Tag Archives: Republican Party

gambling …


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With the governor and legislature poised to approve a state constitutional amendment next year that would allow for corporate casino gambling throughout the state, some elected officials in Brooklyn have begun to prematurely salivate at the promise of tax revenues, jobs and community revival. Before jumping on this casino bandwagon and forcing the development of a casino complex on what will likely be a vulnerable community, I implore our elected and community leaders to take a hard look at what the real impact casino gambling would have on a battered and dense urban community such as Coney Island as well as other similarly situated communities in Brooklyn.

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Take Action: #DontCrapOut

Bertha Lewis, President and Founder
The Black Institute
http://www.theblackinstitute.org/

The Road Travelled …


I am writing to you not knowing what side of the political table you sit at hoping some of you will be voting for Barack Obama for a 2nd term. If not, so be it. I want you to know that I am fundraising for the Democratic Party . We have at least six weeks to go before Nov.6 there are fellow Americans participating in early voting as we speak. In some parts of the Country, Voter Suppression is rearing its ugly head. As a woman, mom, business owner and person of colour, I am beyond disheartened at what has transpired. I do not usually ask for money but given what Mr. Romney and Paul Ryan are offering. I have to step up and at least try to find people to stand up speak out and give Barack Obama a second term. I hope some of you feel this way as well.  So, I am formally asking for a Contribution to help the Democratic Party continue what we aspired and started in 2008 and was ignored by the Republican party who met the same night Barack was sworn in. Some in the Republican Party stated compromise was a dirty word while others turned toward race and fear in 2010; it was the turning point. The extreme right gained control and exacted out record numbers of filibustering as well as obstructing major legislation that would have shortened our recession.

If, you are so inclined to donate and vote for Barack Obama to fight against the unlimited money taking over politics today click on the link below:

http://Barackobama.com

I support Obama because he represents the bold and drastic changes we need NOW action not the lip service we received from the last administration. The President of the United States knows and understands we need to pay attention to our debt deficit, our environment, that we need to narrow the gap between the haves and have none and we all know we need better health-care.

Last, our future is our children and that means better educational opportunities…

Thank you for your time

Carmen

Support Suzan DelBene : for Congress


LeavesPlease Join

Mayor Joan McBride and Kirkland Councilmembers Doreen Marchione, Penny Sweet & Amy Walen

For a Wine Tasting and Auction to Benefit

Suzan DelBene Democratic Nominee for Washington’s 1st Congressional District

Monday, October 1, 2012 6:00 – 8:00 PM

The Grape Choice 9 Lakeshore Plaza Kirkland, WA 98033

 

Bring Your Checkbook! Contributions in addition to auction items gladly accepted!

July 4th & some News …


 In the summer of 2010 with a major vote looming we were asked to see our government’s deficit as something comparable to any person who is financially under water with some hard decisions that will hurt many but had to be made. We all know deals were made in the 11th hour and though folks hated what happened i wish people would open their eyes and acknowledge what would have been the alternative with a fresh set of eyes and information.

The Republican Party that was your father’s generation is no longer able to or wants to debate negotiate for  …

“The good of the many outweighs the good of the one.” … or few

So, now it is the summer of 2011, with another major vote looming that could either sink us into the ditch that President Obama pulled us out.  The Government asked us to be patient, ask ourselves how long it would take to get out of debt given the severity and trust that we will prevail. Neither the problem nor the solution that branches out globally can happen in just 24 months. In addition, we have a Political Party who practices exclusion with obstructionist behavior, some conservadems and not enough mainstream democrats seem willing to vote or fight for the people. It is not lost on most of us how many obstacles the Democratic Party is fighting like that 60-vote rule which has tied the hands of progress for the last 2years, Republicans threatening to bring the whole system to its knees by filibustering on every JOBs bill put on the Floor of Congress while the Democratic Party has promised not to buckle under pressure. It is one year later and the BS continues and the 11th hour is here.

