Just got this report in from a Platform Meeting in Northridge, CA:

Northridge, CA Democrats met Sunday 7/21 to help write the next party platform. From first time voters to seniors, liberals to moderates, long time Obama supporters and those that had voted for other candidates in the Primary. For many, this was their first political activity this election year. Our group of 22 broke up into 4 mini groups to focus on one topic each. At the end of the meeting we came together, presented our ideas, asked questions, invited comments, and amended as needed. The topics we chose were healthcare, energy and the environment, education, and national security.

Even though the idea of reaching consensus seemed a bit daunting at the beginning of the meeting, on most planks we were able to do so. People stretched their cooperative muscles, agreeing to disagree and focusing on goals and what we could do. In the healthcare group, some people wanted universal single payer care now; we were all able to agree to set it as a goal.

As we referred to the 2004 platform, we were surprised to see how much we agreed with it, but also dismayed to see how little progress had been made in enacting these goals. We agreed that once Barack Obama is elected, the Democrats should commit to seeking common ground solutions that will attract bi-partisan support and set change in motion.

In the next couple weeks our group members are planning voter registration, phonebanks and a "Bowling for Barack" fundraiser.

Listening to America Platform Meetings are going on right now and through the end of the week across the country. Find one near you, and make your voice heard.

Lauren is what some would consider an unlikely supporter of Senator Obama.

A stay-at-home mother of two from Salt Lake City, Utah, Lauren was raised in a "very conservative" Republican family. And up until five years ago, she was a registered Republican herself.

I kind of had a paradigm shift in the fundamental way I look at the world. Now I consider myself a conservative Democrat.

She's been supporting Barack since before Super Tuesday.

I am so excited about Senator Obama. I've always been an extremely political person...but for the first time in my life I'm excited about a candidate. I'm excited about the idea of the first black man being President. And on a political level, I identify with him on domestic issues. I agree with him on the war in Iraq.

Barack's speech on race, A More Perfect Union, was helped solidify her support.

It was extremely moving. I think he has an absolutely amazing gift for oratory...his eloquence is really, really appreciated.

When it comes to the big issues, one stands out.

Well, me and 98% of the rest of Americans are really concerned about the economy. My household expenses went up 20% but we live on a stable income. I really appreciate that [Obama] has been more candid and honest with the American people, especially with the issue of the gas tax holiday, than most politicians have been in the past. He's not afraid to be honest with people and I really respect that.

Despite our nation's current economic woes, she's still found the extra money to contribute to the campaign. Join Lauren and our millions of supporters across the country today, our grassroots network of small dollar donors. Every cent makes a difference.

Senator Obama spent a hot, dusty Tuesday in Jordan on the heel end of his fact-finding mission to Afghanistan and Iraq. He arrived in Amman this afternoon with two fellow senators, Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE).

 The trio cleaned up a bit after their journey before heading to the ancient ruins of the Amman Citadel to hold a press conference on their observations before the world press.

Senator Obama then went to the Palace of His Majesty, King Abdullah, to have a private one-on-one meeting before his Senate colleagues joined them for dinner.

The hospitality of His Majesty extended far beyond dinner. King Abdullah personally drove Barack to the Queen Alia airport where the OFA plane was waiting on the tarmac.

This slideshow chronicles a day well-spent in Jordan and Senator Obama's arrival in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Senator Obama discussed his findings in Afghanistan and Iraq this afternoon in Amman, Jordan. Watch the video...

On Monday, veterans in Colorado and Virginia spoke out in support of Senator Obama, his stance on veterans. In Denver, a group of veterans gathered at the Colorado Veterans Monument.

From PolitickerCO:

"I think it's time to set the record straight and to let everybody know that veterans are overwhelmingly supporting Sen. Obama," said former Army Ranger Jason Crow. "We think that Sen. Obama has the right plan for veterans and for national security."

Adam Cooper was on hand in Arlington, Virginia, where a number of decorated military veterans publicly announced their support for Barack Obama yesterday.

Brig. Gen. David McGinnis (Ret.) announces his support for Obama in Arlington yesterday.

Adm. David R. Oliver Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.), who served in Iraq, called for a break from the politics and policies of the Bush presidency:

If you think we need to make a change, if you think it's time for our men and women to come home from Iraq, time to finish the job against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and time to re-establish American leadership by strengthening our alliances and engaging in tough, principled diplomacy, then vote for Barack Obama when you step in the booth in November.

