Tag Archives: civil rights

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress -back in Session …


The Senate Convenes: 2pmET June 7, 2010 The Senate be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:
– #730, Audrey Fleissing, of Missouri, to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of MO
– #731, Lucy Koh, of California, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of CA
– #759, Jane Magnus-Stinson, of Indiana, to be US District Judge for the Southern District of IN

At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed. After the first vote, the succeeding votes will be limited to 10 minutes each.

Votes:
5:30pm votes:

Votes:
177: Confirmation of Audrey Fleissing, of Missouri, to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of MO;
Confirmed: 90-0

178: Confirmation of Lucy Koh, of California, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of CA;
Confirmed: 90-0

Jane Magnus-Stinson, of Indiana, to be US District Judge for the Southern District of IN;
Confirmed by voice vote

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.512, a resolution designating June 2010 as “National Aphasia Month” and supporting the efforts to increase awareness of aphasia

The next meeting in the House is June 8, 2010 2pmET

~ my 2cents ...

TRENDING …


My new spot -TRENDING…and def Under Construction

It’s the day after and  the MTV Awards were kind of a disappointment for me;the singing and dancing; ok,  Sandra Bullock was a great interruption …so was betty white; the pre-show with the focus on the Jersey show didn’t keep my interest and the FASHION or lack of it was so fashion don’ts everywhere it was tough to stay interested …tight dresses should be proportional, bad color, bad fit for folks with little or no cleavage some with too much cleavage and not enough cover not to mention the too short dress; so un-sexy, so unneccessary.  If you are short you look stubby some of the ladies below 5’6 look chubby and stubby …there were a couple of BP outbursts that seemed appropriate but just an ok amount of applause… overall it was a yawn

what did y’all think

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Is for folks who are constantly talking about it; looking and or tracking the latest, it’s always in the news and on the top of every girls and some guys mind …FASHION; the good bad and the real ugly. Tonight the MTV awards will be on …and it’s also our first venture into judge them because we can spot that will try to cover all events that are deemed worthy to be covered on cable and or mainstream TV and boast about all things Fashionable; which can be

The MTV Awards are known for being one of few events that people schedule their day and or lives around … It covers movies, fashion, makeup, best of in all things good looking and maybe there will be some dancing; there will be people you won’t see ever in person …unless you live in Cali; and some say wow they looked nothing like that in the movie … because fantasy is  just better than reality

Some of us are concerned about the latest, who is wearing what why and in the end all of us have an opinion on all the fashions worn during an event, as a star or model walks down the street, has lunch dinner or at the spot or having a TV interview and the big question?  How come somebody, your friend’s relatives or date let you leave out the house with that on?  And because the current state of our economic is tough …entertainment folks are telling us … money doesn’t buy you happiness; i agree, but it doesn’t buy taste either, so …let the judging begin.  I don’t get paid to style but let me say there are a lot of us couch potato stylists wondering about the credentials needed and being claimed by some of these so-called pros … and this is a call-out to women of colour…we may not be covered as much but we make some awful fashion mistakes… ladies…  TRENDING is watching you too

My observation and first comment is that dressing in labels is great but maybe it’s time to switch it up ladies …the economy is making brand names have two lines …the upscale and what you can get at a “Regular” store.  We all watch and we all know that it’s important not to be seen wearing something a civilian would wear,  most try to avoid being caught with the same dress on at any given event and we’re less likely to see SJP wearing her own line to a high end event or anyone who makes a living in front of the camera wearing a Vera done for Kohl’s –but it just seems like a great idea, a change of pace and given the times would probably bring more interest and sales to the clothes at the “Regular” store.

Anyway,  Your opinion Matters … maybe the stars care too… we owe it to them, So vote…lets help change fashion don’ts to fashion do …a body good

   
      

      
    

~ my 2cents ...

Weekend wrap-up &some News …


To be sure MTV Movie Awards  tonight at 9pm in Cali… im thinking pop culture will meet with a lot of political outburst as well… the Sunday buzz … Republicans have a lot more to worry about now …what with jim greer averting funds, more and more Republicans are stating they have ties to the Military… Not  There are reports of a connection between the RNC chairman and jim greer too… oops.

We have another week of elections this Tuesday and hopefully the outcome is that voters get out there and vote for the Democratic Party who wants what is best for Americans not just a select few as it seems Republicans seem to feel.  It’s that old saying “do as i say not as i do,” because Big Banks, Big Oil, Big Insurance and Wall Street …de-regulation are still elements Republican Politicians want for themselves but say …Americans need to be ween themselves from.. strange philosophy coming from a group who just this last week was reported taking money from BP/Halliburton…last month Republicans like Mitch Mcconnell/Boehner Pence and Cantor  were reported  having meetings with Wall Street/Big Banks  asking for advice and money …