The 4th of July weekend for many is just another day, some use it to contemplate on what Independence Day means to them, some partake in public services while others are thinking about war and the intent for independence and the power that it gives.  It feels more like our independence is being compromised every time the Republicans fail to do the right thing for their fellow Americans each and everyday. The 4th is also a time to think about war and how unimaginable what our Soldiers actually go through but it seems like a dose of hell daily. I can only image what Military families experience but we civilians definitely should be aware of their sacrifices and be grateful. It is a feeling civilians in war-torn countries feel, victims of dictatorship and  war correspondence cover. So, as we all celebrate our own style of independence give a shout out to those you know, love and miss who serve and protect us.

In other disturbing news that happened right about now back in 2010 and is resurfacing as the Republican Party plows through State Jobs,worker rights and State Parks – in State after State. Apparently, in a procedure that is not getting much news coverage but gained some steam after Governor Dave Freudenthal threatened the sale of the Grand Teton. Now, there are reports that the Governor of Florida wants to privatize some if not all State parks which if you do some research will find that most if not all belonged to the Native Americans and maybe it is just me but this seems like a reckless and disrespectful move.  It was disappointing to read how the federal government sets aside land and then while we real people look the other way sells it, privatized for things like mining and or logging which we all know has a whole lot of negative backlash let alone not at all environmentally responsible.  Yes, the government took land from the first nation’s people saying one thing doing another back in the day actually wanting to buy sell and or trade it to the highest bidder knowing the value will increase but stop and think about how words and deeds done in the best interest of our countries first people became corrupted. Yes, history repeats itself… like the land set asides in Texas and Florida that they said was placed in a trust for Native Americans only to find out that they can buy it back at fair market value…. dang, If I understand what I read, Congress voted to take land and sell it back at a profit was unbelievable, seemed unchallenged and done quietly. In my opinion, a trust should be a positive thing but reading how some guy voted into a public servant position, probably has no American Native background throw around his plan to sell the land as, “Trash land” to other non-native folk. I do not know what happened after 7/4/2010 but it was clear the interior Department, Bureau of land management and the State fought over control of first nation land and not one mention of first nation being represented at the meeting however the 800 thousand acres taken is impressive …No?  Today, the NPS is entrusted with land holdings that have transitioned into plenty of things such as state and national parks made for everyone to use but the fact is these parks are or pieces of them suffer from fires, pollution, crime and are not as green as they should be. In the case of Wyoming, reports are that the Governor is trying to sell pieces of the parks away. I was surprised and disappointed to find that the Gov. of Washington privatized so much of our forests and some water ways in 2005. The disappointment looms from the fact that most if not all forests and waterways in our Evergreen State belonged to native americans and though the intentions went from bad to a supposed good idea of  stewardship and production of our own sustainable products our forests seem abused and mishandled. There was a report of a loss of over 700 thousand acres to big corporate developers, right of ways and agriculture since 1978. I gotta ask when will  Republican Governors and unfortunately some from the Democratic Party currently shutting down their own governments, planning to privatize parks,  public service organizations and jobs and totally responsible for leaving huge deficits with supporting Republican legislators refusing to balance the books learn.

I always say get nervous when people talk States Rights and depending on the issue the impact will hurt and be felt by those covered under the term “protected class.”

“If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience.”  –George Bernard Shaw

Other News …

Essence Music Festival comes to smooth

Lack of rain is keeping the mosquito
count down this year

Casey Anthony Trial: State’s Rebuttal

Libya wants volunteers to fight

Exxon Pipeline Oil Spill Cleanup

Big Banks Easing Terms on Loans Deemed
as Risks

CSPAN …

Chief Justice, Dalai Lama on C-SPAN

Discussions on immigration, foreign policy also among Fourth of July highlights

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Highlights From BookTV

special Fourth of July programming

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Senator Akaka introduces bill for financial literacy counseling | Hawaii 24/7

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Bill Clinton Backs U.S. Tax Holiday on Foreign Profits, With Caveats – Bloomberg

