Tag Archives: vote

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

whiney Wednesday &some News


Breaking News … LeBron James will announce his pick Thursday on ESPN  and …As the temperatures rise all over the country so are the issues just waiting for members of Congress when they get back from the break. Issues like immigration moved quickly to the front burner thanks to the Arizona Gov who boldly put a law like SB1070 on the table that could give the Arizona police the right to perform racial profiling legally. The state of AZ did not take into account the obvious behavior back during the days of separate and definitely unequal. Dr Paul has since made other comments that are clear examples for why we have the 14th amendment though few politicians have come out to agree with what Rand Paul it is obvious his comments are a revelation for those of us interested in voting this November. Immigration will be done in calm and comprehensive way because we have a President who may be at odds with the Polls stating over 65% agree with the AZ law. I believe he is just one of many who are the voice of reason with constitutional knowledge and not some Governor put in office by way of default because the real Governor of AZ getting a job with the President of the United States. It may take time but SB1070 will likely to be proven unconstitutional and overturned before the end of the month for the sake of us all.

Today, we heard the President will make a controversial recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick who will handle Medicare/Medicaid services,it’s a good move considering Republicans have blocked giving this admin the chance to govern with a complete cabinet.

In other rants of mine,  the gossip platform has gone beyond ugly and begs us to ask the question of how far is too far and is it time to demand respect of or give privacy to the people these shows target. Here we are in the 24/7 news cycle so we get more news then we all know what to do with and while it comes in fast and furious people need to pick choose the things that make sense or  has elements that pertain to our lives. I watch cable I listen to radio read a few papers though most are online now with much of their paper content. The problem is the obsession to what use to be gossip section now has become the section of not only are we going to gossip about these people but judge them talk about their looks and laugh; it’s strange because the folks making the comments feel somehow better than the entertainers, athletes and or politicians?

I love gossip until it becomes overly judgmental  -like the lets beat up the stars and then  throw them under the bus because we don’t like what they are doing then lets ask the viewers to vote on it… which, really means what are our ratings at the moment. I do not happen to like these shows because they are overly judgmental. The lets bash the stars entertainers looking into the cameras and saying oh we care about these people we rip apart while airing their dirty laundry are people who get paid to do something they probably would not want happening in their own lives. It obvious the question is not about whether they are qualified or not, it is whether they should be out there talking in the first place. In my opinion these so-called investigative reporters, gossip experts, papers, bloggers, or shows and others that went after MJ relentlessly for example should be ashamed of the what also creates collateral damage in so many of the  lives of folks who are having trouble.

We can all agree to disagree about what part the Media played in running MJ out of the US and given the freedom of speech thing getting these shows to stop beating up on public figures seems like an impossible mission. I admit to liking gossip but the last few years these gossip tabloids in all forms have crossed the line and are creating terrible platforms of who can not only come out with the most outrageous but will the viewing audience find it offensive or just want more. I just learned how to channel surf because of the verbal abuse these gossip shows are now engaging in. The gossip moved from entertainment to shows of verbal abuse with continued negative rants of public figures. The comments by gossip shows have gone from a negative jab  to hurtful verbal beat downs by asshats who get paid to tear down entertainers like Beeber, who is under age by the way, MJ, Lindsay lohan and others who refuse to give them the info to find out they are not only fodder for the next week but the next month and have become one of a few chosen to be tracked for the rest of their lives?

In my opinion It’s time to dump and or boycott shows that verbally bash public figures because they can shows and give ex-gossip expert Nancy O’Dell a big round of applause for not wanting to buy into and engage in selling the public on the sensationalism of other peoples troubled or troubling lives.

Other News …

Hawaii governor Linda Lingle (R) vetoed a bill legalizing civil unions between same-sex couples, saying that she prefers the issue be voted on as a constitutional amendment on the 2012 ballot. “It seems like she is taking us back 100 years if we are going to decide civil-rights issues by majority rule,” said state senator Les Ihara Jr. (D).TP

**Reports that the PM from Israel lost baggage while waiting for their flight from LAX ,though the bag was found 4 guns are missing…wow sounds like a good time to shut down AA and do a complete search -of everything

**A union working for Macy employees in Tacoma is still calling for consumers to boycott them due to unfair hiring practices

**Toyota vehicles are still having engine problems, recalling 270thou

**Manson follower is denied parole after the 19th time

C-SPAN …

watch Adm. Thad Allen Briefing visit More C-SPAN Oil Spill Coverage

watch Obama & Netanyahu: From Earlier

watch British House of Commons PMQ

Justice Dept. Files Suit over Arizona immigration law

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit yesterday challenging the constitutionality of Arizona’s new immigration law. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Perez and Center for Immigration Studies Research Director Steven Camarota discussed the case on today’s Washington Journal. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix, argues that immigration policy must be consistent nationally and that the Arizona law oversteps state authority. The law, S.B. 1070, requires state and local law enforcement to stop and question suspected illegal immigrants. It passed the state legislature in April and is set to take effect July 29. In recent weeks, President Obama has criticized the measure, calling it “misguided.” The Justice Department released a statement yesterday saying the Arizona law “will place significant burdens on federal agencies, diverting their resources away from high-priority targets, such as aliens implicated in terrorism, drug smuggling, and gang activity, and those with criminal records.”    “It is wrong that our own federal government is suing the people of Arizona for helping to enforce federal immigration law,” said Arizona Governor Jan Brewer in a statement responding to the lawsuit.



