T minus 7

The countdown officially begins today (well, I mean, you know, besides the countdown that began twenty-one frickin' months ago).

If you've already voted, awesome for you!! Yay!!

If you live abroad and haven't received your ballot yet, now is definitely the time to fill out your Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Find instructions below.

If you live stateside and your state/county offers early voting, get your butt (or your ballot) in early and cast your vote for Obama without having to wait for long lines.





FWAB Instructions:

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)

Step-by-Step Voter Check-List

The FWAB is a back-up ballot that you can vote TODAY. If you subsequently receive your state ballot, vote that, too. The FWAB is only counted if your state ballot is not received by your state by the ballot return deadline. Click here for deadlines.

1. Get the FWAB: Go to http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org. Simply answer the six screens of questions and download and print the nine page document. You will receive (1) Instructions (where you will find the address to send the FWAB); (2) Electronic Transmission Sheet and Federal Postcard Application which you do NOT need; (3) The Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot which includes a Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation, the Ballot, and Instructions.
2. Sign and Date the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation: When you use VoteFromAbroad.org, the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation will be filled in based upon your voting state's requirements and the information you provided. You just need to review the information, sign and date it. Check the following list to see if you need a witness or additional documentation.

• Alabama: 2 witnesses OR Notary (must be over the age of 18)
• Alaska: 1 witness (dated and signed)
• Arizona: Proof of Citizenship (copy of passport or birth certificate)
• Louisiana: 2 witnesses (sign on voter’s declaration form)
• Minnesota: Self Certification by putting passport number or last 4 digits of SSN on ballot return envelope
• North Carolina: 2 witnesses (must be over 18 sign and include address)
• South Carolina: 1 witness – (sign on the voter’s declaration form)
• Virginia: 1 witness – (sign on the voter’s declaration form)
• Wisconsin: 1 witness (both voter and witness must sign security envelope – witness must be a U.S. Citizen, over 18)

3. Vote the FWAB: You can either write in the candidate's name or the word Democrat. (It is unlikely that you will need the second page of the ballot). To find out who the Democratic candidates are for House and Senate, please click here. To find your Congressional District, click here, enter your voting zip code, and then click on "current election."
4. Seal the Ballot Envelope: Put your voted FWAB ONLY in a plain white envelope and seal it. Write on the outside of the envelope “Security Envelope.”
5. In the Mailing Envelope: Put the sealed “Security Envelope” and the Signed and Dated Voter's Declaration/Affirmation in a mailing envelope.
6. Enter Return Address: Write your name and current mailing address in the upper left hand corner of the mailing envelope.
7. Address the Envelope: Write the address of your Local Election Office on the mailing envelope. The address of your Local Election Office is provided on your customized information sheet.
8. Double Check: Double check that you have completed everything.
9. Ensure evidence of mailing from outside the US:

• Foreign Postmark: Affix the appropriate postage. All states will accept a foreign postmark as evidence of submission from outside the U.S.
• Consular Stamp: All states have been informed by the U.S. State Department that they should accept a consular stamp as evidence of submission from outside the U.S. Using the consular service results in your mailing envelope being placed in the US postal system. Affix a $.42 U.S. Postage Stamp.
• Commercial Courier: Some states will also accept a commercial courier service waybill as evidence of submission from outside the U.S. Using a courier service should be a last resort. Alabama explicitly refuses to accept materials sent to them by commercial couriers, such as Federal Express and DHL. If using a courier, please staple a copy of the air waybill to the ballot envelope prior to sealing the courier envelope.

10. Seal the addressed envelope – and Mail your FWAB Today!

For Questions: votercentral@democratsabroad.org

Obama connects with EVERYONE!

An inside scoop sent me this info:

A sign recently appeared at an intersection in downtown North Vernon, Indiana. It says:

Even WE’VE had Enough! REDNECKS 4 OBAMA GO VOTE!


And for a little Halloween fun:

So, the people in Congress really do get it sometimes...

Thank you to The Littlest Gator over at Fighting Liberals* for posting this gem that lets us know that: 1) yes, some members of Congress are actually paying attention; 2) they care about what's going on with this crazy bailout and see it for the BS load of &$*%^# that it is; and, 3) are at least willing to go on the record calling out the people who drafted the bailout plan as total greedy nutjob jerks.



*Some good friends of mine have started a new blog called Fighting Liberals; a couple of the posters over there also blog at the Group News Blog, sort of my blog version of the "Daily Show" (i.e., they report info that might not be covered by corporate media, and they do it in a funny, sarcastic way, and I get a lot of my news from there). They're working on getting the new blog up and on its way, so feel free to stop by the FL and give them a look-see.

Well, guys and gals, in Alaska...

Tina Fey's eerily real Sarah Palin impersonation. And, as she so kindly reminded us, the lady being spoofed is just one heartbeat--and a WHOLE LOTTA VOTES--away from being President of the United States.

Not American? Have an opinion on who the next US prez should be? Vote here!!

Check out the cool website I just found: www.voteforpresident.org

Citizens of the world (other than Americans) can cast their vote for who they think the next US president should be. As I knew from my own very scientific and official anecdotal study of non-American voting results, Barack Obama would win by a landslide if the rest of the world had a say.

Non-Americans don't get a vote, though the choice affects everyone on Earth. I'm okay with that - they don't have to pay the same taxes (or listen to the same complaining about America and Americans) that I have to either.

But, I do still think it's interesting to see what the rest of the world thinks. I also think it's a responsibility for every American, when casting his/her vote, to take into account the rest of the world when s/he makes his/her choice for President of the USA. I know that Barack Obama is the better choice for America and the world. It seems 30,000 world citizens so far agree with me. Now, what's going on with the 50% of voting America that hasn't clued in yet???



p.s. DAJ and the Obama campaign in North Asia are putting on their big, live music fundraiser this coming Thursday in Tokyo. Barack the Vote will be AWESOME!! Will you be there?

RSVP to barackjapan@gmail.com if you're interested in advance sales tickets (3500 yen adv, 4000 yen at the door). Here's a link to the meetup event posting.

Alaska Women = Anti-Palin = HOORAY!!!

Here's an excerpt from a blog post I came across in my news peruse the other day. It gives me hope.

Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage. The organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators). This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state. I was absolutely stunned. The second most amazing thing is how many people honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by. And even those that didn’t honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute. This just doesn’t happen here.

Then, the infamous Eddie Burke [local conservative radio host] showed up. He tried to talk to the media, and was instantly surrounded by a group of 20 people who started shouting O-BA-MA so loud he couldn’t be heard. Then passing cars started honking in a rhythmic pattern of 3, like the Obama chant, while the crowd cheered, hooted and waved their signs high.

So, if you’ve been doing the math… Yes. The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was significantly bigger than Palin’s rally that got all the national media coverage! So take heart, sit back, and enjoy the photo gallery. Feel free to spread the pictures around (links are appreciated) to anyone who needs to know that Sarah Palin most definitely does not speak for all Alaskans. The citizens of Alaska, who know her best, have things to say.


Read the entire post here. There's a video and pics to go with it.


And, as if this wasn't good enough news, my new fave blog, Cake Wrecks, had this hilarious post about a baby cake with removable limbs. That should perk Sarah Palin right up!