As a veteran and military leader whose first priority is America's security, that's what I'm going to do.

You visit can Veterans.BarackObama.com to learn more about where Barack stands on important veterans issues. If you are a veteran who supports Barack or person a who cares about veterans issues, please take a moment to join for Veterans for Obama.

As part of a continuing series, we're following Obama Organizing Fellows as they share their stories and their experiences. They discuss the people they meet, the hardships of organizing, what the campaign means to them, and how this summer is changing their perspective.

Laura is an Organizing Fellow in St. Louis, Missouri.  Her stories appear each Tuesday.

At my Platform meeting last night, a tenth grader, two teachers, two former Republicans, a few life long Democrats, and a diverse group of other supporters came together to discuss the issues they cared about. But they also discussed a lot more: namely, their experiences as people who feel somewhat silenced in their own communities here in St. Louis County.

The county is odd that way. There are like-minded people living all around but it is hard to find one another without something like a political campaign to bring them together. But then, we might ask, why haven't they found each other in the past few elections? And the answer is because, as we are discovering again and again, this is more than just a campaign for the Democratic Party; this is a movement focused on changing something larger than ourselves.

The people that arrived last night were not necessarily "Big D" Democrats but rather people who were seeking a better life for themselves, for their children, and for others; though the common ground was that they all believed Obama had the power to do that, each of them brought with them their own set of hesitations and concerns about the next step.

One man admitted that once he came out of poverty and found a well-paying job, he felt angry about having to pay taxes and didn't want to. He actually told this to the Senator at a fund-raiser and Obama said to him that though he would definitely raise his taxes, the money would be put to good use. Another man stated that he had never cared about politics and had always voted Republican until his son started doing a paper about the candidates during the primary, and he became fascinated with Obama and his stance on issues. He was there, however, to really discuss what these issues were and how Obama should address them going forward.

People did not shy away from discussing some of the more important issues at stake in our country. There was no hiding the fact that many are suffering and that we must make every effort to change that. We discussed how severely their schools have suffered under No Child Left Behind and how our veterans are not given the education they were promised. We discussed energy, human rights, and foreign policy. The meeting was heavy in a lot of ways, but it was also very honest.

Barack wrote in The Audacity of Hope, "A government that truly represents Americans - that truly serves Americans - will require a different kind of politics...It wont be pre-packaged, ready to pull off the shelf. It will have to be constructed from the best of our traditions and will have to account for the darker aspects of our past...And we will need to remind ourselves, despite our differences, just how much we share, common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break."

The meeting focused on these "darker aspects," not only of our past but also of today. However, it was among this discussion that we "reminded ourselves" just how much we cared. We all want to do better, and we will.

Check back next week for more from Laura in St. Louis, Missouri, and visit our Flickr page for more of her photos.

There are still nearly 900 platform meetings remaining over the next six days- click here to find one near you, and take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to offer your input on the 2008 Democratic Party Platform.

Zach Edwards is on the ground in Iowa, where last weekend local supporters found a unique way to capitalize on an Iowa tradition - Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa:

On Sunday, RAGBRAI kicked off from Missouri Valley, Iowa, and we’ve already heard from dozens of our supporters who are taking part or are cheering on the riders at stops along the way. There was even a MyBo event created for supporters to help get the word out about Voting Early by Mail here in Iowa at one of the stops along the way!

The campaign for change even took the tradition of using "Burma Shave signs" to entertain the bike riders—but with a slight twist. Check out the slideshow below of several signs that lined the bike route:

Over the upcoming weeks and months, we need to be reaching out to our friends family and neighbors to make sure they know about Barack and the campaign for change. It’s going to take getting creative—like these fun “Burma Shave signs", and getting the word out about important opportunities like Early Voting.

If you want get involved by hosting your own event on MyBarackObama.com, click here to get started. There are instructions and it’s a great way to meet some of your neighbors who are also looking to make a difference in this important election. 

From USA Today:

Obama's whirlwind tour of Iraq began in the relatively secure southern city of Basra and was to end in volatile Anbar province. It was his first visit since clinching the nomination in June.

The increased security that Obama witnessed has led to more talk of a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops. Iraqi leaders said Monday they would like to see that happen in 2010 -- potentially within the 16-month window that Obama proposed.

