Declare Yourself in Atlanta!

Hey People!

Declare Yourself is heading to Atlanta for rapper/actor Bow Wow's 2008 Walk Across America and Declare Yourself will be registering young people to vote at each stop. Bow will start at the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia at approximately 12 Noon on Wednesday, 1 October, 2008 and walk until he reaches the Steorgia State University, Wodruff Park, Georgia Tech Square, AU Center - Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse where DY will be on hand to get people registered to vote.

Declare Yourself needs YOUR help registering voters tomorrow afternoon!!! If you can help, and please do, you can meet Jake of Declare Yourself at the CNN Center just before Noon tomorrow Wednesday October 1. He will be wearing a white shirt with "VOTE" across the front. Please respond to this post if you plan on joining us! This is once in a lifetime opportuntiy to join us and Bow Wow, with a month before the election to register young voters in Atlanta and help MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Bow Wow's Walk Across America

Rapper and actor Bow Wow was on CNN yesterday morning talking about his new voter registration campaign called Walk Across America. The youngest solo rapper to ever hit #1 is now helping to register voters and encourage young people to vote early by walking across 15 cities in 2 weeks. YOu can join Bow Wow by walking alongside him and helping to register voters. Bring your friends! Join the movement!





I was totally impressed by Bow Wow, what did you think? Come walk with Declare Yourself and Bow Wow this month, check out the schedule below. For more info go to http://www.bowwow87.com/

WALK ACROSS AMERICA SCHEDULE

10/1 - Atlanta, GA
10/2 - Columbia, SC
10/3 - Philadelphia, PA
10/4 - Richmond, VA
10/5 - Mobile, AL
10/6 - Nashville, TN
10/7 - TBA
10/8 - North Carolina (city TBA)
10/9 - TBA
10/10 - New York, NY
10/11 - Washington, D.C.
10/12 - Baltimore, MD
10/13 - New Jersey (city TBA)
10/14 - Boston, MA
10/15 - Hartford, CT

McCainiacs vs. Obamanators

Which dance crew are you on? I Beat You is holding a contest between the two dance crews. Pick a team, then film and submit your dance or vote for your favorite. Don't forget to actually vote in this year's election. VOTING DAY IS NOVEMBER 4TH!!!

Registration deadlines start this Saturday for some states...register now!

UPDATE: the video below seems to be skipping, click here for the video and competition: http://www.ibeatyou.com/event/americas_dance_party

More Party Pictures!

Did we mention the delicious cupcakes we had from Crumbs? They made red McCain, blue Obama, and Declare Yourself cupcakes!!!

Preaching Politics

During their Sunday sermons, more than 30 pastors across our country endorsed or opposed political candidates. The pastors were participating in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, part of an effort called the Pulpit Initiative designed to protect the First Amendment rights of pastors in the pulpit. Pastors' political sermons directly violate a law that bans tax-exempt organizations, like churches, from involvement in political campaigns.

The people behind the Pulpit Initiative are the Alliance Defense Fund, http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/. The group says they will fight for their First Amendment rights in court if the government calls them out for what they said on Sunday.

Should preachers be allowed to preach politics?

Kathleen Nacozy

pictures!

Did He Go Too far?

John McCain was scheduled to appear on David Letterman on Wednesday but canceled due to the economic crisis our country is currently facing. Letterman was clearly hurt for being stood up and went on a bit of a tirade against McCain....was it justified? Do you think he went too far? Watch the video and post your thoughts!



And in case you didn't hear, Senator McCain is back on for the debate tonight! Turn on your TV tonight at 9:00pm Eastern OR watch it live on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/mydebates

DOMINO EFFECT!

Last night was the Declare Yourself "Domino Effect" Party hosted by Norman Lear and Hayden Panettiere! The purpose of the event was to attract media attention to the approaching voter registration deadlines...this is our last call to action SO REGISTER!

