Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Continuing to sell the Stimulus Pakcage.

Here's the latest email.

Organizing for America
Jason --

Last night, President Obama recorded a series of national network and cable news interviews about the urgent need for an economic recovery plan.

Watch the video and share it with your friends and family:

Watch the video

President Obama discussed why we need an immediate effort to create millions of jobs while investing in long-term challenges like energy and health care.

He called for swift investment in job creation while continuing to assist those who are out of work, without health insurance, or in danger of losing their homes.

The Economic Recovery plan passed the House of Representatives, and the Senate is preparing to vote on it very soon. The final version can and will be improved. But the President's core plan will positively affect families and communities all across the country.

You can help make sure the American people have all the facts so they can support this crucial effort to boost our struggling economy.

The President is leading. Help is on the way.

Lend your voice by sharing this video with everyone you know. Then sign up to join thousands of people across the country who are organizing Economic Recovery House Meetings this weekend:

http://my.barackobama.com/recoveryplan

Thank you for staying involved,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America







For the record, I'm for the stimulus.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Selling the Recovery Bill

Here's the latest email update from the White House.

The economic crisis is growing more serious every day, and the time for action has come.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will jumpstart our economy and put more than 3 million people back to work.

I hope to sign the recovery plan into law in the next few weeks. But I need your help to spread the word and build support.

It's not enough for this bill to simply pass Congress. Americans need to know how it will affect their lives -- they need to know that help is on the way and that this administration is investing in economic growth and stability.

Governor Tim Kaine has agreed to record a video outlining the recovery plan and answering questions about what it means for your community. You can submit your questions online and then invite your friends, family, and neighbors to watch the video with you at an Economic Recovery House Meeting.

Join thousands of people across the country by hosting or attending an Economic Recovery House Meeting this weekend.

The stakes are too high to allow partisan politics to get in the way.

That's why I've consulted with Republicans as well as Democrats to put together a plan that will address the crisis we face.

I've also taken steps to ensure an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Once it's passed, you will be able to see how every penny in this plan is being spent.

You can help restore confidence in our economy by making sure your friends, family, and neighbors understand how the recovery plan will impact your community.

Sign up to host or attend an Economic Recovery House Meeting and submit your question for the video now:

http://my.barackobama.com/recovery

Our ability to come together as a nation in difficult times has never been more important.

I know I can rely on your spirit and resolve as we lead our country to recovery.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

P.S. -- If you can't host or attend an Economic Recovery House Meeting, you can still submit your questions for Governor Kaine and then share the video with your friends and family this weekend. Learn more here:

http://my.barackobama.com/recovery


Don't get me wrong for saying this, I'm with the President about 90% of the time, but this is just what some people are worried about. Sending text messages and emails to supporters that he might not make on the records. There's nothing nefarious about this email or any other to date, but could you imagine the hubbub if the Bush White House had sent out texts and emails to their campaign contributors and followers? The left would be going bonzo gonzo right now.

Friday, January 23, 2009

The First Post Inauguration Email


Friend --


When Barack Obama was declared our 44th President, you didn't just revel in that victory -- you started asking what's next for this movement.

How is this unprecedented group of volunteers, grassroots leaders, and dedicated supporters going to help make change a reality?

More than half a million people shared their thoughts and ideas about moving forward, and we listened carefully. Last week, President Obama announced the creation of Organizing for America -- a group that will work alongside the President to support the agenda you fought so hard for.

You can be part of its first steps.

Watch a short video message I recorded with Mitch Stewart, Executive Director of Organizing for America, and learn more about this new organization you helped build.

Watch the video



You've already invested in the future of this country -- whether you voted, donated money, helped organize your local community, or got involved in countless other ways.

But right now, your participation in the political process is more important than ever. We'll soon be asking you to give whatever time or talent you can to support the President. With your help, we can bring change to Washington and the entire nation.

I look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead.

Thank you,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Now they stop calling me "Jason" at the beginning of the emails. It kind of hurts.

Monday, January 12, 2009

A Call to Service

Finally an email that showcases the positive things that Obama's email database can achieve.

One week from today, on January 19th, Barack and I will join thousands of people all across the country for an extraordinary day of service.

