wily Wednesday… &some News


Just another rant

 Summer is starting to give us all the signs of being over

 However, we in the Democratic Party have to help President Obama give Teapublicans the boot in 2012. I want the Democratic Party to stop the madness and instead of beating up on each other Democratic members of Congress and the President need to get on the same page, do the Peoples Business, and make sure those viewers know that Teapublicans have done nothing but filibuster both Chambers of Congress. In addition, unless you have been living under a rock the President’s efforts to move the Country into the 21st Century, a better standing, status and an employment number much lower than we have currently still blocked by the Teapublicans. We must not ever forget that Rep. McConnell said that his job is to make President Obama a One Term President, which is also what Bachmann, is pushing when she gets media attention. While it is obvious, the Media has made their focus on the extreme right. We all know controversy is good for ratings but we the people must make sure that “the media” fact checks the extremist Presidential candidates who seem to be throwing out lies, misinformation, and BS about the first Black President. The media continually points out the disrespectful comments President Obama has experienced while Teapublicans seem to take respect for granted or expect it as if they are privileged.  I admit there are quite a few extremely right leaning politicians from the Teapublican Party running for office in various states all over the country and there is a slight possibility of at least one woman, specifically Michelle Bachmann becoming the Republican Presidential Nomination with another extreme rightie named Sarah Palin. This is not the year of the Woman but not one of these two ladies … candidates truly represents women in their best light. The fact is most women in the Republican Party are against the right to choose, and unfortunately, Bachmann thinks submitting to her husband means having respect for him, which, if I hear her correctly would be how she would be if President; well the definition of submission is as follows and like we all know Words matter right. So, read what Merrian-Webster.com says Submission means …

The Origin of SUBMISSION

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin submission-, submissio act of lowering, from submittere

First Known Use: 14th century

Most if not all conservative evangelical, Christians like Bachmann and Palin are against gays and some feel women in the Military is definitely a no no. To say these ideals are against family is to say i have a nose on my face. They are women who live different lives than the rest of us and if i am hearing them right they intend to push their personal ideologies on Americans and will try legislate them as well.   I certainly cannot image having these kinds of people in Congress let alone vying for the position of President. We must all GOTV in 2012 against a group of social conservatives that obviously are not our parent’s conservatives who may not share the Democratic view but were able to come together to solve our countries problems as Americans. The Teapublicans have taken risks since the midterm elections and are now setting their sights on the Whitehouse. Again, ruling by religion is a big problem for me because I see religion as a personal thing, which I would never force push or demand others practice. We have freedom of religion but what Bachmann, Palin, Perry maybe others seem to be pushing is just wrong, it is offensive, and dare i say against the whole separation of church and state… right? As right leaning Teapublicans try to out extreme, each other we all need to be aware of their lack of real substance, solutions or plans that would be good for ALL Americans.  Though I am no expert when it comes to individual rights, it is apparent that folks on the right feel Americans get too many entitlements like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and intend to take some if not all of my individual rights as a person of colour. The behavior from these so-called women on the right have embarrassed me as a woman in general on so many levels and continue to as they open up their mouths to say things that have moved from nasty sarcasm to what I consider extreme ideology to seemingly overt racism. The notion that any public figure or anyone who wants to call themselves a Public Servant and or Representative of the People should be speaking and representing one nation under god, not just a select few which if you listen closely, representing a “select few” is all I get from the conservative extreme right like Bachman, Palin and Perry.  The Teapublicans like Bachmann and Perry want Americans to accept a new way of life, which they call limited government. Unfortunately, that means and includes a ban on women’s rights, people cannot love or marry whom they want, people of colour and Muslims should not be trusted, religion and state are inseparable though our founding fathers were against it and yes, Teapublicans are against most of what our forefathers put on paper.

 I don’t know about you but the new deal sounds like the end of The only Pledge that should matter to all Americans … the Pledge of Allegiance.

News …

Hingham veterans want Pledge of Allegiance recited at town meetings

Verizon strike … Jess Kutch, Change.org


Verizon made billions in profits in just the last four years — but right now, the telecom giant is demanding $1 billion from its own workers in pay and benefit cuts.

Worse, rather than negotiate fairly with their employees, Verizon representatives cut off all negotiations and are refusing to talk.

So more than 45,000 Verizon workers went on strike demanding that Verizon stop its attack on the middle class. If Verizon sees the public and its customers behind the striking workers, the company can be forced back into good faith negotiations.