The night started early with a packed red carpet. Party goers stepped off the red carpet into the 1920's decorated club and lounge, The Green Door, in Hollywood. The first room held a dominos tournament where you could play the new game sensation Big Stakes Five. In a small room on the left, an original print of the Declaration of Independence was on display. This document was one of the first copies of the Declaration printed on July 4, 1776. It's actually older than the signed copy! Across the room was, of course, our voter registration booth!

Just when the room was about to burst, famed spoken word poets Steve Connell and Sekou (tha Misfit) got up on top of the speakers and started their AMAZING performance. They led the crowd into the concert room where Hayden Panettiere spoke and introduced Danity Kane! The Making the Band group rocked the house and ended the party with a message and a bang! Partygoers then were treated to Nola Ice and beautifully delicious cupcakes from Crumbs!

Hopefully all the media will get us more registered voters!

Pictures to come soon.....

FEATURED BLOGGER: Watch the Debates!

In the next three weeks, you can hear from the candidates in a format different than their speeches and commercials. The presidential candidates will meet for three debates, on September 26, October 7 and October 15. The vice presidential candidates will meet on October 2.

But, John McCain announced on Wednesday that he will not participate in the debates until our country's economic crisis has subsided. Barack Obama responded that he will participate in the debates as scheduled, and the Commission of Presidential Debates released the following statement.

"The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is moving forward with its plan for the first presidential debate at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. this Friday, September 26. The plans for this forum have been underway for more than a year and a half. The CPD's mission is to provide a forum in which the American public has an opportunity to hear the leading candidates for the president of the United States debate the critical issues facing the nation. We believe the public will be well served by having all of the debates go forward as scheduled."

That leaves one very important question: Will McCain show up for tomorrow's debate? For more information about the debates, including a guide to throwing your own debate watching party, go to http://www.debates.org/, the website of the Commission of Presidential Debates.

Featured Blogger Kathleen Nacozy graduated from Texas Tech law school in May 2008 and is a freelance journalist specializing in politics

Time for Some Campaigning!

With only 41 days left, the election is getting down to the wire! The campaigns on both sides have been pumping out ads trying to sway the undecided. Here are two of the most recent ads, one from the Obama camp and one from McCain...

"Destination"


"Chicago Machine"


What do you think about these and campaign ads in general? Have they helped you make up your mind about the candidates? Last Saturday, Saturday Night Live did a sketch highlighting some of the ridiculousness about campaign ads...pretty funny stuff, did any of you see it?

Free Your Vote

This video, created by Free Your Vote, was sent to us yesterday and it is really quite moving. We have been getting some negative feedback on our Jessica Alba picture (above) and our Only You Can Silence Yourself print campaign, do you think it is to provocative? What do you think of this film?




Thanks Curley!

You Should Vote...Squirrels Can't.

We have three brand new viral videos up on MySpace! Check out the first one below and visit our MySpace page to view the other two!

Jealous Squirrel

FEATURED BLOGGER: LaRae Meadows

Register One

Voting is one of the few priceless assets we will ever own. Many eligible American citizens have not even registered to vote. Even if they decide to seize their power, if they have not registered, they may be left voiceless. In all states, swing state or not, the importance of voters cannot be understated.

Think of voting as a powerful weapon at the disposal of a registered voter. Every election, that weapon can be wielded any way the balloter chooses. She can use it against one candidate or in service of another. He can support a cause or choose to try to kill it. A voter can even choose to holster their weapon if they choose not to use it during an election. The registered voter has a choice.

An eligible citizen who chooses not to register has left themselves unprotected and vulnerable. In the event a dire need arises, where the stakes are clear, the voter must hope that those who have armed themselves with the power of the vote will protect them. They have chosen not to grasp the power that is their right of citizenship and have allowed the armed population to steer the path of their lives.
I believe armed citizens have a responsibility to pony up the goods and get armaments for their fellow citizens. We should not try to raise a voting army, just one other well equipped citizen. Registering one person to vote can be our part to ensure that we have a society able to protect itself from corporate raiders, political plundering and unintentional disaster.

