Tag Archives: vote

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

we won …OFA


Organizing for America

The Senate just passed Wall Street reform. The bill will become law the moment President Obama signs it.

This reform represents the boldest financial regulations since the aftermath of the Great Depression — and the strongest consumer protections in history.

Every door you knocked in Iowa, every phone call you made in Ohio, every dollar you dug deep to give — it’s all for this. The Recovery Act, health reform, and now Wall Street reform, on top of everything else. In a year and a half, this administration has made bigger, bolder progress than any president’s in decades.

We have a president who fights for all of us, every day. We have you, the best organizers this country has ever seen, who flooded Congress with calls and letters, had millions of conversations with friends and neighbors, went toe-to-toe with the country’s most powerful special interests — and won.

And we have members of Congress who bravely stood with the President, even as right-wing groups have pledged $200 million to defeat them in November’s elections.

First, take a moment to celebrate. This is an achievement that will make American lives better and protect our economy for generations to come, and it absolutely wouldn’t have happened without you.

Then, take a moment to thank the members of Congress who stood with us and supported these landmark reforms. In the coming days, they’ll be taking a lot of heat for defying Wall Street — and they need to know they have our gratitude.

Organizing for America supporters are signing a note of thanks to Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and all of the allies in Congress who stood up for reform.

Will you add your name?

http://my.barackobama.com/WSRVictory

We’ll deliver these signatures to leaders in Congress who supported reform, after the President signs this into law.

Thanks for all you did to get us here. I’m so grateful to be making history with you, and I know the President is as well.

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Video: Mr. Karder goes to Washington …Repower America


What keeps me fighting is the folks we’re fighting for.

And one story that’s stuck with me is Michael Karder’s. He’s struggling to bring manufacturing jobs back to Akron, Ohio building wind turbines — because he knows clean energy is the future of our economy.

This video is exactly why I’m in this movement — and you should see it.

Watch Michael Karder’s story and help him fight for our clean energy future.

Michael’s voice and the voices of others like him are so powerful that next week we’re planning to bring hundreds of Americans — Gulf Coast residents, veterans and clean energy manufacturers — to Washington, D.C. to remind our Senators why they need to be champions for clean energy and climate.

But their voices will be even more powerful if we join ours with theirs.

You can stand with these real American voices for clean energy by signing our letter to the Senate demanding strong climate and clean energy legislation, and our grassroots advocates will deliver it during their meetings in the Senate.

We already have 67,000 signatures — ask your friends and family to sign on and support people like Michael.

It’s bewildering that despite catastrophic disasters and undeniable public outrage, so many Senators are still struggling to find their backbone on comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation.

Next week, we’re going to remind them why we need action in a powerful way, and you can be a part of it.

Watch Michael’s story and ask your friends and family to add their names before we deliver it to the Senate

Thanks,

David Boundy
Campaign Manager
The Climate Protection Action Fund’s Repower America

DONATE
Contributions or gifts to the Climate Protection Action Fund are not tax deductible.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Meet your Republican Congress


Yesterday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — a right-wing political group representing large corporations — proposed what it’s calling an economic recovery plan. Take a look:

  • Privatize Social Security
  • Cut taxes for the rich
  • Log the national forests
  • Expand offshore gas and oil drilling
  • Privatize highways and waterways

Look familiar? That’s what the agenda of a Republican Congress looks like and the Chamber of Commerce plans to spend more than $50 million to make it a reality.

Only people-powered campaigns can compete against that sort of money — they’re the only thing that ever have.

The Chamber can run ads now through Election Day, but nothing is more effective than committed volunteers talking to their family, friends and neighbors — and that’s exactly why DFA is launching Dean Corps. We’ll organize people on the ground to talk to voters and get out the vote.

BEAT BACK A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS — CONTRIBUTE NOW

With Dean Corps, we’re placing trained staff on the ground in campaigns across the country. These organizers will recruit and train volunteers to make phone calls, knock on doors and get out the vote through Election Day.

DFA members have long been the boots on the ground — putting grassroots campaigns over the top — for candidates up and down the ballot in all 50 states. This week, DFA members contributed the resources to put an organizer on the ground in Texas to beat George Bush’s hand-picked successor for Governor, Rick Perry.

Now, it’s up to you to decide how many congressional campaigns we back up with staff on the ground — Elaine Marshall in North Carolina? Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania? Ann McLane Kuster in New Hampshire? House races in California, Washington, Florida?

CONTRIBUTE RIGHT NOW TO FUEL OUR PEOPLE-POWERED CAMPAIGN AND BEAT BACK BIG CORPORATIONS

Grassroots people-power can beat big money. Support Dean Corps today to make it happen.

Thank you for everything you do.

-Levana

Levana Layendecker, Communications Director
Democracy for America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

My Prediction …Nancy Pelosi


Keep the House Blue!

Here is what will happen in November. Democrats will keep control of the House. Period.

While some Washington pundits are claiming that Republicans have the momentum, I remain more confident in our chances for victory as long as we have our secret weapon — you.

Next Sunday, July 25th, marks 100 days from the fall elections. I have set a goal of raising $1 Million in grassroots contributions to send a powerful message to the media and to the world that we will keep control of the House and we will continue America’s New Direction!

Please stand with me to send an overwhelming message of grassroots strength. If you contribute $5, $10 or more today, you will receive a special invitation to join me on our National Campaign Kickoff Conference Call.

Your grassroots support has provided our margin of victory in House races since 2006 and continuing through our triumphant special election victories this year.

Ninety percent of your grassroots dollars are sent right back out the door to help our Democratic campaigns (only 10 percent is used for administrative costs). Your dollars help our great Democrats fight back against Republican attacks, place strategic early media buys to get their messages out, and most of all, work to turn out every Democratic voter on Election Day.

Let us take this opportunity to come together for progress.

Thank you,
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House

P.S. Help us meet our goal before the final 100 days of this election season. Contribute today and receive a special invitation to join me on our National Campaign Kickoff Conference Call.

Contribute Today

~ my 2cents ...

another thorny Thursday &some News -Wall Street Reform


As we the people wait … for the result of the new BP cap testing, the vote on Wall Street Reform which has been reported as a go because Republicans Brown, Snowe and Collins have stated they will vote for the Reform bill.

This is great news and confirms that when push comes to shove though only three get it. The people are watching and telling at least these three members of Congress that it is time to reform Wall Street even if the reform is watered down.

It is a glaring reminder of just how hard it has been to move Americans into the 21st Century and where most Republicans stand and it ain’t for We the People folks. The decision to bet against the People to bring President Obama down is one that is not only in bad taste it will bring the rest of us down with them. I know i say this almost everyday  … but as sad as it is the truth is Republicans are willing to let our entire financial system collapse to get control -has any of their constituents asked what will happen if they are successful? Have their constituents watched or listened to what they offered up as solutions? The only solutions heard around the country is they plan to Privatize just about everything take away your grandma’s Social Security as well as any program that can be called an entitlement. It is offensive to think people work all their lives in some cases and money is taken out of their check at a rate they have no say in and this group of Republicans say ish on that …That Americans should pull up their boot straps and live at the pace that they come into…okay so let’s dissect that statement because it sounds like those of us born into middle and or lower class not mention poor should be given no opportunity to lead better lives unless we find a way on our own, granted there are self-made folks who did exactly that but if you know your history unlike folks who are so bold to make references to Americans being spoiled, not everyone can or are able to move into the self-made category without help and helping others  just seems much more American to me.

-Women and People of Colour have been kept down for what decades and have been the last to get not only the right to vote but to have the same access to things the White man was given just because they were of and felt of privilege. I admit some great people, Caucasian people felt segregation was a bad thing that all people have the right to pursue happiness…no one has the right to hurt others but history says otherwise and with all the ugly noise it looks like some folks do want to go back in time. It was a time when women and people of colour were seen …maybe but they definitely were not heard…but forces to build without much in return and today after all the Marches, Riots and Political maneuvers to rectify the injustices done to people over the last few decades. Though things are better the climate, the environment is less friendly since our first President of colour was elected

-53% of the people of the United States voted Obama into office, Republicans should  respect that though the poll numbers are down it is my contention that those who are upset don’t understand exactly know how much President Obama has accomplished or are upset because he has done everything you want now…. I call BS and people more left of center need to stop the tantrums because we have two Political Parties two chambers of Congress and it is obvious who is and is not working for all Americans. The House is by far the Democratic Party at work as legislation is getting through after much evaluation debate and votes but The Senate has more issues and that is because of the rules there and unfortunately Republicans have taken advantage at almost every angle have misused true efforts to improve things for all Americans  to break the possibility for all Americans to progress into the 21st Century and for our Government to reform thus progressing into the 21st Century as it should

Other News …

First Lady Michelle Obama announced yesterday that preventive health care services “will be free” under the Affordable Care Act. The law will “require all new private health insurance plans to cover services that can detect the first symptoms of long-term problems.” Chronic and often preventable diseases “are responsible for seven of 10 deaths in the U.S. each year and for 75 percent of the nation’s health spending.”

House lawmakers “pushed ahead” yesterday with an amendment to ban BP “from obtaining new offshore oil leases because of its poor safety record.” While it won’t affect BP’s current leases, the amendment, added to a “broader oil rig safety bill,” highlights “the threat to BP’s long-term future in the US.”

Yesterday, a federal judge blocked a Nebraska law “requiring mental health screenings for women seeking abortions,” which was set to go into effect today. The judge said the measure would place “substantial, likely insurmountable” obstacles in front of women, requiring doctors to administer “screenings that could be impossible to perform under a literal reading of the law.”

**A ship from the 18th Century may have been found on ground Zero

“Argentina legalized same-sex marriage Thursday, becoming the first country in Latin America to grant gays and lesbians all the legal rights” of heterosexuals. “Today’s historic vote shows how far Catholic Argentina has come, from dictatorship to true democratic values, and how far the freedom to marry movement has come, as twelve countries on four continents now embrace marriage equality,” said Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry.

C-SPAN ...

Hearing on Working After Retirement

Senate votes 60-38 to limit debate on the financial regulation bill

The Senate voted 60 to 38 to limit debate on the financial regulation bill (HR4173).

Up to thirty hours of debate can take place but Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced that an agreement has been reached where debate will continue until 2pm today after which a point of order vote will take place followed by a final vote on the legislation.

If the bill passes, it will then be sent to the President for his signature.

The House approved the bill last month 237 to 192, with just three Republicans voting for the legislation.

Senate Floor: NOW on C-SPAN2
H.R.4173 AP: GOP Sees Political Advantage AP: bank bill ready for passage

Testing Resumes on containment cap following overnight leak

BP has announced that a leak has been repaired and they can continue to test the new containment cap to see if it will be able to stop the oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. The testing could take up to 48 hours.Experts will increase pressure in the capping stack in 6 hour intervals to assess data and measure pressure. Adm. Thad Allen (Ret) said yesterday that they must consider, if pressure readings remain low, the possibility that there is oil leaking elsewhere. Allen did not promise 100 percent containment, but said he is “very optimistic” that BP will be able to contain much more of the leaking oil.

Allen refuted claims that relief well drilling had been delayed. He announced it had just slowed, upon reaching 4 feet, 4 inches from its target. However, further process will be much slower to ensure no problems occur.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is appearing before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee to talk about the effects dispersants are having on the Gulf of Mexico’s wildlife and seafood safety. The focus of the hearing is to find out about the chemicals and what are the unintended consequences from their use.

Hearing on Dispersants: NOW on C-SPAN3
Thad Allen: From Earlier Live: Undersea ROVs
Times-Picayune Coverage of Oil Spill
EPA: List of Dispersants Used

Senate Cmte. Questions Federal Reserve Nominees

Janet Yellen, President Obama’s nominee to be vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, appeared at a nomination hearing before the Senate Banking Committee. The Committee also questioned additional Board nominees Peter Diamond and Sarah Bloom Raskin, who were tapped to serve as members of the Federal Reserve board of governors.

In her opening statement, Yellen stated her highest priorities, if confirmed, would be to revitalize the economic recovery and reduce unemployment. When asked about the biggest challenges facing the Fed, Yellen said the Central Bank will need to learn from the financial crisis of 2008 and implement any legislative changes to the financial industry.

Speaking to the panel, Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT) stated that the government and American people are entrusting the Fed’s Board of Governors to “play a key role in recovering the economy.” Ranking member Richard Shelby (R-AL) called on the nominees to strive towards transparency and questioned the feds increased power since the economic crisis of 2008.

The 63-year-old Yellen has served as San Francisco Federal Reserve President since 2004 and was chosen by the President in April. If the Senate confirms all three nominees, the Federal Reserve Board will have all seven members for the first time since early 2006.

Nomination Hearing: From Earlier C-SPAN Archived Video of Janet Yellen
Hearing Witness List & Details
MarketWatch: New faces strengthen Bernanke
FED minutes from June meeting AP: Yellen – job creation must be `high priority’