I make a persuasive argument that it all happened because I was elected Governor. Because about the time I was elected, if you remember, that's about the time that prices went up.

I think we need to be realistic about what it is that we say to the public in terms of these races. The fact of the matter is that as politicians, we shouldn't believe our own press releases. The reason that this state is prosperous, and the reason that we have the money that's available, is not by virtue of somebody who was in office, whether they were Governor or Treasurer, but by virtue of the fortuitous circumstances of the nature of this state's economy.

Denver Post sez Obama in town Sunday

Now it's not such hot rumor. Sen. Obama is set to be in Denver on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 26. Obama's been to Denver a three times since the big convention the Dems had there in August. I was hoping he'd make his way up to Ft. Collins, which is a suburb of Cheyenne. We'll see....

Sen. Hillary Clinton will make a stop in Aurora this Friday. John McCain is also making a stop in Colorado on Friday. Maybe they can arm wrestle (Hillary would win).

FMI: http://www.denverpost.com/politicswestnews/ci_10785972

HOT RUMOR SEZ OBAMA IN CO OCT. 25 AND 26

Obama in Denver on Sat. and Ft. Collins on Sun.

Collegians (and at least one 66-year-old bald guy) pack Biden rally in Greeley

My buddy Bob from Fort Collins drove over to the rally for Sen. Joe Biden today at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Bob's semi-retired, a lifelong Republican, but he's voting for Obama/Biden this time. On Monday, Bob drove down I-25 to catch the Sarah Palin rally at the Budweiser Events Center near Loveland. He said that the crowd at the Palin rally was bigger than Biden's, but Palin said the same old blah-blah-blah we've been hearing for months. As Bob said, Obama and Biden are in a much different league than McCain/Palin. Yeah, the Dems are in the Bigs and the Repubs are cellar-dwellers in the minors.

Bob wasn't interviewed by the press at the UNC rally. But here's the beginning of the story that's up now at the Greeley Tribune site:

Saying he speaks to their generation, environmental concerns and modern-day issues, college students gave Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden raves at the University of Northern Colorado on Tuesday. A crowd of about 3,500 packed the floor of Butler-Hancock gymnasium for the hour-long rally, most of them college students.

“It’s a historic year. It’s one of those historic elections you want to be a part of,” said Mike Donovan, a Colorado State University student who drove to Greeley for the rally.

Donovan, a senior, wore a white cap emblazoned with “Clean Coal.”

“I feel like this year’s Democratic ticket is the step into the 21st century,” he said. “… Environmentalism isn’t a dirty word anymore, and that’s something I like.”

This lapsed Catholic chooses Obama

Lively discussions erupting around the blogosphere about Catholics voting for Sen. Obama -- or not. As always, the right wingers who have hijacked Catholicism are telling Democrats they are going to hell because they support abortion rights. I am a proud "Cafeteria Catholic," which means I pick and choose what I want off of the Catholic menu and leave the rest. However, I no longer attend Catholic mass in Cheyenne. I've outlined some reasons in the letter (below) that I recently wrote to my sister. I attend mass when I'm out of town on a Sunday, just to see what Catholics do in other parts of the country. The basics of the service are the same all over the world. I grew up experiencing it in another language -- Latin -- so I have no trouble with the mass en Espanol.

Not only am I a Cafeteria Catholic, but I'm also "lapsed" or "fallen away." Maybe I'm just taking a break until the church comes to its senses and realizes it's made a major mistake forging alliances with Christian fundamentalists because of the abortion issue. If you know your U.S. history, you know that fundamentalists have a long tradition of hating Catholics. Catholics were immigrants from Ireland and Poland and Italy. They spoke in strange tongues (especially the Irish) and took their marching orders from the pope in Rome. It's Un-American, that's what that is. At least that's what Americans once thought, even in 1960 when JFK ran for president. Some thought that JFK would not only have a red phone but also a direct line to the pope.

Now, there are those American Catholics who insist that all of us must follow the dictates of the pope when it comes to abortion. When you object, they say that you must obey, that "the church is not a democracy." Funny, but these same people didn't call for unquestioning obedience when Pope John Paul II called for opposition to the war in Iraq. Talk about your Cafeteria Catholics.

Lots to report on this subject. Memphis Bishop J. Terry Steib said this in an Oct. 21 story in the National Catholic Reporter:

“We must recognize,” he wrote, “that God through the church, is calling us to be prophetic in our own day. If our conscience is well formed, then we will make the right choices about candidates who may not support
the church's position in every case.”

Citing words from a statement, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a voting guide issued last November by the bishops of the United States, Steib wrote that "there may be times when a Catholic who rejects a candidate's unacceptable position may decide to vote for that candidate for other morally grave reasons. Voting in this way would be permissible only for truly grave moral reasons, not to advance narrow interests or partisan preferences or to ignore a fundamental moral evil."

Father Michael Carr in the October issue of the Wyoming Catholic Register wrote this:

"In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. As Catholics, we should be guided more by our moral convictions than by our attachment to a political party or interest group. As Catholics, we are not single-issue voters."

Father Carr does talk about abortion as an "intrinsic evil," yet he equates it with another intrinsic evil: "promotion of racism." He takes an even-handed approach to the issue. But he's that type of person. He's one of the first priests I met when we moved to Cheyenne in the early 1990s. We served together on the first board of directors for Laramie County Habitat for Humanity.

This comes from the Oct. 21 Chicago Tribune:

"I feel that every Catholic can vote for Obama in good conscience," said Patrick Whelan, president of Catholic Democrats. "I think Barack Obama is the first Democratic presidential candidate who has come out and said he plans constructive measures to reduce the number of abortions in the United States."

www.catholicsforobama.org/ argues that voting on the basis of only one issue runs afoul of the faith. Obama's broader social policies would do more to reduce the number of abortions than anything proposed by Se. John McCain, who is an open opponent of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. the group says. The crux of the argument is that criminalizing the procedure is less effective in reducing abortions than addressing the social circumstances that lead women to seek them.

Finally, here's a letter I e-mailed to my sister (one of my eight siblings, all in various states of lapsedness) after she had received some hateful e-mail missives from holier-than-thou Republican Catholics:

Dear Molly:

Don't know if you saw the video last week from the Daytona Beach News-Journal that showed the demolition of Father Lopez. It made me sad. I know that Father Lopez has built a shiny new school, but I spent four good years at the old Lopez. Made some good friends, learned a lot about being a Catholic and I learned a lot about myself.