Environment: Polluter Profits Vs. Public Health


The rise of the Tea Party in Congress has inspired an all-out assault on public health and a clean environment. Several freshman Republicans have joined Newt Gingrich’s call to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency. Republicans in the House Energy Committee unanimously voted not once, not twice, but three times, to deny that climate change is real, despite the broad scientific consensus that “climate change is happening and human beings are a major reason for it.” Every House Republican voted against stripping big oil companies of taxpayer funded subsidies — which would have saved American citizens tens of billions of dollars. The Republican-controlled House Administration Committee even slashed Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) “Green the Capitol” initiative, ordering the switch of recyclable materials to non-biodegradable Styrofoam to be used in the House cafeterias. “It apparently no longer matters in Congress what health experts and scientists think,” Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) observed. “All that seems to matter is what Koch Industries thinks.”

GOP PROTECTING POLLUTER PROFITS: After hours of debate over the last few days, the Senate may vote as early as today on Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Sen. Jim Inhofe’s (R-OK) legislation to gut the EPA’s ability to set greenhouse pollution rules for coal plants and oil refineries. The language, which passed Upton’s energy committee this week, has been introduced by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as Amendment 183 to an unrelated small-business bill. Inhofe isn’t likely to get the 60 votes needed to pass, but enough Democrats are susceptible to the arguments of the coal and oil industries to join the science deniers in the Republican Party to cross the 50 vote threshold. The Hill reports that the “lead sponsors of House GOP legislation to kill EPA climate change rules” — the Committee From Koch’s Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) — “crossed Capitol Hill for Senate meetings Wednesday amid a pending effort by their Senate Republican counterparts to advance the same plan.” If this effort to prevent the EPA’s modest action on climate change fails, the enemies of a healthy planet have more plans up their sleeve: Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) is pushing a moratorium on climate action, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has introduced the constitutionally questionable REINS Act to require explicit Congressional approval for every agency rule, and House Republicans have defunded climate action and environmental protection in the spending bill for the remainder of 2011.

EPA PROTECTING LIVES: The Environmental Protection Agency yesterday unveiled its proposed rule to reduce mercury and air toxics for coal-fired power plants, after a ten-year delay. We are currently being exposed annually to 386,000 tons of 84 dangerous pollutants from uncontrolled coal plants, despite being classified as “air toxics.” These include arsenic, lead, mercury, dioxins, formaldehyde, benzene, acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, and radioactive materials like radium and uranium. Even in small amounts, “these extremely harmful air pollutants are linked to health problems such as cancer, heart disease, neurological damage, birth defects, asthma attacks and even premature death.” Coal-fired power plants produce more hazardous air pollution in the United States than any other industrial pollution sources. They were exempt from regulation until 2000, and then the Bush administration wasted its time with a system that was thrown out by the courts because it did not provide the protection required by the Clean Air Act. “Reducing mercury and other toxic air pollutants is a prescription for healthier babies , children, and seniors,” said CAPAF president John Podesta. “A mandate to slash these toxic airborne pollutants will drive utilities to develop and deploy innovative clean energy technologies.”

DIRTY COAL COMPLAINS: The dirty coal industry has attacked the proposed rules. The standards would result in “higher utility bills for households and businesses, substantial job losses and a significant weakening of the nation’s electricity reliability,” National Mining Association President Hal Quinn said in a statement. However, industry analysts have found that electric system reliability can be maintained and that “the capital investments related to these regulations will create needed jobs and will yield many hundreds of billions of dollars in annual health benefits.” The EPA estimates that for every dollar spent to reduce this pollution from power plants, there will be $5 to $13 in health benefits, up to $140 billion in total health benefits a year. Furthermore, a group of leading energy companies — Calpine Corporation, Constellation Energy, Exelon Corporation, PG&E Corporation, Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc., and Seattle City Light — congratulated the EPA for its proposed rule, saying there “ought to be no further delay” in its “effective implementation.” “We know from experience that constructing this technology can be done in a reasonable time frame, especially with good advance planning,” said Paul Allen, senior vice president and chief environmental officer of Constellation Energy, “and there is meaningful job creation associated with the projects.”