Monthly Archives: August 2010

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

thoughtful Thursday &some News …


Today, In another effort to help All Americans The Senate Democrats will offer a unanimous consent resolution on border security legislation at 10 a.m. In addition, the Senate plans to adopt a resolution honoring the memory of former Senator Ted Stevens.

President Obama will be heading to Panama City, FL to assess the BP oil disaster,  what is going on with the people,  the various businesses affected and evaluate the progress of any an all  clean-up happening or that needs to happen in order for everyone and everything to become whole in the present and future.

Though November is not a Presidential election year folks on both sides of the aisle have been talking about who may or may not be the best choice to go up against President Obama. If you tuned into msnbc and listened to the stupid noise of Jenk you would be quite disappointed, he was so bold to say he supported Hillary and moved on from there. There quite a few folks on twitter were not happy and hopefully his guest appearances will be less and less maybe reduced to YouTube again. Hey, that is where he belongs. In other rants of mine includes the right promoting presidential candidates that have now decided to come to national TV and state the 14th Amendment needs to be looked at and because of what it represents i personally became very concerned and so should most people of under-represented groups. The notion that SB1070 was suppose to enhance the federal laws has been challenged and is in the appeal process which also brought out the anchor baby clause… how awful does that sound? It is a terrible comment that was coined by someone on the right i guess but buried in SB1070 and now has become a topic, a tool to scare people into voting for Republicans. I say it goes against what Americans stand for and those who choose to represent this ugly side of America should not be holding any type of Political office.

Now, sadly AG McCollum and Senator Snyder of Florida, which has a rich history of immigrants are trying to continue the effort to round-up illegals with a Papers Please legislation. I have to suggest reading the article by the CNN Wire Staff …the proposal is def offensive and compares the undocumented to gangs and is using a gang statue these men worked on and passed in 2008. Cheryl Little stated, “This bill would hurt our economy, public safety and individual rights, adding chaos instead of working on realistic solutions for our broken immigration system.”

To continue my rant; how could anyone promote and vote for a person to be the President of the free world who clearly  feels they could only represent a select few, a specific people. My only conclusion is that it could be and would be truly an un-American thing to do… We the People should always be aware of that when voting for the President of the USA, because they represent all Americans not a few, some or a select group.

A person who believes and practices exclusion, discrimination, sexism, racism should never be allowed or considered the leader of the free world unless of course they want to be dictators and maybe that is what Republicans want who knows because they keep saying wow wait until 2weeks and we will tell you what we stand for? that is joke, offensive and helps no one ..will Republican constituents  Please open up their eyes!!!!

The only thing i see, hear, or understand about people in this so-called tea party movement is anger, fear mongering, and hate. I have not heard anyone from the movement be specific about what big government means to them and when they try to explain it the only information they  have, has been personal issues that have impacted their entire lives by our crashing economy, which, if anyone has common sense? The crash affected all of us not just the Democratic Party.

I watched the marches with nasty words about the President, signs with nasty pictures of the President, as well as people dressed in costumes that represented a time when both women and minorities were not treated well, i saw mostly white faces angry about the country being taken over by a Black man who quite possibly could be a socialist. These ideas were implied, promoted, and provoked by Sarah Palin several times during the 2008 campaign for President. The right and or extreme right is definitely upset they are not in charge, they also feel a personal threat over the fact that our population in the United States is growing in numbers for minorities. The notion that Republicans want to bring in more people into their base definitely is not an invitation to minorities. Even with Michael steele as RNC chair it is obvious his party, who gives purity tests is a party of exclusion, only accepts a select few and if you pay attention to the words of Republicans do not believe in compassion for others. We could really use a little social-ism right about now.

I still do not understand what Republicans stand for. How can a group of people promote exclusion when it is obvious they prefer the elite, have said no to both the middle and lower class, which are also of varying racial backgrounds. They want the government out of their lives but feel they have a right to tell women what they can do with their bodies, have said no to Teachers, First Responders, Native Americans and Black Farmers yet they think the Bush Tax cuts should not be allowed to expire. The question for them is who and how will these Tax Cuts be paid for and if you watched David Gregory last week not one Republican was able to respond directly to his question. The cost of the Bush Tax Cuts is over 700billion dollars and if you ask me, they would be glad to have tax payers keep them in the elite category. Hey, no one is perfect but the C’street group should not have members that are serving in Public Office, if for nothing else than for the Separation of Church and State, which, obviously they are not adhering to. Just ask the people of Uganda, maybe in other countries as well. I would call for an investigation into just what are Public Servants doing in Uganda promoting religious exclusion and or something even more sinister.