Watching the old school come down, I thought about my life as a Catholic. I don't go to Catholic Church any more. Occasionally I go to to the First United Methodist Church which has an open-door policy and a very spiritual Sunday service. No priests or deacons are up at the altar railing against gays or Democrats or abortion or birth control or stem cell research. I've had it with that nonsense. I used to find a lot of comfort going to mass. But no more.

It's an interesting and passionate thread you have going on here. As you know, I'm voting for Barack Obama and his Catholic running mate, Joe Biden. Their platform is pro-life in the truest sense. Universal health care, a living wage, an improved education system (including more aid for college students), a plan to wean us off foreign oil in ten years, and an end to the ridiculous war in Iraq. John McCain wants to continue us down the same destructive path we've been on for eight years. McCain and Palin have been spewing their hateful message across America during their campaign, while Barack Obama brings a message of hope.

You probably remember the three theological virtures we learned in the catechism. The Bible in First Corinthians puts it this way: "And now abideth faith, hope, and love, even these three: but the chiefest of these is love". Sometimes "love" is translated as "charity." It's a selflessness that lets us to care for another human being, whether that's our mate, our kids, even our enemies. It's sometimes a challenge to do the latter.

Faith comes first on the list. Love -- the most important --comes last. I'll take that (and hope) over faith any time.

Sometimes faith can be blind. We're seeing that in some of these pious "Defenders of the Faith" in this e-mail thread.

Me, I'll keep working for Obama and a truly pro-life America.

Love, Mike

Write a letter to the editor for Wyoming Democrat Chris Rothfuss

Laramie's Chris Rothfuss, Democratic challenger to Wyoming Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, sent this e-mail to his supporters:

Friends,

The "Letter to the Editor" deadline for the Casper Star Tribune is fast approaching. Letters will only be printed if they are submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21 [TOMORROW!]. If you have time between now and then, and would be willing to send a letter endorsing my candidacy for U.S. Senate, I would very much appreciate it.

These letters do make a difference as long as they are honest, constructive, thoughtful and personal. Negative letters filled with Republican-bashing won't win any votes and are not helpful to me or anyone in the long run. But a candid look at where we are now, and where we need to go, may change a few minds. Whether you're concerned about education, healthcare, energy, the war, individual rights and freedoms -- the list goes on and on. You're probably not very happy with the performance of Congress over the last decade. The failure has been bipartisan and
complete. I would truly love to see 100 new Senators in Washington, D.C., but regrettably I can only hope to replace one. It's time for new ideas, new people, and a new direction.

The quickest and easiest way to submit a letter is by using the online form:
http://www.trib.com/tools/letterSubmit.php

If you would like to submit your letter to another local paper, most of them have an email address available on their website.

Thank you all very much for your support!

Cheers,


Chris
Dr. Chris Rothfuss, Wyoming Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate, http://www.rothfussforsenate.com/

Oct. 21 press conference: Firefighters endorse Democrat Gary Trauner

Molly Simmons at Trauner for Congress sent this announcement:

Gary Trauner, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, will join Wyoming fire fighters at a press conference tomorrow, October 21 at 11:30 a.m. at the Headquarters Station of the Cheyenne Fire Department. After both Trauner and local firefighter Jon Narva speak, they will be available for questions. Remote call in number is 712-451-6100, pass code 721718#.

O.K. you Cynthia Lummis staffers. I list this call-in number and pass code with the hope that you will not use it for nefarious deeds. Do I have your promise on this? Cross your heart and hope to spit?

FMI: Molly Simmons, 307-315-1006, Molly@TraunerforCongress.com

To donate to Gary Trauner, go to www.TraunerforCongress.com

Sen. John McCain, teller of tall tales

"Daddy Grandpa, what's a "Socialist"

Gather 'round kids, and let me tell you a story about the old days of the Cold War, a war so cold that it almost froze us with fear.

We were afraid of a country called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or U.S.S.R. Never heard of it, not even in History class? Well, the core of the U.S.S.R was Russia. The U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. butted heads on nearly everything. Our philosophies were as different as night and day. Back in the 1950s when I was a kid, America believed in freedom and equality, except for Negroes (African-Americans were known by this term), immigrants, homosexuals and women. The Soviets believed in the enslavement of all people, including Negroes, immigrants, homosexuals and women.

The Soviets wanted to spread their philosophy to all corners of the world, including Wyoming, and we fought them every step on the way. That's why we have so many nuclear missiles burrowed into the prairie outside Cheyenne. If the Russkis came to Wyoming and tried to change our way of life, we were going to shoot their eyes out with nukes. In the process, we would all be blind too, but nevermind that.

Because Americans were so afraid, they labeled anyone who didn't agree with them as "communists." Being a communist is kind of like being a socialist, although much scarier. So, if you were suspicious of your neighbor, if you thought he was some kind of community organizer or peacenik or civil rights activist, you labeled him a communist. Every Saturday at noon, people would gather in town squares all across American and curse the communists, who had been gathered there for convenience sake. We would call them "commie" or "commie symp" (sympathizer) or "Red" or "pinko" even "Socialist." If an insolent pinko spoke up, we would stone him or her to death. This made us feel so much better. The next day, we all went to church.

So you see, kids, Americans have a long tradition of name-calling. You can see the same tradition in action every day at a John McCain or Sarah Palin rally. "Socialist!" they shout, as if they actually knew what that meant. "Community organizer!" Ouch, that hurts. "Believer in redistribution of wealth!" Uh oh, someone's been reading "The Communist Manifesto." If anyone shouts "terrorist," you know that person watches Fox News.

I wouldn't be too concerned that all of this name calling will lead to the actual stoning to death of your neighbor. But you never know...

100,000 gather for Obama in St. Louis

Meet me in Saint Louie, Louie, meet me under the arch with 99,999 other Obama supporters...

Wyoming abuzz with Obama activity

Dropped by Wyoming's Obama office on Saturday afternoon. It's strategically located on Second Street in downtown Casper, close to the the city's many downtown movie theaters and a short jaunt to Metro Coffee Company -- that caffeine will come in handy during the action-packed final weeks of the campaign.

