The 2004 National Democratic Convention was a powerful experience for observers and participants alike. Day 2, keynote speaker Barack Obama electrified the house. While reminding the delegates that "we have more work to do," he began by stressing the positive. "My presence on this stage is pretty unlikely." His father was a Kenyan goat herder and mother was a European American from Kansas. When his parents named him, they believed that "in a tolerant America, your name is no barrier to success." He recognized the vast varieties of patriots in America—a country where "our votes will be counted...at least most of the time." In indicating that Americans have a choice on Nov. 2, "politics of cynicism or politics of hope," he vouched for John Kerry as a future President who would "never, ever go to war without enough troupes to win the war, secure the peace and win the respect of the world." To a roaring crowd Obama declared "out of this long political darkness, a better day will come!"

From 12 year old Ilana Wexler of Oakland, California who chastised our Vice President for "saying a real bad word," to Teresa Kerry who noted, "America isn't just a country, it's an ideal," the convention was a never before experience. John Kerry actually wrote his speech himself and noted something important FDR would never have said in a speech—johnkerry.com.

Ron Reagan, in pleading the need for stem cell research, claimed he was not giving a political speech. "The theology of the few should not stall the health and well-being of the many." Ending his address Reagan made his final attempt at 'nonpartisanship' with, "in a few months, this Nov. 2, we have a chance to choose from future or past, truth or ignorance, between compassion and ideology."

According the Aug. 4 London Financial Times, "the main plank of the Democrats' platform is a $650 billion health-care plan and a $200 billion-plus programme for education. These would be paid for by repealing tax cuts on incomes of more than $200,000 a year, saving an estimated $860 billion..." Congressman Mike Honda, also concerned about Bush fiscal recklessness, stated recently that President Bush proposed a federal budget that under-funds education for the third year in a row. His 2005 education spending bill under-funds the No Child Left Behind Act by more than $9 billion. With greater optimism Kerry indicated that by reducing "corporate welfare," we should be able to provide substantial child tax credits, as well as funding for veterans and military families. Also on Aug. 4, Kerry began showcasing over 200 corporate executives who see him as a responsible steward of the nation's economy. Senator Kerry said at a rally in Davenport, Iowa, "we know that if we bring down skyrocketing healthcare costs, enforce our trade agreements and cut taxes for companies that keep jobs here, we can strengthen our economy."

Our greatest resource is your motivation and energy. Thank you for your commitment to helping John Kerry and John Edwards in the 2004 election. With your enthusiasm, efforts, and dedication, we will take back the White House on November 2nd!

What Can I Do To Help?

At this stage we are getting organized and what we need now are volunteers to join the "Swing" teams. Here are the areas where we need volunteers:

Planning Team: join one of our teams to help coordinate with the swing states and other organizations, do research, organize local events, etc.

Action Team: sign up to be notified of planned events, and participate as you have the time and interest (includes Bay Area events, and weekend trips to nearby states)

Travel Team: if you want to spend a week or more in a swing state, sign up with the travel team and we'll work to find a useful way for you to participate in the campaign (we strongly encourage local experience registering voters, etc. prior to travel. We will also be organizing volunteer training and Train the Trainer sessions.)

Once we start getting state teams established, the teams should establish contacts with local organizations through the team captain. The team captains will be decided by the team. State teams can also start learning what the issues on the ground are in those states, so that our efforts are more persuasive.

As you can see from Battleground Map below, our work for the presidential election in November is critical.

Currently, we have identified 21 states to be swing states, including:
AZ (electoral votes - 10), AR (6), CO (9), FL (27), IA (7), LA (9), ME (4), MI (17), MN (10), MO (11), NC(15), NV (5), NH (4), NM (5), OH (20), OR (7), PA (21), VA(13), WA (11), WV (5), WI (10)

We need to be prepared to do what it takes to win this election. Targeting our energies to swing states will make the difference. Thank you all for your time and generosity!

Otto Lee and Tim Persyn, Silicon Valley for Kerry Swing State Leads

Saturday, August 21 @ 1:00 PM, "meet-up, show-up, come out"
1460 Emory Street, San Jose 95126
RSVP to SwingStates@SiliconValleyForKerry.com