Hopefully by now you've heard of the Bus Project. I became involved only recently, and have already been on four Bus canvasses: in Portland for Rick Metsger (SD 26), Salem for Brian Clem (HD 21), Lincoln City for Jean Cowan (HD 10), and North Bend (HD 9) for Arnie Roblan. Of all the ways to get involved in politics and help enact change, boots on the ground canvassing is one of the most effective, which is why I have become involved with the Bus Project. The Bus Project was begun in 2002, and has helped elect many progressive candidates. One candidate supported by the bus won by 40 votes! Canvassing does make a difference!

Today was a bad day. I woke up to my alarm hearing NPR news discussing finding the bodies of the missing soldiers. I got a pit in my stomach and could barely find the motivation to get ready for work. My son came back from a year with the guard in Iraq in March 2005, and now suffers from PTSD. He was in a humvee which ran over an IED, killing the driver and his buddy next to him. Amazingly he emerged physically unscathed. I know he experienced other horrible things which he won’t discuss. When I heard the manner of death of those poor boys, one from Oregon, I wonder how on earth a parent could cope with something of that nature, knowing your child died being tortured.