Health Care Town Hall Durham NC 8/13/09: Health Care Can't Wait

Rachel Maddow: 'I will not be bullied by the Offices of United States Senators...'

North Carolina: Standing in the 'online' unemployment line; website crash

Monday was a record day for the website as well.

North Carolina unemployment claims crash website

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Unemployment is up so much in North Carolina that the state's Internet site for benefits crashed twice this week under a rush of claims.

Once the system was back up, the state set one-day records both for the amount of unemployment benefits paid and for the number of transactions, officials said Tuesday.

The number of people trying to sign up online for new or continuing benefits was as much as triple pre-recession levels Sunday and Monday, the Employment Security Commission said. That volume, together with a phone line problem, overwhelmed the agency's computers and prevented some people from filing claims.

The system was working again by Monday afternoon after the ESC added another server and demand lessened, said ESC spokesman Andy James.

source: USA Today

Woa! CBS is calling Democrat Kay Hagan capturing Republican incumbant LIddy Dole's Senate Seat

Senate Update

by brownsox

Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 05:19:31 PM PST

Two Democratic pickups so far:

Mark Warner (VA)
Jeanne Shaheen (NH)

No word on North Carolina.

UPDATE
CBS calls NC for Hagen! Blames Dole's loss on backlash to her "there is no God" ad

for source - click here

North Carolina and Ohio exit polls show Obama ahead, but we all know how much we can trust exist polls in the more recent past

The last line on this TPM post makes me think that Dan Rather is actually reporting, which is pretty funny actually.

Getting Ready for 8 PM Live-Blogging

7:50 PM ... Initial exits out of North Carolina and Ohio, computed on the same basis as those below.

North Carolina: Obama 51%, McCain 48%
Ohio: Obama 53%, McCain 45%

Remember, they're exit polls. As my grandpa might have said, that and two bits will get you a cup of coffee.

for source - click here

Must Read: Conservative White Male, 55, North Carolina canvassed for Obama because his wife made him

The human need to have hope is way underrated. Obama has made it part of his speeches. The truth is that many Americans need to have hope to get through each day.

It's a good political slogan. Sure. One can be skeptical of the Sayer's sincerity. Sure. Barack Obama has a lot to live up to should he win the Presidency, but he has given people hope, and that is nearly priceless.

I 'hope' he will deliver, and I will be watching closely, and doing what I can from my small perch in 'Peonville' to see that he does.

My wife made me canvass for Obama; here's what I learned

This election is not about major policies. It's about hope.

By Jonathan Curley

from the November 3, 2008 edition

Charlotte, N.C. - There has been a lot of speculation that Barack Obama might win the election due to his better "ground game" and superior campaign organization.

I had the chance to view that organization up close this month when I canvassed for him. I'm not sure I learned much about his chances, but I learned a lot about myself and about this election.

Let me make it clear: I'm pretty conservative. I grew up in the suburbs. I voted for George H.W. Bush twice, and his son once. I was disappointed when Bill Clinton won, and disappointed he couldn't run again.

I encouraged my son to join the military. I was proud of him in Afghanistan, and happy when he came home, and angry when he was recalled because of the invasion of Iraq. I'm white, 55, I live in the South and I'm definitely going to get a bigger tax bill if Obama wins.

I am the dreaded swing voter.

So you can imagine my surprise when my wife suggested we spend a Saturday morning canvassing for Obama. I have never canvassed for any candidate. But I did, of course, what most middle-aged married men do: what I was told. please read more here

Obama Campaign: Morning News

By Christopher Hass - Nov 2nd, 2008 at 10:19 am EST

From the New York Times:

Senators John McCain and Barack Obama began their final push for the White House on Saturday across an electoral map markedly different from four years ago, evidence of Mr. Obama’s success at putting new states into contention and limiting Mr. McCain’s options in the final hours.

Mr. Obama was using the last days of the contest to make incursions into Republican territory, campaigning Saturday in three states — Colorado, Missouri and Nevada — that President Bush won relatively comfortably in 2004.

Across the country, there was abundant evidence of just how much excitement the contest had stirred: In Colorado, 46 percent of the electorate has already voted in that state’s early voting program. Voters in states like Missouri, Montana, North Carolina and Virginia were getting knocks on their doors, telephone calls and leaflets slipped under their windshield wipers.

