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Open Letter to the American People

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To the American People:

The midterm elections that just passed were not about political parties and partisan scorekeeping. They were about you: your families, your jobs, your economic security and your future.

The message that you sent to Washington is that you want Democrats, Republicans and Independents to work together to find the common ground needed for real solutions and real progress. Democrats agree. We understand the frustration felt by all Americans – especially our middle class. We heard you, loud and clear. We’re frustrated too and will continue to fight for what you demand and deserve.

Democrats will keep fighting to make sure that big banks, big oil, those who want to privatize Social Security and other powerful special interests are prevented from taking advantage of you. We also welcome every opportunity to work with our Republican colleagues as we know the challenges that lie ahead of us know no political affiliation.

And with Republicans securing more seats in both houses of Congress, it is imperative they take their responsibility to offer bipartisan solutions more seriously. Simply saying ‘no’ will do nothing to create more jobs and strengthen our economy.

You will hear many of the media pundits say this was a tough election for those on the ballot this year, but we know that is nothing compared to the fight that middle-class families are facing to stay in their homes, find good jobs and make ends meet.

The time for politics is now over. Democrats will spare no effort to get back to work immediately in order to restore the American Dream for you and your families.

Sincerely,

Harry Reid

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Recount Alert Updates: Good News



You never stopped fighting.

Your generosity and commitment helped us surpass our Voter Protection Efforts goal in time to get critical resources out to campaigns locked in too close-to-call races.

I’m pleased to report that two more seats were called for Democrats this week. Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia and Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington are returning to Congress because you stood with us to make sure every vote was counted fairly and accurately.

But, there are still eight Democrats in the fight of their lives in too close-to-call races. In the early morning hours of the day after the Election, we dispatched legal teams and staff and have been rushing resources to their aides. But, the truth is that this may be a continuing timely and costly process, and we can’t leave these Democrats when they need us the most. We must raise an additional $100,000 by this Monday to keep up the fight.

Please rush a contribution of $5, $10 or more to help our Voter Protection efforts to keep the fight going. Your dollars to help us reach our goal by Monday will keep our teams on the ground able to stand their ground and protect our vote.

With eight races still too close to call, every dollar you contribute to our Voter Protection efforts is helping ensure we keep up the fight. We need to send more Democrats to Congress to stand with Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats in our 2012 fight, and to stand in the way of Republican plans to dismantle health care reform and Social Security.

Thank you for standing with us,

Jon Vogel
DCCC Executive Director

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Just Posted On Bankrate: credit cards


Here are stories published today
CD rates for Nov. 11, 2010 | 2010-11-12
Here are the average CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts.
Credit card interest rates for Nov. 11, 2010 | 2010-11-12
Here are the average credit card rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts.
Auto loan rates for Nov. 11, 2010 | 2010-11-12
Here are the average auto loan rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts.
Home equity loan rates for Nov. 11, 2010 | 2010-11-12
Here are the average home equity rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts.
National mortgage rates for Nov. 11, 2010 | 2010-11-12
See rates from our survey of CDs, mortgages, home equity products, auto loans and credit cards.
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Bitter Cold Winter for Unemployed Workers


EMERGENCY PETITION
If Congress breaks for Thanksgiving without extending emergency unemployment benefits, every day of inaction will cause more of the 14.8 million people who are willing and able to work but can’t find a job to lose their lifeline—and possibly even their homes.

Sign the petition: Tell Congress to extend long-term unemployment insurance now.

 

Across the nation, jobs just aren’t there. Many workers are in the job search of their lives.

In October, 14.8 million people were unemployed. A shocking 41.8 percent of them were jobless for 27 weeks or longer.*

But get this: Some lawmakers—many of the same ones who want to pass tax cuts for people who make more than $250,000 per year—want to cut off emergency unemployment benefits.

Sign the petition: Tell Congress to extend emergency unemployment insurance now.

Congress is coming back next week, and we need our lawmakers to take dramatic action. Congress has never let unemployment benefits expire when this many people have been out of work—and if it happens, economists predict catastrophic results. More parents who can’t put food on the table. Families losing their homes…real estate values sinking further, faster….And devastation for local businesses as pockets are empty during the critical holiday shopping season.

Sign the petition: Tell Congress to extend unemployment insurance now.

This is serious. The number of people out of work for more than six months is the longest on record. The National Employment Law Project estimates that—if Congress fails to act soon—800,000 people nationally will immediately lose unemployment benefits in the coming weeks. Two million workers will lose their benefits by the end of December. And the longer Congress delays extending benefits after that, the worse things will get for people who are out of work.

Please sign our petition today: Tell Congress unemployed people aren’t invisible.

Time is running out for Congress to take action without causing massive pain—and even homelessness—for long-term job-seekers. Our society, and our government, must not ignore our friends, family and neighbors who are unemployed through no fault of their own. These people have kids to feed, heat to keep on and homes to keep out of foreclosure—and you and I could easily be in their shoes.

Sign the petition: Make sure Congress doesn’t look the other way.

Thanks for standing in solidarity with your unemployed friends, family members and neighbors.

Manny Herrmann
Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO

P.S. Next week, the same Congress that’s been in power for the past two years will be coming back for its “lame duck” session. But time is short. And an extension of unemployment faces an uphill battle in the Senate—Republicans may try to block extending unemployment so they can use it as political leverage.

Demand Congress take urgent action to renew emergency unemployment insurance now.

* “The Employment Situation – October 2010,” Bureau of Labor Statistics
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hell no!


 

Social Security cuts are coming for “virtually every American alive and those yet to be born.”1

And for what? Corporate tax cuts.2

Seriously: the co-chairs of President Obama’s deficit commission want to cut Social Security benefits for everyone making more than $25,000 a year. And then lower corporate taxes to just 26%.

Every member of this commission, every member of Congress, and President Obama himself must reject these insane ideas. We’re starting an emergency petition to President Obama and his Catfood Commission to take Social Security cuts off the table.

Sign our petition to President Obama and his Catfood Commission: hands off Social Security. Click here to add your name:

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

The proposed cuts to Social Security are so deep, for so many people. This is a direct attack on America’s middle class for the benefit of Corporate America.

These ideas are so awful, sixteen other members of the Catfood Commission didn’t want to touch it.3 Problem is, this is the “starting point” for discussions. This will be negotiated, and many of these awful ideas could be in the final proposal. We need to stop it now.

It’s bad enough to even think about cutting Social Security – but to do it to pay for corporate tax cuts? That’s insane.

This is President Obama’s commission, and he has the power to shut it down. The other commission members can put their feet down and say no to Social Security cuts. Let’s make them do it.

Say “Hell No” to Social Security cuts. Click here to sign the petition.

Thanks for all you do to protect Social Security.

Michael Whitney
Firedoglake.com

1. Statement of Eric Kingson, Co-chair, Strengthen Social Security Campaign. 11/10/10
2. “Fiscal Commission Recommendations: VA Co-Pays, Top Tax Rate 23%” David Dayen, Firedoglake. 11/10/10 http://fdl.me/9DQmLx
3. U.S. Debt Proposal Would Cut Social Security, Taxes, Medicare. Bloomberg News, 11/10/10 http://fdl.me/aaTRoL

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