Join me for the Live Blog of Obama's Patriotism Speech!

UPDATE: Now with video
Late this morning Barack Obama is appearing in Independence, Missouri where he will speak about patriotism in the lead up to the 4th of July holiday.

Obama's speech will detail what he fells patriotism requires of all Americans who loves this country and how he wants to see it do better according to the release. Free tickets for the speech were gone within two hours and large crowds are packed in the Truman Memorial Auditorium

10:30am: Crowds are packed in, fired up, and ready to go. Lots of chanting of OBAMA OBAMA!

11:12am The introduction of Obama begins, the building is beautiful if you haven't been here I highly suggest it...

Beginning July 1st, the first phase of largest college aid expansion in six decades kicks in, according to a release sent out from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. This was part of the number of bills pushed through Congress in 2006 when the New Direction Congress rolled into town.

In efforts to help middle class families live more affordable, the House passed, among other things, a minimum wage increase as well as the the expansion in college aid which includes an expansion of Pell Grants as well as this reduction in interest rates which will cut in half by 2011 and will begin with a drop from 6.8% to 6.0%.

According to the release

"This cutting of the interest rate will benefit the 6.8 million students who borrow need-based federal student loans each year. Once fully phased in, this interest rate cut will save the typical student borrower – with $13,800 in need-based student loan debt – an average of $4,400 over the life of the loan."

According to a new independent poll released, if the election were held today Nancy Boyda would win in a land side against both candidates opposing her.

The poll was done at the end of May by Anzalone Liszt Research, Inc. and surveyed over 400 people in Boyda's 2nd District. According to their findings when asked

"How would you rate the job that Nancy Boyda is doing as U.S. Congresswoman - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?"

68% were total positive
21% total negative

When asked if they would re-elect 54% said yes and only 35% said no (with only 17% of those being definitely not).

A few Friday's ago I did a blog about the potential for Congress 2.0 and better ways to utilize new technologies and connect our public servants to their constituents, as well as giving constituents a better more meaningful way of contributing to government and getting involved.

An all too perfect example came to the forefront Thursday last week when Rep. John Culberson, Rep. Tim Ryan, and eventually Sen. Roy Blunt fought it out over the Energy Bill. Instead of doing it in real live on the floor they instead did it on Twitter.

A report Wednesday done by Micah Sifry detailed the twitter users over at TechPresidents

According to Prime Buzz from the Kansas City Star current replacement District Attorney Phill Kline, who according to the video at KCTV 5News doesn't even live in the district, is now seeking a full term.

You would know this guy from previous hits that include "Feed me Slimfast" and "Those Records aren't Private." According to Prime Buzz:

"Kline told a gathering of supporters in Olathe that he will file Tuesday as a candidate in the county Republican primary. Kline became the county’s district attorney in January 2007 after the county Republican Party’s precinct leaders elected him to complete Paul Morrison’s term. He said in September that he wouldn’t seek the office this year. But last month, he said he was reconsidering and might run after all."

Father, of Father/Son Slattery team, Jim Slattery released his lobbyist connections today.

Slattery has received some push back from republicans in Kansas about his connections to lobbying the Hill while living in Washington DC. This in response to Slattery's claims that Kansas Senator Pat Roberts is too wrapped up in Washington to be connected to Kansas values.

The release Slattery made available, was to promote greater transparency in not only how the public elects individuals, but to bring about a change in how they should expect officials to conduct themselves while in office.

"Openness and accountability in the federal government are at an all-time low. Voters deserve an explanation of the work I've done since I left public office," Slattery said. "I'm pleased to provide this information."

On the week leading up to Father's Day, two father/son teams just filed to run for office in the same state.

Jim and Mike Slattery both filed to run for office today. Jim for the US Senate in Kansas, and Mike for Kansas House District 24.

"I have always desired to be a part of the legislative process-largely thanks to my father's experiences," Mike says. "I have learned that the best candidates aren't necessarily the most experienced individuals, but those willing to serve and work tirelessly to better their community." (Mark's site)

"I'm running for office because the U.S. Senate is simply not getting the job done," Jim said. "On the issues of the economy, energy prices, and the war in Iraq, the incompetence of the political leadership in Washington is breathtaking. I cannot in good conscience continue to sit on the sidelines and watch career politicians lead our country in the wrong direction."

Father/son team Mark and Dustin Hardison also filed for House seats in the Kansas Legislature. Dustin filed for district 57 and Mark for district 81.

A few times this year bloggers got the wild hair to start talking about the potential we have to bring more people to our government by making Congress more 2.0 friendly.

Stoller went off about the Franking Laws that are out of step with reality back in March and I've not stopped thinking about it since then. Well, in reality I had been thinking about it before that back when Obama's campaign announced that it would make the Chief Technology Officer a cabinet position.

Franking Rules are decided by a committee who decide what members of Congress can do in outreach to their constituents. Sometimes too much outreach from a Congressional office can be seen as "campaigning" and the Franking Rules protect taxpayers from essentially paying for campaigns and creating an unfair advantage for incumbents.

For the past few weeks news sources have talked about the dangerous influence alternative fuels have on our cost of food.

"The recent rise in corn prices -- almost 70 percent in the past six months -- caused by the increased demand for ethanol biofuel has come much sooner than many agriculture economists had expected.... And that increase, says Marshall Martin, an agriculture economist at Purdue University, "is the main driver behind the price increase for corn."

No disrespect to Marshall Martin, but the price of corn isn't quite a simple as blaming it all on biofuels.

I spoke with Jim Martin (no relation to Marshall) who is on the Federal Technical Advisory Committee for Biomass Research and Development, and he confirmed that blaming it all on ethanol neglects a number of other factors that don't always fit into a 30 second analysis.

You can join Congressional Candidate Don Betts over at Future Majority where he is live blogging about his candidacy:

"I started my legislative career at age 24 by running for Kansas State House of Representatives. I not only won the seat but continued to serve in the House until a special election in 2004 when I was appointed to the KS Senate. I was reelected at age 25 to the Kansas Senate. I am the youngest state senator in the history of Kansas. I am young but I have lived a very full life. Our future generations will continue to shape our country. I never looked at my age as an obstacle but an opportunity to speak out for everyone, young and old."