Tag Archives: Congress

Crowded, shoulder-to-shoulder, tens of thousands of walrus are clinging to life on a tiny beach along the coast of Alaska. The Pacific walrus have no where else to turn—the sea ice they normally rest on is melting.

And, to make matters worse, scientists worry that walrus calves are in serious jeopardy. It only takes one spooked, one-ton walrus, to turn the beach into disaster—walrus stampeding and crushing each other in a panic.

The effects of global warming are making many species, like the Pacific walrus, endangered. They’re struggling to find a place to live.

This summer, sea ice is reaching another record low—third only to the devastating lows of 2007 and 2008 that stranded unprecedented numbers of walruses on land.

Adding to the urgency, the federal government released a report saying there’s a 40% chance that Pacific walrus will be on a path to extinction by century’s end.

The Pacific walrus need our help—take action today.

Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is deciding whether (or not) to list the Pacific walrus as an endangered species. They can’t survive without the extra protections provided under the Endangered Species Act.

Help give the walrus a fighting chance! The deadline for public comments is this Friday. We have less than 48 hours to help save the walrus. Please speak up by taking a moment to tell the Service that extinction is forever—save the Pacific walrus before it’s too late.

From Alaska,

Melanie Duchin
Arctic Program Director

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

can curiosity save the World?

09/22/2010 Nativegrl77

show details Sep 21 (1 day ago)

Union of Concerned Scientists - Scientists are curious for life.

Can curiosity save the world?

Cameron Wake Curious for Life Ad

Cameron Wake and the Union of Concerned Scientists believe that curiosity can save the world—but we can’t do it without your help. Please, support our work to spread the truth—and spread the curiosity—today.

For climatologist Cameron Wake, it all started with childhood questions—endless questions. What lights the moon? Why is the ocean blue? Why do glaciers move?

Cameron is still curious. And it’s his curiosity, and that of other scientists like him, that is the key to solving some of our most pressing environmental, health, and security problems—in particular global warming.

Cameron travels to some of the most remote locations in the world to study the icy interior of glaciers. Detailed studies of ice cores have clearly shown that humans are now a major driver of climate change.

Wake’s science is sound—the problem is making his voice heard among the ideological rhetoric that makes headlines these days. We need your help to amplify his message amidst talking heads intent on misleading and confusing the public. Can you make a donation now to help us spread the facts about global warming?

You and I believe in the rigor of science. And you would think that the debate about global warming would be over—but it isn’t and action is urgently needed. People with financial interests in maintaining the status quo have manufactured controversies and misrepresented the facts about global warming in order to delay desperately needed action. They seek to dull the public’s curiosity by sowing confusion and doubt. And you and I cannot let them succeed.

Because the scary thing is that their efforts have been working. More people than ever doubt the scientific evidence that global warming is a human-caused problem with devastating consequences. It is unbelievable, and we cannot let our communities be harmed by false science.

Please support the Union of Concerned Scientists in our efforts to bring sound science to the public, and spread curiosity and the truth about global warming. Your donation allows us to be an independent voice for policy change and to continue developing science-based solutions to crucial environmental, health, and security issues.

Together we can protect our planet and all of its wondrous curiosities.

Sincerely,

Kevin Knobloch
President

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Republicans block DADT repeal

09/22/2010 Nativegrl77

Senate Republicans have blocked “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal from receiving a vote!

But we are continuing to fight on all fronts, including the courts.

Tell the Justice Department: Don’t defend “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in court!

Just moments ago, Senate Republicans blocked the bill that contains the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” from even receiving an up-or-down vote. Not a single one broke ranks.

It’s an outrage. But this doesn’t mean the fight is over. Senate majority leader Harry Reid has committed to bringing the bill back up after the November elections – and we’ll have a fighting chance to get it passed then – so we’ll put everything we have into that effort.

In the meantime, we need to pursue every possible avenue to get rid of this law. And the Justice Department may be our best hope.

Here’s why: A federal district court recently ruled that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is unconstitutional. Now, the Justice Department has a choice: they can fight the decision, or they can let it stand and bring “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” one step closer to the dustbin of history.

Add your name to our open letter asking the Justice Department NOT to fight this landmark court decision. Then spread the word to your friends and contacts.

Today’s move by Senate Republicans is an outrage. Not a single Republican senator was willing to even begin debate on this important legislation, which includes a pay raise for our service members.

But we’ve faced setbacks before, and this is not the end of the road. We’ll keep our efforts at full steam as we prepare for another showdown in the Senate after the election.

And if Attorney General Eric Holder agrees not to appeal the recent court decision, discharges under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” could become a relic of the past.

We need to make sure the Attorney General gets the message: he may very well be our best hope to bring about the repeal of this discriminatory law.

Add your name to our open letter.

Then spread the word by email, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thanks for your help. Together, we can and we will end this law once and for all.

Sincerely,

Joe Solmonese
President

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

wild Wednesday &some News

09/22/2010 Nativegrl77

Today, we have a full moon, it’s the last day of summer and a whole lot of sunshine is still expected in the 206. The people of Seattle are excited that President Obama not only called the Seattle Storm to congratulate them for their 2^nd WNBA title but they have been invited to the White House. In other news; some new rules from the work the Democratic Party did to reform health care will start today. The President will be announcing how our new health care laws will help you out if you have children in college explain how your insurance can no longer drop you based on your illness and more. Which by the way starts 9.23.2010

We Democrats are in the fight for our lives …we not only have to beat back the Media but comments coming from folks on the floor of Congress like McCain,Mitchell and others have the guts to lie and wait for someone to challenge them… McCain says S.3454 was a ploy Mitchell says they “Dems” are trying to sedate their base the special interest groups.

