Red River Flooding And National Service

A spate of winter storms in the Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN area have threatened homes and businesses as the Red River rises and increases the potential for a catastrophic flood. Thousands of volunteers reinforced dikes and levees, raising the floodwall level to roughly 43 feet, and many communities already submerged have been evacuated. On Friday the water level in the river rose to a level approaching 41 feet, with cresting expected in the next 48 hours. But this morning, freezing temperatures have slowed the rise of the river, as snow has not melted, and the National Weather Service cautiously announced that the river crested at a lower level than predicted. This is positive news suggesting that the levees will hold, but the situation remains dangerous, with more storms in the forecast for next week and the water level still at a record high.

In his weekly radio address, President Obama expressed his support for those affected by the flooding, citing his disaster declarations for North Dakota and Minnesota, the FEMA response and the US Army Corps of Engineers support in coordinating the building of makeshift levees. It's good to see this kind of coordination and attention in the midst of the emergency, not after it.

In addition, the President also connected the situation to the theme of national service that Steve discussed yesterday.

For at moments like these, we are reminded of the power of nature to disrupt lives and endanger communities. But we are also reminded of the power of individuals to make a difference.

In the Fargodome, thousands of people gathered not to watch a football game or a rodeo, but to fill sandbags. Volunteers filled 2.5 million of them in just five days, working against the clock, day and night, with tired arms and aching backs. Others braved freezing temperatures, gusting winds, and falling snow to build levees along the river's banks to help protect against waters that have exceeded record levels.

College students have traveled by the busload from nearby campuses to lend a hand during their spring breaks. Students from local high schools asked if they could take time to participate. Young people have turned social networks into community networks, coordinating with one another online to figure out how best to help.

In the face of an incredible challenge, the people of these communities have rallied in support of one another. And their service isn't just inspirational – it's integral to our response.

It's also a reminder of what we can achieve when Americans come together to serve their communities. All across the nation, there are men, women and young people who have answered that call, and millions of other who would like to. Whether it's helping to reduce the energy we use, cleaning up a neighborhood park, tutoring in a local school, or volunteering in countless other ways, individual citizens can make a big difference.

This is the tradition of national service that conservative commentators have likened to Hitler Youth. This is the call to sacrifice that Chuck Todd doesn't seem to understand because it doesn't involve cutting Social Security or Medicare benefits. Obama's support of national service represents a continuum throughout his campaign and his public life, that we have a responsibility to one another, that we can do our part for change as neighbors and fellow citizens. I would ask those naysayers on the right if they asked the residents of these communities in North Dakota and Minnesota their opinion.

Fargo North Decoder

This is some major poll porn:

Barack Obama is shown with an edge against John McCain in a North Dakota presidential race that has narrowed to a statistical tie, according to a new Forum poll.

The survey shows Obama squeaking past McCain, 45 percent to 43 percent, a lead that falls within the poll’s margin of error and therefore indicates a dead heat, according to political analysts.

Still up for grabs: undecided voters, comprising 12 percent.

“It’s a statistical tossup,” said Jim Danielson, co-director of the Public Affairs Institute at Minnesota State University Moorhead, which conducted the statewide telephone survey for The Forum. Pollsters contacted 606 likely North Dakota voters by telephone Oct. 6-8.

North Dakota has no form of voter registration, so GOTV efforts can literally be targeted to anyone right up to and including Election Day.

Meanwhile, North Dakota has been getting some attention in the online world for this racist comment on the local SayAnythingBlog showing a picture of Barack Obama next to a noose. Apparently the website owner has a history of this stuff:

And I -- for one -- do not think Port deserves to be let off the hook for this simply because he pulled the offending blog post from his site. Port has a history of pulling internet stunts to try to draw attention to his website. If you click here to look at this website, you'll see someone's comment (on April 29, 2004, at 3:48 p.m.) suggesting Robbie Port used the alias "Hot Abercrombie Chick" for a span of time in an effort to generate interest in his website. (Spend a little time Googling "hot abercrombie chick" and "rob port" or "robbie port"; you'll see what I'm talking about). Port knows web traffic translates directly into web advertising money. A guy has to wonder if Port -- or his "sock puppet" -- published the offensive Obama/noose graphic in an attempt to draw national attention to his website. Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Port has also been banished from one North Dakota Native American Indian reservation for previous racist rants on his website. This isn't a first for Rob Port.

With North Dakota getting this much attention 22 days before the election, you know something bizarre is happening.

Obama Pulls Out Of North Dakota

It's not worth the effort to grab an extra three electoral votes. Besides, Montana looks much more attractive, especially with Ron Paul on the ballot there. The playing field is surely narrowing as the Palin pick consolidates the Republican base, but that's expected at this point in the game. The opportunities still exist all over the map and in historically Republican territory, like in North Carolina.

To those who would scoff at the failed audacity of the 50-state strategy, I would say that the money put into organizers and grassroots infrastructure will pay dividends down the road. But you don't have to be intellectually rigid in crunch time.