While I’m at it, I thought I would mention that there are a lot of Earth Day messages out there today, like the one that the President Barack Obama officially gave:

The story of the United States is inextricably tied to our vital natural resources. As we enter a new era filled with challenges and promise, we must protect our land, wildlife, water and air — the resources that have fueled our growth and prosperity as a Nation and enriched our lives. Doing this not only fulfills a sacred obligation to our children and grandchildren, but also provides an opportunity to stimulate economic growth.

To achieve these ends, no issue deserves more immediate attention than global warming. Scientists have already observed alarming shifts in the natural world, including thawing permafrost, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels.

Climate change presents a serious test for humankind, but it also provides an opportunity for great innovation and adaptation. The United States has risen to such challenges before, and Earth Day inspires us to transcend differences among nations so we may lead the world in protecting our planet from this global threat.

Americans across the country are working hard to help limit the pollutants that cause climate change and reduce their impact on the environment, but we must do more. Individuals and organizations can plant trees, use energy efficient lightbulbs, drive fuel efficient cars, hold clean-up drives, and teach young people about environmental preservation. Small changes in our daily lives can have a big impact on our environment. Individuals can walk, bike, and use public transportation; buy products with less packaging; and recycle and reuse paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum more often. American families can also save money by choosing energy efficient products, turning lights off, unplugging appliances, and cutting back on heating and air conditioning.

Government and business alike must also take serious and sustained action to protect our valuable natural inheritance. Through investments in scientific research and development, and the vigorous pursuit of alternative and renewable energy, we can create millions of green jobs that allow us to reduce greenhouse gases and excel in a competitive global economy. My Administration is committed to increasing fuel economy standards and putting more Plug-In Hybrid cars on the road, weatherizing millions of homes, and catalyzing private efforts to build a clean energy future. My Administration is also working to achieve a comprehensive energy and climate policy, one that will lessen our dependence on foreign oil, make the U.S. the global leader in clean energy technology, and prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

President Theodore Roosevelt emphasized our obligation to future Americans, saying, “of all the questions which can come before this nation, short of the actual preservation of its existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.” Heeding President Roosevelt’s call, and carrying forward his spirit of determination, we must commit ourselves to protecting our environment and ensuring the health of our planet so we may share the magnificent blessings of our Earth with our grandchildren.

We do this not only to acknowledge the environment’s central role in the development of our Nation but also to recognize the strong ecological interdependence among nations. History has shown that as we sow, so too shall we reap. Let us rededicate ourselves to a world that provides bountiful harvests for us all not just today, but for many generations to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2009, as Earth Day. I encourage all citizens to help protect our environment and contribute to a healthy, sustainable world.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-second day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

Our buddy Michelle Malkin has a great Earth Day message, as well. And, finally, Boing Boing has quite a short Earth Day post, as well.

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Celebrating design’s impact on politics, “Designing Obama” was hosted by the Academy of Art University at its Morgan Auditorium recently. The Academy’s President, Dr. Elisa Stephens, greeted designers Sol Sender and Scott Thomas, creators of the Obama logo and Obama 08 campaign, respectively. Over 800 people attended to hear about Sender and Thomas’ experiences in developing a political brand unequalled in American history. The sold-out event was sponsored by Sappi Fine Paper and xpedx.

The conversation was moderated by design journalist, Alissa Walker. To set the stage — and put the groundbreaking work in perspective — she walked the audience through the identities of political campaigns over the last 50 years.

“Finally, good design is being considered important to a political campaign,” she said.

As heads nodded in affirmation, she connected with the crowd’s primary reason for showing up, “This was the election that affected my life.”

Sender fascinated attendees by detailing the design process his firm went through to create the logo.

“We dove into numerous explorations to address the key challenges the campaign was facing before Obama announced his candidacy – experience and patriotism,” said Sender.

He showcased several concepts that were presented, and why the campaign team selected the symbol that became the heart of Obama’s historical presidential race.

Thomas took the identity created by Sender and helped build it into a political brand that embraced Obama’s core beliefs. Using “we” in all messages rallied citizens to be part of the process to make change happen. He also discussed how they “pulled imagery from the past to communicate the historic atmosphere”, and used design principals to “exemplify stability and experience.”

As the design director of the Obama 08 campaign, Thomas sparked an unprecedented web-based political movement. He married elegant, impactful design with the latest Internet technologies to foster community, teamwork, activism and excitement among citizens.

Although innovative approaches proved to be instrumental in the outcome of the campaign, Thomas admits that they brought some risk in a charged political climate.

“The speed in which information needed to be conveyed didn’t always allow us to test functionality as thoroughly as we would have liked,” he said. “We were truly building an airplane while it was in flight.”

Source: The Academy of Art University

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Today, Barack Obama Said His Campaign Organization Proves He Is Ready For Any Test:

Barack Obama Says The Campaign Organization He Built Has Faced Tests Recently And Proves He Is Prepared To Handle Tests As President. CBS’ Harry Smith: “Are you more ready to be president of the United States than John McCain?” Obama: “I tell you, all I can say is this. We’ve had, over the last couple of months, I think, an interesting series of tests, and I think that I have been steady. I think my advisers and my team and my organization, what we built has performed with the kind of calm, dissolve and liberation that the White House needs right now. Any president is going to be tested by the enormity of the challenges that we face.” (CBS’ “The Early Show,” 10/23/08)

In The Past, Obama Has Said His Campaign Experience Was Equal To Elected Executive Experience:

