Tag Archives: Democratic

a message from Al Franken …


I’m writing to thank everyone who helped keep our grassroots organization strong in 2011.

 If you’re a longtime TeamFranken supporter who continued standing with us in 2011: THANK YOU!

 If you made your first contribution in 2011: THANK YOU!

 If your name is Ted: THANK YOU, TED!

 If you could only afford a small gift: THANK YOU!

 If you could afford a large gift, but only gave a small one: THANK YOU ANYWAY!

 If you forgot to give but really meant to and totally would have except you got distracted at the last minute and now you feel awful: THANK YOU, I GUESS — AND PLEASE CLICK HERE TO GIVE NOW AND ALLEVIATE YOUR GUILT!http://www.alfranken.com/page/m/6cf7873/715407ea/31809885/7816454a/2228609982/VEsH/

 If you recruited friends to give: THANK YOU (AND THEM)!

 If you skipped your morning coffee for a week in order to make a contribution: THANK YOU, AND I HOPE YOU DIDN’T SCREW UP ANY IMPORTANT WORK DEADLINES!

 If you gave because you’re married to me: THANKS, FRANNI — I LOVE YOU!

 I’m pretty sure that covers everybody.

 THANK YOU ALL,

 Al

 P.S.: If you contributed because you love our tradition of including an extra “ask” in the P.S. of every email: THAT’S KIND OF WEIRD — BUT THANK YOU, AND WON’T YOU PLEASE CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION NOW?

TGIF &some News


just another rant … long

The word of the day is stifling … It is winter yet the first week of January brought the NW 50degrees and some sun shine then a lot of sleet, wind and more wind to last me a while.  Our temps had been 30degrees since October and gotta say this warm, cold and or freezing thing one day here there only to have 3″ of rain sun and 50 on the other days is just odd …and as if somebody said hey … It’s winter the temp dropped and we are back down into the 3o’s …Can we just All accept that global warming exists. Therefore, we will call this Climate Change.

Anyway, it is a good time to breathe in slowly, reach up to the sky, and breathe out through your nose very slowly while letting your arms lower to your sides. Repeat as needed …

Yes, there is a lot of stuff going on all over the World that could and probably will ultimately affect us all and it is not just climate change -dang, and it is only the first week of January.  It is sad to say nothing is going on in Congress, the place where lawmakers …make laws that help keep our Democracy functioning but has been somewhat of a failure lately.  I know i am not alone in saying … thank goodness President Obama has ALL Americans in his mind and heart and was willing to do what was right, what we all used to believe was the job of Congress but Teapublican members of both Chambers have misused abused and probably signed a Pledge with the decision to slow down progress with less time spent Session.

Americans are not stupid, we see what Teapublicans are doing …limiting and tying the hands of our Elected President and governing Party that 53% voted them in to do….Govern

 Some folks say it is about time President Obama used his executive powers while others said yeah sure but he did not go far enough or why did he wait for so long. I like to think there are more folks like me  who have stayed tuned in and see a verbal and paper trail that needed to be laid out given the brinksmanship that broke out say the 1st day President Obama took office.  Can’t lie, I wanted the Democratic Party to hit the ground running , be bold be brave move some stuff through both Chambers of Congress but here we are three years later and I’m still wondering where when and why they have yet to go bold. Hell, who are these people is more like it; who knew our own party was strange.  I will also admit I take quite personally what happened prior to the midterm elections and afterward.  What I saw was a bunch of members so distracted by the possibilities of losing their seats that they left just elected President Obama blowing in the wind, some still holding onto Hilliary grudges, others race issues and some just on the extreme side period. I blame Congress for not getting our economy back on track sooner but what better way to be slapped into a rude awakening after Mitch McConnell shocked us all and told the truth … That his job was to make Barack Obama a one term President.  Reality … “they want their country back”    ok, 53% voted for Barack Obama and  excuse me but who exactly are “they” who want “their country back” and what the hell does that mean anyway … ok, i know but hey i am still ranting about that and FYI lefties he is not a King though if you listen to matt damon and some others he wants his mandate implemented  …or he will oh wait he had the melt down right … where is that school house rock vid when you need it …  … oh wait … enjoy …matt damon should watcht this  O ;

    http://youtu.be/3eeOwPoayOk

 <<< click on link for  … school house rock i’m just a bill

 So, the journey toward progress has been slow but not impossible and as the months went by and Teapublicans filibustered more and more people began to have some sort of distorted view of just exactly what a President does and how he does it.   I had this … go big go bold or go home attitude toward Congress because 53% wanted big bold changes for all Americans. I still have the audacity to have hope to make big changes but I have realized that our diverse group of dems can also self-sabotage our progress and this is so sad. The Democratic Party even with all the filibusters has accomplished some great stuff in Congress …

This week, President Obama has made some executive orders that will help consumers  and has been absent for at least a year because Teapublicans have managed to block the nomination 2 Obama Admin Agency heads for the CFPB for almost if not longer than a year, appointing nominees to the NLRB and 180,000 summer job programs for our youth. We all know President Obama, ridiculed by the left for not using his executive powers and by the right for being in power period.  Thankfully, he has decided to use his executive power by exercising his right to recess appointments for Mr. Cordray, in charge of the CFPB and three NLRB board members to take care of worker rights, which is a no brainer while Teapublicans have come out in outrage. I wonder if their staff is telling them to stand down because y’all words can be played back and expose the truth … That union; women, children, minorities, vets, worker, and gay rights are and would be at risk if we let Teapublicans gain control. I guess my attitude upset some people.

