Tag Archives: election

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A message from Jim McDermott …


Dear Friends,

First, I wanted to apologize for sending you emails so close together— the Washington Primary is coming up on August 17, 2010. House regulations prohibit certain types of mass mailings and communications by a Member of Congress for 90 days immediately preceding that date.

That means my office can only send out certain types of mailings and notices from May 20th until the primary. If you enjoy getting our e-newsletters, please make sure that you will continue to receive them throughout this period by signing up here or taking the survey below.

I promise not to clog up your inbox with too many emails, and you can always unsubscribe from this list at any time. Most importantly, your name and e-mail address will NEVER be shared with anyone.

My office uses many different ways to stay in touch including mail, email, my website, my e-newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, telephone town halls and meetings across the district.

In order for me to better serve you and the 7th district, please take a moment to fill out the survey below:

(If you are experiencing difficulties viewing or completing this survey,
please click here to view this message in your browser window)
Which issues are important to you?
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*By clicking submit, you are agreeing to receive periodic updates from me and my office


Thank you for taking the time to fill out the survey and please feel free to visit my new website or contact my office if you have any questions. It is an honor and a privilege to represent you in Washington DC.

Sincerely,

Jim McDermott
Representative for the 7th District

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

ThinkProgress.org


UNDER THE RADAR

RADICAL RIGHT — REP. WEINER GOES AFTER GOLDLINE AND ITS ‘UNHOLY’ ALLIANCE WITH GLENN BECK: One of the consequences of the successful effort to persuade large corporations to stop running ads on Fox News host Glenn Beck’s TV and radio programs is that the right-wing “rodeo clown” has been left with only small companies advertising gimmicky products like faulty “survival” seed banks. At least 125 advertisers have abandoned him so far. One of Beck’s remaining and most reliable sponsors is Goldline, “which has made its name profiting — with the help of conservative talkers — off fees for buying and selling gold against public anxiety.” Now, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) is “going after” Goldline and its right-wing pundit backers. A press release put out by Weiner’s office states that Goldline “has formed an unholy alliance with conservative pundits to drive a false narrative and play off public fears in order to sell its products.” A report released by the congressman yesterday states, “On numerous occasions, Glenn Beck has dedicated entire segments of his program to explaining why the U.S. money supply is destined for hyperinflation with Barack Obama as president. He will often promote the purchase of gold as the only safe investment alternative for consumers who want to safeguard their livelihoods. When the show cuts to commercial break, viewers are treated to an advertisement from Goldline.” In response to Weiner’s probing, Glenn Beck has launched Weinerfacts.com, which is devoted to personally attacking the congressman. The site features multiple posts childishly mocking the congressman’s name and comparing him to various hot dogs wieners.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

thorny Thursday and some News ..

1 Comment

Like most people… well those who seem sane are definitely wondering how Republicans are going to explain Rand Paul … he has a lot to offer … so says some on the right.

It is my hope that we do not go back in time to a completely different era where people of this country were treated as 3rd World peoples … lunch counter protests street marching and more should not be on any agenda but if so We the People should prepare, those who believe in equal rights for all not just some,  a few or a select group.

I believe Rand Paul is going to enlighten us all about Tea baggers, what they are all about and if not i will attempt to at least make sure people know what he has said in the past and present.  The Rand Paul page will be ( simple) and  hopefully show all or most of his feelings, interviews and comments in quotes that can be captured.

It is obvious to me that the Republican base has changed in a way that most Americans should turn away from.  The idea that the ideology of all  people on the  right truly want to practice exclusion; i may be naïve but we are a country made up of immigrants that include people who are not brown or dark skin who helped build the USA and should be recognized and respected; anyone who commits crimes and beyond should be duly processed and subjected to the rule of law … skin colour should not be the reasonable suspicion factor or element used to solve an issue that affects so many.

The Oil Dump along the Gulf Coast is becoming much more of a disaster we all need everyone in Government to get crazy over. The economy in the Gulf Coast is under attack and the 3stooges will never be able to really reverse the damage but the people should demand to be reimbursed for the Revenue lost; this dump will effect the Coast for a very long time and plans for the future of the Gulf Coast and its People need to be started … by our government.   The oil dump is now a month long and while things are being done; it all seems to be behind some sort giant door of secrets and or a group of folks who clearly do not know what to do… The effort by the EPA today is long overdue but the EPA finally took steps to stop BP from using the current poison and has told BP to use a different source within 24hrs; this is just one of several things that transpired over the last few days…

Kevin Costner has offered up a machine he bought  after the Valdez dump and hopefully this thing will be used immediately…and like others …tankers should be out there siphoning what is on the bottom on the floor of the Gulf where our Oyster beds are, Shrimping cages and while there are miles and miles of oil plumes out there no one seems to be dealing with those plumes floating toward the Marshes and Wetlands …

Other News…

**Bill Halter now leads Blanche Lincoln- 48% to 46%– in overnight polling for the June 8 Run-Off!

**News that Kevin Costner offered up a machine to drain oil out of the Gulf Coast is in fact a great idea…he bought the machine after the Valdez dump and hopefully this thing will be used immediately…and like others …tankers should be out there siphoning what is on the bottom on the floor of the Gulf.