Obama HQ was jammed with all kinds of people -- volunteers and visitors alike. Casper author and historian Tom Rea was there, on his way to Johnson County to research his next book. His wife, Barb Rea, was selling Obama stickers and yard signs and T-shirts from behind the counter. The place features one-stop shopping for Obama supporters, the only place like it in the state. Some travelers from Lander said as much. They were passing through, knew about the Oabma office and dropped in. Several women from Casper were there, deciding between the white Obama bumper stickers and the blue ones. They went blue. I have the white one because it stands out better against the hunter green of my minivan.

Barb tells me that sales of Obama goods keep the doors open. And, from my experience during one hour on Saturday, there's a steady stream of people through those doors. Barb wonders if there's a way to keep the doors open even after Obama is elected president. Could be a place where progressive minds gather on an ongoing basis. The Casper Progressive Club. The L Word (not that one -- the other one). Raising "L." Maybe we could have a nationwide chain of these clubs that would help ensure a long-term Liberal majority. Elks Clubs, but without the antlers.

I understand Barb's reasoning. We've spent all year building up the Democratic Party base in Wyoming. A lot of effort has gone into it, and a wellspring of camaraderie has built up in this historic quest. We have the feeling that we are entering a new era and and we have played a small part in the process, starting in January when Obama's field organizers dropped into the state for the Democratic caucuses. After Nov. 4, there will be tons more work,. The fulfillment of the Dem platform to universal health care, a living wage, a sensible foreign policy, and an energy policy that concentrates on conservation and renewables. What will be doing at the grassroots to help Obama succeed?

Don't we already have grassroots organizations for Dems in Wyoming in our county parties? Well, some are more active than others. In Cheyenne, we even have a county party and one called Laramie County Democratic Grassroots Coalition. Good groups (I belong to both) but can they maintain the momentum in the state during the pitched political battles of the next four years?

Also at Obama HQ on Saturday was Zack Schneider. He's a local middle-school teacher. If you read USA Today, you might recognize his name from last week's article about the state's oil patch (see my Oct. 17 posts). Zach was one of two Obama supporters interviewed for the article. As is the case with most teachers, Zach talked about education. He wants to see more arts and cultural programs for middle-school students, noting that the elementary and high school kids get most of the attention. He has a great point.

I ran into writer and retired UW prof Vicki Lindner and her artist husband Richard. They once lived in Casper, and then Dubios. They just bought a condo in Denver's Capitol Hill. Vicki will use the second bedroom for a writing room. Richard has leased studio space nearby. They're Obama supporters but probably won't be able to register at this late date. Colorado could use a few more Democrats for Obama to clinch the state's crucial electoral votes. A vote for Obama in Wyoming counts toward the popular vote totals but there's very little chance our non-crucial three electoral votes will go Democratic.

If you're in Casper during the next few weeks, go down to Obama HQ. Buy more stuff and visit these fine volunteers. You can also spend an hour calling battleground states for Sen. Obama. When I was there yesterday, calls were being made to Montana. On other days, it's Missouri or Colorado.

But you don't need to be in Casper to make those calls. I'm making some Monday on my cell phone. Wonder which state I'll be targeting? Go here to sign up for calls of your own: http://my.barackobama.com/modules/votercontact/login_signup.php

TRAUNER OVER LUMMIS 44 TO 43

Casper Star Trib poll duplicates Daily Kos stats

At the Casper Obama offices

Zach Schneider is volunteer for OBAMA in Casper

Obama supporters of all kinds at office in Casper

Money Mag -- "Wyoming: Drill Baby, U.S.A."

Dang, everybody's getting into the act. Money Magazine has a huge article on "Drill Baby, U.S.A." which (naturally) is about Wyoming. Read all about it at http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/wyoming/2008/index.html?cnn=yes.

One strange thing about all this. Coasters probably think that we all have oil wells or coalbed methane wells in our backyards. Sure, my neighbor does, but I don't.

Here's my neighbor's backyard:

Here's my backyard:

Never goin' back to my old school

It's odd to see your old high school going under the wrecking ball, even it's on video from 2,000 miles away. Father Lopez High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, gets torn down to make way for another Super Wal-Mart (can't have too many). FLHS was getting old and decrepit. It wasn't all that substantial when I was going there from 1965-69. No A.C. either. The last time I visited (1994) the old gym was still the same old gym where I played basketball for three years.

Fear not, the Father Lopez Green Wave have a new facility west of town near the Ladies professional Golf Association (LPGA) development. Football stadium, too, named after a guy I played b-ball with in the olden days. He died about a decade ago. No more nuns at the school to whack you upside the head if you get fresh. Probably all very civilized and air-conditioned and preppie.

God, I really loved this place. I'm one of the few writers I know who actually liked high school. The rules were rigid, but Sister Mariam Catherine helped me discover that I had some smarts and I could write. Coach John Chura kicked my butt -- and encouraged me -- on the b-ball court. We were all conservatives then, yet it was in this environment that I learned about Catholic social justice.

So, a little salute to the old school...

Video from Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Trauner & Lummis still tied (with Trauner showing a tiny lead)

Kos of Daily Kos reported polling data today that shows Wyoming Democrat Gary Trauner with a tiny lead over Republican Cynthia Lummis in the U.S. House race. This is a Daily Kos poll, so you Repubs can take it with several grains of salt. But the numbers by Research 2000 in a poll Oct. 14-16 of likely voters (margin of error 4.5%) shows Trauner with 44 percent and Lummis with 43 percent. Polling results on 9/22-24 showed a 42-42 tie. So, more voters are moving out of the undecided column and into the ranks of the decided.

Here are comments by Kos:

All of this is noise within the margin of error. Like the last time we polled Wyoming, the fate of this election seems to rest on the hands of Republicans, who sport a surprisingly high 21 percent undecided. And it's just this race that generates this kind of uncertainty. In the two Senate races and the presidential, all GOP blowouts, Republicans are quite decided on their vote (results for those races are in the crosstabs below the fold). Yet there's something about the House races that has them on the fence, seriously considering splitting their ticket.

Wyoming voters aren't adverse to ticket splitting, as the state's Democratic governor would attest. With no other high-profile Democrat on the ticket (like the governor's race in 2006), hopefully Trauner can be the recipient of that trend this year. The congressional term is only two years. They can always revisit their decision in two years.

