Tag Archives: MJ

So what happens now on Climate Change?


Center for American Progress Logo

You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts.

The Senate has abandoned the climate change bill. Want to know what this means about the future of climate and energy issues?

You’re not alone.

Watch the Video

Thankfully, there’s a way to get answers on the tough questions. Center for American Progress experts are at your service.

Daniel J. Weiss, an expert on energy and climate policy, is taking questions through Facebook on the oil disaster response bill and other climate and energy issues.

To ask Dan a question, just go to CAP’s Facebook page and click the “Like” button at the top. Then post your question on our wall. Your question might be chosen for Dan’s next “Ask the Expert” video.

Make sure to get your questions in now ― the deadline is this Thursday. Next week, we’ll post the new video with Dan’s answers on Facebook.

And keep an eye on CAP’s Facebook page to see when our next “Ask the Expert” video is coming up so you can get your questions in!

Shop at Target?


Target just gave a huge contribution to a anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-progressive candidate for governor in Minnesota. Will you send a message to Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel that you won’t shop at Target unless they stop trying to buy elections? Click here:

Sign the petition


Get this: Target, the retail giant, just became one of the very first companies to take advantage of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision allowing unlimited corporate cash in elections.1

Target has spent over $150,000 in the Minnesota Governor’s race backing state Rep. Tom Emmer, a far-right Republican who supports Arizona’s draconian immigration law, wants to abolish the minimum wage and even gave money to a fringe group that condoned the execution of gay people. 2

Target must think customers won’t care. They’re wrong: We do care, and we need to let them know that we want Target—and all corporations—out of our elections.

Will you send a message to Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel telling him that you’re not going to shop at Target unless they stop trying to buy elections? Click here to add your name to the petition:


Once we get 150,000 signatures, MoveOn members in Minnesota will hand deliver the petition to Target headquarters.

The stakes are much higher than one candidate and one company. Other CEOs are in “wait-and-see” mode following the Citizens United decision, according to a former Federal Trade Commission counsel quoted on NPR.3 If we don’t push back hard, this will just be the tip of the iceberg. Other corporations will learn that they can pour money into elections to buy the outcome they want—without paying a price with their customers or shareholders.

We all knew Citizens United would benefit candidates who stand up for corporate CEOs instead of everyday people. But you wouldn’t expect a company like Target to jump in and try to buy an election so quickly. After all, Target made its name by being thought of as the more progressive store in the wake of numerous WalMart scandals.

That’s why MoveOn members are following up on actions of groups like Human Rights Campaign and the Alliance for a Better Minnesota by telling Target that we won’t shop there unless they stop trying to buy elections. Please add your voice now:


Thanks for all you do.

–Ilyse, Robin, Anna, Mari, and the rest of the team

mashup Monday &some News …


Democrats are reforming their own members when will Republicans actually drain the swamp they have of corrupt, immoral folks in their own party?


Progress for ALL AMERICANS

If not now …when

The President will speak at a convention for the Disabled Vets of America in Atlanta and while Congress or at least the House  is out on break we, the people will hear and see some outrageous things coming from the right and Republican politicians will be leading the train of crazy talk about all things reform and repeal. For months, our opponents have spread lies about reform to scare voters away. But the simple truth about what reform would actually do — save jobs, guarantee all Americans affordable, stable coverage, and significantly reduce the deficit — is something most Americans strongly support.  We all know that watching the change we all need taking place or trying to take place in both Chambers of Congress has been difficult but when HCR came up who knew that the health insurance reform that Romney helped pass and signed while Governor of Massachusetts is very similar to the bill passed by the Democrats of the Obama Administration. It was apparent after a few interviews that the people of Massachusetts hated the way their health care was created but ask one just one if they would be willing to give up their socialized health care they have now.

Progress for ALL Americans not just a select few … VOTE Democrats

The question is, come November, will the voters know and or accept the facts? Will they seek the truth or will they accept the noise nonsense and lies given by Republicans on a daily basis.

Republicans continue to disrespect the office of President, blocking his efforts to live up to his campaign promise and the 53% who voted him into office. We the People cannot afford to vote politicians who put Political Party over doing the Peoples business; though Republicans would have the public believe it is in our best interest. We need people to make the effort to listen to Republicans talk, make comments about repealing everything, and going back to the way the house of Bush governed, we need and must move into the 21st Century if we plan to get back on track, be the number one in the Nation.

The November elections are important and democrats must be out in droves to vote Democrats into office for each and every State ; stay informed and vote to keep democrats in to complete the fixes our economy needs so badly because they definitely were avoided by the house of Bush.

Democrats are reforming their own members when will Republicans actually drain the swamp they have of corrupt, immoral folks in their own party?

Other News …

The Financial Times’ Ed Luce documents the “crisis of middle-class America.” Noting the “median wage stagnation” that has afflicted most American families, Luce writes, “the annual incomes of the bottom 90 per cent of US families have been essentially flat since 1973 — having risen by only 10 per cent in real terms over the past 37 years. That means most Americans have been treading water for more than a generation.”Tprogress

**Lindsey Lohan was released from jail

The passage of the Affordable Care Act will save the Medicare program about $8 billion by the end of the year, “and $575 billion over the rest of the decade,” according to the Obama administration. The savings are anticipated to add “12 years of solvency” to Medicare’s trust fund for inpatient care.TPprgress

**2 killers from AZ are still on the loose

**High Court trims Miranda warning rights

**Spirit Airlines will charge for walk-on luggage from now on

**Ahmadinegad offers to speak to President Obama one on one

**Obama states there is a shift commitment to the iraq war

**BP is going to try and plug up the well for good -Static Kill


C-SPAN …

watch Pres. Obama’s Weekly Address watch Republican Weekly Address

listen Adm. Thad Allen (Ret.) Conference Call (8/1)

