Obama Swoops Into Southwest Missouri

If you consider all the recent hoopla about opening ANWR and America's continental shelves to off shore drilling, this blog post is certainly an issue that affects birds and birding. And if you believe that birds, other fauna and flora have a better chance of survival in a world that relies upon clean, renewable energy, and in a country that protects its vast wilderness from exploitation,this post does pass that test, abiding by its conservation mission. Yes, the 2008 Presidential Election may be as critical for the myriad life forms in the wild as it is for us humans. Become an advocate for common sense green solutions!

Last September I read a pertinent, albeit somewhat dated now, analysis of Barack Obama and birding over at The Drinking Bird. It's definitely worth the read. But on to the big event of the day here in Southwest Missouri!

Here we are. My wife Martha and friend Marvin and Claudia. Volunteers full of hope and advocating for real change in America!

And here he is, with the future in his hands. From what I've seen, Barack Obama consistently takes the high ground. He certainly will be a responsible voice of common sense for posterity. Perhaps our efforts to prevent the Democrats from caving in on ANWR and off-shore drilling will preserve and protect our precious flora, fauna, and other natural resources for the future. Let Congress know how you feel.

photos by me

Hope is a Thing With Feathers

I'm heading to Springfield to help with the Barack Obama Economic Security Town Hall Meeting early tomorrow! Come join us! Hope is alive!



"Hope" is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.

And sweetest in the Gale is heard
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest Sea
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb of Me.
—Emily Dickinson

A Conservationist's View of the 2008 Election

Peace........... Economic Prosperity............ Environmental Protection and Conservation........... Global Alliances......... An unheard of annual budget surplus........ A standing ovation before the United Nations Assembly....... Within the William J. Clinton Library and Museum, the legacy of the Clinton administration rose up within us, and my wife and I again felt the too long repressed wave of patriotism surge.
It was spring break, so we attempted to escape the cold weather of SW Missouri, heading four hours directly south to Little Rock. The strategy worked as we enjoyed 3 days of 70+ temperatures, culminating with an 84 degree Thursday in central Arkansas.
On our first day, we visited the Clinton Library and Museum. The building itself is interesting in the least. It is a LEED Platinum certified green building that sits on the banks of the Arkansas River, where it symbolizes a bridge to the future. Its grounds are large and manicured, but apparently resemble the grasslands enough to lure a very approachable pair of Loggerhead Shrikes.
But back to the Clinton presidency. It's incredible what a visionary and great communicator that Bill was, and still is! And, it's unbelievable how quickly "W" unraveled eight years of progress on every front. It's even harder to believe that anyone would think that the conditions that we are currently experiencing in this country are preferable to those experienced in the 90's.

Although I am currently supporting Barack Obama for president, I found myself highly respecting the role of Hillary both before and during Bill's years in the Whitehouse. Going back to a time, even before the two met, one finds Bill and Hillary were two highly gifted individuals believing strongly in public service, and modeling a life of action to achieve the highest of ideals. That is still true today.

Sure, they are both humans, with their inherent faults and shortcomings, but for the most part, they both strived and continue to strive to move America to a more enlightened state, embracing our strengths as one diverse and beautiful country, and furthering the cause of "liberty and justice for all".

Then comes Bush, Chaney, Rove, etc..... How quickly greed and intolerance can unravel progressive thought. The Republicans certainly can no longer claim to be "conservatives" as they continue to squander valuable natural and human resources, increase federal debt, and encourage spending and deficits, rather than striving to create a sustainable environment of savings and surpluses. So, the lesson is this. Eight years is not enough time to return America to its greatness. We need at least 16 unbroken years of visionary progress toward peace, sustainability, and global cooperation. So, I join others in advocating the dream Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket. It does have the potential to return control to those that see the global community as one village and see the value of conserving and protecting natural resources.

Come on, Hillary and Barack! Put your petty differences aside to join forces for the common good. Let the Democratic Party decide the nominee, but if you lose, join the winner to complete the Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket. Make the decision to do so before June. It is the only way to ensure that we have enough time to adequately turn this country around.