So, if you'd like to make those numbers climb in the Trauner column, donate on the web at Trauner for Congress or ActBlue

Wyo. Tribune-Eagle endorses some Dems

Cheyenne's daily newspaper, the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, has endorsed Gary Trauner for the state's lone U.S. House seat and Lori Millin for Wyoming House District 8. The paper endorsed a few other Democrats -- Mary Throne and Jim Byrd for the legislature -- but chose Republicans Mike Enzi and John Barrasso for the U.S. Senate. Democrat Chris Rothfuss of Laramie is a good man, but is a long shot to beat Enzi, who's liked by diehard Dems like me. But Barrasso? The physician who votes against children's health care? Nick Carter is the better man for the job.

Millin was not effusive in acknowledging the WTE endorsement. But who can blame her? Earlier this year, the paper couldn't quite understand that Lori is a Democrat, labeling her the Republican incumbent running for the Wyoming District 8 seat. How tough is that to find out? How many legislative guides are lying around the WTE offices?

Here's Lori's response to the endorsement from an e-mail sent to supporters:

I found out yesterday that I received the endorsement of the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. I am not quite sure how to take this, but it is always nice to hear that someone thinks you should win your race. Two years ago, my opponent got the endorsement and I won so it certainly doesn't guarantee victory. I did serve on the newspaper's editorial board for four months. I have some serious concerns and reservations about their endorsement process, but I do know they are trying to do the right thing for the community. I can't wait to read what they have to say about my race when they discuss it in detail.

Surprise: USA Today explores Wyoming's oil patch, finds strong McCain support

USA Today wrote about Wyoming in its series "50 States 50 Days," an attempt to get to all of the states and interview people about their views on the presidential race. In Wyoming, they focused on oil patch workers in Midwest and environs. All said they will vote for McCain. The reporter had to go south to Casper to find some Obama supporters. The story is pretty accurate, as far as it goes. My guess is that Obama finds most of his support in Cheyenne, Laramie, Rock Springs, Jackson, Lander, Casper and Sheridan. Not surprisingly, those are where the Democratic Party organization is strongest. Dem candidates for U.S. House and Senate are finding that to be true, too. Nick Carter of Gillette is running for Dr. John Barrasso's Senate seat. Wonder what kind of support he's finding in his home town? Gillette is the epicenter of the coal and coal-bed methane industry.

The USA Today reporter interviewed historian Dr. Phil Roberts:

"McCain will win, but it will be a lot closer than people think," says Phil Roberts, history professor at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. "My suspicion is a lot of Wyoming Republicans will sit it out. There's not a lot of enthusiasm for voting for McCain."

Roberts says he sees Wyoming Republicans as mostly business-oriented rather than driven by ideology, social issues or other reasons. He calls them Romney-style Republicans, referring to former presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Read the entire story here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-10-15-50states-wyoming_N.htm

The oil patch workers were more interested in the McCain/Palin philosophy of "drill, baby, drill" that anything else. Again, no surprise, but you'd think they'd be at least mildly interested in the economic meltdown that will affect their pocketbooks as much as the changing of the guard in D.C. Also, health care, foreign policy, education. Not a mention of any of those from the McCain supporters. Then again, McCain has few ideas other than "drill, baby, drill." If you had any doubts about McCain's bankrupt philosophy, go to this link and see what kind of sleazy robocalls are being made to your house by the McCain/Palin campaign: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/latest_mccain_robocall_alleges.php

Land o' Goshen! You don't vote?

I'm not the most efficient phone canvasser in the world. I'm easily distracted -- you can tell by my blog title -- and I'm always in search of a good story so I don't mind a long conversation.

Yesterday I was at Gary Trauner's sprawling offices in downtown Cheyenne. It's a big place with distinctive wallpaper: "Trauner for Congress" signs. The place has been buzzing the past few months as Gary strives to be Wyoming's first Democratic member of the U.S. House since the legendary Tino Roncalio from Rock Springs. Gary has drawn scores of volunteers and staffers to his cause, some from as far away as Oregon and Wisconsin. Most of us are Wyomingites, though, just volunteering our time to walk neighborhoods or to call potential voters on the phone.

Yesterday we were calling Goshen County. It's northeast of Cheyenne, a long rectangle like most of our 23 counties. Torrington, site of Eastern Wyoming College and the new prison, is the biggest town in Goshen. I believe that the town also has an ethanol distillery (have to check that out). Nearby is one of my favorite places, Fort Laramie National Historic Site. Other towns in Goshen include Yoder, Jay Em, Hawk Springs, Veteran, Lingle and LaGrange.

I called all over the county. Talked to a woman in Torrington who was undecided, said she still was making up her mind. She liked the idea that Gary was not a tax-and-spend Liberal. She said she'd vote for Gary if he was a veteran, as she believes that all people running for public office should be military veterans. Not a new idea. In Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers," you had to join the military and fight interstellar "Bugs" to be a citizen. (Historical note: The move, "Starship Troopers," was filmed in Wyoming. Coincidence? I think not.) I talked to this woman for awhile and finally asked if she was at least leaning toward voting for Gary and she said no, that she still was deciding. Very coy, this one.

Later, I talked to a gregarious woman in her sixties who admitted that she had never voted. At first, I thought she was pulling my leg. "Never voted?" She laughed and said it was true. I was flabbergasted and flummoxed. I don't think I've ever actually met any who's never voted. Her husband votes. I suggested she go along with him next time, as you can register at the polls in Wyoming. No, she wasn't going to start now. She like her life and not voting, she said, hadn't affected it much. "Just think how much better it would be if you voted," I said. She laughed again. You never know, I said, you could vote on Nov. 4 and win the lottery the next day. She laughed again, said she didn't play the lottery. I tried about everything in the book to get her out to the polls. "We don't care who you vote for -- you just have to get out and vote." That's only partially true. I wouldn't be calling if we didn't care who she voted for.

In the end, she admitted that she was too busy with her family and work and crocheting that she didn't have time for anything else. She sells her crochet work in Chugwater (Platte County -- another rectangle) and at her home gallery east of Chug in Goshen County. "So you're an artist?" She said that she might be, that she really likes crocheting. I should have asked her if she would crochet a "Trauner for Congress" wall hanging or doily (I know an artist who crochets earrings) but I didn't think of that until later. She did sound very proud of her work. I said I'd drop by her studio next time I was on the road between Chug and Hawk Springs. "You do that," she said. "Please go vote," I said. She thought not.

