Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

thorny Thursday &some News


It is a day to take a deep breath and slowly let it out … and repeat if needed.

Tell cable heads to stop saying that Polls matter – they are subjective vehicles that none of us with brains takes too seriously —take that Msnbc and Cnn- people are smarter than this and if there are questions about why our President poll numbers are so low -how about telling your representative to help the President achieve what he campaigned on instead of looking out for their own skins… our President can lead Congress to the well or list of things that need to be reformed on his agenda but Congress has to have the courage to do what’s right, so far CONGRESS has been the let down, not our President.  The low numbers are from progressives who are willing to throw someone under the bus when things get tough instead of getting strong tough and making those calls to the various members of Congress to let them know we support the President …it’s time you did as well.  Congress is the place where the laws are made people not the President -he has set out his agenda but Republicans have continued to block him; this will continue to happen unless Republican constituents finally see where Republicans stand and it ain’t with the people. Ask yourself why a Politician would bet against the failure of a Democratic Party who is doing the peoples business for an agenda that supports big Banks, Wall Street, most if not all Republicans truly feel BP got the raw deal and that they support BP and not the people of the Gulf Coast.  It is a sad state of affairs to know any Republican would say that the spill should be paid by the taxpayers, that this was a Chicago style shake down, ask the families of the 11 men who died, ask all those people who made their living from the beauty and land of the Gulf Coast.  I have to say 1st nations people and those who kept the land in a pristine state before oil rigs, big tourism and hotels would be  greatly disappointed that this is what progress looks like to the people here today.

The other things that upset me about Republicans? Is that Republicans are hawks, we see them  giving President Obama the thumbs up when it comes to fighting Wars and spending money somewhere else instead of on the people in their own country. I am not into fighting any War. I do understand why he is in that area and though it might seem like a move that most folks on the left disagree with they must remember Obama did not start the Afghanistan or the Iraq Wars he does feel the right War was Afghanistan and has pursued it. Only time will tell and possibly We the People will need to march against any Wars in a time when money any money should be spent here in the States. The War is not an issue any President should take lightly, though it might seem the last one did. This President’s decision to pursue War or continue the Afghan assault was not decided on a whim, and the public should understand, have patience, and put themselves in the President’s shoes regarding any decision to put the lives of our  men and women in jeopardy. It was something the house of Bush decided quickly and set out on 2Wars and left no real window to leave especially after 9/11, not to mention those imprisoned at Gitmo finding their way back home only to join terrorist groups against Americans.

It is a time to stand with the President not run and or vote to give the President a message – We all need to call our representatives in Congress because they are the ones who create and pass laws people. The President can lead them to the agenda that 53% of us voted for but if they have their own these things will not get done. I have to wonder if people really understand what the process is because to be honest people say the President should use his executive order and do something and maybe he will have to when it comes to the jobs bill but it could be repealed in the future and that is the down side.

If Congress, specifically Republicans would realize that it’s time get our system back on track instead of stalling blocking and hoping the public will become so disheartened they will opt to have Republicans take over.

As Americans we must see through what Republicans have in store for us and vote against the corporatist that they are and call our representatives to make a hard left away from Wall Street and reform all things that have cripple this economy

Other News …

**the judge who overturned the administrations request for a stay for a 6 month moratorium has stated he will not delay his ruling

**a man has been stopped with weapons/tools and a chainsaw in his car near the location of the G20 meeting

watch Conferees: Part 1 watch Conferees: Part 2 House/Senate Cmte

watch Hearing on U.S.-China Relationship

watch Hearing on MedPAC

watch Hearing on MMS Reorganization

C-SPAN …

Congress focuses on IRAQ as President replaces U.S. commander in Afghanistan

The Senate Armed Services Committee is considering two military nominations regarding the leadership of U.S. troops. General Ray Odierno, who currently serves as the Commanding General of the U.S. Forces – Iraq, has been selected to lead the U.S. Joint Forces Command. Lieutenant-General Lloyd Austin has been tapped to replace Gen. Odierno as the top U.S. Iraq commander. Yesterday, President Obama accepted the resignation of the top Afghanistan war general Gen. Stanley McChrystal over critical remarks he made in Rolling Stone magazine. The President has picked Gen. David Petraeus as his replacement. His confirmation hearing is expected to take place early next week.

Economy, iran two issues to be addresed in Obama-Medvedev meeting

Leading into this weekend’s G-8 and G-20 economic summits, President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hold a bilateral meeting today on U.S.-Russian relations. The two leaders are likely to discuss policy toward Iran and global financial issues. After their meeting, they will hold a joint news conference followed by an address at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to U.S. and Russian business leaders.

watch News Conf.: c-span.org at 1:45pm ET    watch U.S. Chamber: c-span.org at 3:05pm ET
read LA Times: DC prepares for Russian president

Conferees to Wrap up Financial regulations legislation

The 43-member House and Senate Conference Committee moves into its final day of deliberations on financial regulation legislation. Members plan to wrap-up the two chambers’ different versions of the regulatory overhaul bill, including work on derivatives, which is one of the biggest components. They’re also expected to have more debate on the Volcker Rule, a proposed ban on some speculative trading by banks with federally insured deposits.

During the meeting yesterday, Conference Chairman Frank (D-MA) told members they would finish work on the bill by the end of the week, even if they had to stay late into the night. The committee hopes to have a bill approved by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by President Obama by July 4th

BP Alaska: A Ticking Time Bomb? (via Anderson Cooper 360)


Randi Kaye | BIO AC360° Correspondent Program Note: See Randi Kaye’s full report tonight on AC360° at 10pm ET. “Where do I begin?” That’s what I asked myself this week as I found myself sitting in my office at CNN in New York City with a mountain of documents in front of me. Hundreds of documents that were given to us from a BP Alaska employee named Marc Kovac. It was up to my producer, Susan Chun, and me to make sense of it all. Kovac has been w … Read More

via Anderson Cooper 360

Support Gulf Communities, demand Justice from Big Oil Companies


Donate to support Ecuadorean leaders’ trip to the Gulf
Donate Photo by Win McNamee/Getty
Donate
Donate
Toxic oil pit in Ecuador/ Photo by Lou Demattei

How many times will we let BP and Big Oil destroy our communities?