W.H. Advisers Address Youth Activist Conference

Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff John Podesta and Obama White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina will provide insights into the Executive Branch when they address youth activists and students leaders at the sixth annual Campus Progress National Conference today.

Other speakers include Van Jones, environmentalist and former advisor to President Obama; White House national security aide and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Samantha Power; and Democratic strategist and CNN commentator Paul Begala.  A project of the Center for American Progress, which Mr. Podesta now leads, Campus Progress works to engage young people in key political and social issues facing the nation. More than 1,200 youths from across the country will attend the two-day conference.

watch Messina & Jones Speeches: C-SPAN at 1pm ET
visit Conference Agenda

Court Term Marked By Political Spending, Gun Rights Cases

During its 2009-2010 term, which concluded last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard significant cases on campaign finance, gun-control and juvenile sentencing issues. Los Angeles Times Supreme Court reporter David Savage joined the Washington Journal this morning to discuss the impact of the Court’s rulings and how some of these decisions put the Court at odds with the Obama Administration.

The Heritage Foundation continues an examination of the 2009-2010 Supreme Court term with its annual review of the recent term’s notable cases.

As the Senate gets ready to vote on the nomination of Elena Kagan to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, panelists analyze how the dynamic of the Court may change with her addition, and how Justice Sonia Sotomayor impacted the Court in her first year.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

From the Newsroom of Senator Maria Cantwell


As Senate Takes Up Oil Spill Response, Cantwell to Introduce Bill to Protect Puget Sound and U.S. Coast from Catastrophic Oil Spills

Before Senate action, Cantwell will chair hearing on oil spill prevention and response technology; legislation addresses industry failure to fully utilize best available methods

Tuesday, July 06,2010

SEATTLE, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said she will introduce legislation to require the oil drilling industry to continually integrate the latest technologies into oil spill prevention and response plans. Speaking at a press conference on Seattle’s waterfront, Cantwell said the oil industry has failed to update its response plans with the best technology available because of weak regulations. Had the latest technologies been in place this spring, Cantwell said, the ongoing spill in the Gulf of Mexico might have been prevented, or its impact limited. After Congress reconvenes, Cantwell will chair a hearing of the Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard to address shortcomings and vulnerabilities in oil industry prevention and response technology.
“We have learned a painful lesson from the Deepwater Horizon disaster: America cannot rely on big oil companies and their CEOs to utilize the best available prevention and response technology,” Senator Cantwell said. “We’ve seen over the past 20 years that the industry will not do it on its own – from Exxon Valdez to Deepwater Horizon, Congress has had to intervene and respond. The sad truth is that if BP had the latest technologies in place this spring, the Deepwater Horizon disaster might not have occurred, or, if it did, a great deal of the damage could have been mitigated. These companies prepare fully for how to best extract resources and maximize their profits – they use technology to the fullest there. But because they refuse to prepare for these disasters, it is time for Congress to do what is necessary to bring this entire industry into the 21st century for spill prevention and response – not just extractions and profits.”
Cantwell pointed out that even areas where offshore drilling is prohibited, such as the Pacific Northwest, are vulnerable to spills because of the huge quantities of oil passing through often treacherous waters on tankers. Approximately 600 oil tankers and 3,000 oil barges travel through Puget Sound’s fragile ecosystem annually, carrying about 15 billion gallons of oil to Washington’s five refineries. Investigations in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon spill have shown that a lack of incentives and strong legal mandates has resulted in little action by the oil industry to research and develop improved spill prevention and response technologies.
While Cantwell’s latest efforts focus on developing and fielding the latest prevention and response technologies, Cantwell has been playing a key role in spill prevention and coastal protection legislation since long before the Deepwater Horizon spill. For more than three years, Cantwell has been working on a U.S. Coast Guard authorization bill that passed the Senate May 7 without opposition. The bill, which is awaiting final House-Senate approval, would significantly enhance oil spill response and prevention, improve offshore oil drilling safety, and protect coastal communities. The legislation expands federal oil spill response requirements west to Cape Flattery ensuring that Puget Sound and the entire Strait of Juan de Fuca have spill response teams and equipment in place. The bill further reduces traffic in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary; enhances spill prevention efforts on vessels transporting oil; and establishes a stronger role for tribes. Previously, Cantwell championed legislation requiring a year-round Neah Bay rescue tug near the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Cantwell has also introduced legislation that would permanently ban oil drilling off the Pacific Coast, and she has an amendment to the Outer Continental Shelf Reform Act of 2010 that significantly improves oversight and safety of offshore oil drilling rigs by filling a gap in current regulatory policy. Cantwell’s amendment would require by law a full, top-to-bottom third-party certification of drilling systems. Under current regulations, a full, top-to-bottom third-party certification of drilling systems is not mandated, meaning problems with critical drilling and safety technology such as blowout preventers are going undetected.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Obama Sues Arizona


