~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

28 & Nominees after 3yrs -another reason to vote out Rs

11/22/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 11:00am on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 for a pro forma session only, with no business conducted and at 10:30am on Friday, November 25, 2011 for a pro forma session, with no business conducted.

The Senate will convene at 1:00pm on Monday, November 28, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1867, the Department of Defense Authorization Act.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #270, the nomination of Christopher Droney, of Connecticut, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit with 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Droney nomination.

Additional roll call votes in relation to amendments to the DoD Authorization act are possible Monday evening.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF NOVEMBER 25, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

en-usPursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:45:03 ESTYes1:05:40 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on November 29, 2011.1:04:53 P.M. -The House received a communication from Toinetta Bridgeforth, Contract Specialist, Office of the Chi ef Administrative Officer. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Ms. Bridgeforth notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena issued by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for testimony in a civil case and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, she determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.1:04:52 P.M. -The House received a communication from Lawrence B. Toperoff, Chief Acquisitions Officer, Officer of the Chief Administrative Officer. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Toperoff notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena issued by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for testimony in a civil case and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.1:03:04 P.M. -The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on November 22, 2011 at 10:53 a.m. stating that that body had passed S. 1541.1:02:00 P.M. -POLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.1:00:41 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Gene Hemrick, Washington Theological Union, Washington, D.C.1:00:40 P.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.1:00:14 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDING

SLEGISLATIVE DAY OF NOVEMBER 22, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

. -The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on November 25, 2011.10:14:17 A.M. -The House received a communication from Cory Gardner, Member of Congress. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Gardner notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena for documents and testimony by the District Court of Larimer County, Colorado and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he had determined that compliance with the subpoena was inconsistent with the precedents and privileges of the House. Mr. Gardner also notified the House that on November 10, 2011, the District Court of Larimer County, Colorado quashed this subpoena and that testimony and production of documents are no longer required.10:04:05 A.M. -The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notice that an Executive Order has been issued with respect to the actions and policies of the Government of Iran. – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-74).10:03:57 A.M. -The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a sealed envelope from the White House on November 21, 2011, at 4:15 p.m., and said to contain a message from the President whereby he submits an Executive Order he has issued with respect to Iran.10:03:00 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.10:02:56 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.10:01:30 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Mark Farr, Faith and Politics Institute, Washington, DC.10:01:20 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:59 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Rep. Joe Wilson – a needed reminder

11/21/2011 Nativegrl77

Op-Ed Contributor

Joe Wilson’s War

By JOANNE B. FREEMAN

Published: September 18, 2009

New Haven

ON Tuesday, seven Republicans broke party ranks and voted to reprove Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina, for calling President Obama a liar. One of the renegades was Bob Inglis, who upbraided his fellow South Carolinian for a breach of House rules. “That problem could have been fixed by an apology to the House,” Mr. Inglis explained.

And he was right. In fact, his comment reminds us that Congress has a long and storied culture of apology, to go along with its long and storied culture of insult — and that the two traditions are inextricably bound together.

Congressional insults — and apologies — had their heyday in the first half of the 19th century. Much as we envision the pre-Civil War era as the golden age of Congressional oratory delivered by the likes of Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster, alongside this eloquence was a generous helping of rough-and-tumble brawling.

Men pulled knives and guns on one another. There were shoving matches and canings — the most notorious being the 1856 attack by Representative Preston Brooks, Democrat of South Carolina, on Senator Charles Sumner, Republican of Massachusetts. Tables were flipped, inkwells and spittoons went flying. Occasionally there was a grand melee with dozens of congressmen pummeling one another, emerging after a few minutes of mayhem with torn clothing, assorted bumps and bruises, and toupees askew. Not surprisingly, accompanying all of this tumbling and punching was a slew of insults.

Most powerful of them all was “the lie direct.” According to the formal code of honor then in play, a man who didn’t keep his word was no man at all, so there could be only one response to such a charge: a duel (or very careful negotiations to avoid one). For that very reason, “throwing the lie” was a handy strategy in Congressional debate. The gasp-inducing drama of the moment was precisely the point. Nothing called an audience to attention as quickly as the threat of gunplay. Whether one was trying to attract attention from the press, derail a debate or humiliate an opponent, the lie direct was a grand slam in the game of politicking.

But untarnished victory required one final step: an immediate apology to the House or Senate — delivered on the floor. In part, this was the logic of the code of honor. The only way to offset a public insult was with a public apology; the audience that had witnessed the insult needed to witness the making of amends. And when a combatant voluntarily apologized as soon as a fight was reconciled, he prevented the opposition from milking his misbehavior for partisan gain.

In addition, a quick apology prevented an exchange of words from becoming something worse. In 1836, when a panicked speaker of the House began to adjourn the body after a tussle between two congressmen, several members instantly protested that this would prevent a public reconciliation. The result could have been ugly. As a House clerk put it, had “the speaker adjourned the House, as he was about to, there would have been a battle and blood would have been spilt upon the floor.”

