Rural living has a way of making you closer to your neighbors emotionally, even though you're further away, physically.  It's your neighbors who are your first responders, your EMTs, your firemen.  These peeps you not only shop with, they have real genuine power in your life. 

But I also think of those, who after a flood (even my small ones) show up on the other side of the river, just to see if I need help.  Who'll run to the country store for me, and toss the (usually cigarettes, lol) across the raging brown waters.

A few years back some *really* stupid city folk (who'd been *told* by at least 8 peeps that their stove set up was going to burn them down) set themselves and the forest on fire,  17 firetrucks showed up.  All but two parked on the road, lights flashing, and the crews got  hauled in pickups up the mountain.  The fire was out after less than an acre.  But it was the first day of a state-wide fire watch.  Every single one of those firemen was a volunteer.  The trucks bought and maintained by community action: bake sales, dances, hunters' breakfasts, pulled pig sammiches at fairs.  It is awesome to live among peeps like these, and that's da troot!

So I add my thanks to yours, and my gratitude.

And thanks for the post!

Phil and Puddle.  A much appreciated post.

And Howard is still first. :o)

... and as a former Boy Scout and leader myself, encouraging to see teamwork in the face of horrendous danger:

http://www.startribune.com/nation/19871814.html

Boy Scouts praised for being prepared after tornado flattens camp in Iowa, kills 4

By JOSH FUNK , Associated Press

Last update: June 12, 2008 - 7:15 PM

BLENCOE, Iowa - When the howling winds finally died down, the Boy Scouts — true to their motto, "Be Prepared" — sprang into action.

Putting their first-aid training to use, they applied tourniquets and gauze to the injured. Some began digging victims from the rubble of a collapsed chimney. And others broke into an equipment shed, seized chainsaws and other tools, and started clearing fallen trees from a road.

Dozens of the Scouts, ages 13 to 18, were hailed for their bravery and resourcefulness Thursday, the morning after a twister flattened their camp in Iowa and killed four boys.

"There were some real heroes at this Scout camp," Gov. Chet Culver said, adding that he believes the Scouts saved lives while they waited for paramedics to cut through the trees and reach the camp a mile into the woods.

The 93 boys, all elite Scouts attending a weeklong leadership training session, had taken part in a mock emergency drill with 25 staff members just a day before the twister hit.

"They knew what to do, they knew where to go, and they prepared well," said Lloyd Roitstein, an executive with the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

...

So does Howard have any power anymore?  If not, why not?  If yes, why Tewes  and why Chicago other than the obvious reason?

June 12, 2008
Obama moves DNC operations to Chicago


In a major shakeup at the Democratic National Committee -- and a departure
 from tradition -- large parts of the committee's operations are relocating
to Chicago to be fully integrated with the Obama campaign.

The DNC's political department, housed in Washington, D.C., will be
dramatically rebuilt, with staffers offered a choice of moving to Chicago,
joining state operations, or staying in Washington, DNC spokeswoman Karen
Finney said.

But the power will clearly be shifting to a centralized Chicago hub.

The DNC's key role in coordinating political operations with state parties
is expected to largely be taken over and overseen by Obama's senior staff
in Chicago, state party officials said.

"This is part of the implementation of the plans Paul [Tewes] discussed
last week with the state party chairs," Finney said. "As part of the
efforts to fully integrate DNC operations with the Obama campaign here in
Washington, in Chicago and in the states, political, field and
constituency operations are moving to Chicago to work in the Obama
headquarters. The goal is to consolidate these efforts into one operation
and effectively drive one national strategy."

People familiar with the plan said that state party staffers paid for
under Howard Dean's 50 State Program would be shifted to working for the
presidential campaign, at least in targeted battleground states.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Obama_moves_DNC_operations_to_Chicago.html

Am I the only one who can't see everyone's gravatar photos? Can't get them to display on  IE or Firefox.

Did anyone else hear Randi Rhodes' clips of conservatives saying that a vote for McCain was a vote for war on Iran, and "McCain is Bush on steroids."?

Robin from Maine

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080612/ap_en_tv/tv_fox_obama_2

Fox News refers to Michelle Obama as `baby mama'

If anyone would like to see Montana Gov Brian Schweitzer's segment on Washington Journal it is available here.  You'll have to scroll down a little, click on 'show individual segments' for today June 12, and then click on his segment.  It's about 20 minutes. 

Phil -- good thoughts to you all in the midwest and also to those in California, particularly the Santa Cruz Mountains, enduring forest fires.  One thing Schweitzer said this morning was, if we are going to use N'al Guard to fight wars, could we at least rotate them so CA's would be home for firefighting, Midwest's home for flood season, FL for hurricane season, and so forth.  That's way too sensible for anyone in the current administration of course.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080612/ts_alt_afp/usvoteobamaeuafricamideast_080612231611

Obama's candidacy raises hopes in Europe, Africa: survey

The High Court did well today but barely.

Did you hear what putz said?  Sounds to me like he's planning on overturning any court decision he doesn't like in the future. You could hear the wheels of fascism turning and see it on his face. 

Huron, you're outdoing yourself today. :-)

Cindy Sheehan will get some support from me.

*******************

Why aren't the floods being carried by Keith or anyone else?  Is it only on local stations? 