I received a comment on my blog some time ago, which I totally love and hope others will as well but I wanted to share the question because it was a good one …I am no expert I just have a lot to say… good bad and sometimes really bad; Anyway here it is: what is wrong with capitalism? People want to start companies and make money and be profitable, and people like you have a problem with that, why? You also have a problem with people wanting to limit government spending and ending socialized programs. They are trying to do smart things to make this country prosperous again, and yet you think they are extremists. If you can explain this to me, I would appreciate it.

My response was that I have absolutely nothing against capitalism with a small c but the big C and D that brought us this economic crisis represents Capitalism and Deregulation that was so out of control gotta wonder what was their definition of good  “self-regulating.”  How can anyone accept what happened as par for the course as Teapublicans seem to , if  Wall Street, the oil, insurance and gas companies lack of regulation led to dabbling and or using other people’s money to bet on stocks that had no value. Teapublicans bet and lost most if not all of our $$ and here we are. I believe that people invest their earnings with the idea of trusting folks who say they know what they are doing…example a 401k and yes it is a risk but that risk is or should not be corrupted. In addition, as far as having a problem with people wanting limited government.  I think having limited government depends on the status of our economy and who is governing it. I know that before President Obama was elected we all found  out the house of Bush had a financial crisis and instead of cooperating with the governing power Teapublicans decided to throw Americans under the bus vote NO on legislation that probably would have made a significant impact on the state of our economy. We the people wanted to do big things hoping Congress would throw $$ at a big problem but again Teapublicans and conservadems said NO to the notion and or idea of big government programs or stimulus while behind the scenes they were all asking for more stimulus money.

I am still trying to understand how Republicans were able to get away with not just threatening or saying they will not help unless you give us what we want but our Democratic Party seemed to have a passive aggressive reaction. Clearly ,it was reckless behavior and if it weren’t for government programs the Gulf Coast would not exist; and what would your neighborhood look like without Teachers, Cops, Emts, First responders because they are all government jobs; Republicans keep doing whatever they can to ruin President Obama  by offering up no solutions no viable plans of substance no details. People act like all this spending would happen whether the economy collapse or not …that is just not so -and it is sad offensive and typical that the Media and folks on the right are promoting this nonsense. The problem we had needed a huge sum of money thrown at it but the Republican Tea Party has been the spoiler…the obstacle and the blame if things get worse and I will admit there are some conservadems to blame as well. I wanted someone to ask … when Bush knew we were headed for an economic collapse and why Bush did not head off the collapse off at the pass before the 2008 election can be debated. The other questions we should all ask are … why not pay for the 2wars waged and the 2tax cuts. The last guy screwed us and the fix takes both sides of the aisle and that is not happening … I blame Republicans.
As far as ending socialized programs or limiting government.

 I believe a woman should have the right to choose and if a law is needed, the Hyde amendment is the current law and should be enough for everyone.  Yet, most conservatives believe they have the right to tell me what to do with my body and yes, I believe that the people who are able and willing to build an Islamic center should be given the chance to help the community and just to remind you, not all Muslim Americans are terrorist, they can be Caucasian, African American, and Asian too. The new attacks on women, children, and worker rights are a great warning to all and any notion to manipulate the 14th Amendment should scare those of us with dark skin or who look reasonable suspicious …oh and don’t forget gays or straights who support gay marriage and religious freedom.

Makes you wonder what year it is.

 Other News …

Pres. Obama, Top Defense Leaders Release Military Strategy Report

Commerce Secretary John Bryson on the Economy

House Dems Discuss Payroll Tax Conference Committee

CFPB Director Richard Cordray in His First Day on the Job

Wisc. Governor Discusses Budget Reforms

Sen. McCain Endorses Mitt Romney

a message from Nancy Pelosi … incredible news


Because of generous and committed supporters like you, we made history.

For the first time ever, we are entering the election year with 500,000 grassroots contributors standing behind us.

 It’s clear that Democrats are more united and determined than ever before in our fight to win the House Majority, re-elect President Obama, and respond to House Republicans’ extreme and reckless agenda.

 Your generous contributions helped us shatter our year-end $1 million Republican Accountability Fund goal. We will put your dollars to work immediately in our effort to hold Republicans accountable with targeted advertising, rapid response research, and grassroots organizing.

 Thank you for your generous, record-breaking support. Onward to more Democratic victories in 2012!

