Saturday, July 31, 2010

Friday July 30, 2010

Friends

There is a time for governing, and there is a time for campaigning and politics.

The last 20 months, President Barack Obama has focused his efforts, in the most difficult of circumstances, on governing. As our opposition chose to simply oppose everything, the Obama Administration and the Democratic US Congress, with your help, has saved the US Economy, stabilized industry, passed Health Care Reform, nominated one successful Supreme Court Justice and has another in waiting, and passed Financial Regulatory Reform. We were hemmoraging 700,000 jobs a month when Barack Obama was inaugurated President. Last month, we gained 50,000 new jobs.

When Barack Obama was inaugurated, the Just Say No crowd wanted to close down the US Auto industry. Today, over 50,000 new jobs have been created, the industry is stabilized and profitable, and ready to compete worldwide in the 21st Century. All because Barack Obama and your Democratic Congress voted yes to helping a industry in trouble, rather than letting it die and all the millions of jobs with it. See Here.

During the last 20 months, the Republicans and their Tea Party have opposed each and every piece of legislation that you have supported and been instrumental in passing. They hatched screaming matches at local events, cajoled and threatened candidates, and have the rapt attention of Glen Beck and Fox News. While you helped through Organizing For America, supporting your local Congressional leaders, and worked hard for American jobs, The Republican Tea Party has opposed each and every measure which, in the end, has put America back on the road to prosperity.

The time for politics has arrived.

The American people this fall have a choice; whether to go back to the failed policies of George Bush and the Republican Tea party, or to look forward with renewed vigor at the opportunities to continue to improve the daily lives of Americans. We know what didn’t work; because the same, failed policies that got us into this mess are, unbelievably, what the Republican Tea Party is now pushing for a return to.

We know that you are ready for this fight; the fight for American prosperity and jobs, the fight for the values we all fought for in 2008, and the fight to look forward, not go back to policies and politicians that want to Just Say No to progress.

So when you talk to your neighbors, your friends, and your family, you can be proud of what has been accomplished, and remind them that going back to Bush era politics is not moving forward; it is going backwards.

Finally, for sheer fun, see our favorite sheriff from Mayberry talk about why Health Care Reform was and is so important. See Here.

We will be here, weekly, talking about how you can help.

Thank You.

We Stand, With You, For Hope and Change

Lou & Carol Frillman

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Friday July 16

Yesterday, Financial Regulatory Reform was passed, securing another one of the pillars to President Barack Obama's New Foundation for a return to American growth and prosperity.

Last year, President Obama laid out the pillars to a New Foundation. He said that to return America to growth and prosperity, we needed to;

1. Rescue the economy from the the national economic emergency we were in.
Check.

2. Pass Health Care Reform so that long term controls and initiatives to
control rapidly rising health care costs would be out in place.
Check.

3. Pass Energy legislation so that we can control our own energy future, reduce
dependance on foreing oil, and change the way energy impacts all levels of
our society.
In Progress.

4. Reduce long term debt; the current bi partisan commission to control spending
and reuce debt will report to the President in December with recommendations
on how to proceeed.

He also said,

" We can’t afford to return to the pre-crisis status quo. We can’t go back to an economy that was too dependent on bubbles and debt and financial speculation. We can’t accept economic growth that leaves the middle class owing more and making less. We have to build a new and stronger foundation for growth and prosperity -- and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing for the last 16 months.

It’s a foundation based on investments in our people and their future; investments in the skills and education we need to compete; investments in a 21st century infrastructure for America, from high-speed railroads to high-speed Internet; investments in research and technology, like clean energy, that can lead to new jobs and new exports and new industries.

This new foundation is also based on reforms that will make our economy stronger and our businesses more competitive -- reforms that will make health care cheaper, our financial system more secure, and our government less burdened with debt.
"


President Obama created, and is executing a strategy to lay a New Foundation for America's future. In contrast, our Republican opponents have stood against each and every initiative that made to stabilize and provide a basis for new growth, sustainable long term.

* They opposed the TARP bill and subsequent Economic Recovery Act; unbelieveably,
as this was started under Presdent Bush.

* They opposed with every form imaginable Health Care Reform, and managed to
not have one vote , not one vote, for reform to a systemic problem facing
America.

* They have logjammed over 20 judicial appoinments, and many more appointments
at every level, simply in intransient opposition to anything President Obama
asks Congress to approve.

Without you, the New Foundation would continue to be a dream. With you, the New Foundation is becoming a reality. It is not something that has been given to you, it is something you have worked for each and every day of the last 18 months.

Thank you.

We Stand, With You, For Hope & Change,


Lou and Carol Frillman

Friday, July 9, 2010

July 9, 2010

Hi

Today, we thought about the last week; a holiday week for most. Beautiful weather, a really wonderful week.

On the 4th, while we watched Seattle's fireworks, we thought about this democratic experiment.

234 years ago, a small band of people, patriots all, took the greatest risk; they risked their lives "and their sacred honor" for a better life. For their children, for their grandchildren, and for us.

