Tag Archives: politics

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Bush is Gone, But His Judges Are Here to Stay


By 

Filibuster Wars Return

Following a brief detente over executive branch nominations over the past few months, Republicans yesterday went back to their same old obstructionist ways.

First, Republicans used the filibuster to block an up-or-down vote on Rep. Mel Watt, who has been nominated to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency, an important agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This is the first time since the Reconstruction Era that a sitting Member of Congress has been denied confirmation. Watt is also the first African-American FHFA nominee.

Republicans then filibustered the nomination of Patricia Millett for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, despite her sterling credentials as one of the most well-respected members of the Supreme Court bar, previous experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, and the support of conservative legal luminaries like Ken Starr and Ted Olson.

The D.C. Circuit is second only to the Supreme Court in importance. It hears cases involving key national security issues and federal regulations like environmental and labor rules. During the Bush administration, all 11 seats on the court were happily filled by Republicans. But now that three vacancies have opened up, they are refusing to allow votes on President Obama’s nominees.

It’s no secret why — conservatives currently have a stranglehold on this important court and Republicans want to keep it that way. Of the eight current judges, four were appointed by Republicans and four were appointed by Democrats; however, five of six semi-retired senior judges who still hear cases were appointed by Republicans.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) indicated that Obama’s nominees will be voted on again and not-so-subtly threatened to change the filibuster rules if Republicans continue their blockade.

Why Courts Matter

The last 24 hours have provided important reminders about why the courts — and federal appeals courts in particular — matter.

In Texas, a three-judge panel of conservative Bush-appointed judges overruled an earlier ruling and reinstated Texas’ draconian new restrictions on abortion. The restrictions forced about one-third of Texas abortion clinics to close. Today.

And then this morning, D.C. Circuit Judge Janice Rogers Brown, one of Bush’s most radical appointees, issued a ruling against the Obamacare mandate that requires insurers to offer no-cost birth control.

Both of these vital cases will likely head to the Supreme Court, which also continues to be controlled by Republican-appointed justices, where they will face an uncertain fate.

BOTTOM LINE: The courts matter and it’s important that President Obama be allowed to exercise his constitutional duty to fill vacancies on the D.C. Circuit, other federal appeals courts, and district courts. Unless more progressive judges make it on to the bench, radical judges appointed by Bush and other Republicans will continue to try and drag the country backward and undermine hard won progressive victories.

Had enough? Click HERE to tell your senators that enough is enough and it’s time to allow a vote on the president’s nominees.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Become a Charter Member


NMAAHC -- National Museum of African American History and Culture

Join NowThank you for spreading the word about the Smithsonian’s newest museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). However, not a roof beam can be raised, a nail hammered, or a window set into place without the steadfast commitment from friends like you.
That is why I hope you’ll become a Charter Member of the Museum. Every dollar you can give brings us one step closer to the day we open the doors on what will truly be a great addition to the Smithsonian’s family of museums.
The NMAAHC will present the dark days of slavery and also celebrate individual heroism and collective resiliency that was the Civil Rights Movement to the triumph of the election of the first African American president and beyond. But this history is not solely for African Americans. This history is America’s history.
Our challenge now is to raise the money we need to build this exciting addition to the American cultural landscape. Of the $500 million needed, Congress has committed to provide half of the funds required to build the Museum. This means we need your help to raise the additional $250 million in private donations to open the doors of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2015.
We broke ground in February 2012, but to continue construction, your generous support of the Museum as a Charter Member is critical. In return, you’ll be eligible for many special benefits:

  • For your gift of $25, you will receive a 10% discount at all Smithsonian gift shops and online, special E-updates about Museum events, programs and exhibitions, and your name added to the Museum’s prestigious electronic Honor Roll of Charter Members to be displayed at the Museum.
  • For your gift of $40, you will also receive a beautiful 8.5″ x 11″ Certificate of Appreciation, perfect for framing and proudly displaying your support of the Museum.
  • For your gift of $100, you will also receive the double CD Every Tone a Testimony, a fascinating aural history of African Americans in words, music and poetry.
  • For your gift of $250, you will also receive the book Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits, a beautiful collection of portraits and stories of prominent African Americans.

Please don’t delay in becoming a Charter Member. We need your help to build this great Museum. . With your help, we’ll build this important museum to honor the great legacy of the African American experience.
Sincerely,


Lonnie Bunch
Director
National Museu
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Zach Silk, Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility


I’d like to say that I can’t believe this — but almost nothing the gun lobbyists do surprises me anymore.

But here it is: A political operation working with gun lobbyists decided to declareDecember 14 — the anniversary of the tragic massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary — “Guns Save Lives Day.”

You read that right.

Naturally, they immediately bowed to pressure to not hold their crass political event on the anniversary of the shooting deaths of 28 people — most of them children — to score cheap political points and raise cash to support their organization.

So they pushed it back — one whole day.

But they’re still trying to profit — politically and financially — off of an unimaginable tragedy. Please take a second to add your name to our open letter to make them cancel this ghoulish sideshow.

I’ve worked in politics a long time. But it is really rare to see something so crass and so brazen as to try to exploit the senseless deaths of children to build your network and raise money to support the very thing that stole them from their parents and friends.

It is unconscionable.

Even worse, their terrible antics give a bad name to so many well-intentioned gun owners — the majority of whom fully support sensible reforms like I-594, our initiative to require background checks on all gun purchases in Washington.

But these aren’t genuine people — they’re political consultants and lobbyists who only care about making headlines and lining their coffers.

The only way to stop them holding this event is for public opposition to grow so large, that they will be shamed into canceling this event. But we need huge numbers on this open letter to make it happen.

Make them cancel this ghoulish “Guns Save Lives Day” — add your name to our open letter today.

Thanks.

Zach Silk Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

ACTION ALERT: Join the Indigenous Mobilization in Brazil!


Amazon Watch
Português | Español | Deutsch | More

Help Make History!
Take Action for Indigenous Rights in Brazil!

Join the Indigenous Mobilization in Brazil!

Last week, courageous indigenous leader Mayalú Txucarramãe shared her concerns about threats to the Kayapó people and the Xingu Basin due to construction of the Belo Monte dam and recent attacks on indigenous peoples’ rights in Brazil. This week she joins her family and thousands of indigenous people from throughout Brazil in a national mobilization in defense of their constitutional rights. Take action today to show your support!

In response to a widespread attack on indigenous peoples’ rights and territories by the Brazilian Congress backed by agribusiness, mining and energy interests, Brazil’s National Indigenous Association (APIB) has called for a national mobilization until October 5th, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Brazilian Constitution guaranteeing the rights of indigenous peoples.

Let’s make sure that these rights are guaranteed.
Take action today to show your support!

The Brazilian Congress is about to consider proposals that would eliminate indigenous rights to resources in cases of “relevant public interest” and to reduce protections to indigenous territories and stop any new demarcations. This means more dams, mining and agribusiness expansion – not good for the Amazon, not good for people like Mayalú who live there…not good for me or for you living on this planet that we share.

Indigenous peoples are marching in cities across Brazil this week, meeting with congressional representatives and holding press conferences in defense of their rights and territories throughout the Amazon and beyond. Amazon Watch is on the ground with them. Wherever you are, won’t you join us?

Stand with Mayalú and indigenous peoples throughout Brazil by sending a message to President Rousseff today!

For indigenous rights and the Amazon,

Leila Salazar-Lopez
Leila Salazar-Lopez
Program Director