These formal apologies nearly always followed the same script. After harsh language or fisticuffs, the combatants would rise to their feet and apologize in open session. The 1856 apology of Senator Andrew Butler, a South Carolina Democrat who was also the uncle of Preston Brooks, the assailant of Charles Sumner, is typical. In the flurry of outraged debate after the Sumner caning, Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts insulted Brooks. Butler immediately jumped to his feet and called Wilson a liar. Within minutes, Butler was on his feet again. “This mode of attacking my relative is very trying,” he said in apology. “I used a word which I hope will not be put down. I have never used an epithet on this floor, and therefore I ask that it may be excused. I make the request at the unanimous instance of my friends.”

As antebellum congressmen well knew, serious insults required serious apologies. So important were these rituals that they sometimes required hours or even days of negotiations for acceptable terms. In 1837, when Representative John Bell, an Anti-Jacksonian from Tennessee, called Leonard Jarvis, a Jacksonian from Maine, a liar during a debate, the outraged Jarvis first insisted that the matter would have to be settled “in another manner,” meaning in a duel. Jarvis also made clear that he wouldn’t retract the words that had prompted Bell to insult him in the first place. After several hours of wrangling by dozens of congressmen, Bell withdrew his words unconditionally.

No one assumed that such apologies were heartfelt. As The New York Times groused in 1859, these “Congressional rowdies” seemed to “have got it somehow into their heads that they can descend to any depth of blackguardism, if they only make an apology immediately afterwards.” Even so, these apologies meant something. By publicly apologizing to his colleagues, a congressman not only paid obeisance to the dignity and order of the House or Senate, but he also upheld the civility of Congressional proceedings as a whole.

This sentiment was perhaps explained best by Senator Louis McLane, a Jacksonian from Delaware, in an 1828 debate over the vice president’s right to call men to order. Written parliamentary rules were useful, he said, but the Senate’s tradition of “liberal comity” was “more efficient than any written rule.” What would preserve the Senate was “the great moral influence of the power of the body for its own preservation.” For this reason, the Congressional culture of insult was necessarily accompanied by one of apology. Whether it exists today remains an open question.

Joanne B. Freeman, a professor of history at Yale, is writing a book on Congressional violence in the first half of the 19th century.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress: the Republican led House – pro forma session – the Senate both back on 11/22

11/21/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 1:00pm on Monday, November 28, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1867, the Department of Defense Authorization Act.

Additional roll call votes in relation to amendments to the DoD Authorization act are possible Monday evening.

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The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on November 22, 2011.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

In the past month, eight Buddhist monks and nuns have self-immolated to protest a growing Chinese crackdown in Tibet.

11/18/2011 Nativegrl77

Days ago, Tenzin Wangmo walked out of her nunnery, covered herself in petrol and set herself on fire while pleading for a “free Tibet”. Minutes later she died — she was just 20 years old. In the past month, seven other monks have self-immolated to protest a growing Chinese crackdown on the peaceful Tibetan people.

These tragic acts are a desperate cry for help — machine gun toting Chinese security forces are beating and disappearing monks, laying siege to monasteries, and even killing elderly people defending them — all in an effort to suppress Tibetan rights. China severely restricts access to the region. But if we can get key governments to send diplomats in, break the blackout, and expose this growing brutality, we could save lives.

We have to act fast — this horrific situation is spiraling out of control behind a censorship curtain. Over and over we have seen that when diplomats themselves bear witness to atrocities, they are motivated to act, and increase political pressure. Let’s build a massive petition to the six leaders with the most influence in Beijing to send a mission to Tibet and speak out against the repression. Sign the urgent petition and send this to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_tibetan_lives/?vl

Tibetans are suffocating under China’s stranglehold. They are unable to practice their religion freely — just downloading a photograph of the Dalai Lama can land a Tibetan in prison. And it is getting worse: columns of Chinese troops have blockaded the largest monasteries and are abducting monks in “patriotic re-education” programmes. This horrific situation is spiraling out of control.

Just yesterday another monk, Dawa Tsering, was rushed to hospital after setting himself ablaze, and with every protest China tightens it’s grip. For Tibetans, self immolations are a very severe sacrifice and reveal their level of despair. They are deeply religious and believe that if you commit suicide it has a devastating impact on the cycle of re-incarnations and may even put you back 500 lifetimes. But their situation is so horrific that they are forfeiting their position in the cycle in exchange for the hope of international attention and freedom for their brothers and sisters.

The Chinese government won’t allow journalists and human rights monitors into the region — Sky news and AFP journalists were forced out last week. But diplomats can request access and get in and, as we have recently seen in Syria, they are the best way to get first hand reports, let China know that the world is watching and start high level political conversations on Tibetans’ human rights.