Most conservative and or tea party members want to get rid of Medicare, Medicare, Social Security, which are all entitlements; my question is how would most of their parents or grandparents live if not for these programs? I just do not understand. Now, the voices of or from tea party members are said to be from a wide range of people. I have to be honest, the tent of democrats is a lot larger, and when people say there are extremes on the left as well? I wonder what kind of extreme are they talking about. Socialism? The fact is … for me the last ten or so years of the bush White House has been life on the sidelines, working and not getting wage increases, that was during the Bush years, even then corporations were flexing their muscles, no increases but you can keep your health care…if you don’t have this that or the other. I do not think tea party folks truly understand what they want, if it’s what Republicans stand for then, at least for me, we are in great trouble.

The Bush administrations gave 2tax cuts to the wealthy and did not pay for it, he committed to two wars, and these were not paid for. The spending the last guy did absolutely drained the government surplus, which was left to him by a democratic President. Bush had 2terms and i still cannot think of anything positive this man did while in office for eight years for All Americans. I am not in the top 2% so i definitely did not enjoy the wealth. The wars did not make sense to me, 9/11 still makes no sense to me.

We have a President who has changed the way the world sees us, he has extended a hand of peace, a willingness to talk. Not-    my way or no way as our previous one did; this is a good thing but that would be eliminated if Republicans and or their fringy element called tea baggers get into office. The Democratic Party needs to unite against the crap that the right is offering up and it is clear to me that it is not anything that will help ALL Americans …that is un-American.

Other News …
**The BP oil disaster drilling resumes after 96hrs of storms
**Jurors deadlock on some counts in the blogojevich trial
**A vote in San Fran will determine if folks can marry while prop8 is in the appeal process
**Obama signs bill to help US manufacturing
**Florida Senator AG proposes immigration legislation
**GM posts a 1.33Million dollar profits

Senior voters

Senior voters

Several senior citizens from Auburn and Enumclaw explain what issues will influence their votes in the upcoming elections.

watch State Dept. Briefing

watch Pres. Obama Bill Signing Manufacturing Enhancement ACT

watch White House Briefing

Senate Convenes to Pass Border Security Bill, Honor the Late Ted Stevens

The Senate will convene this morning for a short session to consider two items. Picking up after the House passage of the border security bill (H.R. 6080) on Monday, the Senate is set to approve the legislation by unanimous consent. The chamber will also take up a resolution in memory of former Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), who died Monday in an plane crash in southwest Alaska.

Washington Journal looks at Wind Technology as an energy resource

The Washington Journal continues its week-long series focusing on energy issues. Virginia Tech’s George Hagerman, who conducts research on wind energy, will join us to talk about the industry. The Energy Department has earmarked $5 million this year for wind research and development with a $45 million increase in 2011.

Friday the series will conclude with a conversation about solar power.

Earlier this week, the Washington Journal looked at various ways to construct energy saving homes and buildings, explored how public policy regarding electric vehicles affects the industry and the distribution of natural gas and the impact of public policy decisions on the utility industry.

Educational Summit Aims To Stop Bullying Nationwide

As a new school year begins, the Department of Education is hosting its first ever summit on preventing bullying. Today’s discussions will focus on policy efforts at the local level to prevent bullying.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan stressed the importance of the topic, saying that children can’t learn in an environment in which they feel threatened. “Every child is entitled to feel safe in the classroom or in the hallways of school and on the playground. Children go to school to learn, educational opportunities must be the great equalizer in our country,” he said.

Duncan went on to announce that his department is launching a pilot program granting federal funds for intervention proposals at schools with the greatest bullying problems.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Washington State …mail in your Ballot and VOTE for Patty Murray!


Organizing for America

The primary election here in Washington ends on Tuesday, August 17th — but in most parts of the state every day is Election Day because mail-in ballots have already been sent.

When you cast your ballot, be sure to vote for Patty Murray. She has been a strong ally of the President, fighting for health insurance reform, Wall Street reform, and more. She’s fought for Washingtonians, now we need to make sure she can continue to represent us in the Senate.

If you are submitting your vote by mail, you have until Election Day to send in your ballot. In order to be counted, your ballot must be postmarked by Tuesday, August 17th.

In Pierce County, you can either request an absentee ballot, or vote at your polling place between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 17th.

Check here for more information about mail-in ballots and polling locations.

Washingtonians will cast their votes for candidates who will represent them in state and local government and in the halls of Congress — so it’s crucial that as many voters as possible make their voices heard.

Vote by mail is available to all voters, so be sure that you return your mail-in ballot. You can find more information about early voting and find polling locations and times here:

http://wa.barackobama.com/WashingtonVotes

Thanks,

Dustin

Dustin Lambro
Washington State Director
Organizing for America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

3,300 teachers in Washington


Organizing for America

I want to thank the OFA supporters who stood with House Democrats as they raced back to Washington this week to cast a vote on a state assistance bill. I’m proud to say they passed the bill yesterday and the President immediately signed it into law.

