Th election is over. Some things have changed, other haven’t.

We have a new President-Elect President, soon-to-be President Obama. (I like saying that!)

Our incumbent, Congressman Connie Mack IV, has been rel-elected for another term. Yesterday, I sent him a congratulations message.  We are no longer competing candidates, and he has my full support as a constituent of this district.

Whatever services I can offer in helping to serve the people of this nation and this district are at the disposal of both our Republican Congressman and our new Democratic President, should they be needed.

In the meantime, now the real work begins.

This candidacy was always understood in the context of a larger media project about what we can all do to improve the process of elections and government in this country. The election was only the first step, and by the numbers, our impact may seem small, but all the work everyone did to help document this race will pay off as we create a documentary to establish not only the definitive account of this race, but also some additional insight into how the political machine in this country really works.

Within the next few months, we’ll be sitting down for a number of on-camera interviews with some of the candidates in the local races and around the country. We will continue to post videos of interesting events, and to keep you informed of our progress here now that this blog is once again just plain old Crazy for Congress.

Once again, I want to thank everyone for all of your support. Democracy is a process, not an election day result. As citizens, we are all still as much of that process on the day after an election as we were the day before, regardless of who’s in office.

Remember, this isn’t the end, this is really just the beginning…

Posted by admin | Filed in docmentary

(I’m going to try to make regular updates today, particularly after the polls close as we watch the results.)

11:15 AM:  Just got back from voting.  Now, if you havent voted yet, what are you doing sitting around watching my blog? Get out and VOTE!

05:50 PM: It’s almost time for the polls to start closing in some parts of the country (Here, they close at 7:00 PM), and we’ll be heading over to McGregor Food and Spirits soon to watch the results…

11:15PM:Once again, we had some live-link problems, and I apologize for not updating live. CNN has called the race.

11:55PM: Mack wins third term to U.S. House

Posted by admin | Filed in Election

Tomorrow is the big day!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has worked so hard and supported this campaign, and also thank all the people of this district who have gotten and involved themselves in the election by either coming out to the various events or voting early.

And if you haven’t done so yet, then I urge to go vote tomorrow and Elect Jeff George for Congress!

Oh,  and after the poles close tomorrow, we’ll be having a little get-together at McGregor Food and Spirits starting around 7:00 PM, and everyone is invited to stop by.

Posted by admin | Filed in Domestic Issues, Election, SW Florida

Not sure if this video is a trick or treat, but it was made for the Middle East Forum at FGCU this past Wednesday. (Raw footage of that event is on the way…)

It shows the differences in our positions on Iran policy between the three of the four candidates in this race that bothered to show up for the debates and forums. It was shot at the M.O.A.A. forum. 

Be sure to check out the latest Article, Congress candidates tackle issues at forum, from the Naples Daily News which seems to be the only media outlet actually following this race.

Also, the raw footage from the Tiger Bay Club Forum covered in the article starts here.

Posted by admin | Filed in Foreign Policy

This was shot on this past rainy Saturday afternoon at the candidate forum hosted by the Haiti-American Community of Lehigh Acres, Fla. (Raw footage).

Also, be sure to check out today’s Naples Daily News article Election 2008: Three seek to take Congressional seat from Connie Mack. You can also check out the raw footage from that interview here.

Posted by admin | Filed in Election

My response to the Project Vote Smart Political Courage Test is now up. Not surprisingly, I was the only candidate in this race that did not “refuse to provide any responses to citizens on the issues.”

I’ve tried to answer every candidate questionnaire that’s been sent to me, and even though I probably missed a few, I added the links to other Issue Surveys on the bottom of the Platform Page, so you can get a better idea of where I stand.

This past week, plenty of raw video footage of the candidate forums went up on Google as well. 

Thursday, the Lee County League of Women Voters hosted a Candidate Forum in Fort Myers. You can Check out the raw video here, and also read  Mack is no-show in final debate before Nov. 4

Tuesday: the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce held their Candidate Forum, and the raw video starts here.

Monday: there was a Congressional candidate forum at the Shell Point Retirement Community. The raw video starts here.

Saturday: I attended a debate on the movie Obsession at USF, and the raw footage of the actual forum starts here, and there’s also video of an interesting pre-event scuffle here.

Finally, the North Fort Myers Neighbor ran a nice article on last weeks forum there: 20 Candidates turn out for forum.

Posted by admin | Filed in Election

When people have asked me in the past about my pick for the presidential race, I’ve stated that “officially”, because I am running with no party affiliation, I wanted to stay out of that fray, and focus on this congressional race. “Unofficially,” I’ve made no secret here on my blog and elsewhere about my increasing dissatisfaction with Senator McCain’s platform and his choice of Governor Palin as his running-mate.

In the past week, events on my own campaign trail and elsewhere have made it clear to me that this is no longer a tenable position.

So, it’s official: I am backing Senator Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States of America.

While I still have some serious reservations about the ability of the national leadership of the Democratic party to chart a course away from partisan bickering, and the corrupt system of campaign financing and special interest money that currently plagues both parties in Washington, I believe Senator Obama is the best hope we have now for a President who can reverse the disastrous economic policies that continue to plunge this nation into crisis, resolve the war on terror, and restore America’s international standing around the world.

Another important factor that made me realize that it was time to clearly back Senator Obama was the fact that Robert Neeld, the current Democratic contender, has at least twice refused to speak up for the merits of his own party’s nominee.

First on Oct. 11th at a Forum held by the Military Officer Association of America. (You can check out the unedited video here at around the 16:00 min mark.)  And again, on Oct. 15th, at the forum of the Southwest Cape Coral Neighborhood Association. (Video here at around the 11:40 min. point.)

