Last night in Portland, Oregon we had hundreds upon hundreds of grassroots activists in a downtown park protesting Al Gore's (without a doubt the largest emitter of hot air in the nation) pro-cap-and-trade speech.  CLICK HERE for pictures of the event.

Hot Air Tour Rally in Portland

But, the reason for I write this post right now is to ask you to take action BEFORE the first significant health care takeover vote occurs this Saturday in the United States Senate. 

Majority Leader Harry Reid has announced that he will hold the first vote - to begin debate on the health care takeover - this weekend, and we need you to call or email your Senators today and tell them to vote NO.  CLICK HERE to call your Senator today. Let me know if you made a call by emailing me at timphillips@afp-mail.com

How ironic that Reid and Obama are scheduling their first Senate floor votes just before Thanksgiving, because their bill is the biggest legislative turkey I've ever seen. 

Here are some of the low points for you to share with your Senators and with your friends and family:

* 2,074 pages long.  There's no way these Senators can read this bill if they vote on it in the next few days and weeks.

* Cost is $2.5 trillion over first decade of full implementation - over time the deficit will go through the roof with this legislation. 

* Taxes will go up an astonishing $493.6 billion with this health care takeover.  Businesses that do not provide government-approved health care for their workers will get hit with $28 billion in new taxes, killing jobs and eroding take-home pay for American workers.  Millions of Americans will see taxes go up on their health insurance plans if the government deems them too expensive (over $8,500 per individual or $23,000 per family).

* The "government option" is in the bill, meaning we'll have government-run health insurance that over time will kill our private health insurance - a stated goal of many on the Left.

There's so much more, and you can click here for even more details.  But you get the picture. 

In the next few weeks before Thanksgiving, the decisive votes will occur in the Senate beginning with this Saturday.  It's going to be a tough fight and we've got to send these Senators a strong message now.  Take a moment and do two things:

1. Click here to call your Senators now and let us know you're taking this crucial action by email me at timphillips@afp-mail.com.

2.  Send this information to your family and friends list now, and ask them to take the same action you're taking by clicking here. 

I realize many of you have called and emailed your Senators before on this legislation.  But, this is an important new vote they will be taking on Saturday so they need to hear from all of us again. 

Here's the good news.  Despite all their advantages - a sitting President working aggressively, big majorities in the Senate and House, a national media that largely supports this legislation - we're now to mid-November with a fighting chance of beating this health care takeover.  That's encouraging and due to the efforts of grassroots activists across the country who have done the hard work of freedom - going to town hall meetings, attending "Hands Off My Health Care" bus tour events, calling and emailing your elected leaders, getting involved in the tea party and 9/12 efforts, and so much more. 

Now, we've got to finish the job. 

I know we can do it if we keep fighting.