McCain oozes negativity in tonight's debate

Tonight's debate in a nutshell, as described by Obama campaign spokesperson David Plouffe:

“We came into the debate with two thirds of the American people thinking that John McCain is running a negative campaign, and Senator McCain spent 90 minutes trying to convince the other third. Once again, Barack Obama won a clear victory because he made the case for change for the middle class, while John McCain just had angry and negative attacks."

When you hold a forum for voters, you actually expect the candidates to show up

I read about this in Saturday's Casper Star-Tribune. I just read it again and realized how strange it was that no Republican candidates showed up at the big Homecoming weekend Voters Forum in Laramie. Here's the story:

It was Democrats three, Republicans zero at the League of Women Voters Forum in Laramie.

All three Democratic candidates running for Congress attended Thursday night's forum at the Albany Public Library. But all three Republican candidates sent other people to speak in their place.

Democratic House candidate Gary Trauner drove from Teton County to attend [approx. 380 miles one way]. Republican Cynthia Lummis sent her daughter to talk for her [approx. 45 miles].

Democratic Senate candidate Chris Rothfuss lives in Laramie, so he didn't have far to travel. His opponent, Republican Sen. Mike Enzi, sent a campaign representative in his place.

Republican Sen. John Barrasso also sent a campaign staffer, while Democratic challenger Nick Carter showed up in person.

Gosh, the Democrats must care more -- or maybe they treat this election more seriously than their opponents. McJoan goes into detail on the event in a Daily Kos post at http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/13/105245/56/368/629149. This photo of Republican candidate surrogates accompanied her story --

They look nice enough. And they came with notes and everything. But voters came to see the actual candidates, not campus Young Republicans.

Here's Gary Trauner, the actual Democratic candidate for Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat, speaking on the issues at the forum --

More than 12,300 voters have cast absentee ballots so far in Wyoming

AP reports:

The Wyoming Secretary of State's Office says more than 12,300 people have cast absentee ballots so far in the general election.

That's about 5.3% of the state's roughly 233,000 registered voters. Absentee voting began Sept. 25 and continues through Nov. 3, the day before Election Day. Officials in the state's most populous counties say absentee voting has been typical of a presidential election year, and possibly a little heavier than 2004.

Laramie County Clerk Debbye Lathrop says about 2,650 people have cast absentee ballots in her county so far. She says absentee voting has been busy at the county's absentee polling place. Chris Lindsey, the deputy county clerk for elections in Natrona County, says nearly 1,140 people have already voted absentee in Natrona County.

Are you a Laramie County resident at least 18 years old who hasn't yet registered? No problem. Go down to the City & County Building, register and cast your vote. You can do that in Wyoming. Really, you can. My advice: be a real maverick in this red state and vote for Barack Obama.

Get more details here: http://www.laramiecountyclerk.com/

Great idea CQ, but what about a poetry slam?

This comes from Jonathan Schwartz at Congressional Quarterly:

CQ Politics columnist John Bicknell argues to drop the presidential debates in favor of one-on-one interviews with advocacy journalists from the other side:

"We learn virtually nothing from the debates as they are currently structured. We need to find out what these guys think, how they think, who they are, how they respond to a real challenge. That’s a very difficult proposition when all you’re hearing are canned responses to pre-packaged questions.

Wouldn’t you love to hear William Kristol or Jonah Goldberg or Charles Krauthammer go toe-to-toe with Obama? How about Katrina Vanden Heuvel or Peter Beinart or David Corn grilling McCain?"

Read more: http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002974215.

Great idea! Absolutely no chance this will happen. Candidates make the rules and the MSM meekly follows. This is a strategy designed to benefit speakers/debaters/thinkers. You know, Obama and Biden. But even their handlers would demand too many restrictions to make this work.

You know what might be more fair? Presidential campaign poetry slams. You might think that candidates with polished speechifying skills could win any slam. I'm not sure about that. First of all, Sarah Palin already speaks in slam. The wags at Slate.com put some of her speeches into poetry form and they're not bad. Problem is, she'd need a teleprompter, which is a slam no-no. Memorization may be a problem. Same with McCain. His herky-jerky speaking style could translate well into the slam format. I'll have to come up with some appropriate poems for him.

On the other hand, Obama and Biden are just not very hip. Did you see Sen. Obama dancing on TV with Ellen D? I think Bill Clinton has it all over Obama in that arena. He's also a sax player, so he has some sense of rhythm. I could see a young Biden slamming in some beat bistro. Now he's worn dark suits for too long and it's affected his mojo, if he ever had any.

I say poetry slam, straight up, instead of the debate. All four up on stage, versifying. Pick some slam judges at random from the crowd and turn them loose on the performances. Let's really mix things up and include Ralph Nader and Bob Barr. I have this vision of Nader as the Talking Heads' David Byrne in "Stop Making Sense," wearing that over-sized suit and doing his spasmodic dance. Bob Barr? He's a mysterious fellow. His Southern roots might yield some surprising poetry.

I'll have some McCain poems up soon.

The story behind the Obama "Hope" poster

You probably recognize this poster from the Obama T-shirt you just bought online or from the art show held at a gallery in Denver's LoDo during the Democratic National Convention in August. The poster was created by street artist Shepard Fairey, who also was on hand in Denver to talk about his work. It's become one of those iconic images that go way beyond poster art. Ben Arnon tells the story behind the image in a post on today's Huffington Post. Read it at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-arnon/how-the-obama-hope-poster_b_133874.html

Dem Lit Drop in Laramie County

I have nothing brilliant to say about our weekend literature drop in Cheyenne for Democratic Party candidates for U.S. Senate Chris Rothfuss and Nick Carter. We didn't have the snow that was forecast -- the storm kept to the north and west. Montana got socked, as did Lander in the west-central part of the state. Cheyenne will have its turn soo, probably on halloween.

The plan was to hit all the addresses in Cheyenne, Pine Bluffs, and Burns with flyers outlining the merits of the two candidates. Both are newbies to the political arena, which should never disqualify anyone from seeking public office. Both sitting senators, Mike Enzi and Doctor John Barrasso were newbies at one time. Now they are oldies and need to go home.

