Unity08 needs your help, and that help can take many different forms.  We have a few main tasks right now: recruit more members and raise Unity08's profile (those efforts feed into one another), and get on the ballot.  Do you want to help on a full time basis?  Check out our jobs page at unity08.com/jobs.  Want to help but can't do it full time? Over the rest of the week I'll be posting a few ideas for things you can do right now to get started helping Unity08.

1. Log In to the Unity08 website and click on the link to [Edit Your Profile] in the upper left hand corner
2. Make sure you fill in where you're from so you can begin to meet other local Unity08 members from your community online.
3. Add a picture, fill in your statement of “Why I Joined Unity08” and a short biography.  If you have a great reason why you joined Unity08, post it below to share with others and get their comments.
4. Express yourself on your own personal website or blog or other social websites websites by adding Unity08 Banners, Links and Buttons to direct your friends to Unity08.
5. Don't forget to express yourself about current events, issues, and your choice of candidates on our Shoutbox and Blog.  Participate in our most recent Poll and let your voice be heard!

I'll be posting some more ideas tommorow and asking for your input.  Stay tuned!

***UPDATE*** Doug and Kinky got moved into the drive-time slot!

Doug Bailey, co-founder of Unity08, and Kinky Friedman, former independent candidate for the governor of Texas, will be on XM Satelite Radio's new show, "P.O.T.U.S. '08," today at 3:45pm ET 430pm ET.

P.O.T.U.S. '08 (XM Channel 130) provides news and opinion from both traditional media and unconventional outlets, such as political bloggers and podcasters. Presidential candidates will be offered free time each day to speak to listeners across the country.

Award-winning journalist Rebecca Roberts will serve as managing editor and on-air host for the P.O.T.U.S. '08 channel. Roberts comes to XM from NPR News. She will anchor the program "1600" at the XM studios in Washington D.C. weekdays from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET (12:00 pm to 3:00 pm PT).

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Technorati Tags: unity08, election, president, government, bipartisan, politics, news and politics, doug bailey, kinky friedman, xm radio, rebecca roberts

Our members asked whether they could add certain issues to the vote on the New American Agenda. We thought it was a great idea. A few weeks ago we asked them to submit issues. We compiled those issues into a list and took the ten most requested and placed them into a poll. This poll was announced yesterday in a 10 Minute Tuesday campaign.

VIsit the poll and rank issues to be added.

Here is a breakdown of the issues that were suggested (Total suggestions: 1955):
•    Suggested issues that were already in the 1st vote: 58.5% (1144)
•    Tax reform: 6.6% (130)
•    Lobbyist Influence in Washington: 5.4% (105)
•    Upholding the Constitution: 4.6% (90)
•    Term limits: 3.5% (69)
•    Campaign reform: 3.4% (66)
•    Election reform: 2.8% (55)
•    Congressional Earmarks in Federal spending: 2.5% (48)
•    Church & State: 1.4% (28)
•    Trade reform: 1% (20)
•    Drug policy: 1% (19)

Click here to participate in the poll now!

After you have submitted your issue in the poll, you can also leave comments about it in the forum we have provided on the same page.

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Technorati Tags: unity08, election, president, government, bipartisan, politics, news and politics, american agenda

Mario Cuomo, a Democratic and the former governor of New York, and Tom Kean, a Republican and the former governor of New Jersey, published this supportive Opinion-Editorial in the New York Daily News this past weekend.

Some excerpts from it...

"Has there been a moment when America has faced more crucial issues at the same time? Not in our lifetime. And our current politics is not dealing well with any of them."

"On top of it all, Washington has been so overrun by lobbyists, their fundraising and earmarks, that the political system is not just broken, it is corrupt. As Michael Kinsley has said about the nation’s capital: 'The scandal is not what’s illegal. The scandal is what’s legal.'”

"Whichever party we choose to join — if any — we must find a way to force all of these crucial issues to the fore. A novel push by a group called Unity08, designed to develop a 'New American Agenda,' is designed to do just that."

"If the voters cannot choose among the candidates on the basis of their answers to the key questions on the crucial issues, the election of 2024 will be a failure — again."

We've republished the article on our site for you to read and pass along to others.

What do you think?

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Technorati Tags: unity08, election, president, government, bipartisan, politics, news and politics, mario cuomo, tom kean, new york daily news

Charlie Krumenacker, come on down! Nice letter that you submitted (and had published) to the Denver Post!

Go to DenverPost.com to read Charlie's letter now!

An Alternative to National Leadership

We have almost a year to go before the presidential conventions. Considering that congress has an approval rating that has almost plunged to single digits I think it is time to devote some time, printers ink and paper to a group that might make a difference. A difference that we desperately need.

We have experienced questionable thinking and a lack of leadership by the Republicans and now with the Democrats in control of congress a lack of action on important issues. So what is that group that needs recognition, cooperation and involvement by the public? That group is simply Unity08. I challenge you to get involved and really make your vote count. Check them out at unity08.com and see if YOU can make a difference and have your voice heard.