I recorded a short video to tell you more about this important effort. Please take a minute to watch it and sign up to host or attend a service event near you.

Host or attend a service event

Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are committing to renew America together, one community at a time.

Whatever service activity you organize or take part in -- cleaning up a park, giving blood, volunteering at a homeless shelter, or mentoring an at-risk youth -- you can help start this important journey. But this is about more than just a single day of service, it's the beginning of an ongoing commitment to your community.

Monday, January 19th, is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. King taught us to live a life of service, and he led by example. He once said:

"If you want to be important -- wonderful. If you want to be recognized -- wonderful. If you want to be great -- wonderful. But, recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness."

Barack and I will be volunteering in Washington, D.C., our new home. I hope you'll join us by taking part in this national call to service in your community:

http://www.USAservice.org/calltoservice

It will take ordinary citizens working together with a common purpose to get this country back on track. This national day of service is an important first step in our continuing commitment.

Now is the time to remind all Americans what ordinary people can accomplish when we stand together.

Thank you,

Michelle



This is what they should be doing instead of asking for money after a long campaign and the economy in free fall: asking people to give of themselves. I'm all for this and will probably try to do something.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Comparing the Cost of Obama's Inauguration to Past Inaugurals


All of these emails about the Obama Inauguration have gotten me curious about the cost of the event to taxpayers and from donations to the Presidential Inaugural Committee. So I decided to do a very rudimentary Google search and see what I could find out. Here goes.

First of all there is this link, which tells about some of the costs of Bush's 2004 Inaugural and Tractor Pull:

The Presidential Inaugural Committee has said putting on the inaugural events will cost about $40 million, which is being raised from private donors -- more than half of them corporations that gave as much as $250,000 each -- as well as sales of tickets and merchandise.

In addition, the federal government and District of Columbia will bear the costs of providing security, expected to be around $20 million.

Some critics have questioned spending millions on inauguration festivities in a time of war and after the devastation of December's tsunami in South Asia. But organizers insist that the pageant is an appropriate celebration of American democracy.

"We're a nation at war, but we do believe it's important, through privately raised money, [that] we ought to go forward with the inaugural festivities," said Dan Bartlett, White House communications director.

Organizers have included a number of events to honor military personnel, including Thursday night's Commander in Chief Ball, which is expected to draw 2,000 troops.

"The president made it clear that he wanted to pay special tribute in a special way to those armed forces -- men and women -- who put their lives on the line every day, with particular emphasis on the war on terror," said Greg Jenkins, the inaugural committee's executive director


Some more digging showed me this about Clinton's 1996 Inaugural and Orgy (featuring Fleetwood Mac!)- it's a brief snippet of an article, but some of the pertinent numbers are there.

While organizers of President Clinton's second inaugural have touted next month's celebration as smaller and less expensive than the 1993 extravaganza, the cost borne by taxpayers will be the highest ever, according to White House records.

This taxpayer expense was not highlighted at a recent briefing by inaugural organizers, who focused instead on the strict standards imposed this time for collecting private donations for "cheaper" parties and other special events.

But according to budgets provided by the White House and Congress -- and not including the undisclosed inaugural budget of the Secret Service -- the public cost is at least $12.7 million.

This year's festivities are promising to be bigger than any other's on record. How big? Well this blog entry from CNN.com goes into some detail about the money being asked for by Washington D.C. for security alone.

"Even though we're very practiced at inaugurations and large events, this is one that will rewrite the book on inaugurations," said the Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC, who has requested an additional $15 million from Congress to help the city cover costs. That would double the $15 million Congress has already allocated to pay for all national events and demonstrations in Washington during 2009.

DC Mayor Adrian Fenty agreed costs for increased security and crowd control would dwarf the original allocation. And for a city facing a budget shortfall and the same economic downturn affecting the rest of the country, now is not the time to rack up debt, Fenty told CNN.

"We are in talks with the federal government as we sit here today to let them know — I think they already know that that's not enough," he said, referring to the $15 million already allocated. "Now the question is if you want to make sure that you cross every 't' and dot every 'i', it does look like it's going to be significantly more than that."