A literature drop is just what it sounds. You bundle your material and slip it into a neighbor's screen door or find some other appropriate spot. No mailboxes allowed, as those are strictly for bills, direct-mailing offers and paid political announcements. Every so often a letter finds its way into the letter box. As a literature dropper, I never violate the sanctity of the mailbox. The U.S. Postal Service is an important quasi-governmental entity, one that is charged with delivering the mail, even though it might be to a house featuring signs of a political candidate you might not like. That's the main thing right there. During the 1960s, when delivery services in the South refused to deliver to Civil Rights groups, the USPS got through. The government can do a great job of supplying essential services, as long as that government is in capable hands.

As always, I digress. But it's my blog and I'll digress if I want to.

In a literature drop, dedicated volunteers are doing the job of the mail carrier without the overhead. Sure, all candidates should spend money locally to reach local voters. But what if you don't have the funds? Democratic candidates, even those running for U.S. Congress, are notoriously short of money in this state. Some are doing better than others -- U.S. House candidate Gary Trauner, for instance -- but he began his campaign in 2006 and has had time to build a war chest with the help of the DNC's 50-state strategy.

Know how expensive it is to print 30,000 copies of a full-color flyer? If you don't send it to Hong Kong, which takes some time, it's about $1,300 from Next Day Flyers in Santa Dominguez, Calif. That takes $10 from 130 donors. That's tough when you're new at the game in a state where two-thirds of the electorate are Repubs or Libertarians.

On Saturday and Sunday, I distributed Carter & Rothfuss materials to about half of my assigned 359 addresses. Most of the time, all I had to do was slip the flyers into a screen door. If the screen door was locked, I slipped them between the latch and the door frame. Sometimes I had to roll up the flyers and slip them into small gaps in a porch's wrought-iron banisters. Often, as with some apartment complexes, there were no screen doors, no nooks or crannies, no metal banisters. I was totally stymied by one group of a dozen apartments. No screen doors, big wooden banisters -- nothing. So, I just had to wish those folks well and move on. I could have gone door-to-door, but no time. We lit droppers have to keep moving, especially on cold days.

I only had conversations with a few people. Most were friendly. I surprised a young mother coming out of her door with babe in arms and toddler in tow. I aged her a few years, so gave her a break on the lit drop. I hit friendly territory at one house with Gary Trauner (U.S. House) and Lori Millin (State House) signs in the yard. She was watching a toddler, too, but the two of them took time out to talk Dem.

So, now, I have several hundred more flyers to distribute before the weekend in Precinct 2-7. Have to get to those early voters before they head to the polls.

Irritate a Know Nothing -- wear your Obama T-shirt to Wal-Mart today

Steelmaggie13 in Alabama is one of those Steel Magnolias who give the South a good name. Here’s part of her diary on Daily Kos:

Soooo... Tonight I needed to go to Wal-Mart. I try to avoid it as much as I can because I prefer to give my money to the local businesses in town, but I had to go tonight. I try to wear one of my Obama Tshirts whenever possible because I am just really proud of my candidate. Tonight it was my HOPE MONGER tee ;o) It's funny the looks you get from people when you're in the minority.. Sometimes people look at my shirt and then at my face like I'm crazy.. Some smile, some say "Love that shirt!" And tonight... a woman actually confronted me about it.

I was behind her in line thru the self check out... and she looked at me and in a tone dripping with disdain, said, "Can I just ask you 'Why'"? (I knew immediately what she meant), but I asked her, "Why what?" She made a motion with her hand over her own chest, indicating my shirt... She said "Why? Why all that?" My first reaction was really incredulousness, and I said back, smiling, "Why NOT?!" I asked her what our other choices were. And she said.. "Well, not SOCIALISM!"

I said to her, "Oh, you must watch Fox News because they're the ones who are pushing that storyline.". I could feel my heart start pounding harder... She said something about his record, and I know the look on my face was complete disgust (I've GOT to work on that, I never have had a very good poker face), and I said back to her... "Records?? Consider if you will that the Republicans have been in charge of the gov't for the past 12 years.. and LOOK where we are!"

I'm very passionate about this stuff and I think maybe I scared her a little when I answered her back so sharply and quickly, so she said.. "I don't want to argue with you, I just wanted to know why.". So I, still smiling said... "Well, the reason for 'all this' (imitating the same movement she made indicating my shirt) is because THIS is a positive movement. I feel excited and joyful and hopeful about this election. I believe in this guy. I'm very happy with my candidate and I support Obama completely. It's not the dismal, hateful, scary stuff the other side is offering. That's why." I was smiling, but I think she and a few others around us, knew I was spring loaded and ready LOL... I've GOT to work on that. I only want to come across as joyful and confident.. Not snippy and bitchy. I mighta been a little snippy and bitchy in my delivery, but I felt proud of my answers.

Read all of it at http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/12/02934/468/450/628050

Gary Trauner appearances this week

Here's a partial list of the coming week's personal appearances by Gary Trauner, Democratic candidate for Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat:

Laramie Congressional Forum, Sunday, 10/12/2008, 6-8:30 p.m. Contact 307.660.0614 for location and additional information.

A Candidates' Forum will be held on Tuesday, 10/14/2008, 7-9 p.m. in the 4-H Building at the Platte Co. Fairgrounds in Wheatland. Participants are asked to bring questions with them, or ideas of questions. Written and pre-screened questions only will be submitted and asked by the moderator, Joe Fabian. Each candidate will have a short introduction. National, state, county, local and special district candidates have been invited, Democrats Gary Trauner and Chris Rothfuss among them. No mention of Trauner's Republican opponent Cynthia Lummis or Rothfuss's opponent Mike Enzi. (Thanks to Wheaterville for the listing).

"Door to Door in Casper" on Wednesday, 10/15/2008, 3:30 p.m. Take some personal time from work, pick up the kids from school, and meet and greet voters in Casper with Gary. Call 307-265-4022 for more information. We're also going door-to-door for Gary in Cheyenne on Wednesday at 4 p.m. If you're interested in volunteering, leave a comment below or send an e-mail (see my profile at right).

Sheridan Chamber of Commerce Forum, 3059 Coffeen Avenue, Thursday, 10/16/2008, 7-9 p.m. Come and support Gary as he debates the other congressional candidates. Contact 307.673.4762 for more information.

Look for appearances by Gary Trauner in a neighborhood near you!

mccainpedia "Count the lies" link hijacked (with update)

I'm removing all links to mccainpedia on my blogroll and to the McCain "Count the Lies" posts. The link apparently has been hijacked by webofdeception.com which seems to be a right-wing site as he speaks fondly of Matt Drudge. Beware! I'll do more research and get back to you...