...“After 12 months and three debates,” Mr. Obama said in Henderson, Nev., “John McCain has not been able to tell the American people a single major thing that he would do different from George Bush on the economy.”

...The campaign’s final days brought a reminder of how Mr. Obama’s financial might had allowed him to redraw the political map. In addition to the states he visited on Saturday, Mr. Obama was planning stops Sunday in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, which went Republican four years ago.

From the Missouri News-Leader:

"Yes we can," Obama said, his slogan across 21 months of campaigning.

...Obama was in Nevada, then Colorado and Missouri, all states that voted for President Bush four years ago. Obama's visit to Colorado marked his sixth trip to the swing state since he clinched his party's nomination in June.

...When Obama arrived in Pueblo, Colo., his family was waiting for him on the tarmac, wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha. Obama kissed his wife, hugged his daughters.

"We are three days away from bringing fundamental change to the United States of America," Obama said. He told the crowd not to let up. "Not when so much is at stake," he said.

...Campaigning in Missouri became a family affair for Obama, who appeared on stage with his wife and daughters before tens of thousands gathered on a high school football field in Springfield, Mo. The location was in Green County, where 62 percent of voters cast ballots for Bush four years ago.

"After eight years of failed policies from George W. Bush," Obama started, sparking a chorus of boos from the crowd at the president's name. "We don't need to boo, we just need to vote," he responded.

...Obama seized on Cheney's fresh endorsement of McCain, praising the vice president for climbing out of his "undisclosed location."

"I'd like to congratulate Sen. McCain on this endorsement, because he really earned it," Obama said in Pueblo, Colo. "That endorsement didn't come easy. Sen. McCain had to vote with George Bush 90 percent of the time and agree with Dick Cheney to get it."

Like Obama and McCain, the vice presidential running mates campaigned toward the finish line.

Sen. Joe Biden was in Indiana, another traditionally Republican state where Democrats are running hard, and later in Ohio, a competitive state. He accused Republicans of "trying to take the low road to the highest office in the land. They are calling Barack Obama every name in the book."

...Early voting statistics were large, and tilted Democratic. In North Carolina, officials said 2.3 million ballots had been cast as of Saturday morning, 52 percent of them by Democrats and 30 percent by Republicans.

In Missouri, spokesman Justin Hamilton said Obama's campaign had agreements with cab companies across the state to provide Election Day rides to the polls for any voter who wanted one.

He said the callers would not be asked how they intended to vote.

From the Kansas City Star:

More than 100 Obama supporters have cut through Saturday’s thick fog to await last-minute instructions at campaign headquarters in midtown Kansas City.

Some have coffee and donuts before starting phone calls or marching through neighborhoods, looking for votes.

“This is kind of our rehearsal for Tuesday,” said volunteer Jackie Gafford. “Everybody knows what they need to do.”

“I might not have done this in Kansas, with all their early voting,” said volunteer Caroline McKnight, who will be making phone calls for Obama. “But they’re really excited in Missouri to get out on Election Day.”

...Obama has the biggest political ground effort in Missouri’s history.

“These are all folks now, no matter what happens November 4, who are really engaged in their communities,” said Buffy Wicks, Obama state director.

Penny Hershman is one of Obama’s 250 neighborhood leaders in Jackson County. There are 2,500 of them in the state, workers who have been trained in political outreach — after promising to work a minimum of 20 hours each week for the Democrat.

Hershman stopped last week at the south Kansas City home of Mark Bureman, who quickly told her she would not have to work too hard. Bureman was firmly onboard with Obama.

“This is going to be an easy house for you,” he said.

Hershman asked whether Bureman and his wife, Linda, could volunteer to make phone calls at Obama headquarters over the weekend. Check and check. Both signed up for shifts.

Being from the area helps, Hershman said. “You say, ‘I’m Penny, and I’m from the neighborhood.’ I think they respond to you a little better.”

...The campaign has established a sophisticated, computer-based outreach program — all data wind up getting poured into a big database in Chicago — that climaxes this weekend.

Campaign staff leadership has been divided into 400 similar teams. A team supervisor works with coordinators of canvassing, data processing, volunteer recruitment and phone banks. The teams are in charge of a particular area and keep meticulous notes about each contact made, either in person or over the phone.