It’s up to us to raise the global alarm. If we can get the US, UK, Australia, India, France and the EU to send a delegation now, they could push China to action. We have no time to lose — sign the urgent petition and share this email:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_tibetan_lives/?vl

Avaaz members have supported projects that are piercing the blackout and defending Tibetan culture and religious practice. But China’s ruthless crackdown is escalating. It’s time for our whole community to take a stand together with these peaceful people sacrificing their own lives for basic rights. Let’s show them that the world has not forgotten them.

With hope and determination,

Emma, Iain, Dalia, Ricken, Diego, Shibayan, Giulia, and the whole Avaaz team

More information:

Tibetan Nun Who Set Herself On Fire Dies (Sky)
http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16095074

Self-immolation ‘trend’ at restive Tibetan monastery (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15169007

Study points to heavy handed repression of Tibetan area in China (The New York Times) (including HRW report)
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/world/asia/study-points-to-heavy-handed-repression-of-tibetan-area-in-china.html

China is fuelling the fires of Tibetan resistance (Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/17/china-tibetan-resistance-self-immolation?newsfeed=true

Graph showing China’s increased spending in Tibetan regions:http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/10/12/china-end-crackdown-tibetan-monasteries

~ my 2cents ...

TGIF &some News …and locked out of twitter

11/18/2011 Nativegrl77

just another rant

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that the Supreme Court will hear the HCR Affordable Health Care Law during the Presidential Election Campaign2012. The Supreme Court will have the responsibility of deciding if HCR merits or meets the constitutionality rules policies and procedures under what we all hope to be based on the favorable outcomes from the lower courts, compassion of what the new law will provide, healthy debate yet unbiased opinions with a strong use of the facts . Unfortunately, the big news is not that more people have an opportunity to be covered, people under 26 can be covered under parents insurance, or that the awful rule about pre-conditions will be no more least we forget HCR is also a JOBs bill. The fact that HCR enrollment will increase by 30million, which is a whole lot more people to serve and all those who do, will be cashing in as well as employing many more Americans. The fact is more Teapublicans, which includes Washington State’s AG McKenna; who happens to be running for Governor other current Governors some in the midst of recall efforts and Teapublican leaders of Congress are still challenging HCR. Though reports and or polls from MSM state most Americans do not want HCR they, if given the details of HCR like it. The poeple in Massachuetts did not like their Universal Health Care at first but after awhile 80% did and do not want to repeals theirs. The fact is …the law is so similar to the Massachusetts because then Governor Romney‘s staff helped formulate it. While Romney and his fellow Teapublicans keep stating they want to repeal health care reform even after three years of debate, stalling, and refusal to cooperate; the hcr Bill passed and is the new law of the land. It is not lost on most … well, now anyway, that Teapublicans will do and say just about anything to set themselves apart from the President of the US; even as offensive as it is they continue to push forward on the McConnell mission which is to make President Obama a one term President. I have to say as a voter the first Mission is to get America back on track though McConnell has tunnel vision gotta hope it all backfires with a sudden burst of Sanity Please just like in 2008 when we all faced the idea of a Palin/McCain in the White House. The current group of Teapublicans running for President of the US of A are far from being qualified almost amusing though scary considering what they say they have to offer. If you have been watching and or listening to the crap coming from Teapublican lawmakers in Congress it is obvious Party and Profit over People is a pledge they took and little room for compromise. The facts regarding HCR have been twisted turned and avoided by most Teapublicans and unfortunately, some of my fellow Americans believe the noise coming from the right, frankly, Teapublicans would rather fight moving into the 21st Century while attempting to bring the President down than help others and our economy by bringing down the cost of health care/insurance. The problem we have was not created by the current President yet these Corporatists are still trying to convince their supporters that big government equals the sitting President. It is with great sadness that there are so many of our fellow Americans drinking the kook-aid because the best example of big government was during the house of Bush and the lack of regulation which really means the people hired to do their jobs …did not. The economy slipped into a ditch created by the spending that Bush did and if anyone is willing to listen… the facts the truth is a close as your nose. Then President43 did not pay for the 2wars President Obama has to draw down or those bush tax bonus $$ and left an incredible deficit hole that has yet to be fixed; while it is true that the solution was to throw money at it and most economists believe it had to be done. There was not only a problem with how much money to throw but like all legislation on the Hill since President Obama took office and most if not all efforts were blocked, changed, scaled down or nasty amendments attached to great bills that no one could vote for in good consciousness. The idea that we keep the status quo is to say nothing needs to be changed but what better time is it than now to improve upon a system that has long been broken. If not now when and what better group than Democrats to fix the problems… because Republicans are proving on a daily basis that not only are they fiscally irresponsible they also practice overt class warfare, exclusion and some might say the current words are laced with hate and or racism …