I would like to respond to the nasty man McConnell & McCains comment about S.3454 beingin a political ploy …. God i hope so because it’s clear Republicans don’t give a shit about Americans in general to have voted no on every piece of legislation that would have gotten us closer to the improvement folks are now complaining about… To be sure the problem standing in the way of progress ? Republicans!!! Ask your Republican member of Congress if they voted yes to any legislation that would have helped get the middle class back on track.

In my need to constantly express how important it is that our Democratic Party get energy needed to throw down with votes in November. The difference between the two Political Parties is evident but we have major obstacles when it comes to getting our message into the airwaves. The media has made a decision to go with controversy instead of what used to be called fair and balanced News information making it quite likely that folks do not get or care to listen to the facts about why we are all still suffering. This election year is important because we need more true Democrats on the floor of Congress to get that change 53% voted for in 2008. We need to help not make it hard on our party; we are the change we have all been looking for and though folks may be down about the crap being done or lack there of; sitting this election year out is totally unacceptable and will only hurt our case and our future. The November elections are only six weeks away and people who are not registered to vote should; you are obligated to. I am not going to ask that you vote my way, that usually is on the agenda of anyone asking for people to register to vote… my guess is that we all see what is going on, have some sense of right and wrong, watched what happened on 9/11, Katrina, Africa, the BP mess, the constant rhetoric that seems not only racists but folks are not just right of center those who seemed moderate are now going hard right with an ideology that seems to speak out against those of us in Protected Classes. If so, We need to Unite and vote this creeps out of office in November because unless and until we do the talk will move into action and that needless to say will be against families in this 21^st Century, against progress of and for All Americans not just a select few Newt, Limbaugh beck and the others are talking about. I have been a democrat forever and feel that ultimately the things going on are all non-partisan realities, that the 2 party thing needs to end because we are all in this together and can all be taken out as well. It goes without saying we are all affected by bad air, bad roads, health care, heart attacks, low wages, bad education, wars. It seems like the 2party system is not working for anyone and when the majority has trouble passing legislation it begs the question maybe something needs to change. I know it is not just me feeling that the filibuster and the 60vote rule need to go or at least be changed to majority rules. I use to think maybe we should end our 2 party system and just vote on the person who seems to be the most qualified to do the job. Then our economy collapsed and the good bad and really ugly side of people became worse as our Public Servants decided to throw Americans under the bus with an agenda to regain control of Congress. It is not lost on me but maybe it is on Republican constituents that folks on the right do not even seem to care if their own followers have jobs, have unemployment, keep Teachers in place or that the streets will continue to be monitored because … People your Republican Representatives voted no to HR1586 some even called it a bailout …If anyone had sense who is currently calling themselves a Republican would without a blink vote for the Democratic party but instead crazy people are being voted into possible positions of power some are by default and all this madness we see on tv has gotten me scared as a mom, person of colour and as female who believe in the right to choose believes that women should get equal pay for equal work and the rhetoric should have more people outraged and ready for November because it is a pivotal moment.

I know that Republicans cannot be counted on to solve discrimination, reform immigration laws that are silly, stop the poor from getting poorer, stop tax breaks that benefit the rich, oil drilling that threaten to damage our environment, reform education that seems to be compromised, government officials that are crooks, big companies allowed to rip the American worker of all it was working for, laws that can tell people what they do behind closed doors makes them unacceptable and unable to have equality, women who do the same or similar job as men but get paid .77 on the dollar, colleges, offices, businesses that by- pass racial balance, police that participate in racial profiling, we live in a system that has different laws for different states, maybe future laws will at least be updated, those that are ridiculous omitted and the balance of the rule of law will be placed on the same level in each and every state. Republicans are the problem in my opinion.

We the people seem too quiet- too complacent.

just saying

Other News …

**Seattle Storm wins 2nd title;President Obama calls and they will visit the WH

**Seattle will have to pay 20extra on tabs to pay for the Sea Wall replacement

CSPAN …

White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
Tuesday

Senate Armed Services Cmte. Hearing on Marine Corps Commandant Nomination
Tuesday

Department of Transportation 2010 Distracted Driver Summit
Tuesday

Pres. Obama Presents Medal of Honor
Tuesday

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And the endorsement goes to…

09/21/2010 Nativegrl77

Thank you for voting last week and helping us decide which candidate to endorse in the U.S. Senate race in Washington and in the U.S. House of Representatives race in the 7th District.

We are excited to announce after tallying all the votes cast by MoveOn members that Patty Murray has earned our endorsement in the race for U.S. Senate, and Jim McDermott has earned our endorsement in the race for U.S. House of Representatives.

We’re facing a huge fight this election season to stop the takeover of Congress by big corporations. You can help stop the takeover by getting involved in Patty Murray’s and Jim McDermott’s campaigns. Just click below to sign up and volunteer:

Patty Murray: http://www.pattymurray.com/
Jim McDermott: http://www.mcdermottforcongress.com/

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Duncan, Amy, Adam, and the rest of the team