"We are hoping that in 2010 that combat troops will withdraw from Iraq," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said after Obama met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

... Obama, traveling with Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., potential vice presidential choices, met first with al-Maliki and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and later with Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker. He also met with a few of the roughly 147,000 U.S. troops who remain in the country.

The three senators released a statement crediting the work by U.S. and Iraqi security forces, Sunnis and Shiites for the reduced violence.

From the Washington Post:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met [in Kabul] Sunday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and later reiterated his call for additional U.S. forces to deal with conditions in Afghanistan that he described as "precarious and urgent," capping a two-day tour as casualties continued to mount from violence in the war-torn country.

Obama joined Karzai for a "working lunch," marking the first meeting for the Afghan president and the presumptive Democratic nominee. Obama's colleagues in the congressional delegation visiting Afghanistan, Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), were also at the lunch, said Humayun Hamidzada, Karzai's chief spokesman. Hamidzada said the heads of Afghanistan's ministries of defense and foreign affairs, and Karzai's national security adviser, also attended the nearly two-hour meeting.

... Obama also said that the United States should press neighboring Pakistan harder to help eliminate the terrorist sanctuaries and training camps along the border that are fueling the strength of the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. "I think that message has not been sent," he said in implicit criticism of the current administration.

... In a statement issued after the meeting with Karzai, Obama, Hagel and Reed said their trip had been aimed at assessing whether the United States has the right strategy and resources to defeat the Taliban and al-Qaeda. "Our message to the Afghan government is this: We want a strong partnership based on 'more for more' -- more resources from the United States and NATO, and more action from the Afghan government to improve the lives of the Afghan people," they said.

From the Associated Press:

Face to face with Iraq's leaders, Barack Obama gained fresh support Monday for the idea of pulling all U.S. combat forces out of the war zone by 2010.

... The Democratic presidential contender also got a military briefing -- and a helicopter tour -- from the top U.S. commander in the region, Gen. David Petraeus, and he met with a few of the nearly 150,000 U.S. troops now well into the war's sixth year.

... As Obama visited Iraq for the first time in more than two years, comments Monday by the nation's government spokesman roughly mirrored the Illinois senator's withdrawal schedule and offered a glimpse of Iraq's growing confidence as violence drops and Iraqi security forces expand their roles.

"We are hoping that in 2010 that combat troops will withdraw from Iraq," spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said after Obama met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki -- who has struggled for days to clarify Iraq's position on a possible timetable for a U.S. troop pullout.

Iraq's Sunni vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi, said after meeting Obama that Iraqi leaders share "a common interest ... to schedule the withdrawal of American troops."

... "Excellent conversation," [Obama] said as he left talks with al-Hashemi in his gold-hued reception room. "Very constructive," he said after leaving a meeting with al-Maliki.

From the Washington Post:

Yet another influential environmental group endorsed Senator Barack Obama for president today in his contest against his GOP rival John McCain.

The League of Conservation Voters, which rates congressional members voting records each year, announced its support for Obama in a series of events across the country today.

"Senator Obama's proven record and his commitment to a clean, renewable energy future make him the best choice for President," LCV president Gene Karpinski said in a statement. "At a time when this country must reinvent itself for a new energy future, we can imagine no better steward than Barack Obama. Under his leadership, America will finally achieve the economic growth, environmental protection, and national security that are possible with a new, clean energy economy."

Said Obama, also in the statement distributed by the LCV, "I thank the members of the League of Conservation Voters across our nation for their support and know that, together, we will create a better, cleaner, more secure future."

The Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth, two other national environmental groups, have already endorsed Obama.

From the Wall Street Journal:

Delegates to the 66th Biennial Convention of the National Association of Letter Carriers, acting on a motion by "Honorary NALC member" Hillary Rodham Clinton, voted enthusiastically today to endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) for president in this fall's general election.

The 303,000-member NALC was one of the first unions to support Senator Clinton's presidential bid last September and was at the forefront of a nationwide grassroots mobilization on her behalf throughout the primary campaign.

In an address to over 8,000 convention delegates just before the endorsement vote, Clinton urged the NALC members to work hard to elect Obama as president this fall.

"I believe this country is worth fighting for and I believe firmly that the best way to continue this fight is to elect Sen. Barack Obama as President of the United States," she said.

... NALC President William H. Young said Obama stands with letter carriers on every issue important to them including legislation to ban contracting out of letter carrier jobs, support of the Employee Free Choice Act to help workers obtain union protection, and opposition to Do-Not-Mail registries that threaten affordable postage for most Americans.

