Category Archives: ~ my 2cents …

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

TGIF &some News


just another rant …

The latest events or filibusters by Republicans in both Chambers of Congress have made me wonder  if or when will the Democratic Party push back or beat back the ideology that is taking over up on the Hill. I do think a line in the sand may have been drawn when our big 3 programs came under fire and while you can see vids of Republican leaders say they got 98% of what they wanted in the debt deal, it’s obvious they change Republicans want was worth pushing possibly over the cliff. To those people who hated the deal, remember they will have to defend it, which will be interesting, especially if forced to this debt deal give full disclosure. I have to say the Debt deal and the FAA debacle proved to be a moment when we saw the Democratic Party unite against the ideology of Republicans who want to take down the entire system, as we know it. The assault on the middleclass by the Republican members of Congress is obviously very offensive and will continue until we the people get out the vote and put Democrats back in control. So, when Congress gets back from their five-week break let’s hold Republicans accountable and demand that Democrats not only stand up more but do it as a united Political Party because it makes you want to jump in and say just exactly what they are thinking but too cautious to say.

 It’s time for the Democratic members of Congress the President and We the People to get on the same page and take back our Democracy.

The temporary Band-Aid that Congress has put on the debt, deficit as well as the things filibustered, or sitting on some table in a back room somewhere in the Senate will rear its ugly head again.  Republicans are planning to bring back the Paul Ryan Budget. It is and ideological plan that should open the eyes of most if not all Republican constituents, well maybe… hey, I definitely an optimist. We all were scared about Sarah Palin becoming one person closer to being President of the US of A and thank goodness, saner minds prevailed.  In a time when millions are unemployed, more layoffs coming and Corporate America is still outsourcing and holding middle class jobs hostage. The Republican Party continues to cut slash and burn American Workers in Republican controlled states. The party of No, which used to be just a conservative pro-life scary group, is now so extreme that the slogan “taking their country back”, is no longer code but an overt statement from Republican Tea Party members. Obviously, it is about not wanting “his kind” in the White House or as other as Sarah Palin and cohorts have spewed on various occasions.  I don’t know about you but the BS about President Obama being too “other” from anyone outside of Congress is offensive but when those who took an oath to serve and protect the lives of all Americans not a select few or those who you signed that Grover Norquist pledge admit to putting ideology and pledges before the People.

 

We are all Freedom Fighters on some level every day

 

CSPAN …

U.S. Economy

117,000 Total Jobs Created in July: Unemployment Down to 9.1%

154,000 private sector jobs created

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Congress Agrees to Short-Term FAA Authorization

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Defense Department Faces Budget Cuts

Panetta worried about debt ceiling agreement

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Bachmann bashes Whoopi back in new fundraising letter

Bachmann Stands By Marriage Pledge That Links Slavery to Black
Romney, Bachmann, Santorum Vow to Defend Marriage

 

Reich ’68 critiques US debt deal

Senate Passes FAA Funding Measure to End Impasse, Furloughs

NATO airstrike kills Gadhafi’s son: rebels

Factors behind the market sell-off

whiney Wednesday & some News


The featured photo is from an article or event by the NMAAHC.

The Faces of My People
Margaret Burroughs (b. 1917)
Woodcut on paper

 it’s just another rant …

 About six days ago, an article popped up about slavery and while the topic is definitely, a sensitive one I do like to read what has happened because of the word itself has a history of pain misery and sadness. I have been hearing a lot about human trafficking, which is what I expected until I read the entire headline and went from interested to pretty pissed off in a matter of seconds. I don’t know about you but we don’t use the word slavery or slaves lightly where I come from.

According to wiki, yes wiki. I use them because i need the writer to read the formal use of the word in all its ugliness… Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property and are forced to work.[1] Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase, or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation. Conditions that can be considered slavery include debt bondage, indentured servitude, serfdom, domestic servants kept in captivity, adoption in which children are effectively forced to work as slaves, child soldiers, and forced marriage.[2]

Slavery predates written records, has existed in many cultures.[3] The number of slaves today is higher than at any point in history,[4] remaining as high as 12 million[5] to 27 million,[6][7][8] though this is probably the smallest proportion of the world’s population in history.[9] Most are debt slaves, largely in South Asia, who are under debt bondage incurred by lenders, sometimes even for generations.[10] Human trafficking is primarily for prostituting women and children into sex industries.[11]