The gift and result of their sacrifice was our nation. And our nation, now, needs us. She needs you.

The ranting continues; Glen Beck, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, even the wannabe Speaker, John Boehner. They all think that by being obstructionists, and trying to deflect that obstructionism on us, that they will be elected back into control of the House.

They don't get it. The same old policies they promoted for 8 years, the very ones they promote now, is exactly how we got into this mess. And slowly, we are working our way out of them with the dedicated leadership of President Barack Obama and House and Senate that have the good of our nation first in mind. We are trying to move forward, not move backwards, which is exactly what our opponents would have us do.

That's not what America wants. America wants, we believe, to continue the mission of healing our nation in so many ways. Americans are hurting, we know this. The way out is to move forward.

And, to continue this mission, we need one thing.

You.

Without you, the experiment cannot continue. Without you, the work cannot be finished. So, as we face the heat of summer, more ranting, and the fall election cycle, we ask you to rededicate yourselves.

When you approach the fall and the opportunities to help are many, think about what needs to be done, knowing one thing.

Without you, none of this works.

Without you, the experiment will not survive.

With you, we will continue the business of remaking America and preserving all the values we hold dear.

See you next week.

We Stand, With You, For Hope and Change


Lou & Carol Frillman

Friday, July 2, 2010

Join Us

If you are looking for a place to complain, this isn't it.

This is the place for builders; for doers; for those who know that Change depends on us. This place belongs to those who know that this nation was built by dreamers, by those folks who look for a better day, and brick by brick, block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, built a nation. This place is for those who embrace Hope as a active verb.

This is the place for you.

___________________________________________________________________________________

The Beginning

In a moment, it was over.

But, really, it was just beginning.

Tuesday evening, November 4, 2008, at exactly 10pm CDT, at the moment the polls closed on the west coast, multiple news outlets declared Barack Obama elected the 44th President of the United States.

Was this real? We looked around, at each other, the stage, the cameras, at The Family, and everything told us this was real. We touched each other; yes, we were really here.

The swirl of the cameras, the lights, the peaceful November weather, all blending into this moment in history. And so were we. Exhaustion met exhilaration. The Dream, now, become reality.

Back in time; Springfield and the speech, Iowa, MInnesota, Washington,Pennsylvania, New Mexico, the debates, North Carolina, Indiana, fundraiser after fundraiser, trudging through the fields in the snow, all of these moments now becoming not recollections in our minds, but imprints on our hearts, which could never be erased.

Several hundred thousand people were in Grant Park, Chicago, listening to President-Elect Obama, swaying to the history around us. There, in the front, was Jesse Jackson. What was he thinking? He saw Dr. King assassinated; now he was witness to the miracle of this election.

We looked back on this all in awe. How did a small band of committed supporters create this? How did this happen?

We all came from different parts of the United States. We came from large cities, small cities, from political backgrounds steeped in tradition, from non political backgrounds with no tradition at all. We came from families of means, but mostly, families with no or little means.

We decided to stand. We stood for our children and grandchildren. We stood for a nation desperately needing healing. We stood for the powerless, those among us who could not stand nor speak for themselves. We came from all walks of life, religious beliefs, and ethnicities.

We joined together and we all acted on one belief.

In 2007 starting in February in Springfield, Illinois, through Chicago in November 2008, and now through the summer of 2010, we all act together as one, with one belief, one mantra.

We Stand For Hope & Change.

When this started, Barack Obama was joined by a small group of followers who believed, that together, we could forge a better path. Soon, thousands joined us; later, hundreds of thousands, then millions followed.

In November 2008 , you all knew the truth. Barack Obama could not make Change alone.

________________________________________________________________________________

Now

Now, we are all, with hands joined and hearts together in unity and common purpose, part of the effort to heal our nation. We continue to be a part of this movement to bring Change. We see Hope as a active verb.

The last year, together, you made Health Care a reality for 30 million uninsured Americans. You helped pull us back from financial collapse. You are ending one war and working towards ending another. You are poised to bring Financial Reform and Immigration, Don't Ask, and other core promises, into reality. It has taken a tremendous effort and each of you helped make these monumental changes happen.

You are making Change. You are helping to deliver the promise of November 2008.

So, here, in this place, we welcome you to this dialogue. Our business is simple; to continue this work, support our Pesident,and build a progressive tradition that embraces the best we each have to give.

What will be asked of you?

More.

More of your time, your treasure, your hands, and your hearts. This effort will require us all to give more. This year, next, and the next. The challenge will continue; our opposition stands strong. Freedom, of course, must be reclaimed by every generation. So it is for us.

But, we face this future together. If you believe, like we do, that Change requires doing, not complaining, that Hope needs heart, not harping, we welcome you. If you feel that Change hasn't come quickly enough, we ask you to join us and help make it happen. All of us are needed to perfect our Union.

We will be here every Friday. We Hope you join us.

But for now, with you, We Stand For Hope and Change.

Happy July 4th, everyone.



Lou & Carol Frillman