**EPA has finally tells BP to stop using the current poison to disperse the oil dump on the Gulf Coast and change to a different one within 24hrs

**Don Blakenship/Massey mine hearing is today

**House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told The Hill yesterday that she vows to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell by the end of this year. “I don’t have any doubt that ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ will be a memory by the end of this year,” said Pelosi.TP

**Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has set Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s confirmation hearings for June 28. “I would urge everybody to come to the hearing with an open mind, listen to her answers to those questions, and we will make sure that every senator — both sides of the aisle — has ample time to ask the questions they want,” Leahy said.TP

**Congress about to limit political speech of bloggers? read the article at hotair.com


C-SPAN …

House Speaker News Conference

Toyota Recall

Lawmakers call for stricter Auto safety laws, Toyota to testify

The House Subcmte. that oversees auto safety will examine whether Toyota and NHTSA have taken adequate steps to investigate and correct Toyota’s sticking accelerator pedals. Lawmakers will also consider amendments to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, a wide-ranging rewrite of U.S. safety laws. Toyota USA Sales Chief Jim Lentz will testify alongside Nat’l Highway Traffic Safety Admin. David Strickland.

watch House Hearing: C-SPAN3 at 10am ET
read Toyota exec: Electronics are not to blame
read Consumer Reports: Proposed Safety Regs.

Coal Mine CEO to Appear Before Congress For the First Time Since Disaster

Twenty-nine miners were killed in an explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia on April 5th. For the first time since the accident, Don Blankenship, the head of Massey Energy, will testify before a Senate Appropriations Cmte. on investments and spending in mine safety programs. Mr. Blankenship is expected to discuss problems with his company’s ventilation systems and other issues for which the company has been

watch Senate Hearing: c-span.org at 2pm ET
watch Senate HELP Cmte. Hearing on Mine Safety (4/27

Mexican President addresses Congress: Immigration main topic

Mexican Pres. Felipe Calderon is expected to comment on U.S. immigration policy in remarks to a Joint Meeting of Congress. This comes as the House and Senate prepare for possible debate on immigration legislation. Yesterday he criticized the new Arizona state immigration law, saying that millions of immigrants “still live in the shadows; and at times, like in Arizona, even face patterns of discrimination.” The speech caps a two-day state visit.

watch Mexican President: C-SPAN at 11am ET

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

PROGRESSIVE VICTORY!

Progressives are making history!

Progressives are making history!

What an amazing night for progressives!

In Pennsylvania, progressive challenger Joe Sestak defeated Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter in the primary!

In Arkansas, progressive challenger Bill Halter advances to a run-off election against corporate Democrat Blanche Lincoln. Lincoln only has 43% so far in a Democratic primary — giving Halter a great chance to win the run-off.

Thousands of PCCC members contributed time and money to these campaigns — and tonight, we shocked the political world.

Can you chip in $10 to help Halter and other progressives continue the momentum in upcoming primaries? Click here!

Here are the top 3 progressive candidates on our radar:

  • Bill Halter (D-AR) — is campaigning for the public option and cracking down on big Wall Street banks. Senator Blanche Lincoln helped Joe Lieberman kill the public option and has taken millions from Wall Street. Last week, she proposed cutting Social Security and Medicare while giving more tax cuts to the rich.
  • Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) — is the progressive running for Congress in a primary against Joe Lieberman’s 2004 presidential campaign co-chair, Katrina Swett. Annie supports the public option and is a longtime advocate for health care and women’s rights in New Hampshire. She’s running an amazing people-powered campaign.
  • David Segal (D-RI) — is a progressive hero running in the primary for Patrick Kennedy’s open House seat. He’s both a state legislator and activist — and forged grassroots coalitions to pass laws cracking down on big banks, which he’s promised to continue in Congress. He’s also running a fantastic grassroots campaign.

Tonight, we proved that our support can truly help good candidates win!

Can you chip in $10 to help Halter and other progressives continue the momentum in upcoming primaries? Click here!

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

American Superconductor Signs $445 Million Contract (Update1)


By Mark Scott

May 17 (Bloomberg) — American Superconductor Corp. signed a $445 million contract to supply components to Chinese wind- turbine maker Sinovel Wind Group Co., helping cement the U.S. company’s position in the fastest-growing wind energy market.

The supplier, based in Devens, Massachusetts, will sell electrical devices for Sinovel’s 1.5-megawatt windmills for 30 months starting in early 2011, according to Greg Yurek, American Superconductor’s founder and chief executive officer.

“This contract will help us to continue to grow aggressively in China,” Yurek said in a phone interview. “If you want to be in wind, you have to be in China.” The U.S. company’s shares rose as much as 6.5 percent in Nasdaq trading.

Buoyed by $47 billion in stimulus spending for clean-energy projects, China installed more than twice the number of turbines in 2009 than in the previous year, Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimated. The country will add 18 gigawatts of capacity in 2010, equal to 15 new nuclear power plants, or double the wind turbines planned in the U.S., the second-largest market.

The contract extends an existing $450 million supply accord with Beijing-based Sinovel that will finish in the first half of 2011. The U.S. company made 70 percent of its 2009 revenue from the Chinese manufacturer, Barclays Capital has estimated.

Beijing-based Sinovel is China’s largest wind-turbine maker and ranks third worldwide behind Vestas Wind Systems A/S and General Electric Co. of the U.S., according to a 2009 report by Danish research firm Make Consulting.

Shares Climb

Shares in American Superconductor climbed as much as $2 in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. The stock traded at $32.43, up $1.47, or 4.8 percent, as of 10:10 a.m. local time.

To branch out, American Superconductor has signed several deals with other mainland firms since the fourth quarter of 2009. They include a $70 million contract with China’s Shenyang Blower Works on Jan. 2 and a $10 million agreement with Zhuzhou City-based CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Research Institute Co. Ltd. on March 3.

Even with the diversification, Sinovel remains the main customer for American Superconductor, Barclays Capital said.

“Sinovel continues to make up the majority of the company’s 12-month backlog,” Barclays Capital analysts said in a May 14 research note to investors.

–With assistance by Jeremy van Loon in Berlin; Editors: Todd White, Reed Landberg