Tag Archives: Barack Obama

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Highlighti​ng the Unseen Human Costs of War


Highlighting the Unseen Human Costs of  War in Afghanistan

At a Senate hearing last week, I urged Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffAdmiral Mullen to address concerns over the unseen human cost of war, including the rising rate of suicide among veterans, the lack of access to much needed mental health care, and the increasednumber of tours of current service members. I also asked if these concerns were taken into consideration as factors for a drawdown in Afghanistan. read more >> http://mta.hilltopcms.com/?r=MTAwOA0KSjU1NTgtMjMyY2JmNGUtNGVmNy00ZWU0LTljZmUtODAzZWY3MmU5ZjEwDQplNmIyYTk1YS01MzZjLTRiM2QtOTY4Yy1jZGQyM2Q4NGE0OTANCjhhMDAwMDAwOWU1MzhlDQpodHRwOi8vbXVycmF5LnNlbmF0ZS5nb3YvcHVibGljL2luZGV4LmNmbT9wPU5ld3NSZWxlYXNlcyZDb250ZW50UmVjb3JkX2lkPWIwY2Q0Njc0LTQ3ZGEtNDcwMi1hNGU4LTE0ZDRlMTJmZjViNQ0KdHJ1ZQ0KeW5hdGl2ZTc3QGdtYWlsLmNvbQ%3d%3d

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Going to Bat for Seattle Sports Fans

Last week, I applauded the announcement that an effort to block legislation I authored, which would restorethe ability for King County Metro to provide service to sporting events, had been overturned. All Seattle sports fans have a right to affordable and efficient transportation toand from sporting events, and this public transportation will support our local sports teams, bolster the local economy, and decrease traffic during sporting events.

“Ruling to allow Metro to offer service to sporting, community events”

– The Seattle Times

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Urging Republicans to Take Medicare Benefits Off the Table

I strongly urged myRepublican colleagues to take Medicare benefits off the table during the ongoing budget negotiations. The Republican plan would shortchange American seniors who rely onMedicare to meet their health care needs. We will not allow Republicans to balance the budget on the backs of our seniors. I’ve heard from seniors across the state, telling me thatthey need their benefits to be protected. These seniors simply cannot afford the Republican plan.

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Giving Children an Early Start on Education

I introduced the Readyto Learn Act, which would help prepare children for kindergarten by providing funding for states to establish and administer voluntary preschool programs. As a formerpreschool teacher, I’ve seen first-hand the impact that high-quality early childhood education has on the success of our children. That’s why my bill will help families and communitiesacross the country provide their children with the strong educational start they deserve.

“Bremerton schools garnernational acclaim for early learning efforts”

– The Kitsap Sun

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Protecting America’sWorkers

Last week, I reintroduced the Protecting America’s Workers Act, which amends and updates the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to make sure thatworkers are protected in the 21 st century economy. I spoke on the Senate floor to urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation because every worker, inevery industry, deserves to be confident that while they are working hard and doing their jobs, their employers are doing everything they can to protect them. This effort to make our workplacessafer is especially important to communities like Anacortes, still shaken by the tragedy at the Tesoro Refinery that killed 7 workers.

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Bringing Technology to the Classroom

Earlier this month, I used internet videoconferencing to holdvirtual conversations with students across Washington state to discuss the role technology plays in their classrooms, and how it can be approved. I also told them a bit aboutthe ATTAIN Act, which would help schools like theirs get the resources and support to integrate technology into learning. Students are clearly excited about using technology to learn—andI’m excited about working to make sure schools can make that happen.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

fire “Follow the Money” host Eric Bolling


Since Tuesday, more than 65,000 people have signed onto a petition calling on Fox Business Network Chairman Roger Ailes to fire “Follow the Money” host Eric Bolling for his race-baiting comments targeting President Obama.  Will you join us? Your voice can make a real difference.

The response has been tremendous, and major media are covering the campaign.1 Clearly Bolling and Fox are feeling the heat. Bolling issued a weak pseudo-apology earlier this week saying that he had gotten, “a little fast and loose with the language.” But his “apology” was disingenuous, as the offensive material was obviously scripted and premeditated.2

Which is why we’re keeping the pressure on. We plan to deliver the petitions to Fox Business chief Roger Ailes soon. Can you help us get to 80,000 before we do?

It takes just a moment to add your voice — just click below.  After you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same.

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/855?akid=2031.1174326.UZLidb&t=2

Thanks and Peace,

— Rashad, James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Matt, Natasha, and the rest of the ColorOfchange.org team
   June 17th, 2011

References:

1. “Black political group demands firing of Fox Business Network host,” Los Angeles Times, 6-16-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/874?akid=2031.1174326.UZLidb&t=4

2. “Tell Fox: Fire Eric Bolling,” Huffington Post, 6-16-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/875?akid=2031.1174326.UZLidb&t=6

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Wednesday &some News


Today,President Obama and The First Lady host a Congressional Picnic at the White House at 7pm ET.