And, because of it, hundreds of thousands of jobs will be saved — including an estimated 3,300 public school teachers across Washington.

Republicans called this bill a “bailout” and a “handout.” They called the police officers, firefighters, and teachers whose jobs were on the line “special interests.” And nearly every House Republican voted no.

But Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats did the right thing, reminding us again of what we’re fighting for in the upcoming elections. When voters cast their ballots in November, it’s up to us to make sure they remember who’s fighting for them.

Thanks for all you do,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

wild Wednesday &some News …


The climb out of the economic ditch has been slow but is happening and should be recognized by most people even with all the noise being made to cover the achievements made by the Obama Administration. Yesterday, the YES vote in the House of Representatives for HR1586 passed after much debate and negative comments from Republicans. The Bill will arguably guarantee workers will not be laid off and it was clear the Democratic Party saw this as an emergency vote unlike those on the right who are suppose to do the people’s business but are definitely choosing not to participate in. The very people put into Political office called HR1586 a bailout, stating that is not a responsible thing for Congress to, yet if you ask any Teacher or Firefighter in any state, I am sure they would feel it is about time somebody in Congress help out their fellow American… HR1586 will not only help Teachers, First Responders, and other Gov’t jobs but will extend stimulus money to help States pay Medicaid. The fact is Republicans keep talking trash and anyone listening would have heard comments like, “Where do the bailouts end?” asked Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio. “Are we going to bail out states next year and the year after that, too? At some point we’ve got to say, ‘Enough is enough.'” Moreover, while Boehner and his crazy train continue to prove they are not only unqualified to handle the peoples business on the floor of Congress or their own States. They probably would be telling ALL Americans that they will repeal any and everything considered an entitlement. The list would include everything that would help the average person on Main Street, deregulate Wall Street, Oil industry. It is clear Republicans would shake the middle class yet make sure that any tax cut is kept in place and probably remains unpaid for -hey that is what they want but are unwilling to be honest about where the money would come from to pay for them …if at all. The cost to pay for keeping the Bush Tax Cuts in place would be $830Billion dollars. The thought anyone would say that out loud with millions of their own constituents listening to them is not only outrageous, it is offensive.

It is time we All listen to Politicians we can trust and right now that is the Democratic Party. I will admit that even the Democratic Party has conservdems that may not be the best representation of the Democrats ideology on a whole. Conservadems, vote to represent the States who voted them into office and apparently are more right of center depending on the issue. Republicans unlike Democratic Rep. Jay Inslee said his state of Washington would get funds to keep 3,000 teachers he continued Republicans, he said, “think those billions of dollars for those corporate loopholes is simply more important than almost 3,000 teachers and classrooms in the state of Washington.” In addition, we have Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., w ho said Republicans ignore the fact that the law would not add to the federal deficit. “They want to do everything in their power to make certain that President Obama can’t get this country going again. I think in November they are going to find it was a dumb policy.”

Other News …

Tea Party groups are planning a rally this Sunday near the Mexican border in Arizona to support the state’s new harsh stance on illegal immigration and U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth, who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the GOP primary. Dozens of speakers will attend the event, including Hayworth and Nevada GOP U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle.

A Congressional analysis released yesterday finds that, if the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire, taxpayers earning more than $1 million would “still receive on average a tax cut of about $6,300” compared with what they would’ve paid in 2001. The analysis also found that “less than 3 percent of filers with small-business income” are subject to the top two income tax rates.

Tea Party groups are planning a rally this Sunday near the Mexican border in Arizona to support the state’s new harsh stance on illegal immigration and U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth, who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the GOP primary. Dozens of speakers will attend the event, including Hayworth and Nevada GOP U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle.


C-SPAN …

watch Spkr. Pelosi Signing Ceremony

watch Agriculture Civil Rights Conference
watch House GOP

watch Pres. Obama on Teacher Jobs
watch State Dept. Briefing

watch Census Director Briefing visit Census Website

House Adjourns After Passing Aid to States; Senate Returns to Full Agenda After Break

House members returned to DC yesterday for one day to consider several pieces of legislation. They passed the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act (H.R.1586) by a vote of 247 to 161 which President Obama signed into law last evening. The bill includes Medicaid assistance and prevents the firing of teachers and law enforcement officers by providing states $26.1 billion in federal aid.

During yesterday’s session, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) took to the floor to respond to the Ethics Committee charges against him and the trial he faces later this fall. Saying that his actions may have been “stupid or neglect[ful] but… not corrupt,” Rangel announced that he had no intentions of resigning and wanted to have a hearing to refute the charges.