Registering one person is not a full military operation. Weapon requisition (registration) forms can be found at any post office or library. Next time a letter needs a stamp, pick up a few forms and keep them in the glove box, backpack, purse or trunk. One can even request their armaments online (online registration). Don't forget the pen and to bookmark the online registration site on your computer. http://www.declareyourself.com/index.php

The next step is to talk about the election, voting or citizenship. The idea that it is impolite to talk about politics should go out the window for those committed to the positive direction of the country. Find a way to bring it up, especially around those who are probably not registered to vote.

Remind people they have power and should use it. One person just might say "I have not requested to be armed yet," or "I'm not registered." Instead of just saying, "You must register," you say, "I can register you right now." Whip out the registration form and pen or open up the bookmarked site and put it in their hands. Help them through boot camp (the registration form), and either make sure they put the form in the mail or do it for them because if the request doesn't go out, they don't have the power. Make sure they leave with enough registration forms for all of their family members or friends who are currently unarmed.

Ask the person you registered to join the Register One Campaign. Give them one extra registration form and tell them where to get more, so they can arm other eligible Americans.
If you aren't already packing political heat, the one you register should be you!
Being a great general is not necessary because you don't have to motivate the unarmed masses. Without much effort, a well prepared and caring person can empower one person to act in their best interest by taking up arms through registering to vote. Be the armory!

Want to be a featured blogger? Do you have something to say? Email your article to declareyourself@gmail.com

ULTIMATE COLLEGE BOWL!!!!

The ULTIMATE COLLEGE BOWL is in full swing! New York is currently leading the rest of the country in voter registrations. SUNY at Albany has already registered 792 students and Belmont University has registered almost 7% of its total student body! Kelle Ferguson of Middle Tennesse University has registered 232 of her friends!

Have you registered anyone? Who will win the scholarhsip money and Death Cab For Cutie concert?!?!

Ultimate College Bowl

When Celebrities Blog....About Politics

Lindsay Lohan's most recent blog post about Sarah Palin has made most of the entertainment news outlets, but did you read it? Do you listen when celebrities blog, particularly about politics?

Jessica Alba has been blogging on MySpace as well, and Paris Hilton starred in a Funny or Die video. All of these celebrities voicing their opinion tend to be more left leaning....can someone find me a conservative celebrity blog....Palin needs someone to defend her! Is Heidi writing? What do you guys think about celebrities and politics?

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Who is Joe Biden?

We have been meaning to do this for awhile...so here is the profile for the VP nominee on the Democratic ticket: Joe Biden

Name: Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr
Birthdate: November 20, 1942 (65 yrs old)
Hometown: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Current Occupation: Delaware Senator since 1973
Education: University of Delaware, B.A. in History and Political Science
Syracuse Universtiy, J.D. Law (grad. 1968)
Religion: Roman Catholic
Previous Political Positions: Member of New Castle County Council (1970-72)


Issues:

Abortion
- Allow women to choose, but no federal funding. (Jul 2007)
- Supports partial-birth abortion ban, but not undoing Roe. (Apr 2007)
- Accepts Catholic church view that life begins at conception. (Apr 2007)
- Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)

Budget and Economy
- Balancing budget is about priorities; GOP made wrong choices. (Dec 2007)
- Save Pentagon spending by getting the troops out of Iraq. (Dec 2007)
- More transparency for hedge funds and private equity funds. (Aug 2007)
- Invest in new programs by ending war & eliminating tax cuts. (Apr 2007)

Gay Rights
- Civil unions ok; gay marriage is probably inevitable. (Apr 2007)
- Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)

Crime

- Bush is impediment to hate crimes legislation. (Dec 2007)
- Biden Law of 1994 created several new capital offenses. (Nov 2007)
- Supports sentencing guidelines to put away violent criminals. (Jul 2007)
- Authored the Clinton crime bill & 100,000 cops on the street. (Jul 2007)