 Sign the Change.org petition by the Communications Workers of America asking Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam to restart negotiations and stop Verizon’s attack on the middle class.>>   http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-verizon-stop-attacking-the-middle-class?

If $1 billion in cuts is hard to grasp, consider this: Verizon is demanding each of its employees forfeit $20,000 in wages and benefits every year.

Verizon’s executives aren’t forced into outrageous cuts with their workers. In the last four years, Verizon’s top five executives were paid more than a quarter-billion dollars.

While Verizon makes record profits, its workers shouldn’t be made to suffer. Let Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam know you stand with workers against the company’s refusal to bargain. Click here to add your name to the workers’ petition on Change.org:

www.change.org

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Jess and the Change.org team

URGENT: Anti-LGBT McCarthyis​m? … Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign


We’ve come to expect GOP candidates to call for a hateful constitutional amendment banning marriage equality. But we never expected them to support forming a commission to investigate pro-equality advocates like you and me.

I’m not making this up. Several of the GOP presidential candidates have now signed a pledge to appoint “a commission to investigate harassment” of anti-LGBT activists. It’s part of a years-long effort by right-wing groups to protect their mega donors from being held accountable for their hateful views – and it’s picking up speed. Fast.

This witch hunt commission would usher in a despicable era of anti-equality McCarthyism – and it’s a sign of just how radical the right has become. We’re fighting their hate with a grassroots campaign targeting anti-LGBT rhetoric, a media operation to debunk their lies, and a red-state bus tour to promote equality across the nation. But we need 874 more new members to reach our goal of 2,000 by Wednesday if we’re going to pull it off.

 www.hrc.org

Every day, our groundbreaking work in schools and churches advances tolerance and acceptance. Our “Call it Out” campaign is targeting anti-LGBT hatred in local communities across the nation, and all eyes are on Maryland as the next target for marriage equality. We’re battling anti-gay attacks from right-wing zealots and politicians alike, and walking the corridors of Capitol Hill to push for a repeal of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.

But at a moment like this, we need to go big. That’s where our bus tour comes in – and where you can make all the difference.

We started this multi-city tour in the backyard of the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City and we’re continuing onward to other red states throughout the Midwest and South where it’s often tough for LGBT Americans to live openly. We’re going state by state to deliver our message loud and clear: There is no community where intolerance is welcome. There is no slur we won’t call out.

And – most importantly – there is no chance we’ll let a hateful fringe tear down all that we’ve accomplished together in the last years, especially in New York where marriage equality is already under attack.

 we can’t afford to cede an inch. But only the support of thousands of straight allies – at a pivotal moment like this – will give us the strength to drive this movement forward.

 www.hrc.org

As we’ve learned time and again – from hate crimes legislation to DADT repeal to New York marriage equality – if we keep standing together, we’ll get to our destination sooner than we think.

Let’s go big,
Joe Solmonese
President

Re: Forced confession​s and wrongful conviction​s must end


Recent DNA testing has proven the innocence of 10 Black men who were were only children when they were forced by Illinois police to confess to murders they didn’t commit.

Some of them have been imprisoned for nearly 20 years, but despite the overwhelming evidence, which has even linked the crimes to the real killers, the state of Illinois refuses to recognize their innocence.

If enough of us speak out, we can expose these injustices and force the state of Illinois to do right by these men. Please join us in demanding that State Attorney Anita Alvarez immediately agree to overturn their convictions. It takes just a moment:

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/933?akid=2117.1174326.QFte7W&t=6

The Dixmoor Five

In the first case, which occurred in October 1992, five Black teenagers, later called the Dixmoor Five, were arrested in Cook County, IL for the sexual assault and murder of 14-year-old Cateresa Matthews. Three of the five boys confessed to the crime in exchange for lighter sentences and testified against the others. They’ve since recanted their testimony, with one man claiming that he was tricked into signing a confession by local police.1

A few months ago, DNA samples taken from the victim were tested using modern techniques. The DNA didn’t belong to any of the men accused of her rape and murder — instead it was linked to a convicted rapist and armed robber who was 32 years old at the time.2

In the face of this overwhelming evidence, the State’s Attorney’s office stubbornly downplayed the significance of the DNA evidence and opposed the release of the men.