UPDATE, A FEW MINUTES LATER: Maybe it was my problem, or the link's been fixed. ProgBlog citizens! Go about your normal lives! Nothing to see here...

Try going here and see what you get: http://www.mccainpedia.org/.

The questions remains: who and what is webofdeception.com?

Poll numbers up for Barack Obama

The latest national polling numbers reported on Daily Kos show Sen. Barack Obama with an increasing lead over scare-monger Sen. John McCain. Go here for details: http://www.dailykos.com/trendlines

Hatching rescue plans for Florida's elderly voters

Chris and I left Florida 30 years ago for the Rocky Mountains. During those three decades, the changes in our old home state have been enormous. I'm not going to look up the statistics because it's Sunday morning and I still haven't had enough coffee. But it's no secret that millions of people have moved to Florida looking for warm weather, pristine beaches, verdant open spaces, and peace and quiet. By moving there in droves, they've destroyed all but the first one. That's the way it goes. We've had similar problems in the West's beautiful places. We're short on beaches, but we boast mountains that will knock your socks off. People buy property to be near those mountains. Others follow and pretty soon you can't see the mountains for the mansions and woodsmoke, and open spaces are pushed further back into the wilderness until the Bush Administration gets its hands on the place for oil and gas drilling.

I digress. Chris and I attended high school and college in Florida, met and decided to go West. We get back to Florida as often as possible to see family and friends. My eight brothers and sisters live in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Orlando, Palm Bay and Tallahassee. Chris's lone sister and her husband live in Green Cove Springs near the St. John's River. Our parents have passed on, but we still have aunts and uncles and cousins scattered around the state. Chris's relatives from New Jersey and New York all migrated south in retirement, and now all of her cousins live on the Florida West Coast.

The state's big enough to accommodate all of our relatives and millions of others. Sort of. Retirees used to flock to the state and settle among their own kind. Rust Belt retirees (back when there were jobs) settled in St. Pete and environs on the West Coast, Southerners tended to land in the Panhandle along the Redneck Riviera, and New Yorkers, especially those of the Jewish persuasion, flocked to Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and other towns and cities of Dade and Broward counties. In the 2000 election, we saw some of these former New Yorkers trying to make sense of the hanging chads. They looked really old and confused. Some say they cost us the election and gave the world Dubya. We all know it's more complicated than that.

Sarah Silverman of TV fame has decided to help these voters in the next election. Not with the hanging chads -- those don't exist anymore (at least I don't think they do). Silverman is urging those in her Jewish age cohort to travel to Florida before the election and help convince their parents and grandparents to vote for Barack Obama. She and others involved in "The Great Schlep" feel that misinformation has confused their family members and they might end up voting for McCain instead (or by accident). The McCain camp, of course, has been encouraging these misconceptions by his own misleading ads. So Silverman & Company came up with this plan, which I think is brilliant. I am wondering, though, how hard-headed New Yorkers, no matter their age, will response to youngsters flying into Miami to tell them what to do. But it's worth a shot. Just a few votes may affect the entire election.

I'm wondering how our elderly relatives would respond to a similar plan. There's a major problem right off the bat. While Jewish retirees from New York almost always vote Democratic, that's not the case for Catholics from New Jersey. Most of our family members are diehard Republicans. Abortion is the main issue, of course. Birth control, too, as well as the Catholic Church's insistence on centralized authority. That issue rubs most believers in democracy the wrong way. You'd think that "States' Rights Republicans" would bridle at being told what to do by an oligarch in Rome who wears white robes and designer red shoes. Rome's in Europe, that dreadful place. And you can be pro-life when it comes to fetuses but support a foreign policy that vaporizes entire Iraqi families with not-so-smart bombs. But I guess it's O.K. to be a "Cafeteria Catholic" if you're a Republican.

So, "The Great Schlep" won't work for our oldsters, even if it had a different name, such as "Bringing Democracy to Old Benighted Republicans." Perhaps, as nest eggs continue to dwindle in tough economic times, we could frame it as some sort of Bush rescue plan. "We're from the Bush Administration and we're here to help." Considering the past eight years, that could cause a panic, even among Florida Republicans.

Community organizers of a theatrical type

Chris and I are community theatre organizers. It's not quite as impressive as being community organizers. Those people are doing God's work as they assist the homeless, feed the hungry and enfranchise disenfranchised voters. Community theatre organizers may never feel the sting of a Sarah Palin putdown (even though she is quite theatrical). Community organizers. Harumph. Harumph.

But those folks at the soup kitchen and us have one thing in common -- we volunteer our time and talent to a good cause. It's possible that Palin does the same thing in Alaska. Does anyone know? It would be ironic if Palin had been a community organizer of a conservative sort and was making fun of them at the same time.

Community theatre organizers are also volunteers. We donate our time as ushers, waitrons, ticket takers, board members, fund-raisers, tech staff and even actors for the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players. Last night, Chris and I were ushers for "Oliver!" It was a sold-out house, and we were pretty busy for an hour or so. The play seemingly has a cast of thousands, mainly the kids who play the characters in the workhouse ("Food! Glorious Food!") and on the street. When you have kids in the cast, you get an audience of parents and grandparents and siblings and aunts and uncles and friends. You get volunteers, too. Our two kids have been involved in CLTP productions. One of our fellow ushers has a daughter in the play. Two of the other volunteers are local community college students who've been in scores of CLTP productions, including the very entertaining Cheyenne Old-Fashioned Summer Melodrama, where I volunteer as an emcee and Chris as a waitron. Almost all of us summer people are volunteers, which enables the CLTP to use the melodrama as its largest annual fund-raiser.

What do we get out of it? A grand old feeling that we're supporting one of the oldest community theatre groups (79th season) west of the Mississippi. It's fun, too. We get to see old pals and make new ones. Baby Boomers rapidly approaching geezerhood get to work with young people, who are surprisingly tolerant of our doddering ways. We don't tell them this (maybe we should), but they teach us more than we teach them.

So, don't let Sarah Palin get your goat. Go out and volunteer in your community today. Remember that community is made up of all kinds of people. Last night, as I was handing our programs to hundreds of Laramie County citizens, I wondered how many were voting for McCain-Palin. How many will I see today as I'm handing out fliers for the Democratic Party's U.S. Senate candidates? Will they be as affable today to this community political organizer as they were last night to this community theatre organizer?