Anni, I agree.  Asking people to leave their pets behind is cruel IMO.

The whole world needs to be held in our prayers and in Light and Love.  Phil, take good care of yourself. 

Has putz said anything about the floods or has he done a flyover yet?  Heckofa job, putzie.

Not only do the photos not show up, but lines are superimposed on other lines.

I love Malloy

by Mike Malloy     Page 1 of 1 page(s)

http://www.opednews.com
           
Tell A Friend

Maybe all that's needed is for someone to tell George W. Bush that today's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the rights of detainees is really not about him; not about his phony "war on terror"; not about the fun it must have been for Bush and his creepy circle of chicken hawks to decide on different torture techniques; and damn sure not about his failed presidency.

Someone (Laura? His mama? Jeb?) should tell this pathetic sonofabitch that today's decision was about the rule of law; about legal rights in a supposedly lawful society; about Justice Anthony Kennedy's comment in the ruling that, "The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times."

Not that such a comment would have meaning to Bush. At a news conference in Rome with yet another neo-Fascist - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi - he said: "We’ll abide by the court’s decision. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with it."

Looks more like a Power move than one for efficiency.   .Howard's  setup was already what the Obama camp is saying they intend to do.    Who do they not trust?    I wish we would hear from Howard what is going on.   

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/amandascott/gG5GgJ/commentary

...

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by the floods. 

The American Red Cross is providing relief efforts in Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and West Virginia. Almost 1,100 workers have been deployed to help out in the Midwest.

Throughout this campaign, we have seen time and again that when ordinary people act together, they can make a difference.

You can help out now by donating or volunteering at a local shelter. Visit the Red Cross' website for more information on how to help in your town. Let's rally together to help those who need us now.

...

on McInsane!

Judiciary Committee Contact InfoContact info for the members of the Judiciary Committee. Contact them and let them know you want impeachment proceedings.

wHAT has been done this way for many cycles?   Theres a new DNC building, and a system already set up.   It's not like everything has to be done on site anymore.   I guess if it's not just a power play ,   they are figuring that the money will keep falling from the tree.   Campaign managers know how to throw it around.   I donated to DNC with the idea that Howard would be deciding how it would be spent.    Losing interest here.

as anything else. this is a positive move, imo. the DLC and the other old powerbase arseholes are probably having a freaking fit right about now - roflmao!

I'm not sure exactly what role Howard will be playing in this, but I would imagine that he's very happy to have the fundraising handled by others now. and remember that Howard has a LOT of political capital at the state level all across this nation now - and I think Obama knows that and respects that.

Though the details of the merger are still under discussion, D.N.C staff who are involved in the party’s political, field and constituency efforts may be moved to Obama campaign headquarters in Chicago or out to the states. Some will remain in Washington as the D.N.C. beefs up it staffing levels there as well.

In 2004, the D.N.C and the Kerry campaign also combined operations, but because Senator Kerry’s presidential campaign was headquartered in Washington, staff did not have to move quite as far. Ms. Paxton said this time around the party and the Obama campaign were seeking to avoid some of the duplication of efforts that occurred in 2004.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/late-words-from-dc-to-the-windy-city/

I don't think they are moving to  Chicago to get away from the DLC.   They are in Chicago, one namely Rahm Emanuel.     I don't have as positive a trust level just now.   Obama hasn't exactly been a public admirer of Howard.  I think the 50 state plan will be implemented to a point.    If they are handling the fundraising and the states, what is Howard's job, just to keep us in the fold?    He wouldn't bump Howard out and risk losing a lot of support now.   I hope you are right, we will know some time after the election I guess.

Frankly, I would like to know before the election just what Howard's role will be.  I read somewhere today that a focus will be on winning the states HC won. 

Audrey, I'm not comfortable with this either, nor have we heard from Howard lately.  I think Tewes with be running the show and Brzhenski, or however you spell his name, also makes me uncomfortable.  BO wasted no time bringing in his team.  Why wouldn't Howard just stay on co-ordinating as usual?  He doesn't get many,if any lately, kudos from BO.  And he's not on the suspected short list. 

Like HC, BO now strikes me as a man who'll do anything to be prez.  His fawning before AIPAC is gonna make it real hard for me to vote for him.   Power corrupts.  And his projected foreign policy is hardly any different from bush/olmert.

I would have liked him to nip this *war prez* talk along with the *war on terror* talk.  So if he wins, he comes in as a *war* prez conducting and continuing the *war on terror.*  Just what we wanted to get rid of....

If he listens to Brzhenski, we might be at war with Russia and China, who'll be allies. 

But maybe I'm all wrong about all this.  So far, he's not impressing me with hope and change - in fact, quite the opposite.

Gnu Thread.

http://democracyforamerica.com/blog_posts/25578-single-payer-rallies-in-pa-thurs-june-19#1204585

for the thoughtful thread - well done!  thank you to all who hold other's comfort and safety in their hearts and express it through action.

I love our volunteer firefighters. They saved my husband's life last July.

but I think we might consider referring to people who expect public services for nothing are proponents of voluntary servitude.  Service is repaid, either in kind or in money.  Servitude is taken for granted--i.e. those who don't pay taxes are ingrates.