For about 39 days the  press/Media were saying President Obama needs to be in Louisiana, on the Gulf Coast talking to this person doing this or that… Now they are saying because he has been down there 2days in one week… he and his political capital is in deep trouble?okay i’ll bite… that is absurd and just one of many comments by the Media that is in my opinion stupid…yes, it’s to make people upset, maybe call in and make comments but the need for Press/Media self control is on the up swing as far as im concerned… it’s election season and talking heads are out to stir whatever trouble among the two Political Parties and among the parties themselves … i get it… but opinion news is tired and old.  If something looks and smells then reporter journalists are great but to latch on to a story that has no legs but meets all the talkingpoints so it gets played and played on national tv …old tired and maybe the reason some cable hosts numbers are way down.  Personally, was proud to see President Obama in Louisiana talking to people and definitely felt his frustration and reject the crap cable is force feeding the viewer…The President might be going to the Gulf Coast again this week and in my opinion it’s a great thing to see because the last guy seemed to have gone out of his way to  avoid places where the needy worked, or lived and needed real help real connection to what was going on and looked for himself.   It might be a hard thing to do but President Obama has and then some… because what folks conveniently forget is the plate full of problems that continuously need fixing and or that keep sprouting up and definitely were left by the last guys in office … do people get that.

Congress will be back in session this coming week and things like Cobra, Medicare payments, unemployment were dropped like a wet rat because it was recess time; the stalling, blocking by Republicans was offensive but will probably continue as they have decided the only way to bring down this President is to stop appointments, vote no on things they wanted and supported before and while Republicans state they want big government, socialized medicine and entitlements out of our lives; fact is most Republicans took the Stimulus money and not only took credit for it they passed it out like candy… i  wonder how many actually used the money to balance their budgets instead of creating jobs and or stopping the layoffs of teachers, police and first responders.  Republicans continue to want the rest of us to do without government until Republicans need it… for themselves and a select few

It’s obvious something strange happened last week and the reports about jobs that came mostly from census workers was wierd …the employment numbers for May were strange and call for some investigation … is the Private Sector holding back hiring …responding to the verbal beating by the Administration and others… if you watch or read enough on cable or newspapers/online it’s obvious that the Private Sector has changed the way they have hired in the past …jobs that were once paid and paid well because they actually are career oriented positions are mostly being offered up as internships to students …other jobs, some don’t necessarily turn into careers are offering commissions and less hours per week; which, is a strange and surprising thing to see because these are jobs that were “regular” Private Sector jobs  still offering insurance coverage but you have to wait 3 to 6 months… since the economy crashed and the verbal beat downs Wall Street and the Private Sector have gotten over the last 18months… the hiring process has changed and  outsourcing has again become the quiet norm

Other News …

**Unified Command in Mobile, AL announced deployment of a program to put unemployed to work  in areas affected by the spill http://ht.ly/1UB29

**Israel rejects an int’l commission to investigate the Gaza ship raid

**Chrysler recalled 25thou cars for pedal problems

**Don Cheadle has been named goodwill UN ambassador

**Dems need to support real Dems … Halter vs Blanche Lincoln

C-SPAN …

Portion of Leaking Oil Collected

Since the cap was placed over the leaking oil well Friday, it is believed that a quarter to half of the leaking oil from nearly a mile below the surface is being captured. In a press conference Saturday, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen estimated that about 252,000 gallons of oil has been collected in its first full day of use. Six weeks after the Deepwater Horizon accident, the government estimates nearly 50 million gallons of oil has leaked into the Gulf of Mexico. Oil is washing up on the shores of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

watch Adm. Allen Press Conference (6/5)

watch LIVE Undersea ROV Cameras

visit Deepwater Horizon Response

Agriculture Secretary Discusses Future Farm Concerns

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined Newsmakers from Des Moines, IA to discuss the Obama Administration’s Rural Tour and how the public response will affect the 2012 Farm Bill. Feedback gained from the tour helped confirm “that we are headed in the right direction,” Sec. Vilsack said. He stressed the importance of educating America on the need for thriving rural economies and shared preliminary proposals on trade agreements and food safety.

In Depth with Martha Nussbaum

The author of 16 books, Martha Nussbaum joins Book TV’s In Depth to discuss her various works, including “Women and Human Development”, “Frontier of Justice”, and “Liberty of Conscience: In Defense of America’s Tradition of Religious Equality.” Martha Nussbaum is the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago Law School.

Saturday morning and the great news … the weather is going to finally feel like May and not like the end of Winter.  It will be nice to  see the sunshine; hopefully the temperature will get up to 70 because it would help put a smile on anyone here in the 206; which has been very rainy…typical, but this year spring and summer has been way too cool… cold at times.