Next week, RAN along with four Ecuadorean community leaders, Emergildo, Humberto, Mariana and Luis, who have been fighting Big Oil’s toxic legacy for decades in the Amazon Rainforest, hope to travel to the Gulf Coast to stand with local communities who are feeling the impact of our country’s oil addiction firsthand.

This is an incredible act of solidarity that you can make happen. Now is the time to show that BP’s disaster is not an exception, but the rule for a dirty and dangerous industry.

Please donate now to help Ecuadorean leaders travel to the Gulf Coast to stand with communties impacted by BP’s oil disaster.

Whether it’s BP’s ruin of the Gulf, Chevron’s “Amazon Chernobyl” or Exxon’s deadly spill in Alaska, one thing is crystal clear: we must end our addiction to oil and herald in a clean energy future.

Emergildo, Humberto, Mariana and Luis know all too well Big Oil’s legacy of denying, delaying and litigating away responsibility for its reckless behavior. They have been fighting a decades-long legal battle to get Chevron to pay for the 18 billion gallons of highly toxic waste that was dumped into their water.

Next week, with your help, they will share their stories and survival strategies with communities in the Gulf, who, tragically, need support to protect their health, culture and livelihoods.

Your support can help oil-impacted communities from around the world build a movement strong enough to hold companies like BP and Chevron accountable.

From coast to coast and country to country, frontline communities have borne the brunt of Big Oil’s destruction and our country’s addiction to oil. But these communities are also where the movement to demand freedom from oil begins.

We have all seen how the hottest front-page story can fade from political view before companies make good on their promises or politicians make their rhetorical commitments into reality. This delegation is a critical step in building a movement strong enough to hold Big Oil and our politicians accountable even when the TV cameras turn off.

Support frontline communities in coming together to challenge corporate power and Big Oil’s business as usual.

It is our job to make sure that when we look back years from now on the summer of 2010, this horrific disaster will be remembered as a breakthrough moment in the transition to a clean energy future, and not just another deadly symptom of our addiction to oil.

Our job starts today!

For a better world,

Rebecca Tarbotton
Acting Executive Director

It feels good to win


Last night, we won again. DFA-List endorsed candidate Elaine Marshall won the Democratic primary runoff in North Carolina with 60% of the vote. That’s not the only good news. Everyone from The Hill newspaper in DC to Talking Points Memo are giving you the credit and Washington insiders are getting the message. Here’s just a sample:

From The Nation:

Progressive Challenger Defeats Washington Establishment in North Carolina

The progressive groups who unsuccessfully backed Bill Halter over Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas’ Democratic Senate runoff on June 8 scored a victory tonight when Elaine Marshall defeated Cal Cunningham in North Carolina’s Democratic Senate primary.

From USA Today:

She defeated a candidate who was handpicked by national Democratic Party leaders. Backed by liberal groups MoveOn-org and Democracy for America, (Elaine) campaigned as a liberal insurgent against Cal Cunningham.

Together with DFA-List candidate Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania, we’re showing Washington insiders we don’t support just any Democrat — we support better Democrats. Now, it’s up to us to make sure she beats Republican Senator Richard Burr in November.

CONTRIBUTE $5 OR MORE TO ELAINE MARSHALL RIGHT NOW

You don’t have to look far to see corporate interests’ fingerprints all over Richard Burr’s campaign. In his reelection kick-off he stood up for Big Insurance and called for the repeal of President Obama’s healthcare bill.

After the oil disaster in the Gulf he stood up for Big Oil and actually called for less restrictions on offshore oil drilling. Now, he’s standing up for Wall Street as Congress debates reform while funding his campaign with over $1 million in Wall Street special interest money.

Wall St. and Big Oil don’t own Elaine Marshall. The people do. She’s working to represent the people of North Carolina and working Americans everywhere, not Goldman Sachs or BP.

But after months of hard campaigning to win the primary and run-off elections, Elaine needs financial support to rebuild her war chest and beat Senator Burr in November.

SEND BURR PACKING — CONTRIBUTE TODAY FOR PROGRESSIVE VICTORY IN NOVEMBER

DFA members told us to take back the U.S. Senate from corporate interests by supporting progressive candidates who will win. Contribute right now to make it happen.

Thank you for everything you do,

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America

BP is burning endangered sea turtles alive


Help us save sea turtles.
Take action!
Clicking here will add your name to this petition:

BP: Stop blocking the rescue of endangered sea turtles before you burn them alive in your “controlled burns.”

Click to sign.

Click here to add your name

Hi
I just signed a petition telling BP to stop burning endangered sea turtles alive. To learn more and take action, click on the link below.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/bp_endangered_turtles/?r_by=9715-2591629-F6h2I2x&rc=confemail

News has just emerged from the Gulf Coast that BP is burning endangered sea turtles alive.

A boat captain who has been leading efforts to rescue the endangered turtles says BP has blocked his crews from entering the areas where the animals are trapped, effectively shutting down the rescue operation.

BP is using “controlled burns” to contain the oil spill. Shrimp boats create a corral of oil by dragging together fire-resistant booms and then lighting the enclosed “burn box” on fire. If turtles are not removed from the area before the fire is lit, they are literally burned alive.