I responded to “the article” because many of us have ancestors who have experienced the institution of slavery in its formal definition and while the headline probably grabbed the attention of many I say shame on you for using the word so loosely so disrespectfully or remorse. There is absolutely no acceptable way of using the word “slave” when defining inmates of a prison. I will repeat wiki but it will be in my words because words matter and not only do they matter they have impact especially when the word is very specific to a person or group of people. The use of the word “slave” has a long awful history behind it and if i have tell you what it meant back in 1800’s then you need to do more research or stop writing about or using the word to gain more readers. I ask the writer, were these prisoners” “slaves” as you call them taken from their countries, homes, raped, branded just because, compromised or that families were split because the owner ordered a human being “slave” to be sold. I just do not believe or accept your article calling or using prisoners to do stoop work free can be considered slaves. I cannot begin to tell the writer just how disappointing it is to read such a nonchalant use of the word let alone the definition of the word which was taken way out context or a gimmick to gain readers not to mention a lack of true journalism forget about professionalism.  I have to ask the writer, maybe ask the people who are nice enough to read this blog how anyone could in with good conscious acquaint slave labour to that of labour from prisoners.  So, by all accounts prisoners are called prisoners because they commit a crime of some sort then tried and convicted for said crime and taken to jail or “prison” because they were bad to someone or something. I guess  you might dispute this but the fact is people of colour were victims of slavery  in the 1800’s and what ensued after being imprisoned was through no fault of people considered chattel or 3/5 of a person. That is undeniable fact not fiction and the way in which the writer used the term “slavery” is disrespectful to the people who lived it. Today, we have a more modern equivalent r of “slavery” … human trafficking. 

 The info below is from wiki is about the new modern lives of slavery …

There are more slaves today than at any point in history,[4] remaining as high as 12 million[5] to 27 million,[6][7][8] even though slavery is now outlawed in all countries.[7][133] Several estimates of the number of slaves in the world have been provided. According to a broad definition of slavery used by Kevin Bales of Free the Slaves (FTS), an advocacy group linked with Anti-Slavery International, there were 27 million people in slavery in 1999, spread all over the world.[134] In 2005, the International Labour Organization provided an estimate of 12.3 million forced labourers in the world,.[135] Thanks to the ILO Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour (SAP-FL), the work of the ILO has been spearheaded in this field since early 2002. The Programme has successfully raised global awareness and understanding of modern forced labour; assisted governments to develop and implement new laws, policies and action plans; developed and disseminated guidance and training materials on key aspects of forced labour and human trafficking; implemented innovative programmes which combine policy development, capacity building of law enforcement and labour market institutions, and targeted, field-based projects of direct support for both prevention of forced labour and identification and rehabilitation of its victims. Siddharth Kara has also provided an estimate of 28.4 million slaves at the end of 2006 divided into the following three categories: bonded labour/debt bondage (18.1 million), forced labour (7.6 million), and trafficked slaves (2.7 million).[136] Kara provides a dynamic model to calculate the number of slaves in the world each year, with an estimated 29.2 million at the end of 2009.

Words Matter …  I cannot stress how important it is to do research before using red button topics, words, phrases, or photos and suffice it to say the use of slavery for this story is just wrong.

Slavery is a crime but it is one against humanity …shame on you

Other News …

Tropical Storm Emily on path toward Haiti

Business Insider

A famine in Somalia, and a chronic political failure on humanitarian aid

FAA Shutdown to Continue as Congress Leaves

Syria Storms Center of Rebellious City

Secret Service captures second White House intruder in 48 hours

$150 million in promised upgrades at former Stevens Hospital begin

 CSPAN …

Debt Ceiling Agreement Goes Into Effect

President & Congress avoid default with last-minute deal

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Relief Efforts in the Horn of Africa Face Obstacles

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Hearings on Housing Finance System & Debt Financing

Drought and Famine in the Horn of Africa

Anti-Government Protests in Syria

Sunday mishmash &some News


just another rant

As Americans and the World watches Congress battle on national TV, ‘the media” seems to be putting a face on who we need to blame for the apparent Congressional rift. I am a democrat yet the face of blame from radio and TV seems far to right of center for my taste. I watch, listen and take all the rhetoric in but as always question the source, sort out fact from fiction, remember what has been happening over the last 24months and ultimately decide for myself… but then that’s just me. The fact is raising the Debt Ceiling is the job of Congress yet Congress and some of our fellow Americans have decided to dump that responsibility on President Obama … unfair. I support President Obama and I still believe he will have to invoke the 14th Amendment but only because our inept folks in Congress which have managed to do less and less since the midterm elections have all but thrown up their hands to defer our default and demise to the President. I know folks think it would be a great win for him, a strong choice and yes, i thought so too, only problem is our credit rating will be downgraded thus raising interest rates on everyone

For years, Congress has managed to raise the debt ceiling without much afterthought. However, after the midterm elections it was clear JOBs were not important to Republicans or their extreme group called the tea party. Republicans on the State& Federal level saw this as moment to force their beliefs and make changes to the way Americans live their lives and yes undermine the President of the US. I get the impression that the agenda to ruin the first Black President of the US of A started the night of his win.  This has been a rough journey for our President and if he had a worthy Congress our move toward the 21st Century would be big bold and progressive. We cannot ignore how malicious how far the Republican Party has gone to block progress and even so, our President keeps trying with the grand deal as another example.  I feel both parties saw this as a moment to create change the other wanted to block it. The President saw the future in a grand deal while Republicans decided to use the debt ceiling & deficit as a tool, lest we even think about the reasons they want to amend our constitution.  I do not know what will happen on Aug.2nd and maybe the debt ceiling will be raised maybe not.  I do wonder if the world will see us the same and will our credit rating decline anyway or will a deal be made only to find that all future bills with revenue included be filibustered and will Congress continue to act so irresponsible. The thing i really fear is if this is just the beginning of an all-out assault to bring President down by any means necessary with the default being one of many signs along this long road to Election 2012.