The House also approved a $600 million border security bill that will now go back to the Senate for a vote. There are reports that the Senate may meet this week to vote out this bill by unanimous consent.

When the Senate returns next month members are scheduled to take up work on financial incentives geared to small-businesses, appropriations bills for the fiscal year and climate change legislation. They are trying to pass this legislation before the October recess so members can return to their states to campaign for the midterm elections.

Sen. Bennet Wins Colorado Senate Democratic Primary

In Colorado, Sen. Michael Bennet, backed by President Obama, defeated former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff who was supported by Frmr. President Clinton. On the Republican side, Weld County district attorney Ken Buck defeated former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton for the GOP nomination. In Connecticut, former WWE CEO Linda McMahon has won the Senate Republican nomination defeating Rep. Rob Simmons. She’ll face Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D) in November. Both parties were holding Senate primaries seeking to replace retiring Sen. Chris Dodd (D).

In a tight race in Georgia, the Republican runoff election for Governor between ex-Congressman Nathan Deal and former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel may come down to absentee ballots. Candidates each claimed 50 percent of the vote with 99 percent of precincts reporting in early morning hours Wednesday.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Big News …JustSayNow.com


Since I wrote you last week, more than 45,000 people have signed on to our petition to President Obama to end the war on marijuana.

But it’s not just us: in that same time, two Catholic cardinals in Mexico and current Mexican President Felipe Calderon called for a debate on legalizing drugs. Then former Mexican President Vicente Fox said that we should regulate marijuana, after his country announced that more than 28,000 people have been killed in the war with drug cartels.

Legalizing marijuana is a moral issue. While our government continues to waste billions every year fighting an unwinnable war on cartels funded by marijuana prohibition, thousands more will needlessly die.

The movement to legalize marijuana is real. Will you join us? Please click here to sign our petition to end the war on marijuana:

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/endthewaronmarijuana

The media is paying attention to our campaign. Here’s just some of what the press has said this week about our petition to end the war on marijuana:

Huffington Post: “‘Just Say Now’: Left-Right Coalition Launches Campaign to Legalize Pot”
The Guardian: “Liberals and libertarians pressing for an end to prohibition”
Willamette Week: “Want to End the War on Marijuana? Sign this Petition”
NBC News: “Just Say Yes – to Marijuana Legalization”
The Atlantic: “A new, and potentially quite significant, arm of the [marijuana legalization] movement”

Momentum is on our side – can you please join us?

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/endthewaronmarijuana

My email to you from last week is below.

Thanks for all you do.

Best,

Jane Hamsher
JustSayNow.com


Subject: Big news

Click here to say Just Say Now!

The war on marijuana is a complete failure.

Billions of dollars are wasted every year. Police officers’ lives put at risk daily. Out-of-control Mexican drug cartels have ravaged our borders, killing thousands of people every year. It’s so bad, even Mexico’s President called for a debate on legalizing marijuana this week

Our government needs a reality check – it’s time to end the war on marijuana.

So we’re launching a massive campaign to fight for legalizing marijuana that we’re calling “Just Say Now.” With the support of the grassroots group Students for Sensible Drug Policy, we’ll organize thousands of people to support legalization at the ballot box.

To kick off our campaign, we’re bringing attention to the unjust, unpopular, and racist reality that is the war on marijuana. It’s a war that must end now.

Ask President Obama to help end the war on marijuana. Click here to sign our petition.

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/endthewaronmarijuana

We’re organizing our Just Say Now campaign to put a stop to the federal government’s war on marijuana. To do that, we’ll organize activists to identify and turn out supporters in states to vote for marijuana in the 2010 and 2012 elections.

This campaign will be a game-changer. Our partners at Students for Sensible Drug Policy have already organized 150 campuses and thousands of student activists. We’re poised to make a huge impact to legalize marijuana.

This November, California will vote to legalize marijuana, and 3 other states will vote on medical marijuana regulations. Thirteen states and DC have already legalized medical marijuana. Poll after poll shows huge majorities in states and the country support legalizing marijuana.

Despite this popular support, the federal government’s war on marijuana continues. Just last month, federal agents raided several completely legal medical marijuana farms and dispensaries.

Join us in calling on President Obama to help end this war. He should join the debate to legalize marijuana.

Click here to add your name to our petition to President Obama to end the war on marijuana:

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/endthewaronmarijuana

We’re excited to Just Say Now to legalizing marijuana. Thanks for all you do.

Best,

Jane Hamsher                        Aaron Houston
Founder, Firedoglake              Director, Students for Sensible Drug Policy

P.S. We have an online store with great items using our Just Say Now logo – t-shirts, stickers, buttons, and more. All proceeds will go towards our campaign to legalize marijuana. Check out our store!

http://firedoglake.com/justsaynow/store/