The Englewood Five

Two-and-a-half years later, five more Black Cook County teenagers, known as the Englewood Five, were taken into custody for the sexual assault and murder of a 30-year-old woman named Nina Glover. In this case, five juvenile confessions resulted in the convictions of four teenagers (aged 14-18 at the time). While one teenager wasn’t convicted, the other four received lengthy prison sentences. Recently, DNA extracted from the victim was matched to a now deceased serial rapist and murderer — a man who has a history of preying on women and strangling them.3

The State has argued that any DNA match in this case would be inconclusive due to the lifestyle of the victim, who was known to engage in prostitution. However, the semen found in the strangled body of Ms. Glover is from a man that the Cook County State’s Attorney‘s office has long believed was responsible for two strangulation-murders of prostitutes and violent assaults of at least five others.4

The Common Thread

The thread that connects both these cases? The teenagers were incarcerated as a result of confessions we now know were forced by police. Eight of the 10 teenagers confessed to police during intense and coercive interrogations, and six of the now grown men are still in custody.

Coerced confessions play a part in almost a quarter of all wrongful convictions nationwide.5 Even the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that teenagers are particularly susceptible to falsely incriminating themselves during questioning from police and should not be subjected to harsh interrogation tactics.6

Coercive interrogation practices must come to an end. Ensuring the release of these men wouldn’t just help correct a gross injustice — it would send a message to law enforcement that they can’t get away with forcing teenagers to confess to crimes they didn’t commit, and that this practice compromises the entire public’s safety.

Please join us in demanding that Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez agree to vacate the convictions of these young Black men, and when you do, ask your friends and family to do the same:

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/933?akid=2117.1174326.QFte7W&t=8

Thanks and Peace,

— Rashad, James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Matt, Natasha and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
    August 16th, 2011

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU–your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/205?akid=2117.1174326.QFte7W&t=10

References:

1. “DNA evidence links man to 1991 murder, may clear 5 convicted in case,” Chicago Tibune, 04-15-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/929?akid=2117.1174326.QFte7W&t=12

2. “State’s response to petition for relief from judgement,” Circuit Court of Cook County, 04-29-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/931?akid=2117.1174326.QFte7W&t=14

3. “Man convicted in 1994 rape, murder pins hopes on advanced DNA test,” Chicago Tribune, 03-25-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/930?akid=2117.1174326.QFte7W&t=16

4. “State’s motion to dismiss request for post-conviction DNA testing,” Circuit Court of Cook County, 01-19-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/932?akid=2117.1174326.QFte7W&t=18

5. “Understand the Causes,” Innocence Project
 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/934?akid=2117.1174326.QFte7W&t=20

6. “Supreme Court case J.D.B. v. North Carolina,” Supreme Court opinion, October, 2010
“http://act.colorofchange.org/go/928?akid=2117.1174326.QFte7W&t=22

pro forma Sessions … until 9/2/2011


The Senate will meet on the following dates and times for pro-forma sessions only with no business conducted:

– Friday, August 5th at 10:00am,

– Tuesday, August 9th at 11:00am,

– Friday, August 12th at 12:00pm,

– Tuesday, August 16th at 11:00am,

– Friday, August 19th at 10:00am,

– Tuesday, August 23rd at 2:30pm,

– Friday, August 26th at 11:15am,

– Tuesday, August 30th at 10:00am,

– Friday, September 2nd at 10:00am;

When the Senate convenes at 10:00am on Friday, September 2nd, it will adjourn until 2:00pm on September 6, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will be in Executive Session to consider Calendar #109, Bernice Bouie Donald, of Tennessee, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 6th Circuit with 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley.

The next roll call votes will be at 5:30pm on Tuesday, September 6th. The first roll call vote will be on confirmation of the Donald nomination. The 2nd will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R.1249, the Patent Reform bill

~~~~~~~~~~~~

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF AUGUST 16, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

11:34 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of H.Res. 375. The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on August 19, 2011.

11:33 A.M. – The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of the continuance of the national emergency with respect to the lapse of the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended. – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-49).

NOT DISPENSING WITH LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS – Pursuant to section 4 of H.Res. 375, the Chair announced that legislative business would not be dispensed with on this day.

11:32 A.M. – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.JOURNAL APPROVED – The Chair announced that pursuant to section 5 of H.Res. 375, the Journal of the last days’s proceedings was approved.

11:30 A.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Susan Kirlin-Hackett, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Lake Stevens, WashingtonThe Speaker designated the Honorable Jim Jordan to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.