Other News

Education takes a beating nationwide

Jets reach agreement in principle with Burress

McConnell: Debt Deal Close Without Tax Hikes

Berlin threatens new sanctions against Syrian regime

Verdict for 2 Americans in Iran within a week

Misrata rebel forces seize arms after routing pro-Gaddafi troops

Space enthusiast mourns Apollo, not shuttle

CSPAN

Debt Ceiling Debate

Senate Back for More Debate on Reid Debt Plan

Still no agreement between White House, Democrats, Republicans

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GOP Presidential Hopefuls Bachmann & McCotter on C-SPAN

Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at Western Conservative Summit

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Charleston, SC Featured on Book TV and AHTV

hump day …&some News


 just another rant …

Americans are so used to hearing and accepting the status quo. The notion of a President actually working for the People is not only a novel idea, portrayed as something too scary to consider or accept as a reality. This thing called Shared Sacrifice has been making most on the right not only nervous but they are baring their ugliness with comments of how America is supposed to work, which usually means the privileged are in charge while anyone just below better pull up those boot straps. While those on the bottom better, work harder while the middle class if Republicans gain control will need to accept minimum wage jobs or risk having nothing, if you listen to the right wing nutty noise. It is beyond me to believe that health care for all is a bad thing, rescuing the American Auto-Industry was a bad idea, or implementing reasonable regulations on Banks and Wall Street is bad. Unfortunately, considering what happened 2yrs ago the current comments coming from Republicans, their benefactors or the Business Community are definitely outrageous and unacceptable . Yet, there is a group of people who truly believe that regulating banks, wall street or the amount of pollution cars or trucks put out is a bad thing or invades freedom and just another example of big government. The answer to why Americans have not moved into the 21st Century, in my opinion is because of those bets made probably are still in full effect. The players might be quiet but as rumored even Republican members of Congress have investments that will do even better if the US status tanks, that is a rumor no real information has come out but hey if reporters would just ask we might all find out. We all have to know that at some point if the Private Sector cannot or will not fix these problems or move Americans toward the 21st Century, the Government has too. I come from a family of asthmatics and during the days of earth day, green for all … no President treated it as a viable issue to deal with like President Obama. Americans have been faced with issues of climate change and the effects of pollution for decades, have been avoided by many previous President’s or were unable to move Congress to making real efforts to do right by the people. However, President Obama has tried since taking office to move Congress into moving this country not only into the 21st Century but has reached out to other countries in a real effort to make peace not war like reducing nukes, implementing immigration reform, better education, more jobs, healthcare and insurance reform that covers and helps everyone not a select few.

Yes, the difference between the Democratic and Republican Party is not only wide but also becoming more clear everyday but just so you know it’s in writing and documented look below.  There is no required pledge to sign offered or forced by a private citizen, no so-called Pledge to America done in a matter of days … what you read below is what the Democratic Party is and has been all about for years. 

www.democrats.org/about/our_party

Who We Are

Our Party
Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. -- President John F. Kennedy

For more than 200 years, Democrats have represented the interests of working families, fighting for equal opportunities and justice for all Americans.

 

Our party was founded on the conviction that wealth and privilege shouldn’t be an entitlement to rule and the belief that the values of hardworking families are the values that should guide us.

We didn’t become the most prosperous country in the world by rewarding greed and recklessness or by letting those with the most influence write their own rules. We got here by rewarding hard work and responsibility, by investing in people, and by growing our country from the bottom up.

Today Democrats are fighting to repair a decade of damage and grow an economy based on the values of Main Street, not greed and reckless speculation. Democrats are focused on rescuing our economy not just in the short run but also rebuilding our economy for the long run—an economy that lifts up not just some Americans, but all Americans.

Other News …

Recommended: First Thoughts: Boehner’s boxed in

Abbas urges Palestinian protest to support UN bid

Q. and A. on the Debt Ceiling

Amy Winehouse’s Music Sales Spike

Casey Anthony judge blasts media, holds back juror names

Britain to expel Gaddafi diplomats

Scientists See ‘Hint’ of Higgs-Boson ‘God Particle’

CSPAN

Fate of Boehner, Reid Debt Limit Plans Unclear

Boehner rewriting plan, Reid plan saves $2.2 trillion says CBO

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Leading CEOs Testify on Tax-Code Rewrite

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Credit Rating Agencies Get Congressional Review

S&P, Moody’s officials to testify on U.S. credit rating & debt ceiling