My rant today … Two and a half years ago the democratic party controlled both chambers in Congress and both leaders of the House and Senate were on their way to establishing a new path toward the 21st Century with several bills that included among others a jobs bill, dream act, dadt, start treaty, UI and health-care reform. The legislation our representatives brought to the floor of Congress were supposed to address American issues. However, great legislation has been difficult to pass due to Republican filibusters and more recent the lies that won them control of the House of Representatives. While we now know what the true Republican mission is, the Democratic Party has stated they will not give up trying to help the middle class.

Then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressing the status of the middle class stated that in the near future people would be paying 1dollar out of every 5dollars for health-care. Nancy Pelosi also stated that the problem of health-care costs will not go away and we can solve the issue by repealing the anti-trust exemptions, increase, and lower cost and improves choices for all Americans. Though the new health care law allows children under 26 to be covered under their parents insurance, has eliminated discrimination that includes pre-existing conditions, more coverage for our elders and maintaining the health care rights for women. The Republican Tea Party continues to berate the achievement call it Obamacare in order to demean it. Thankfully, the new Affordable Health Care Law passed though the new Congress has made cutting, slashing, and burning it their main mission along with so many other social programs without giving Americans any idea how they will replace hcr or social security, Medicare/Medicaid. The new effort to attack a woman’s right to choose has become more important than creating jobs and as Republicans offer up bills, amendments and comments, it is obvious it should embarrass Americans at how narrow this new party has become since the last guy was in office. The party of no has become the party of let us cut spending, decrease the deficit but they are and or will do so in on the backs of the middle class, poor and we all know minorities by giving them less. The obvious culture wars have become an issue and while candidates running for Congress not only engaged in race baiting, exclusion and outright discrimination. Most if not all were defeated at the polls thankfully but some did get through and are sitting either in the Senate or House. Honestly, I want Republican constituents to ask themselves if these people are true public servant and how upset were you when your own party voted against helping firefighters, teachers, and police while stripping away worker rights. The idea to help maintain these jobs, helping those who lost jobs by voting yes to unemployment and or create them until the lame duck session happened because the RTP wanted something, not that they wanted to help their fellow American. The Republican Tea Party, as we all know managed to hold the middle class hostage and traded the bush bonus dollars for helping Americans even though the house of bush set a date for the bush bonus dollars to expire. Is it just me or does it seem less than American to hold or use money as a tool to insure those Bush bonus tax cuts …That top 2% of our population got those tax cuts but have failed to significantly improve the job numbers even though speaker Boehner stated they were the job creators.

Two and a half years ago, in a series of votes that dramatized the conflicting pressures Democrats face to spur job growth and control the deficit. The House voted 217-212 to raise the government is borrowing authority to a record level, with 37 Democrats joining Republicans opposing the measure. The then Speaker Pelosi reminded people that among other things that the Democratic Party, focused on jobs, concerned and working toward equal rights for the people, proud that the lily Ledbetter law  passed as well. Well, that was two years ago. After gaining control of the House of Representatives, the Republican Tea Party decided that taking apart any legislation that has President Obama’s stamp of approval is the only thing the people elected them for last November. This is not just offensive it is one of several issues that has divided Americans and will continue to until the Republican Tea Party stops playing games with the lives of all Americans and gets to work for the citizens of the United States instead of what seems like only for Corporate America.

Two and a half years ago, in an effort to make it hard to fill the Obama Administrations cabinet, like appointee Martha Johnson. Now, with half of President Obama’s term over, the Republican Tea Party has managed to hold up over 20% of his appointments and some have withdrawn completely, the result is a less than complete cabinet for the governing party.

This behavior by the Republican Tea Party is just not acceptable and be considered un-American. In a moment of emotion, Senator Dorgan voiced my feelings at the time,” that for over 8months Republicans have blocked her nomination and now almost unanimously vote to put her in, which raises doubts in the integrity of Republicans.”

Yes, some good things came out of the hard work that the House and Senate Democrats performed but it is obvious they need to do more while the Republican Tea Party has put the future of America at risk and will continue to do so unless Americans begin to push back.