Charlie Krumenacker

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Technorati Tags: unity08, election, president, government, bipartisan, politics, news and politics, denver post

Our CEO, Robert Bingham, was interviewed earlier this week by the web site ThirdPartyWatch.com.

Check it out!

Another way that you, as a member of Unity08, can get involved is right here and right now. Feel free to address the concerns that are being made about the movement on ThirdPartyWatch.com.

Remember, Unity08 is not a different way to work within the current political system. Politics-as-usual is dead. Unity08 does not have a platform or a candidate yet because we don't think that is the right way to go about finding common ground and reuniting the country.

Unity08 is not being divisive. Unity08 is being inclusive. We are asking every single American, what do you think are the most crucial issues facing the country? And, as we develop that list, we wil start to figure out what questions should be asked of the candidates that are seeking out nomination.

The candidates aren't telling the members what platform the movement will pursue. The members are telling the candidates what the most important issues are to pursue. Then, together, they can start to discuss the solutions.

This is common ground.

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Technorati Tags: unity08, election, president, government, bipartisan, politics, news and politics, robert bingham, third party watch

Active, long-time member GP in Minnesota made a very clear comment in the blog post, "Who holds the reins of government matters."

He wrote...

(Nader in 2024) At the end of his speech, during the Q&A part, someone asked him "What will you do when this is all over if you don't win the presidency?" He responded that he would go back to the same work he was doing before. But he then posed a counter-question; one that I'll always remember.

Ralph asked the audience:

"The real question is What are YOU going to do when this is all over?"

That's when it clicked: there's not going to be anyone out there to come along and "save us". We can't wait around for some magical candidate. It's up to us. It's about us putting aside petty differences, and uniting to force real change. The good candidates will come if we build a foundation for them to stand upon.

---

Thanks for that, GP.

We are fortunate to be in a situation where it is not yet over. The time is NOW and we can still act for change and work to reunify the country.

"What am I going to do when this is all over?" is the wrong question.

"What am I going to do NOW?"

Something as important as what we are trying to accomplish, that of changing politics forever to return inspiration to our country and our children... this type of thing is never over. What will I do now? I will continue to work towards building common ground whether that be amongst my family, my friends, for the country, or for the world... giving everyone the tools to take action and work for change and unity.

We're Americans, we are always looking to improve. So, let's do it!

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Technorati Tags: unity08, election, president, government, bipartisan, politics, news and politics

I was getting caught up on comments this morning after the Colbert bump and I stumbled across this amazing entry by a Unity08 member:

"As an immigrant in this country who left Cuba at 6 yrs. old and grew up a respecting/obeying/US Citizen and eternally grateful for the opportunities this country has given me and my boys, I must say that for the first time I worried if this great country would end up just like my own. US deserves a new change, and if we can actually come together and make a real change than I pledge to UNITY 2024 and welcome it with my arms open just like this great country did to me when I came in 1967. Thanks."

This is fantastic. This is why we are all here. For Unity. To recover the American Dream. To relight the torch and reunite the country.

I will do my best to begin highlighting some of the conversations and comments that are occurring on the forums.

Thank you for adding more inspiration to my morning, barb1205.

Sincerely,

Bob Roth

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Technorati Tags: unity08, election, president, government, bipartisan, politics, news and politics

Members often email us and ask what they can do to help the movement. Earlier this week, Bob Beck, a member in Monroe, Wisconsin, was interviewed by his local newspaper.

The interview is fantastic. Mr. Beck does a great job of hitting the salient points about the movement. Nice work, Sir!

Read the entire article, "Unity08 Punching its Ticket," by Kayla Bunge.

"I tell them, 'You're the problem,'" Beck said. "If you do participate, things will change. They won't change if you don't participate."

Mr. Beck continued,

"It's a very important thing for us as Americans to be a part of, to actually utilize what we have that most countries don't have."

By all means, send your local journalists an email or give them a phone call and tell them that you'd like to talk to them about Unity08. And, feel free to point to this article in The Monroe Times as an example!

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Technorati Tags: unity08, election, president, government, bipartisan, politics, news and politics, monroe times

Sam Waterston, Emmy-winning actor and Unity08 spokesperson, will be on The Colbert Report Wednesday, September 26 at 11:30pm ET.

We've also launched a poll to follow up on our previous visit to Colbert where we announced the "Should Colbert run for president?" poll -- which was our largest ever -- this time "If Stephen Colbert runs for president, who should he pick for his running mate?"

The Colbert Report, although a humorous slant on the current news, provides us with an opportunity to send our message to millions of viewers. As you know, in order to reunite our country, we need millions of people to join us on our mission. History indicates that this is a very good way to add members!

Don't forget to watch, or record, Sam's appearance on The Colbert Report, September 26 at 11:30pm ET.

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Technorati Tags: unity08, election, president, government, bipartisan, politics, news and politics, sam waterston, colbert report