National Service Express Tour ‘08

In a largely negative post in response to U.S. Senator John McCain’s speech yesterday morning in Columbus, Ariana Huffington did praise the presumed Republican Party’s Presidential nominee for his vision of expanding voluntary National Service, calling it “moving and effective.”

I’ll admit, I found McCain’s fantasy speech moving and effective, especially the part where he envisions a growth in national service, fueled by young Americans who “understand that true happiness is much greater than the pursuit of pleasure, and can only be found by serving causes greater than self-interest.” 

Will Senator McCain be a listed as an original co-sponsor of U.S. Senator Chris Dodd’s (now-titled) AmeriCorps: Improving Our Nation (ACTION) Act of 2008, to be introduced tomorrow morning?  How about Senators Clinton or Obama?  Thanks to all who have made phone calls to their Senators!

We had a great ServeNext Organizing Meeting last night in Senator McCain’s home state!  Special thanks to Tyler Cox (MA AmeriCorps ‘07) for coordinating the event, Kate Craer (MA AmeriCorps ‘05) for getting us back to the Phoenix Greyhound Station (and getting a tour of the city in the process), and to everyone from Mesa Community College who came out to learn more about ServeNext!  We’ll be in touch…