Drugs

- Took lead on drug policy & narcotics control. (Nov 2007)
- National ban on smoking would reduce chronic illnesses. (Sep 2007)

- Increase penalties for dealing drugs near schools. (Sep 2007)

- Absolutely do not lower drinking age from 21. (Sep 2007)

Education

- Hire more teachers and pay them for smaller classes. (Dec 2007)
- Laid out a $30 billion plan over five years for education. (Nov 2007)
- For longer school day & school year, & 16-year minimum. (Oct 2007)
- $3000 tax credit for college for anyone earning under $150K. (Sep 2007)
- There needs to be performance-based pay for teachers. (Aug 2007)
- Teach sex ed in schools; including prevention methods. (Aug 2007)
- Sent kids to private school after death of their mother. (Jul 2007)

Energy and Oil

- Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
- Voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China. (May 2008)
- Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
- Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)

- Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR. (Nov 2005)

Environment

- Take away the billions of subsidy to the oil companies. (Jun 2007)
- Scored 80% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection. (Jan 2007)
- Voted YES on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations. (Sep 2005)

Foreign Policy

- Doctrine of crisis prevention, not preemption. (Dec 2007)
- Hold China accountable; it's capitulation, not competition. (Dec 2007)
- Move from a Musharraf policy to a Pakistan policy. (Nov 2007)

- Pakistan is potentially most dangerous country in the world. (Aug 2007)

- Biggest threat to US is from North Korea, Iran, & Russia. (Apr 2007)
- Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe. (May 2002)
- Voted YES on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons. (Sep 2000)

Free Trade

- No to tariffs; just enforce the law. (Dec 2007)
- Built environmental and labor standards in trade agreements. (Dec 2007)
- Toughest choice: rationalizing competition & trade policy. (Dec 2007)
- Opposes fast-track to protect labor rights. (Nov 2007)
- Shut down any imports of toys from China. (Oct 2007)
- President's job is to create jobs, not to export jobs. (Aug 2007)

Gun Control

- Keep assault weapons ban; close gun show loophole. (Apr 2007)
- Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. (Jul 2005)

Health Care

- Modernize, simplify & expand health insurance. (Nov 2007)
- Help medical students find ways to finance their tuition. (Oct 2007)
- Start paying for universal coverage with $100B in redundancy. (Sep 2007)
- Rethink healthcare by focusing on prevention. (Sep 2007)

Homeland Security

- Universal national service, in military or Peace Corps. (Dec 2007)
- Commitment to never use torture; no part of our policy, ever. (Sep 2007)
- Don't Ask Don't Tell is antiquated & unworkable. (Aug 2007)
- Missile defense is perfect metaphor for neo-isolationism. (Jul 2007)
- Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
- Voted YES on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
- Voted YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
- Voted YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
- Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
- Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)

Immigration

- Voted for border fence, but to tackle drug trafficking. (Jun 2007)
- Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities". (Mar 2008)
- Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform. (Jun 2007)
- Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)

Social Security

- Raise the $97,500 cap, but don't raise retirement age. (Sep 2007)

Tax Reform

- Save $150 billion in tax cuts for people who don't need them. (Dec 2007)
- Take away $85B in annual tax cuts for 1% of top earners. (Jul 2007)
- Eliminate the tax cut just for those people in the top 1%. (Mar 2007)

Iraq War

- Third way: federalize Iraq; troops home; no chaos behind. (Nov 2007)

- Iraq war is sucking up a $150B a year. (Dec 2007)
- Post-colonial countries like Iraq need federal system. (Nov 2007)
- Troops out by 2013 if no political reconciliation. (Sep 2007)
- Patraeus report is wrong strategy; draw down troops now. (Sep 2007)

Fun Facts:

Has 5 grandchildren

Enjoys weightlifting, home design, and scetching

Last year Americans for Tax Reform gave Biden a grade 0

SOURCES: Wikipedia and OnTheIssues.org

New Jessica Alba Ad!