Lies, and the lying liars who utter them

Calling all stalwart Democrats

Dear All:

Feel like trudging through the snow this weekend for Wyoming Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Nick Carter and Chris Rothfuss? C'mon, it won't be that bad. Come down to Dem HQ in downtown Cheyenne on Saturday morning between 10 and noon and pick up a packet of Carfuss/Rothter material (we might even though in a few Gary Trauner flyers). We're going to cover Cheyenne like a blanket, a nice warm blanket that you can get into when you get home. And don't forget the hot chocolate.

If you don't feel like walking neighborhoods on University of Wyoming's Homecoming (Pokes 49, Utes 0!), pick up your flyers tomorrow at the Laramie County Democrats office on 17th Street between Capitol and Central in Cheyenne, and go out on Sunday, even Monday, Columbus Day. The goal is to get material to every household in Cheyenne and Burns and Pine Bluffs. They deserve to know that there are Democrats out there who want to change the status quo in Wyoming and the nation.

See you this weekend.

Mike

UPDATE: The actual score of the game Saturday was Utah 40, Wyoming 7. See, you neighborhood walkers didn't miss anything.

Idea: Let's ask the Iraqis for a loan

I know where we can get the money for the Wall Street bailout. China's tapped out and even the Saudis are losing their shirts in the international markets. Most of our money's actually already been spent on the Iraq War, but if we stop now, and then plead with the Iraqis to reimburse us for our expenses thus far (they have plenty of dough saved up), we can just about cover the $700 billion, give or take.

Click here to learn more

Dem TV ad: "The Real John McCain"

Now go to the web site of your favorite Democratic Party candidate for president, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, your state's legislature or secretary of state (the person who oversees elections), and any other election category you can think of and donate some money for more ads. When Obama is president, he needs all the allies he can get to make change a reality. You can also donate to your favorite progressive candidate at ActBlue.

McCain stokes hatred and ignorance in the American Heartland

McCain supporters hateful and spiteful and mean-spirited? How could that be? Go to this YouTube video ("The Sidewalk to Nowhere") for the wit & wisdom of McCainiacs waiting in line for a rally in Bethlehem, Penn.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itEucdhf4Us

UPDATE LATER THE SAME DAY: Here's how Sen. Barack Obama responded to the hateful spewing by McCain and his minions:

"They can run misleading ads, they can pursue the politics of anything goes. It will not work. Not this time. I think that folks are looking for something different this time. It's easy to rile up a crowd, nothing's easier than riling up a crowd by stoking anger and division. But that's not what we need right now in the United States. The times are too serious," Obama said at a rally in Chillicothe, Ohio.

What hath Republican economics wrought?

Pres. George W. Bush is going on TV this morning to calm out fears about the economy. I stopped listening to W a long time ago, but others still think that the man will offer up some real policies instead of platitudes. Face it -- Bush, Cheney and the rest of their gang got us into this mess with their deregulation schemes. Some Democrats, damn their hides, went along for the ride. But not all of them.

With this election, we have a chance to elect a different philosophy. It's especially important now that all of us have at least some of our retirement money in the stock market, mainly through 401(K)s. If you tell people to put their money into financial instruments that depend on the vagaries of the market and then take away all the rules that govern bad behavior in that market, you're asking for trouble.

Still, our money managers advised us to stay with it. If you're young, it's O.K. to be a little risky because you can make big gains and also recoup any loses over the course of your long and prosperous life (just hope your job doesn't go overseas like the rest of them). Middle-aged people were told to be a bit more cautious. Those in our fifties and sixties, Baby Boomers, were told to play it safe. But all of us got the same message: the stock market goes up and down but it will always be safe. Your money will be safe. You will have a nice nest egg for those golden years in Sun City.

That's probably what our president will say this morning. All is well. Stay the course. Me and my pals did not lead you into a financial quagmire in the same way we lead the nation into the quagmire of Iraq.

Also remember that our U.S. Senators, Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, believe strongly in Bushonomics and its predecessor, Reaganomics. They believe in deregulation. They will continue on the same disastrous course. U.S. House candidate Cynthia Lummis is also in that camp. To reelect or elect them will be a disaster for Wyomingites and for the country.

Garrison Keillor summed it up nicely in a column that appeared in the Oct. 8 Chicago Tribune at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped1008keilloroct08,0,4545327.column:

Your broker kept saying, "Stay with the portfolio, don't jump ship," and you felt a strong urge to dump the stocks and get into the money market where at least you're not going to lose your shirt, but you didn't do it and didn't do it, and now you're holding a big bag of brown bananas. Me, too. But at least I know enough not to believe desperate people who are talking trash. Anybody who got whacked and still thinks McCain-Palin is going to lead us out of the swamp and not into a war with Iran is beyond persuasion in the English language. They'll need to lose their homes and be out on the street in a cold hard rain before they connect the dots.

Trauner blasts Lummis on Social Security

Gary Trauner, Wyoming's candidate for the U.S. House, will hold a press conference on Friday, October 10, in the State Capitol rotunda in downtown Cheyenne at 9 a.m. After his speech, Trauner will stay around for questions. So come on out and hear Gary speak about some of the ways he can be a Congressional rep who actually does something for the people of Wyoming. You also can call into the press conference by dialing 712-451-6100 and using the pass code 721718#. The last time I put this call-in number on the blog, Cynthia Lummis's press secretary called in, pretending to be a "supporter" and asking Gary a loaded yet dumb question.

Speaking of dumb, Cynthia Lummis wants to privatize social security, throwing us all to the Wall Street wolves. Anyone notice how many points the Dow dropped today? The stock market has lost something like 17 percent of its value this week. How much did your 401(K) lose this week?

Here's statement on social security from the Trauner campaign:

Gary Trauner, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, believes that social security is a vital safety net for Wyomingites. If elected, unlike his opponent Cynthia Lummis, he will not advocate to privatize social security. She advocates for investing this critical safety net in the stock market, a particularly dangerous proposition given the current state of the American economy. The stock market has lost 33 percent of its value this year alone.

"It is critically important that social security always be an available safety net to Wyomingites when they retire. It became even more clear this week as the Dow plummeted, that privatizing social security would be extremely dangerous," Trauner said. "It amazes me that my opponent, Cynthia Lummis, would advocate to invest our tax money in risky stocks, we could do that ourselves. That money should instead be there for the people that have spent their entire life paying into social security."