Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 01:06:40 -0500
From: barb chalfonte (barb.chalfonte@gmail.com)
Subject: Election Night: Now THAT'S what I call a mandate!

Friends --

It is 1:06am on Thursday morning and the returns are still trickling in. We have almost all the info on the districts in Western Mass and plenty of info from the rest of the state too. We have won or are currently winning EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT on which the End the War ballot question appeared. In western MA, about 55-70% of people in each district voted for peace. I am awed, and want to thank everyone for their amazing work.

There are some awesome stories out there -- people thanking us for holding signs and then joining us, thanking us for putting this question on the ballot, people who couldn't believe they had a direct opportunity to show their feelings about the war -- the reactions were heartening. Chicopee, home of Westover Air Force Reserve Base, location from which planes take all troops to and from Iraq, voted 62% in favor of the Bring Our Troops Home ballot initiative. I've spoken to the other campaigns in the Midwest tonight, and both Wisconsin and Illinois are also having stunningly robust results from their voters -- End this War!

The rhetoric in Washington has changed in the last week, next policy! We'll be in touch in the next few days as we make a big media push and of course, to ask for your help and that of all of your friends, family, and colleagues to be in touch with your legislators to continue to make the case to end this war.

Grassroots power is an amazing thing -- look at what you have done! More later, but for now, thank you and wow!

Barb Chalfonte
Western Mass AFSC Campaign to Bring Our Troops Home Now. http://westernmassafsc.org/ballotcampaign/ballotcampaign.html