On Sunday I found out that an Obama campaign office in my home state of New Mexico did not have the supplies it needed for its open house this next Saturday.  I don't know the reasons for the lack of supplies but knew instantly that I had to do something.  

Being that this is the most important election of our lives helping them out was the only thing I could do.  And I did it with my head held high.

With some schmoozing and networking I was able to get some Obama placards and buttons printed...and in time for their grand opening.

This diary is entirely inspired by a conversation my sister overheard this morning at one of the Obama campaign sites here in Albuquerque.  She was there picking up tickets for Obama's town hall that will be held here Monday.

Don't get me wrong.  I have the utmost respect for campaign volunteers and paid campaign workers. It is a hard, and sometimes, thankless job.   I especially respect those that have left their families, friends and lives behind to travel to a new state to work.

My words are not meant to chastise but rather to inform.  This is the most important election of our lives.  Please listen.

Move. On.  There is a big old world out there full of news and stories that deserve your full attention and concern.  

Edwards had an affair.  He told Elizabeth about it in 2006.  Two years ago.

In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Elizabeth Edwards confirmed that her husband had confessed the extramarital affair to her in 2006 but that after a "long and painful process" she was now standing by him.

Yes, it is true.  It is time to talk about "Uppity Wetbacks."  I figured since the McCain campaign is framing the "Uppity Negro" bite about Obama being "one of those, you know, those Blacks that think they are just so...so uppity" it is time to discuss all of us Americans of color and our uppitiness.  And don't forget our arrogance.

Reading Kos' diary  got me thinking about my own uppity behaviour.  I am one of those "uppity Wetbacks" and I can empathize with those "uppity Negros."

Good news out of Albuquerque today.  The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver has ruled in favor of the Constitution and some anti-war protesters.  

The court ruled that the City of Albuquerque, Martin Chavez (our Mayor), and several Albuquerque Police Department officers cannot stand behind the qualified immunity shield when it comes to violating a citizens First Amendment rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

This story was first mentioned here in a nicely written blog about the state of immigration in America.

I am going to take it a step further.  Luis Ramirez died a horrible death.  And the only reason he died was because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong last name and the wrong skin color.  The full AP story is here.

I ran across this story and it reminded me of a story my sister told me years ago.  

She was working as a retail clerk in a Pier 1 store outside of Dallas.  This would have been around 1990.  Her manager told her that part of her job was to shadow all African American customers when they came into the store.  So she did.  She followed them around.  Just out of high school my sister was young and naive.  When she finally realized why she was shadowing these customers she quit the job.

Just when you thought things had changed, huh?

This diary is written with a heavy heart.  I have changed the name of the young woman to protect her identity.  The conversation was real.

This past week my daughter and her friends were out riding their bikes.  They do it in packs.  They work on their tans while flirting with the guys on the bike paths.  They all have part time jobs and are full time students at the University here in town.  They will all be sophomores this Fall semester.

After this last bike ride, Jen came into the kitchen for some water.  Our conversation went like this.

Dear John,

I haven't written many "Dear John" letters in my life.  Actually, I never have written any because I've never dated a man named "John," but, I digress.

We need to talk John.  As you consider me to be one of your "friends" it is only appropriate that I give you some constructive feedback about the way you pander to us.

Yes, John, I am one of those.

I like what I am seeing tonight.  Support for our Democratic candidate.  

I'll jump in...I hope the rules allow it (whatever they may be).

And, I'll dedicate my Obama diary to those who have left this place and I miss terribly.  They would all be proud to be part of this history.

My Mom.
My Best Friend.
My Grandmother.
My Grandfather.

Sorry.  I don't like to start my diaries this way but there is really nothing else I would like to say to Phil Gramm except to go straight to hell...without passing "go."

Whining?  Gramm has the audacity to tell us that we are "whiners?"  

I guess you, Mr. Gramm, haven't been paying attention.  You know so little about Americans.  Regular Americans who don't qualify for the tax cuts that have been given since Dubya has been in office.

When my Mom died I was devastated.  Who wouldn't be?  She was 56 years old and died in a doctors office of an unrealized and undiagnosed heart defect.  As if her sudden death wasn't enough for all of us to wrap our hearts and heads around, we had to bury her.  We had to deal with the funeral industry.

I hate dealing with the funeral industry.  Absolutely hate every bit of the whole schematic.  The plasticness of the sales people, the horrible piped in music and the way the funeral homes smell.  But what I hate the most about the industry is the monopoly they have on death.  Once someone dies they come into a grieving family's world and take over.

This article gives me pause.

After reading all of the diaries yesterday about Obama and the decisions he is making running for President, I had to rant in one of my own.  It felt good to rant but I realized that wouldn't be enough.

Sometimes, as Progressives, we can be our own worst enemies. And this is one of those times.

Maybe we need to see this a different way.  Just who is voting for Obama?  For McCain?  Which groups may have an impact on the general election?  And, doesn't Obama have to speak to these groups some way, some how to get elected?

I had a major revelation today.  Barack Obama is not running for office just for ME!  WTF?  

I just can't believe it...Barack Obama, as it turns out, is not my personal saviour.  Can you believe it?   This has rocked my world.

Not only is it unbelievable, it friggin blows me away.  But I've decided to do something about it. Because he isn't running just for me, I am going to withhold money from his campaign.

This story has been diaried before but I think it is important to follow up with this update.

The Mercury News is reporting that Maria died from heat stroke:

Seventeen-year-old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez was pruning grape vines at a Stockton-area vineyard when she fainted on May 14, after working a nine-hour shift in 100-degree heat.

Here is the ad and subsequent diary.  (I would have embedded the ad here for this diary but I don't have the technological skill.  Ask my daughters, I drive them crazy asking questions about our DVD player).  

The ad was brilliant.  I am glad that someone is taking the war issue directly to the Moms.  And to the Dads.  I know, I know.  Some are going to say that the baby was exploited.

I disagree.  Wholeheartedly.

But not my faith.  Yes, you can lose one and still have the other.

I saw The Happening this weekend.  I had no clue what it was going to be about; I was surpised at the environmental take Shyamalan took with the film.  I started thinking about some things that have bothered me for most of my life. This movie brought these things to a head. I do want to mention that DebraG wrote about the same movie earlier.  My take is similar...yet different.

Not only is another world possible,
She is on her way.  On a quiet day,
I can hear her breathing.
~Arundhati Roy

This is one of my favorite quotes.  It gives me pause any day of the week when I feel like I've lost my way.  It gives me energy.

Hope.  A fairly simple word with a genuine meaning.  I like the word.  It inspires me as I am sure it inspires others.  

Barrack Obama.  A Black man who gave an incredible speech last night.  He is running for President of my country.  Our country.