The wait for BP’s latest contraption to work is an ongoing feeling of helplessness for most of the country … a lot of misinformation and manipulation to pull the truth to one side or the other is happening on a daily basis and while it’s nice to get any information it should be accurate. The cap is on but the oil will continue to flow and some sort of ship is taking in the oil …maybe there should be more skimmers out there …enough oil plumes to siphon. Reports are that there are about 2000 boats ships on the Gulf working to siphon the oil currently and an update came in … 1% added today to Gulf fishing closure due to Horizon/BP oil spill effective 6pmET…if you have questions call 800-627-NOAA

The news about Republicans using words like backroom deals and or Obama definitely is not removed from Chicago Political behavior and or political manipulation is absurd.  I am not so naïve to think that the political deals being done are new or that both sides of the aisle don’t dabble in playing Chest. It’s obvious that deals are done everyday, so don’t let folks in the Media make you believe otherwise.   Though what is not so clear is who really is working in the best interest of our President ;maybe somebody needs to get moved aside… even more; maybe somebody or some people need to get fired.  I would hope folks remember the deals made by the Bush/Cheney group had a impact played a major difference to all our lives as Americans… like the War in Iraq…why did we go there instead of Afghanistan …why did the top 2% get tax breaks and count how many times they got them, who went out of the way to de-regulate Big Oil, Big Banks, Wall Street and look where it got us… The impact made by really bad decisions has been horrendous and any reporter who gets paid to start the oooooooooooh oh no he didn’t is getting on my nerves.  The offer of a paid job or not to a person in your own party …should be dealt with among the Political Party we all know Republicans do it …they probably make deals among themselves daily and are definitely able to keep it all quiet; however when it comes to We the People and the Peoples work?  we see Republicans who say they don’t want big government, don’t want entitlements for the People they represent that most people should do for themselves and let the market do what is has to and it will correct itself .

… What happened to doing the Peoples business, helping Americans? we see the dirty deals by Republicans every time there is a vote in Congress to help Americans move into the 21st Century except Republicans choose to be the Political Party of No because their agenda is … to bring down this President and sacrifice any and all things that would get America back on track… that is a huge smack in the face … to all Americans not just those who choose to be apart of the Democratic Party … it’s all us …we all lose when Republicans vote No on all things American …what do they represent when they are holding meetings with big Banks Wall Street characters and lobbyists determined to keep their control on all of Congress not just a part of it… what do Republicans represent when they vote No for helping Americans …the No votes affect Republicans out of work, doctors who aren’t getting helped, people who are discriminated by the insurance industry the list is way too long … and does anyone out there get it… if they continue to say No our system will continue on the same path the last guy left us on… that’s my take on what they want …when did he know the crash was coming, where was he and why didn’t he and his group stop it or stall it or do what people vote a person in for? people say oh when will we all stop blaming the last guy and make President Obama responsible? when Republicans realize that the governing body was voted in by 53% and let the governing begin… but it hasn’t  …the corrections Democrats feel are needed to fix our entire Financial system are being blocked and stalled by Republicans; unless and until they accept our President and who is in office… The Democratic Party, everything done before this administration still belongs to the house of Bush and his Republicans.

It’s sad that Republicans want government out of all our lives unless they need it personally and scream and yell about it and when government is supposed to help when no one or entity can…  they vote No on the floor of Congress but hold ribbon cuttings give out big stimulus checks and take credit for any and all monies given to their community, actually its not just sad it’s offensive.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The Gulf Coast


Yesterday, I visited Caminada Bay in Grand Isle, Louisiana — one of the first places to feel the devastation wrought by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While I was here, at Camerdelle’s Live Bait shop, I met with a group of local residents and small business owners.

Folks like Floyd Lasseigne, a fourth-generation oyster fisherman. This is the time of year when he ordinarily earns a lot of his income. But his oyster bed has likely been destroyed by the spill.

Terry Vegas had a similar story. He quit the 8th grade to become a shrimper with his grandfather. Ever since, he’s earned his living during shrimping season — working long, grueling days so that he could earn enough money to support himself year-round. But today, the waters where he has worked are closed. And every day, as the spill worsens, he loses hope that he will be able to return to the life he built.

Here, this spill has not just damaged livelihoods. It has upended whole communities. And the fury people feel is not just about the money they have lost. It is about the wrenching recognition that this time their lives may never be the same.

These people work hard. They meet their responsibilities. But now because of a manmade catastrophe — one that is not their fault and beyond their control — their lives have been thrown into turmoil. It is brutally unfair. And what I told these men and women is that I will stand with the people of the Gulf Coast until they are again made whole.

That is why, from the beginning, we have worked to deploy every tool at our disposal to respond to this crisis. Today, there are more than 20,000 people working around the clock to contain and clean up this spill. I have authorized 17,500 National Guard troops to participate in the response. More than 1,900 vessels are aiding in the containment and cleanup effort. We have convened hundreds of top scientists and engineers from around the world. This is the largest response to an environmental disaster of this kind in the history of our country.

We have also ordered BP to pay economic injury claims, and this week, the federal government sent BP a preliminary bill for $69 million to pay back American taxpayers for some of the costs of the response so far. In addition, after an emergency safety review, we are putting in place aggressive new operating standards for offshore drilling. And I have appointed a bipartisan commission to look into the causes of this spill. If laws are inadequate, they will be changed. If oversight was lacking, it will be strengthened. And if laws were broken, those responsible will be brought to justice.

These are hard times in Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast, an area that has already seen more than its fair share of troubles. The people of this region have met this terrible catastrophe with seemingly boundless strength and character in defense of their way of life. What we owe them is a commitment by our nation to match the resilience they have shown. That is our mission. And it is one we will fulfill.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama