Americans have more anxiety about the economy than about any other major national issue Gallup tracks, with 71% saying they worry a great deal about it. “Federal spending and the budget deficit” spark nearly as much concern, at 64%. The environment and race relations rank lowest of 14 issues tested.
Read more at GALLUP.com.
Here we go again – at least here I go again, and I hope you can join me.
In January I announced that I would run for reelection in 2012 because I want to fight for the values I have been committed to throughout my career. The events in Washington since that time have reinforced my view that those values are under greater attack than at any time in my life.
Over the past few weeks, Congress has gone through a bizarre, grueling, and ultimately very sad budget process. This has been a disaster for those who believe that we have the capacity as a people to come together and cooperate on measures that are essential to improving the quality of all of our lives.
Republicans are attempting to weaken the financial reform bill we passed last year, and the far right has succeeded in passing through the House budgets that will re-deregulate derivatives and to weaken the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
At the same time, they resisted any effort to make significant cuts to our swollen military budget. Instead, they chose to inflict enormous harm on virtually all domestic programs, proudly stating that they had debated the entire US government in less than three days. I stood up in the House late at night after a marathon debate and I denounced their orgy of self-congratulation over their senseless budget cutting. http://images.myngp.com/LinkTracker.aspx?crypt=IVi0ax2%2b6UBSinc%2fCPYaKdaJwsMh0V5KnXpbYo0o6usIzZHtMm7avT6xh2PId64V3H1TXg9cveHz4X4iWQX%2f8nWBmlzPYqFO9PL61K1FacAU6VN1fqldK8%2fB3jnGOwZrHdqMotfOShGgWdUy45CNXMIOiDGBo%2fQ1q6IH2PgZSlM%3d
But the battle is not over — we will spend the next two years and more fighting this gross distortion of our budget priorities and of our values. I will give everything I can to this effort, and with your help I will do so through 2012 and beyond.
Last year, you helped me defend against coordinated attacks by national right-wing organizations which had been empowered to spend freely on elections by the recent Supreme Court decision. Because it was such an especially expensive campaign year, I am writing earlier than usual to ask if you can help me begin to payoff campaign debts – including one to myself – and to start to accumulate the funds that I will need to withstand another coordinated nation-wide right-wing assault in 2012.
It’s flattering to be the focus of the Right’s unhappiness, but it’s also expensive. I would be grateful if you would help provide me with what I need to fight back.
As Japan struggles to overcome a disastrous string of events — including a possible nuclear catastrophe — millions of us have sought to help, often by donating money to urgent relief efforts.
Tell AT&T and Verizon to stop delaying donations to Japan
But if you donate via text message, your donations may take up to 90 days to reach aid organizations that need the money as soon as possible.
Even though they’re getting large amounts of free media attention for their text-to-donate programs, companies like AT&T and Verizon have chosen not to release the donation money right away. Many customers assume that they’re sending funds straight to disaster zones in the crucial days after the earthquake, but donations are transferred after the end of your next billing cycle, a process that can take up to three months.
Masaya Uchino, a law student in San Francisco with family in Japan, started a petition on Change.org to demand that AT&T, Verizon, and other major phone service providers stop delaying much needed donations from reaching organizations doing relief work in Japan. Please add your name to the petition now:
After the earthquake in Haiti, Change.org members and others asked phone companies to provide donations immediately — and the phone companies came through. But so far they’ve refused to take the same step, and it’s up to us to join Masaya in speaking out.
Thanks for taking action,
– Weldon and the Change.org team
P.S. If you want to donate immediately to relief efforts, join the Change.org staff in contributing to one or more of these great organizations:
Oxfam America: http://chn.ge/hd3n4C
International Medical Corps: http://chn.ge/hhkQhT
Habitat for Humanity: http://chn.ge/e8OX7r
UN Foundation: http://chn.ge/hVZ5uu
American Red Cross: http://chn.ge/eWtkti
Reading a bedtime story to your kids shouldn’t mean you’re contributing to the destruction of irreplaceable rainforests. Pretty obvious, right? But Disney Publishing and HarperCollins disagree.
These two publishing giants are using paper linked to Indonesian rainforest destruction to print their children’s books. We can change that.
We’re taking the fight to protect Indonesia‘s rainforests straight to the companies responsible for this tragic destruction—and we need you with us. Make a gift today to help RAN shine a spotlight on those responsible for the destruction of Indonesia’s tropical forests.
Already, you and I are having a significant impact. After months of conversations and negotiations—and good old-fashioned RAN activism—eight of the largest American book publishers have committed to get controversial Indonesian fiber out of their books.
We need your support to make sure these eight publishers do what they say they’re going to and push the last two laggards, Disney and HarperCollins, to follow suit. Donate today to support the campaign to protect Indonesia’s rainforests.
Rainforest-free paper is a readily available alternative – there’s no reason for these publishers to support the devastation of a precious and fragile ecosystem. It’s up to us to make sure Disney and HarperCollins get the message and change their ways.
Help us keep the momentum going by making a donation to stop the destruction of some of the richest tropical forests on the planet.
Every little bit helps. Your voice – and your generous support – can change the way HarperCollins and Disney do business. We’ve already had a big impact with this campaign. Only with your support can we take on—and win—ambitious fights like this. Click here to make your gift.
Let’s show them what committed activism can do and make sure this story has a happy ending. Nobody should have to choose between books and rainforests.
Thank you for all that you have done to get us this far—and all that we will do together in the future.
For the forests,
Robin Averbeck
Rainforest Free Paper Campaign
Today at 12pmET the White House has an event which can be viewed @ whitehouse.gov/live is the “Open for Questions: Startup America – Reducing Barriers” -Director of the National Economic Council, Gene Sperling and SBA Administrator, Karen Mills, answer your questions on the Startup America initiative.
In response to an article i posted “Help protect the right to choose” …written by MoveOn.org
I thought my interaction with a writer who thinks choosing to kill a baby is not right was over but more questions more responses more enlightenment? I do not mind, hopefully the information however brief helps a person right of center get it even if it takes several online interactions.
On 3/18 I received a comment that was a little disturbing because it seemed to have questioned my sensibilites, intelligence and definitely gave me the impression that my health care as a woman needs to be regulated, controlled kind of like those death panels that were started by Conservatives and pushed hard by folks like sarah palin etc,. I definitely like getting comments and appreciate most especially with a different opinion it makes you decide why you feel the way you do ,stand up, speak out and this current war being waged on us women will take all of us because the alternative is not an option.
3/18 Choosing to kill a baby is not a right. http://www.abortiontruth.com/pictures.html
3/18 My response …
…I can only say that we can debate at what point a fetus becomes a baby and at what point a fetus becomes anything after conception. Then we have to ask at what point is conception and if you believe a baby or life begins at conception, then we have nothing to discuss because i do not believe that at conception whenever that is, creates a baby. I believe an egg becomes a fetus then after the first tri-mister, a baby is developed. Even with all this rhetoric i do not believe you or anyone else has the right to tell me what to do with my body-and if you do feel comfortable telling me what to do with my body; what could be bigger Government then that? The fact is and just so you know desperate women have used instruments, back alley doctors, drugs to abort and suicide when it becomes too much. It is my wish that legal, safe and credible places remain available for all women because no one should have to feel so stressed out about a personal choice and no woman chooses abortion because it is fun believe me.
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3/21 An additional comment/question …
When do you believe life begins? Let us start with your measuring stick for life.
FYI: The word fetus (plural fetuses) is from the Latin fetus, meaning offspring, bringing forth, hatching of young. It has Indo-European roots related to sucking or suckling, from the Aryan prefix bheu-, meaning “To come into being”.
I prefer to speak English and just call the developing life form in women, I don’t speak Latin in my daily use of language.
3/21 And my response
Again, do you believe in less government? If so, my uterus should be outside your control, especially if i pay for the abortion it is my personal business –you really should mind your own business right. It is my opinion that the Hyde amendment is enough for everyone to accept and has been for years. The question for you is why you feel it is your right to dictate to a woman as it relates to woman’s health or contraceptive choices. It is this kind of attitude by folks with that family values platform that most if not all Republicans subscribe to in the House of Representatives that wanted to defund Planned Parenthood. First, it makes no sense to take social services away from those who are in need then say if you become pregnant, you might have to go full-term. In my opinion, life without places like Planned Parenthood,would mean more young women suffering unwanted pregnancies, diseases, and or worse. I do not think you get it, you are using words Latin words instead of emotions, and that is because you have no idea what it takes to decide and or go through. While you may think abortion services are used improperly, the point is women are smart enough to decide on their own; having a choice to make a personal decision that is definitely not the same for all women is the point. I do not think most women have abortions for fun but it is far more than the clinical crap you are spewing. The fact is women girls desperate enough to use coat hangers drugs or fake doctors is a reality-having unwanted births is not the answer and a woman’s body does not belong to you or the government. I think the current laws rules and attitudes are so disgusting …just read your comment you act like the decider the guy/gal who thinks women should be pregnant & barefoot -pure BS- i don’t understand this logic. The clinical and or professorial attitude you seem to have shows just how little you know about the topic and or experience and giving up my personal control to you or my government is definitely a definition of big Government.