In September, Obama Compared His Experience Running For President To Palin’s Executive Experience. CNN’s Anderson Cooper: “Some Republicans critics have said you don’t have the experience to handle a situation like this. They’ve, in fact, said that Governor Palin has more executive experience as mayor of a small town and as governor of a big state of Alaska. What’s your response?” Obama: “Well, you know, my understanding is, is that Governor Palin’s town of Wasilla has, I think, 50 employees. We’ve got 2,500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million a year. You know, we have a budget of about three times that just for the month. So I think that our ability to manage large systems and to execute I think has been made clear over the last couple of years. And certainly in terms of the legislation that I’ve passed, just dealing with this issue post-Katrina of how we handle emergency management. The fact that many of my recommendations were adopted and are being put in place as we speak I think indicates the degree to which we can provide the kinds of support and good service that the American people expect.” (CNN’s “American Morning,” 9/2/08)

But During His Senate Campaign, Obama Blamed A Staff Member For Not Denouncing Yasir Arafat:

Obama Failed To Denounce Yasir Arafat On A Campaign Questionnaire. “During the Senate campaign, Mr. Obama joined in a ‘Walk for Israel’ rally along Lake Michigan on Israel Solidarity Day. The Crowns and other Jewish leaders raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for him. Several days before the primary in 2004, some of his Jewish supporters took offense that Mr. Obama had not taken the opportunity on a campaign questionnaire to denounce Yasir Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, or to strongly support Israel’s building of a security fence.” (Jo Becker and Christopher Drew, “Pragmatic Politics, Forged On The South Side,” The New York Times, 5/11/08)

“In An E-Mail Message, Mr. Obama Blamed A Staff Member For The Oversight, And Expressed The Hope That ‘None Of This Has Raised Any Questions On Your Part Regarding My Fundamental Commitment To Israel’s Security.’” (Jo Becker and Christopher Drew, “Pragmatic Politics, Forged On The South Side,” The New York Times, 5/11/08)

And Obama Blamed A Staff Member For Filling In Liberal Answers To A Survey In 1996:

“The Obama Campaign Tells Politico That The Questionnaire Was Not Filled Out By Obama Himself, But Rather By His Campaign Manager At The Time…” (Mark Memmott and Jill Lawrence, “Will ‘Liberal Views’ Come Back To Haunt Obama?” USA Today’s “On Politics” Blog, blogs.usatoday.com, 12/11/07)

Washington State Chairman For Obama, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) Claimed Answers To Questions Were Different Than Positions Obama Holds. Rep. Smith: “That was a questionnaire filled out in his first state senate campaign back 1996 not by Senator Obama but by somebody on his staff who didn’t get it cleared. You look at his record and what he said about even those issues in that campaign in ‘96, on capital punishment, on health care, on gun issues and they are different than what was put down in that questionnaire.” (MSNBC’s “Super Tuesday,” 12/11/07)

Rep. Smith: “Those [survey answers] are not a reflection of Senator Obama’s views now or ever for that matter.” (MSNBC’s “Super Tuesday,” 12/11/07)

Obama Has Blamed His Staff For Other Mistakes:

Obama Blamed His Research Team For Releasing The Memo Calling Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) A Senator From Punjab. “‘It was a screw-up on the part of our research team,’ Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, said during a meeting today with Des Moines Register editors and reporters. ‘It wasn’t anything I had seen or my senior staff had seen.’” (Thomas Beaumont, “Obama: Campaign’s ‘Punjab’ Remark Was ‘Stupid’,” The Des Moines Register, 6/18/07)

Obama Blamed His Staff For Not Being Able To Attend The International Association Of Fire Fighters In New Hampshire. “Barack Obama threw his staff under the proverbial bus last Friday during his call-in with leaders of the International Association of Fire Fighters in Portsmouth. ‘My staff had already scheduled some things and they couldn’t wiggle out of it,’ he said, according to CNN. ‘They heard from me a little bit because I wasn’t happy I couldn’t be there personally.’” (John DiStaso, “Richardson Puts Together His NH Team,” The [Manchester] Union Leader, 5/17/07)

According To ABC’s Jake Tapper, Obama Has Blamed His Staff On At Least 14 Occasions. “So, for those keeping track at home, that’s ten instances of Obama publicly blaming his staff for various screw-ups. … (You of course could also add Austan Goolsbee, Samantha Power, Gordon Fischer, and retired Gen. Tony McPeak.) That would be 14. We will continue to keep track.” (Jake Tapper, “Obama’s Inability To Hire Good Help Rears Its Head … Again,” ABC’s “Political Punch” Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 5/12/08)

Paid for by the Republican National Committee. Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Candidate’s Committee. http://www.gop.com/

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$100,000 Reward Offered for Information Leading to Convictions of GOP Organizations Who Violate the Law

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — An effort to deter attempts by Republican donors aimed at “swiftboating” Democrats from Barack Obama to Senate and House candidates was launched Friday.

“Our aim is to stop the ’swiftboat’ groups before they get off the ground. These people need to be stopped,” said Tom Matzzie, founder of the effort. “Our focus will include Freedom’s Watch, Newt Gingrich’s American Solutions 527 and other efforts as they materialize.”

Accountable America will shine a spotlight on Republican donors who have contributed to such efforts in past elections in order to discourage them from financing efforts similar to the 2004 “swiftboating” of Senator John Kerry and current attacks on members of the House and Senate.

– The new group will offer a $100,000 reward to those providing information that leads to the conviction or judgment against a conservative or business-related organization that violates the law.

– Accountable America will provide information to the public through television ads, mailings, phone calls and its Web site.

– Next week the organization plans to send a mailing warning nearly 10,000 Republican donors of the consequences of funding organizations that break or skirt the law.

Tom Matzzie is a prominent progressive campaigner formerly with MoveOn.org Political Action. In 2007, Freedom’s Watch was formed as a response in part to the success of MoveOn’s efforts.

To find out more, please visit www.accountableamerica.com

Source: Accountable America

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