"Senator Obama has clearly shown he can mobilize this country for change and he has demonstrated a remarkable level-headedness about the war in Iraq from the start," Young told the convention. "The NALC will do everything in its power to make him the next President of the United States."

From the Rocky Mountain News:

Eight people sat in Jana Everett's loft Sunday afternoon and began the daunting task of carving out a platform for the Democratic Party.

Iraq. Health care reform. Energy and environment.

"... A consensus will come out of these gatherings," [Geoff Hunt] said. "That's liberating for us. We don't have to go to the barricades."

... This is a big experiment, launched two weeks ago. Barack Obama's campaign and the Democratic National Committee are opening up the process to the public for the first time in history.

Hundreds of grassroots platform meetings just like Jana Everett's will be taking place all across the country for the next seven days, in all 50 states. You can find a platform meeting near you now. 

As DNC Chairman Howard Dean explained:

From the beginning, we said we were going bring down the traditional walls of the Democratic convention and make this event more accessible and include as many people as possible. This process will empower Americans in all 50 states to make their voices heard as they help write the document that embodies our party's values and vision for the future.

This is your Monday night Open Thread . . .

Every Monday, we'll be featuring some of the best grassroots events from the previous week. We want to highlight your creativity, enthusiasm and hard work. After you host an event, make sure to let us know how it went!

This movement is built on the efforts of everyday Americans working to unify their communities and join together to bring about the change that we all seek. Here's a snapshot of what was happening across America this past week:

Jamaican Food Fundraiser: Kathy from Forest Hills, NY raised $700 at what she describes as "an old fashioned afternoon house party." She served up a tasty menu of Jamaican food, including curry chicken, island-style pulled pork mini-sliders, red cabbage slaw, pineapple salsa and bread pudding.

As a former Hillary supporter herself, she said she was able to convince many Hillary supporters in attendance to join the campaign. After the success of her first event, Kathy is excited to host another one in September, this time with Mexican food.

HIV/AIDS Walk: Roughly 30 Bay Area supporters marched as part of the official Obama team at the annual AIDS Walk San Francisco, and many other supporters were spotted in the crowd wearing Obama gear as well. Chants of "Yes We Can" and "Fired Up, Ready to Go" at times would erupt from the phalanx of marchers as they snaked through Golden Gate Park. The official Obama team raised nearly $3,000 for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, showing this campaign is about more than just politics.

A separate volunteer crew milled around the crowd of 25,000 attendees, handing out campaign literature and registering more than 50 voters. Thanks to Doug from San Francisco and Susan for putting this together.

New Orleans Service Trip: Lynn of Miami, FL met with fellow Generation Obama young professionals in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans to continue the ongoing efforts to restore the area. "We worked with the Episcopalian Diocese of Louisiana on a home in the Lower Ninth Ward that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and has had no repairs in the nearly three years since the storm hit. There were fifteen of us who spent the day hanging sheetrock for the ceilings and walls (with varying degrees of success!)."

Political Comedy Night: More than 20 supporters laughed the night away as they relaxed to the jokes of a several professional political comics supporting Barack. Michael in New Jersey put together the event, and he explained that he believes "laughter is the best means of spreading the values and ideals of liberalism, as well as getting more people engaged in the process by breaking down the complex issues into a humorous form."

Voter Registration at Batman Premiere: Sporting a child-sized Batman costume with a "Yes We Can" shirt covering where it ripped, 6'1" Grady of Baco Raton, FL attracted the cheers, laughs and smiles of young voters in line to see the blockbuster movie. He was joined by eleven volunteers who together registered 35 voters.

"We knew that the theatre would be alive with young adults and teens who have yet to register to vote and we made it our duty to register them all. We are stationed in Boca Raton and the population here is already mostly registered, so often we have to think outside of the box when it comes to registering new people."

Also, this past weekend thousands of supporters gathered in their homes to discuss the issues at Listening to America Platform Meetings. At the end of the meetings, attendees draft their policy papers and submit it to our Policy Review Committee where they will be considered for incorporation into the 2008 Democratic Platform.

These meetings will be taking place in homes across the country through July 27. Sign up to attend one, if you haven't already. And check back to the Obama HQ Blog as we post more about the results of many of these meetings.

Feeling inspired now? Plan your own event!