 Nancy Pelosi

towrah Tuesday &some News


just another rant … revived

Failed Promises

Like what we are experiencing under the Republican controlled House of Representatives versus change to or a redirection of promises that President Obama has had to make on numerous occasions. It is obvious the two situations are quite different. The first two years of the Obama Admin the Republican Tea Party spent most of their time on the floor of Congress saying no, blocking, making the Democratic Party scale back or run away from legitimate bills that party of NO attached felonious amendments to that no member of Congress could in good conscious vote for. In the weeks and months following these just say no votes,  Americans in Public Service began losing jobs and the unemployment rate increased and will continue; Republicans without remorse started calling the unemployed lazy, unmotivated and if all else failed they should ask for charity. We have 2012 candidates running for President that are even less compassionate for those who are unemployed underemployed or in that 99%. Corporations are people too and if you are not rich? Well, that is on you.

 The ultimate show of privileged behavior is when Republicans decided to hold the middle class hostage while demanding the bush bonus dollars be made permanent, under the guise of that top 2% being the job creators.  The campaign for the midterm elections considered an off year usually gets few voters out to vote though in what definitely is a first of many firsts in the Obama’s Presidency, the midterms were important to all Americans looking back. Yet, folks did the same ole same, some opted out on purpose and even more voted right of center on purpose. That is beyond my understanding but the whole notion of teaching a President a lesson is the one of the worse reasons to vote against your best interest. While most know the outcome of the midterm elections, I think that many people do not understand what truly happened. President Obama said he got shellacked and would try to make a move to be more bipartisan, though senator McConnell said if he wants us to consider compromise he would have to do, say and act like we want him to and on conservative airwaves McConnell said his job was to make Obama a one term President. The midterm elections were bad for everyone and as the months moved along buyer’s remorse set in though it took way too long for me. For the last three years, Americans have been hearing Republicans say that we need to create jobs. Mr. Boehner and his comrades definitely used the jobs, jobs, jobs slogan to win the House of Representatives in 2010. Sadly, these carpetbaggers have been waving one hand in the air while using the other to attack, slash, cut, and burn every effort to get our economy back on track.

Yes, President Obama did promise change and he has kept over half of them, he also stated that he could not make changes alone … we all would have to participate. That comment is a hard reality given the crap that the Republican Tea Party keeps pulling out of somewhere disguised with them saying they are listening to what Americans want. That claim is a proven falsehood, the promises the Republican Tea Party has made repeatedly has or …could put us at risk.

I certainly feel our country is at risk with failed promises, reckless and or provocative rhetoric but contrary to what we hear in the news …  it is definitely coming from Teapublican members of Congress and Governors.

 I still have the Audacity of hope and change …

Other News …

C-SPAN’s Coverage of Iowa Caucuses Begins at 7pm ET

Rick Perry Ends Campaign Day in Perry, Iowa

Rick Santorum Ends Day Before Caucuses in Altoona, Iowa

Mitt Romney Holds Final Rally on Day Before Caucuses

Ron Paul Tours 5 Cities on Last Day of Iowa Campaign

Newt Gingrich Works for Final Votes in Iowa

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Talks About Military Cuts

DHS Secretary Napolitano Discusses International Partnerships

Mitt Romney Interviewed by Iowa Newspaper

Rick Perry Interviewed by Iowa Newspaper

White House Briefing with Jay Carney

Panel on Obama Is a “Teflon President”

House GOP Discuss Payroll Tax

Rep. Nancy Pelosi News Conference

House Democrats will match your gift dollar-for-dollar …Rep.Keith Ellison


I know you’re busy with the year-end holidays so I’ll get straight to the point: The only reason Republicans backed down on the payroll tax cut was because we had the American people standing behind us. Now, we need you again.

At midnight on December 31st, the big ball drops in New York City, our books close on 2011, and both parties have to report their year-end fundraising totals.

That means we have just 5 days to raise the $1 million we need to show that Democrats are strong, united and determined to defeat Republicans in 2012.
Make a year-end contribution of $3 or more to our Republican Accountability Fund and House Democrats will match your gift dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact.

A funny thing happened last week.

When Speaker Boehner announced that Republicans would give up their Tea Party demands — for now — and pass the payroll tax cut for the middle class, he actually said these words:

“…why not do the right thing for the American people – even though it’s not exactly what we want?”

That’s exactly what we’ve been asking all year! Why won’t Republicans do the right thing for the middle class instead of kowtowing to Tea Party extremism?

It’s not just this fight over middle-class tax cuts. They were willing to bring down the government in March over a woman’s access to Planned Parenthood for health care. Then it was the Paul Ryan budget that would eliminate Medicare as we know it, their refusal to touch tax breaks for billionaires and Big Oil companies, and on, and on, and on.
Thanks to you, we’ve stopped them in 2011. With your gift today, we can defeat them in 2012.

Contribute $3 or more to our Republican Accountability Fund before the end of the year and House Democrats will match your gift dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact.


Thanks for standing with us.
Rep. Keith Ellison