...“There’s been this disconnect,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat and Obama supporter. “There’s not been a focus on connecting people who want to be a part of the campaign to the campaign.”

The tools, of course, have changed. Door knocks and phone calls have been added to cell phone outreach and text-messaging, a technological advantage that has brought the Obama campaign millions of dollars and thousands of extra volunteers.

North Carolina don't fall for it: Elizabeth Dole has done lost her mind!

Update, Thursday, October 30, 2008

Kay Hagan Responds Directly and Forcefully

Kos Diarist on crazy Elizabeth Dole ads against Kay Hagan with voice dubbed to give impression that Kay Hagen is speaking, but it's NOT Kay Hagan. Obscene. Talk about putting words into somebody's mouth. Sheesh!

Don't fall for it North Carolina! PD

Observe this ad from Elizabeth Dole, entitled "Godless", attacking her opponent, Democrat Kay Hagan (a Sunday School teacher and elder in her church). They even hired a voice artist to impersonate Hagan saying "there is no God!" at the end of the ad.

The ad is so bad, in fact, that even Alex Castellanos - the father of attack ads, the man who designed Jesse Helms' legendary "

white hands" ad - thinks it's beyond the pale:

Ed Rollins also condemns it:

You've really gone past the point of no return when even Alex Castellanos and Ed Rollins can't stand by your ads.

It will be a tremendous victory for decency when Dole loses.

Barack Obama: 1/2 Hour Campaign Ad - American Stories, American Solutions

Hey North Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and Nevada!

What about you Colorado, Virginia and Pennsylvania?

We need you. It's not about him, it's about you.

It's not about them, it's about us.

Vote. Volunteer.

I'm going to Carolina in my mind: James Taylor for Barack Obama - Go North Carolina!

A younger James Taylor singa his famous song

McCain supporters heckle voters a Fayetteville, NC early voting site after Barack Obama's speech

Barack Obama gave a speech in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Monday, October 20, 2008, urging people at the event to vote early.

Apparently, in anticipation of a surge in early voting as a result of the Obama Campaign event, an additional early voting site at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles was opened.

This appears to be at the heart of the dispute, at least with respect to the McCain supporter who speaks at the end of the video.

A post at The Washington Times, reads in part, as follows:

Photographer Joe Eddins and I headed over to the closest one and found a steady line of voters hoping to cast ballots early. Most seemed to be Obama supporters and several had come from the rally. Nearly all the voters were black.

Also at the polling site was a group of loud and angry protesters who shouted and mocked the voters as they walked in. Nearly all were white.

As you can see from these videos, no one held anything back. People were shouting about Obama's acknowledged cocaine use as a young man, abortion and one man used the word "terrorist." They also were complaining that Sundays are for church, not voting.

for source - click here

The more I read about what is happening, the more I think the Republicans are encouraging and inspiring a culture war. That is probably obvious to many of my readers. It's astounding to this peon. It almost makes me want to go back to being naive` again, but not quite. PD

Obama receives negative repsonse from a woman in a diner in Fayetteville, NC

The campaign trail is always rough. With all the contentious, negative and vile attacks being levied by the McCain campaign, it is no wonder that people behave the way they do.

I don't like to see Democrats or Republicans behaving badly towards fellow citizens. It's hard sometimes, I truly know. We have to come together. We've been too divided as a nation over stupid crap for too long. I hope we can. I really hope we can. PD

October 20th, 2008

Obama visit to North Carolina restaurant stirs mixed emotions

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - There was a sharp exchange among patrons during Barack Obama’s visit to a barbecue restaurant on Sunday, highlighting the strong emotions the U.S. presidential race is stirring in the final weeks of the campaign.

Obama stopped by Cape Fear BBQ in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to pick up some chicken, collards and baked beans and court voters in this traditionally Republican state.

Some patrons cheered his arrival while others looked on with curiosity and surprise. One woman yelled, “Socialist, Socialist, Socialist — get out of here.” Obama was across the room at the time and did not appear to hear Diane Fanning, 54, who was among several patrons who had just come by after services at the local Presbyterian church. She said she was annoyed that the Illinois senator had stopped in at the restaurant that she regularly visits.

Obama supporter Cecelia Hayslip, 61, responded to Fanning’s comments by saying, “At least he’s not a warmonger.”