Declare Youself proudly presents the first of its 2008 campaign images featuring Jessica Alba.  The image is meant to conjure up the idea that NOT voting is on par with never having your voice heard and that YOU and YOU alone can change that by registering now and voting on November 4. In Jessica's own words: "If you don't register and vote and make a difference, and hopefully change the bad things that are happening in our country, you are essentially just binding and muzzling yourself."  The photo was shot by famed photographer Marc Liddel.

We want to know what YOU think of our new ad!

Peace!

In response to a comment on the blog on anarchists, you are right. Thousands of the protesters were peaceful. I said that many had violent intentions, not most. A friend and partner of Declare Yourself was unlawfully detained during the arrests and she most certainly was not a part of any anarchical activity.

A few always ruin it for the many. The handful of anarchists for every hundred peaceful protestors completely distracted onlookers and the media from the message of the protests. The fault of many of these peaceful protesters was that they joined the violent protesters in the streets. While most protestors and organizations were peaceful, many of them willingly marched alongside the anarchists and put themselves in danger of being associated.

In a perfect world we would be able to instantly determine which side the hundreds of people were on. Since the SWAT, Sheriff's and police departments did not possess that magical talant they were left to control what they could not determine in a manner that would have the least negative impact. There were hundreds of arrests, but no protestors were hurt, and the city and the RNC took out a 10 million dollar insurance policy to cover all the lawsuits from the unlawful arrests...so all in all it could have been much worse.

Don't Forget About Nader!

With Obama's speeches and Palin's daughter all over the news, it's easy to forget that there are more than two political parties in the U.S. But Ralph Nader is making some noise!! He will be holding his own rally tomorrow night called "Open the Debates!" If you're in Minneapolis and interested in attending, the flyer is below:

Who is Sarah Palin?

Unless you live under a rock, you have probably heard the name Sarah Palin thrown around...but even those of us interested in Politics were like "Sarah who?" when we heard the VP announcement. So we figured we should probably give you all some info on her before her speech tonight. This way you can read her facts, listen to her promises, and make your own decisions as to whether Palin is your girl, or just A-pallin (get it? apalling? heehee!)

Name: Sarah Louise Heath Palin
Age: 44 years old
Occupation: Governor of Alaska Dec. 4, 2006 - present

Religion: Pentecostal
School : Hawaii Pacific College and North Idaho College
Major: BS in Communications-Journalism, minor in Poli Sci

Previous Politcal Positions:

Chairperson, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission 2003-2004

Mayor of Wasill Alaska (pop. 6,715) 1996-2002

THE ISSUES

Gay Rights

Vetoed bill denying benefits to gays, as unconstitutional. (Aug 2008)
Marriage only be between and man and a woman. (Nov 2006)
Ok to deny benefits to homosexual couples. (Aug 2006)
No spousal benefits for same-sex couples. (Jul 2006)
Top priorities include preserving definition of "marriage". (Jul 2006)

Abortion

Opposes stem cell research. (Aug 2008)

Pro-life. (Nov 2006)
Pro-contraception, pro-woman, pro-life. (Aug 2006)
Only exception for abortion is if mother's life would end. (Jul 2006)

Corporations

Aim to reduce general fund spending by $150 million. (Jan 2007)
Firm believer in free market capitalism. (Nov 2006)

Encourage small business growth by reducing business taxes. (Nov 2006)

Drugs

If legislature passed death penalty law, I would sign it. (Nov 2006)
No special hate-crime laws; all heinous crime is hate-based. (Jul 2006)

Smoked marijuana when it was legal under Alaska law. (Aug 2006)

Education

Teach creationism alongside evolution in schools. (Aug 2008)
Supports teaching intelligent design in public schools. (Aug 2008)

Oil

Commercialize Alaska's North Slope natural gas. (Aug 2008)
To win, GOP must push energy independence. (Aug 2008)
Lift moratorium on offshore drilling. (Jul 2008)
Convinced McCain to drill offshore; not yet on drilling ANWR. (Jul 2008)
Unlock ANWR; we're ready, willing and able to contribute. (Jun 2008)