Other News …

Life expectancy of US women slips in some regions

Washington Day Ahead: Fed Officials Discuss Inflation Target

 Why Michele Bachmann is no Sarah Palin

Latest union proposal exempts Wis. transit workers

Pakistan’s arrest of CIA informants exposes Bin Laden raid frustrations …

Police Fire Tear Gas, Stun Grenades Amid Fresh Athens Clashes

Despite Crackdown, Syria Calls for Refugees to Return Home

‘US says it won’t support UN Palestinian statehood bid’

CSPAN …

House Panel Continues Look into “Fast and Furious”

Defense Secretary & Joint Chiefs Chairman Testify on Pentagon Spending

Lawmakers Review Islamic Radicalization in Prisons

AP sources: Pakistan arrests 5 CIA informants from bin Laden raid in latest US-Pakistan rift – The Washington Post

F.D.A. Unveils New Rules About Sunscreen Claims – NYTimes.com

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from Robert Gibbs, Democrats.org …Last night’s spectacle


Im writing to you from Manchester, New Hampshire, where last night I witnessed a spectacle that every single Obama supporter needs to hear about.

The major GOP presidential candidates debated for the first time and made one thing very clear: They have no agenda but to take down President Obama.

They even nodded along when one called the Obama administration a “destructive force,” and they said nothing when another said the President has “embraced our enemies.”

Last night was a wake-up call to anyone who thinks they can sit tight while the Republicans battle each other for the nomination: The campaign to defeat Barack Obama and roll back his entire record is well underway. And that’s the one thing on which all of their potential candidates agree.

It was seven against one. Since the President won’t be speaking for himself at one of these debates until next year, our best response is to show the Republicans that when they attack Barack Obama, it only makes us fight back harder.

www.democrats.org    <<< Check out the Website

Fundamentally, last night’s debate was about which of their candidates would turn back the clock the farthest.

They came out for re-fighting the battles they lost on Wall Street reform and the health care law. They backed reinstating “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

They even talked about abolishing the Environmental Protection Agency — and phasing out Social Security and Medicare.

They actually spent time debating whether they think Sarah Palin would have made a better vice president than Joe Biden (spoiler alert: They still think so!).

But the words “education” and “middle class” were never uttered even once.

If you were watching at home, you might have thought it was a re-run from four or eight years ago.

Most of these people are full-time candidates with nothing to lose and nothing to do but keep pushing to take us back to the failed policies of the past. Help fight back with a donation today:

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Our plan this summer …Mitch Stewart, BarackObama.com


You’ve been hearing from Messina about our overall strategy and what’s at stake in this election. My job as the Battleground States Director is to report back to you on the nuts and bolts of what we’re building in communities across the country.

  I want to take you through it in detail, so you can understand how to get involved and shape our organization where you live.

   We’re going to build it from the ground up. And we’re going to use this summer to roll out our team model and organizing structure through grassroots planning sessions in homes and by videoconference.

 Here’s the full briefing — watch it here, and if you’re willing to get involved now and be part of the organization in your community, let me know:

Some of these planning sessions are already under way, and we’re starting to get some feedback. I got one email from a supporter named Steven, who hadn’t been involved at all since 2008, and only went to his grassroots planning session on a whim.

 As a result, he’s all-in — he wants want to get involved fast, and also has all sorts of new ideas for how he can apply his skills better this time and which friends and colleagues he can reach out to about joining the campaign.

 The subject line of his email about the meeting was “Inspiring night.”

 This kind of organization-building isn’t just an electoral strategy — it’s a reflection of what we believe in as voters and citizens. It’s a commitment to the kind of politics that begins in backyards and living rooms and empowers every single American to get involved and organize for the changes they want to see.

 At a moment when it feels like the only thing that separates our opponents is how quickly they want to end Medicare as we know it, winning this way — driven locally, powered by the grassroots — will be a rebuke to those in Washington who still think that people across the country don’t have a seat at the table where decisions are made.

 I’m asking you to pull up a chair. If you’re willing to get involved now, at this crucial point in the campaign, let me know here:

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Battleground States Director
Obama for America

 P.S. — If you don’t have time to watch the video, here’s a quick rundown on where we stand:

      — Messina mentioned the one-on-one initiative last month. We’re going to talk with every person who volunteered or made a donation last time. So the staff and I started making calls and meeting with people one-on-one. And then those people started having their own one-on-ones with others. So far more than 75,000 individual conversations have happened across the country. The results are a massive army of newly energized volunteers, plus thousands of pages of ideas and feedback that will inform how we shape our organization nationally.

      — Grassroots planning sessions are under way across the country — we’ve had dozens so far with more than a hundred still to come. Everyone has been or will be invited to one.

      — You heard about our Summer Organizer Program when we asked you to help recruit them. Well, there are now hundreds across the country, and they start next week. We were pleasantly surprised that the number of applicants far exceeded what we saw when we launched this program in 2008, and you’ll be hearing more about them — and in many cases from them directly — in the coming months