Lenox Bramble, 76, isn’t an Obama supporter but he also was bothered by Fanning’s comment. “Be civil, be courteous,” he said.

...Obama later walked over to Fanning’s table and extended his hand to her but she did not shake it.


for source - click here

Credit to DU Blogger

Rasmussen: Tar Heel State - Democrat Kay Hagan ahead over Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole

Elizabeth Dole might get taken out? Flabbergasted. This is a sad commentary on the state of the Republican party. Even if she doesn't lose in this election cycle, a very, very, very strong message is being sent. I'll be keeping an eye on this one, as well as the Franken-Coleman race in Minnesota. PD

Kay Hagan continues to hold on to a modest lead over incumbent United States Senator Elizabeth Dole according to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll in the Tar Heel State.

The new poll—conducted Wednesday night—finds Hagan with 49% of the vote and Dole with 44%. That’s little changed from a week ago when Hagan was on top 48% to 45%. Libertarian Christopher Cole is currently supported by 2% of North Carolina voters.

Dole’s favorably ratings have fallen just below the 50% mark—49% have a favorable opinion of her while 49% offer an unfavorable view. The comparable numbers for Hagan are 50% favorable and 45% unfavorable.

for source - click here

Obama Campaign: Road Blog: Barack Obama in Asheville, North Carolina

by Obama Road Blog

Sunday, October 05, 2008 at 06:15 PM

"When we are unified and not divided there is nothing that we cannot achieve." -- Barack Obama

Liz Allen is a registered nurse in the Cardiovascular Unit at Mission Hospital, here in Asheville. What Liz hates most is the waste. So many people who end up in the intensive care unit she works in are there because they don't have insurance. When people don't have health insurance they usually develop conditions that are far more dangerous -- and far more expensive to treat. It just doesn't make sense, especially at a time when Americans are suffering under the rising cost of everything in their lives, not just health care, but food and gas as well.

In her introduction at Asheville High School, home of the fighting Cougars, Liz made clear why she supports Barack. He is the only candidate looking out for needs the middle class.

She declared her support in from of about 28,000 folks (according to Captain Sarah Benson of the Asheville Fire Deptartment) and could not have been a better prelude to Barack himself.

So many people, like Liz Allen, are working hard to help others, even as they themselves are just scraping by. It's the only way this country can regain it's strength. More than that, as Barack says, it's who we are. Find out how you can help this movement for change across America.

Here is a clip from today's speech in Asheville, in which Barack pledged to keep on talking about the issues that matter and to continue fighting for the middle class.

Arun Chaudhary
October 5th , 2008
Asheville, North Carolina

Picture: Barack in Asheville, NC: "Putting the health of our families before the profits of our insurance companies

MSNBC's First Read: Indiana among red state toss ups

Posted: Monday, September 29, 2008 9:31 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts, 2008

First Thoughts: A Shift Towards Obama

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann

*** A shift towards Obama: As the slew of recent national and state polls suggest, our new map reflects a shift in Obama's direction. Four new states have been added to our Toss-up category: three red states (Florida, Indiana, and North Carolina) and one blue state (Pennsylvania). This gives Obama a 212-174 edge, after his more narrow 233-227 lead last week. What's interesting about these shifts is that while Obama is showing an improvement in fast-growing states (CO, FL, NV, NC, VA), he can't seem to put away the Northern tier states of slow-growing states (MI, PA, WI) or make progress in what some believe is still the all-important state of OH. BTW, how is it that, nationally, Obama's numbers are going up but he's struggling in big states like MI, PA and OH? Is this about Obama's inability to make the sale with older white voters? If he can change the electorates in these Southern and Western states, he can afford to lose two of those three industrial states, but it puts more pressure on him to win two of the following three: FL, NC and VA. for source- click here

North Carolina: Barack Obama up by two

Political Carnival reports on recent Rasmussen polling data:

Barack Obama has a two-point advantage over John McCain in the traditionally Republican state of North Carolina.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the Tar Heel State shows Obama attracting 49% of the vote while McCain earns 47%. A week ago, McCain held a three-point edge. This is the first time in eight Rasmussen Reports polls that Obama has held any kind of a lead in North Carolina, though the candidates were tied once as well.