Environment

Opposed protections for salmon from mining contamination. (Aug 2008)
Sue US government to stop listing polar bear as endangered. (Aug 2008)
We must encourage timber, mining, drilling, & fishing. (Jan 2008)
Convince the rest of the nation to open ANWR. (Jan 2007)

Foreign Policy

N/A

Gun Control

Supports ending D.C.'s 32-year-old ban on handguns. (Jun 2008)
Lifelong NRA member & champion of right to bear arms. (Feb 2008)
Supports Constitutional right to bear arms. (Nov 2006)

Healthcare

Health care must be market-and business-driven. (Jan 2008)
Take personal responsibility for personal health & all areas. (Jan 2008)

Noteworthy:

- Alaska's first female governor

- First Republican VP female nominee

- 17 year old daughter Bristol is 5 months pregnant and will be marrying the father

Source: Wikipedia and OnTheIssues.org

Declaration of Independence Display at RNC

As we've mentioned before, Declare Yourself founder Norman Lear purchased an original print of the Declaration of Independence with the intent of touring it across the U.S. It was here in Saint Paul and the City Hall building all day yesterday and will be at the Minnesota Institute of the Arts and Hennepin Library in Minneapolis on Thursday.

The Declaration (or DOI as we fondly call it) is the core of Declare Yourself. We bring it across the country as a reminder of the freedoms and rights we all have becuase of this document, and that the men that signed it pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor for this country. So the LEAST you can do is VOTE!!

One man felt so inspired by this exhibit that he felt compelled to dress up as a revolutionary from 1776 and pass out copies of the DOI in front of the exhibit to encourage people to come in. Check out the picture of Oliver!!

POLITAOKE!!

We are here at the MySpace cafe in Saint Pul, MN doing Politaoke! Come down, use the internet, grab a drink....then give a speech! www.myspace.com/politaoke

Conventional Anarchy

First the RNC had to compete with Hurricane Gustav for news coverage...now its the protests that are happening all around St. Paul....at least Sarah Palin is keeping it interesting :)

I walked around St. Paul yesterday, the overabundance of SWAT guys, deputies, and policemen, combined with the lack of people (since the convention was postponed) made for a very eerie experience! All around the Xcel Energy Center were cement blockades and large wire fences baracading the convention. There were only two entrances into the entire area so we ended up almost circling the giant center. Streets were closed to prevent protesters and rioters from getting too close to the convention and in addition to the blockades, there were hundreds of SWAT guys spread out elbow to elbow, fully armed and protected. It felt like being in a war zone.

That said, I personally wouldn't have it any other way. Many of these protesters were not peaceful. They were anarchists and violent war protesters (becuase a violent response to violence of course effective) and I had the opportunity to see first hand what was seized from the raids. I understand how some could argue that their rights were violated by these raids, but after seeing the bricks, guns, knives, crossbows, maps, ninja stars (sericously), and disguises that were confiscated, I am so thankful these raids took place.

For all of us here that are frustrated with the road closures, long lines, and scary SWAT guys...be grateful that a brick in Macy's window is the worst that has happened!

images source

RNC: Day 1

Whew! Yesterday was a looong day. We started out at the Lifetime Future Frontrunners Summit where our own Diana Nguyen spoke on the youth vote. Speakers at the Summit included Susan Bevan, Republican Majority for Choice; Michelle Bernard, Independent Women's Forum; Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN); Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (WV); Rep. Kay Granger (TX); Kathy Lantry, St. Paul City Council President; and Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (WA). Our Executive Director Mac Morgenstern gave some opening remarks.

Meanwhile, yours truly was over at the Young Republicans Nation Federation Luncheon at the Hard Rock Cafe in Minneapolis, which Declare Yourself helped sponsor. Speakers included Jessica Colon, the YRNF Chairman; president of the Student PIRGs; Sarah Huckabee....and surprise guest speaker Mike Huckabee! Former Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee surprised the Young Republicans that came from all over the country to participate in the convention. The Southern Baptist Minister focused his speech on his support for Senator McCain's VP pick, Sarah Palin, and how she embodies the conservative values of the GOP.