Health Care Discussion on “50 Ways to Implement Health Reform”

C‑SPAN’s Washington Journal will begin a month long series looking at issues in the news, from health care to financial reform and politics. This morning, Tracy Watts a senior health care consultant for Mercer discussed how employers are working to implement the heath care law that was passed earlier this year. Later, the Alliance for Health Reform hosts a discussion titled “50 Ways to Implement Health Reform: State Challenges and Federal Assistance.” Health care administrators will give an overview of how states and the federal government will begin implementing provisions of the new health care law President Obama signed on March 23rd. Speakers include representatives from the Health and Human Services Department, insurance companies and the states.

watch Tracy Watts on WJ: Available Shortly
watch AHR-Health Reform: C-SPAN at 12:15pm ET
read AP: A Struggle To Fix New Law
visit Alliance for Health Reform

Senate this Week: Jobs, Energy, Kagan Vote

The Senate will begin its final week of work before the August recess at 2pm (ET) today. They will first resume work on H.R. 1586, a substitute amendment to a House-passed FAA reauthorization bill. The substance of the Senate amendment to this measure is $10 billion in education funding for teacher salaries and $16.1 billion in aid to the states from the stimulus fund for state Medicaid costs. The vote on the motion to proceed to the bill is expected at 5:45pm.

The Senate may also take up Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) energy package (S.3663) later in the week. This package would eliminate the $75 million cap on economic damages from offshore oil spills; it also would provide full funding for up to five years for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is mostly paid for by offshore drilling revenues. Sen. Reid will likely set up a cloture vote on this energy package.

Before the recess, the Senate will take up the nomination of Elena Kagan to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. If confirmed, she would replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens and become the fourth female Justice in the Supreme Court’s history.

visit Bloomberg: First Democrat to Oppose Kagan

watch Senate Floor: C-SPAN2 at 2pm ET
visit WSJ: Reid’s Energy Bill Delayed Until Tuesday

Allen Defends Oil Dispersant Oversight, Says Static Kill Possible on Monday

During Sunday’s conference call on oil spill recovery efforts, Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen responded to charges made by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) that the Coast Guard has “rubber stamped” BP’s use of oil dispersants. Adm. Allen said he and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson agree on guidelines calling for a 75% reduction in use of chemicals which breakdown oil in the Gulf.

However, incident commanders are authorizing additional dispersant use on a case-by-case basis, he pointed out.

On Saturday, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) sent a letter demanding that government officials provide his office with records documenting the amount of dispersants used.

Also during the call, Adm. Allen said that the hydrostatic or “static kill” could begin as soon as Monday evening. A sequence of tests must first be performed before mud can be pumped into the wellhead.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi


Midnight tonight is your last chance to contribute to the DCCC before one of the most critical FEC deadlines of this election and the first since Republicans have experienced a surge in their fundraising.

It’s critical that House Democrats have a strong showing this month. The media and Washington pundits will view our fundraising totals as an indication of our strength to take on Republicans and their powerful special interest supporters in November.

Republicans have been claiming to have the momentum. We know that’s not true, and if you stand with me at this decisive moment in our campaign, we will make this clear to the world. We are just $35,919 away from our goal and are so committed to making this goal that all gifts today will be matched 2-to-1 by a group of generous Democratic donors.

Contribute $5, $10 or more before the FEC deadline at MIDNIGHT TONIGHT and your contribution will be matched 2-to-1 by a group of committed Democrats.

This election comes down to a choice between going forward or going back to Republican rule and the same exact failed policies of the Bush agenda.

I hope I can count on your continuing generosity and support.

Thank you,
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House

Target/Best Buy …Make it right!


Human Rights Campaign


$250,000 in donations to a rabidly anti-LGBT candidate?

Tell Target and Best Buy: You need to make this right.

One candidate for Governor of Minnesota has promised to veto marriage equality legislation and has ties to a Christian rock band that advocates death to gays.

Target and Best Buy, both based in Minneapolis, have donated $250,000 to a political committee supporting his campaign.

But they still have a chance to make it right. We’ve drafted an open letter calling on the companies to donate an equal amount to support fair-minded candidates. We’ll publish it in a full-page ad in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Will you help us ratchet up the pressure by adding your name?

By signing on, you’ll help make it clear that Target and Best Buy are risking the business of millions of pro-equality customers – and show the rest of corporate America, which is watching this situation very closely, that support for hateful and intolerant candidates won’t go unnoticed.

But don’t stop there. Print out our letter, take it to the manager of your local Target and Best Buy, and let them know how disappointed you are.

Here’s the backstory: Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Target had donated $150,000 to the political committee MN Forward. Best Buy pitched in another $100,000.

MN Forward’s mission? Elect as governor an anti-LGBT state representative with a long history of attacks on LGBT Americans. This representative’s campaign even donated to a controversial “punk-rock Christian ministry” whose leader has advocated executing gays and lesbians!

After all these two companies have done to build a fair and equitable workplace, it’s a slap in the face. In years past, Target and Best Buy consistently received 100 percent ratings on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index.

They need to make this right – by donating an equal amount to support candidates who will fight for equality. But they won’t do it just because we ask. They need to see that hundreds of thousands of customers across the country are upset and disappointed.

I hope Target and Best Buy will do the right thing. But it’s up to us to show that fair-minded consumers are paying close attention to what they do next.

Let’s make this happen,

Joe Solmonese
Joe Solmonese
President