Please consider donating to

My Big Yellow School Bus Fundraiser

for Barack Obama

Barack in Charlotte, NC: "The stakes are too high"

by Amanda Scott

Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 12:56 PM

Barack just finished an event in Charlotte, North Carolina. He spoke about the struggling economy and his plan to stregnth American and the middle class. He also addressed John McCain's recent remarks and view on healthcare...

Because while I certainly don’t fault Senator McCain for all of the problems we’re facing right now, I do fault the economic philosophy he’s followed during his 26 years in Washington. It’s a philosophy that says it’s ok to turn a blind eye to practices that reward financial manipulation instead of sound business decisions. It’s a philosophy that says even common-sense regulations are unnecessary and unwise. It’s a philosophy that lets Washington lobbyists shred consumer protections and distort our economy so it works for the special interests instead of working people and our country.

We’re now seeing the disastrous consequences of this philosophy all around us – on Wall Street as well as Main Street. And yet Senator McCain, who candidly admitted not long ago that he doesn’t know as much about economics as he should, wants to keep going down the same, disastrous path.

He calls himself “fundamentally a deregulator,” when reckless deregulation and lack of oversight is a big part of the problem.And here’s the really scary part. Now this “Great Deregulator” wants to turn his attention to health care.

He wrote in the current issue of a magazine – the current issue – that we need to open up health care to – quote – “more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking.”

That’s right, John McCain says he wants to do for health care what Washington has done for banking.

Think about what that means.

Over the years, states have come up with common sense rules to make sure that insurance companies aren’t just looking out for their own profits, but for your health. And we cannot toss those rules out the window.

As anyone who has health care knows, the one thing we don’t need to do is give insurance companies an even freer hand over what they charge, who they cover, and what they’ll cover.

The radical idea that government has no role to play in protecting ordinary Americans has wreaked havoc on our economy. And we cannot let this dangerous philosophy spread to health care.

What we’ve seen over the last few days is nothing less than the final verdict on this failed philosophy. And I am running for President of the United States because the dreams of the American people must not be endangered any more.

The times are too serious. The stakes are too high. At this moment, in this election, we need real change – change that’s more than just a slogan, change that actually makes a difference in people’s lives. And that’s the kind of change I’ll bring to Washington when I’m President of the United States of America.

Read Barack's full remarks as prepared for delivery...

Barack Obama and Joe Biden have proposed a health care plan to make sure that every American has access to much-needed healthcare. Barack’s plan offers ordinary Americans the same healthcare he uses as a member of Congress, and makes sure it’s affordable for all. Furthermore, no American will be turned away for pre-existing conditions. Read more about Barack's healthcare plan.

Road Blog: Joe and Jill Biden in Charlotte, North Carolina

by Obama Road Blog

Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 10:30 PM

Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, flew from Wilmington, Delaware to Charlotte, North Carolina today to speak at a community gathering at the Phillip O. Berry Academy. According to Captain Bruce Bellamy of the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Police Department, 1,100 people filled the gymnasium set with red bleachers, a podium, and an enormous American flag as the backdrop.

Jill and Joe greeted the audience at the podium, where Jill introduced her husband by speaking about his life and how they met. Joe mentioned that the Violence Against Women Act was one of his proudest achievements and noted that changes must be made regarding the disparity in women’s salaries in order to help lift up the nation.

He passionately spoke to the audience about the fact that Americans do not have to accept circumstances that they do not like and can choose to make a better life for themselves and the next generation. He said that Barack Obama understands this and has new energy to give Americans a shot at changing the direction of the country.

Sharon Barnes
September 14, 2008
En route to Wilmington, Delaware

Lenny Julius, Emerald Isle, NC gets 'excited' again at age 67 as he will appear at the 2008 Democratic National Convention

Backstage Tonight: Lenny Julius from New Jersey

By Molly Claflin - Aug 28th, 2008 at 11:57 am EDT

We decided this year would be a very special convention. Barack wanted to include ordinary Americans from across the nation in all parts of the convention – from drafting the Party Platform, to speaking to delegates, to organizing and shaping the convention.

One very special way we included ordinary Americans was “Backstage with Barack,” which gave every American who contributed to the campaign an opportunity to be selected to attend the convention.

Those ten supporters will join Barack backstage tonight. Among them will be Lenny Julius of Emerald Isle, NC. Check out this video about his experiences in the military and why he supports Barack.