After that the DY team headed over to the floor of the convention. Although the convention was officially cancelled for the day, all delegates were present and right as we arrived, First Lady Laura Bush took the stage! The GOP stuck to their guns and did what they promised, they put their country ahead of politics. Laura spoke about hurricane Gustav and introduced the governors of the affected states who were thanked the GOP and sent their best wishes to the convention. When the videos ended....Cindy McCain strode on stage with Laura Bush! The First Lady and the wife of the Republican Party's presumptive nominee focused on the hurricane relief and had the links to different websites where you can donate money to help out. You can find them here: http://www.causegreater.com/

As if the convention isn't busy enough....we ran into Bill O'Reilly! What a day...

Picture Source:

Christie's iPhone

http://www.joeff.com/

http://www.pbs.org/

Gustav: How You Can Help

Hurricane Gustav landed this morning in Louisiana and is currently a level 2. Two million people in the gulf have been evacuated as streets are flooding, barges are lossening from the dock, and homes are being destroyed.

With the effects of Katrina still fresh in our minds, we are all asking ourselve, "What can we do?" What you can do immediately is donate to the Red Cross. Even a small donation can have a huge impact.

If you live in Mississippi and are a health professional, you can dial 211 and volunteer.

If you live in Texas here is info on donating and volunteering

If you live in Louisiana here is some volunteer info.


The Republican Nation Convention is still suspended for today but will open tomorrow in Saint Paul. It has not been confirmed whether or not Senator McCain will attend this week.


"This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics and we have to act as Americans. We have to join the 300 million other Americans on behalf of our fellow citizens. It's a time for action. So, we're going to suspend most of our activities tomorrow except for those absolutely necessary," said McCain, speaking from St. Louis, Missouri. President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney will not be in attendance this week, but Laura Bush is scheduled to speak at the convention. According to CNN McCain said that officials were looking into turning the convention into a giant telethon to raise money for Red Cross.

Senator Obama is also reaching out to his 2 million strong list of supporters to donate money or volunter.





Source: CNN

DECLARE YOURSELF AT THE RNC!!!

Declare Yourself has arrived in St. Paul, MN!! Although the convention was cancelled today due to the hurricane crisis, we are still here and will be blogging again from the MySpace cafe at Station 4 in Saint Paul.

Stay tuned!

Senator Obama Accept his Party's Nomination

For those of you keeping up on our blog, you are probably wondering why we didnt mention Obama's acceptance speech!!! Well, we are exhausted from the DNC. The entire day leading up to the speech was pure chaos. 70,000 people were in Denver scrambling to find transportation to Invesco Park to hear the speech and witness this historical moment. Yours truly waited in live for two hours....which was nothing compared to the 5 hours some people waited.

The line up before Senator Obama spoke was beyond impressive....Will. I. Am, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder, Al Gore, Joe Biden and Dick Dirbin. Some audience members arrived at the stadium 6 hours before the Senator was scheduled to speak, so it's pretty cool of the Democratic National Committee to arrange for entertainment...not that they were pulling teeth to get talant to perform before Obama :)

Senator Obama's speech, which was just under an hour long, addressed what changes he would make as President, responded to Senator McCain's accusations and repeated some of the inspirational pieces of his 2004 speech that first made America take notice of him. For those of you who live under a rock and missed it, you can watch it below. I also recommend checking out his keynote address at the 2004 DNC in Boston.

2008 DNC


2004 DNC


Senator Hillary Clinton's speech last Tuesday should also not go unnoticed. With great elegance she endorsed Senator Obama, united the party and encouraged her supporters to support the Democratic candidate...with plenty of Hillary style humor :)

Clinton 2008


Our seat at the DNC