Fenty predicted costs for the city would run close to $50 million, the same amount Congress provided to both Denver and St. Paul, Minnesota to host the Republican and Democratic conventions earlier this year.


From what I'm gathering about this Inauguration, the security costs for Clinton's '96 party, Bush's '04 shindig, and Obama's '09 love fest look like this:

  • Clinton: $12.7 million
  • Bush: $20 million
  • Obama: $30 million (projected)

That's a lot of money. But the real money begins to pile up not in the cost of the security, but in the cost of the actual Inauguration and the festivities that accompany it, which are paid for (in part) by the Presidential Inauguration Committee. The numbers look like this:

  • Clinton: It's not specified, but from the sound of that article it was a smaller party than the '92 Inaugural.
  • Bush: $40 million
  • Obama: unknown as of yet, but I imagine it will be bigger than Bush's in '04


I want to be fair about this next part, so I'm going to play it safe and assume for a second Obama's Inauguration costs the same $40 million that Bush's did in '04. That puts the total cost for this Inauguration at around $70 million, and that's being conservative.

$70 million dollars. That's a ton of money. Granted, I didn't account for inflation, and Bush and Obama's security costs are going to be significantly higher than Clinton's due to our Post 9/11 fear fest, but still $70 million dollars.

$70 million for a party that most Americans aren't going to be able to go to. Oprah and Bill Gates will be able to go. Michael Stipe and Bono will be there. Us poor people? We'll read about it in Star Magazine eating cake. Let us eat cake.

More later.

Now the muscle comes in

Because Barack is the ultimate good cop, we need a bad cop to come in and threaten us with a phone book and a plunger. That man is David Plouffe.

Jason --

I wanted to take a minute to reinforce Barack's message.

We wouldn't be preparing to celebrate this historic inauguration if it weren't for you. But the deadline to get your ticket to history is just a few hours away.

Time and again you have stepped up to support this movement in inspiring ways. Now you can help give this administration a strong start.

Ten supporters and their guests will be selected to come to Washington, D.C., and attend the welcome ceremony, the swearing in, the Inaugural Parade, and the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball.

Will you make a donation of $25 or more before midnight tonight? You could be a part of the inaugural events.

Make a donation and you could be there

You believed in Barack's message of change and helped build the grassroots movement that made history.

No matter where you are on Inauguration Day, we'll all come together and remember why we put so much work into making this happen.

Thank you for everything,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

P.S. -- You can be part of this moment without making a donation. Participate by telling us in your own words what this inauguration means to you. Learn more now:

https://donate.pic2009.org/tickettohistory


This is getting obnoxious.

Now the biggest gun of them all is here.

Jason --

On January 20th, our journey to bring change will officially begin.

We're organizing the most open and accessible Inauguration in our nation's history. And we're doing it without contributions from Washington lobbyists or big corporations.

Just like we did on the campaign, we're relying entirely on supporters like you -- ordinary people giving whatever they can afford to make this an event for all Americans.

I know we've asked a lot of you. But changing the way business is done in Washington will take a commitment from all of us. Right now, you can help give this administration a strong start.

And if you make a donation of any amount before midnight tonight, you could be selected to come to Washington, D.C., and be part of the welcome ceremony, the swearing in, the Inaugural Parade, and the Inaugural Community Ball.

Will you make a donation of $25 or more and be part of the historic moment you made possible?

We have a long road ahead of us, and we're going to face some major challenges as soon as we start. But I know I can count on you every step of the way.

Thank you for everything you've done and happy New Year,

Barack

P.S. -- You could be there for this historic moment even if you cannot make a donation. You can show your support by sharing what this Inauguration means to you. Learn more here:

https://donate.pic2009.org/tickettohistory


Please donate


I still don't understand how giving the Obama Inaugural my money will help get the Administration "of to a strong start". Will someone smarter than I am explain that to me? I thought trouncing McCain and providing the strongest mandate for a President since 1996 was enough, but now apparently getting Gallagher to smash fruit all over Washington insiders in rented tuxes is what needs to happen. Maybe Gallagher aims at Republicans and Democrats who don't want to play ball.