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3/22 My final response to the question …
So, when do you believe life begins? 3/22
I believe it probably is when a heartbeat can be heard, which is about at 9weeks depending on the woman. I do not know what you want from me but even with the facts about when life begins does not change my mind about abortion. I believe women should not lose the right to choose be treated as intelligent enough to decide and contrary to popular thought doctors actually do counsel and discuss options but those choices options have been taken away by the Republican Tea Party under the platform of family values when in reality it is family enforcement. It makes no sense to think this is anyone’s business except for the woman and her doctor, it baffles my mind to think a member of congress, a stranger thinks my uterus should be controlled by them because of their own personal beliefs, religion, values. I do believe that the Senate will respect a woman’s right to choose though Republicans feel women should be seen and not heard i guess with the cutting slashing and burning of safe, clean and truly great facilities that help girls, young women and older women on a daily basis for all kinds of things not just abortion. The fact is that places like Planned Parenthood also talk to young men about their responsibilities too regarding contraceptive etc. trying to keep a strong hold on information, procedures and personal choice can only be detrimental to the progress in the realm of women’s health
3/23 -Comment:
You really need to relax, if you can’t handle someone disputing your opinion you need to stay away from blogs. Or just censor those that comment on your blog if that makes it easier for you.
You complain about a lot of things that I never brought up. I state that I do not think that the choice to kill a baby is not a right. Am I wrong?
I gathered from your rant that you consider an embryo with a heart beat is now a baby. Am I right?
To save time, I am going to ask the next question as if the last statement is true. Would you then still believe a women has the right to end the life of a baby, as long as it is in her womb?
I am not asking these questions out of hostility and I hope you are not offended by me asking them. I really do what to know what you stance is and how you justify that stance. It is too easy to box someone into a pro-life or pro-choice label, when that label probably does not fit.
Response –That’s funny. If what you said were true i wouldn’t have even responded to your comment,” choosing to kill a baby is not a right.” I actually responded each time even with the first question because you sounded way too clinical to professorial and if it sounded hostile that is because of the 1st comment with pictures. The question you asked in itself brings up abortion. The halarity of just reading the comment, “choosing to kill a baby is not right” and the saddness of the tremendous hold that men and or politicians from the Republican Tea Party
Actually, i did not say embryo equals a baby … i answered that when a heart beat is heard i would deem it as a baby, which is usually at 9wks could be more … I am saying anything before that i would say is not a baby … and i would say a woman has the right to choose to do whatever she and her doctor have agreed to in private without outside forces to interrupt because whatever is going on in a woman’s body, womb, uterus is hers unless she so choses to share. I am somewhat offended because you don’t get it. I don’t think you, me , the government or anyone else for that matter has a say in what a woman does with her body. I am both pro-life …i have kids and pro-choce because women have the intelligence to decide what they want don’t you agree? what’s missing is your justification for saying choosing to kill a baby is not right is any of your business to begin with. I know where i stand and why but i have no idea why you feel the way you do.
As a woman, the passion or as you say hostility i show for a woman’s right to choose is because the Republican led House cut slashed and burnt women and children lately, these actions give me a bad feeling and could possibly create situations where women of all ages will resort to desperate measures. I believe in providing choices for women and we all know or should know that limiting or controlling choice is definitely a path no one in this 21st Century should even try to take.
Other News …
**The International Coalition continues -Gaddafi remains defiant and the murders of his own people continue
**Elizabeth Taylor is dead at 79
**Syrian clashes result in deaths
**Stocks decline
**CNN news and FOx continue to fight
**
CSPAN …
Gadhafi Forces Continue To Fight
Unrest continues in Arab nations
http://c-span.com/Events/Gadhafi-Forces-Continue-To-Fight/10737420425/
World Economics
UK and Canada P.M.’s Detail Budget Plans
UK expected economic growth at 1.7%
http://c-span.com/Events/UK-and-Canada-PMs-Detail-Budget-Plans/10737420412/
One Year Later Health Care Law Still Draws Praise, Criticism
http://c-span.com/Events/One-Year-Later-Health-Care-Law-Still-Draws-Praise-Criticism/10737420426/
Be a Seed for Change 
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