The first time I was taken aback by Mr. Neeld’s lack of support for Obama, the second time I called him out because it is exactly the sort of hedging and triangulation that makes me leery of the Democratic leadership in the first place.

I realize supporting Senator Obama may not be the popular choice here in this district, and I want to assure everyone that this doesn’t at all mean that I’m giving up on my commitment to be a strong, independent voice for this district in congress. 

I have made it a point to say throughout this campaign that voting your conscience is never a wasted vote, and at this point I would be failing my own conscience if I did not speak out as a candidate for my own choice as well.

Regardless of who our next president is, he will need the support of a transparent and accountable congress that is willing to restore the constitutional system of checks and balances. As your congressman, my first commitment will always be to the people of this nation and to the American Constitution, not to any political party or whatever individual happens to hold executive office at the moment.

Posted by admin | Filed in Election

I had the opportunity to make my case on a couple of very different radio markets this week:

This morning I was interviewed by Mandy Connell  on WINK 1270 Daybreak.

On Tuesday, three of the four congressional candiditaes in this race (no Connie Mack as usual) were present at WGCU (NPR) for Gulf Coast Live. Be sure to check out the Aftershow too.

And of course, in addition to the audio links above, we have the raw video footage of me in my office during the phone interview with Mandy here. (And, you can hear my portion of the beginning of the interview that seems to have been inadvertently clipped from WINK’s podcast.) 

We also have the raw footage of our in the booth video coverage from the WGCU show starting here.

Oh, and be sure to check out the FOX4 video we shot last week as it’s airing now here.

Posted by admin | Filed in Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GEORGE’S HOUSE RUN VALUES PEOPLE, IDEAS OVER DOLLARS

Congressional candidate determined to be true representative

FORT MYERS, Oct. 15, 2008 – Independent U.S. House candidate Jeff George believes democracy is about how you can best serve the people, not how much money you can take from them.

George, a Cape Coral resident up for Florida’s 14th District Congressional seat, cut back on fundraising during recent months to focus instead on meeting fellow Southwest Floridians and hearing what they have to say about the issues that affect them the most.

The campaign on Wednesday released its financial statement for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 to the Federal Election Commission. George collected $2,301, bringing the total to $17,451 since he announced his run in September 2007.  Of that total, he’s contributed $9,207 of his own money, including all but $200 for this quarter.

“After raising the money for qualification, I found myself obsessing more and more over funds, until I realized I was starting to turn into exactly what I vowed to run against,” George said.

The U.S. Army veteran has taken part in more than a dozen forums and public events across the district designed to bring the candidates and voters together, and plans to attend several more before Election Day.

“No doubt, fundraising is part of the election process, but in the end, democracy is about one person, one vote,  not one dollar, one vote, and that’s what we should focus the process on, representing the people, not their money,” George said.

Keeping in close contact with Southwest Floridians is a top priority for George, who wants to bring accountability to Washington. He is part-owner of a video production company, and is videotaping the entire campaign and making the footage available online.

People can see the videos, find out more about George, speak with him in live online chats and get involved with the campaign at www.jeffgeorgeforcongress.com.

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Posted by admin | Filed in Uncategorized

Worst week ever?

I’d like to say the worst is behind us now, but I’m afraid that’s not the case. Yet, in the long run, I am optimistic that America and the world will come out of this crisis better for it.

We will turn away from the institutionalized greed that has overtaken virtually every aspect of economic life, and reevaluate the underpinning of an economy and monetary system based on perpetually escalating interest and debt.

We will recognize the need for global cooperation on trade, but with transparent international institutions that aren’t run behind closed doors by only a few wealthy, powerful interests, but through truly democratic representation and sound market principles with accountability at all times to the people.

We will restore the Constitution of the United States to ensure that the full rights and liberties of every American are protected, reassert the rightful balance between the three branches of federal power, and ensure that the rule of law applies equally to all without exceptions to privilege, wealth, and power.

We will face the challenges of threats without borders such as global climate change and war and terrorism based on a ideological and religious extremists, and reforge the bonds of unity, justice, and liberty that define us all as Americans, and together we will set a true example through our actions for the rest of the world by having the courage of our convictions to stand up for these values both here at home and around the world.

This is the brighter future we can all share if we choose, and now is the time to make it happen.

We have to act now and stand up for the principles this nation was founded on while the world seems to be turning upside down, or else events that we the people are truly in control of now will seem to spin hoplessly beyond our control. We are not powerless. The market is not some arbitrary force that rules over America, we the people chart the course of this nation!

 On November 4th of this year, we have what may prove to be one of the most important opportunities ever for us to determine the destiny of America.

Last week, I was out on the campaign trail trying to do my part to make that future happen, and we posted a number of raw videos on Google of those events.

Monday: For the first time, all four candidates in the race were present at the Fort Myers News Press editorial review board.

Tuesday: I had the privilege of attending The Lee Ccunty Black History Society 2nd Annual Luncheon with the President of FGCU, Dr. Wilson Bradshaw as the keynote speaker.

Wednesday: We had our weekly 3:00 PM Chat Time over at JustinTV.

Thursday: We have some great behind the scenes footage of the filming of my candidate staement for FOX 4.

Friday: The Alliance of the Arts in Fort Myers held Too Hot to Handle: A Politticle Issue Show which featured some fantastic and thought provoking art from a number of talented local artist.

Saturday: First up was the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Forum in Cape Coral, and the Politics in The Park in Lehigh Acres.

Sunday:  Be sure to check out the Congressional Race coverage in the News Press, especially the Q and A with Jeff George and District 14 U.S. representative race: Nonparty candidate makes hight-tech run.

Posted by admin | Filed in Economy, Election