Reform Immigration FOR America

TAKE ACTION
Tell President Obama:
Thank you for the lawsuit against Arizona to stop their racial profiling law. But I won’t be satisfied until we pass comprehensive immigration reform – keep up the pressure!

take action
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The Department of Justice just filed a lawsuit against the state of Arizona to challenge the racial profiling law that state is trying to implement. This lawsuit is a sign that the Obama Administration won’t let rogue states create laws from hatred and fear. It’s a good first step, and it paves the way to keep copycat laws off the books in other states.

In President Obama’s speech on immigration reform last week, he said that he’s committed to fixing our broken system. This is a down payment on that promise, but there’s so much more we still need to do. Can you join me in faxing the President and tell him to keep it up?

Send this fax to President Obama:
Thank you for the lawsuit against Arizona to stop their racial profiling law. But I won’t be satisfied until we pass comprehensive immigration reform – keep up the pressure!
Click here to send this free fax to the White House

The Justice Department’s actions are proof that the government isn’t going to stay on the sidelines and let states attack our basic human rights. Tell President Obama not to stop with Arizona!

Thank you,
Marissa Graciosa
Reform Immigration FOR America

p.s. I know that anti-immigrant forces are going to be trying to pressure the President to drop this lawsuit – we can’t let them overwhelm us! Send a fax, then tell five friends to do the same.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Let them Eat Cake


Families Must Come First

Take Action

Tell your Senators that we need real solutions for the unemployed.

Take Action

They don’t get it — or don’t care.

Nearly 15 million Americans are unemployed, and nearly 7 million Americans have been out of work for over 6 months.

Yet, once again, a minority of Senators blocked help for millions of struggling families. Hold your Senators accountable for their actions by making a phone call today.

Providing unemployment benefits and other assistance to families and helping states and localities protect jobs and services aren’t just compassionate. They are the best ways to help a fragile economy.

While your Senators are home, they need to hear from you. We can’t let another week go by without giving families the support they need.

Tell your Senators that we need legislation that extends unemployment insurance benefits and emergency assistance for families in crisis. And it needs to include additional Medicaid funding for states, or else we’ll face further cuts to health care, education, emergency assistance and other vital services for children and families. That’s right, inaction means more pink slips.

We need your help. Contact your home offices and demand real help for families, states, and the economy.

Thank you for continuing to fight for women and families.

Sincerely,

National Women’s Law Center

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

9.5% Unemployment


Congress just went on vacation without extending unemployment—leaving 2 million Americans without a desperately-needed source of support. Can you send a free fax to Sens. Murray and Cantwell demanding that the Senate act?

Send a fax

The new unemployment figures came out on Friday and they’re bad. We lost 125,000 jobs and the unemployment rate is 9.5%.

But instead of helping those who are out of work, Congress just went on vacation without extending unemployment benefits. That means 2 million Americans are losing a desperately-needed source of support because of Congress’ continued failure to act.

Congress seems to think they’re doing the popular thing by pulling back support for the economy, but in fact, a recent poll shows that the overwhelming majority of Americans want benefits extended, even if it means temporarily increasing the deficit.

Thankfully, your senators, Sens. Murray and Cantwell did the right thing and voted to extend benefits. But there weren’t enough senators willing to stand with them. We need to keep up the pressure so every senator knows this urgent issue has to be dealt with right away. Click here to send a free fax to Sens. Murray and Cantwell with the results of the poll along with a demand that the Senate act.

http://pol.moveon.org/fax?tg=FSWA_1.FSWA_2&cp_id=1395&id=21582-9640874-tSp8G8x&t=3

Friday’s unemployment numbers drive home the point that Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman made last week about the perils of government inaction. He goes so far as to say we may be heading for a depression.

Here are some key excerpts from Krugman’s op-ed:

We are now, I fear, in the early stages of a third depression. It will probably look more like the Long Depression than the much more severe Great Depression. But the cost—to the world economy and, above all, to the millions of lives blighted by the absence of jobs—will nonetheless be immense. And this third depression will be primarily a failure of policy. Around the world…governments are obsessing about inflation when the real threat is deflation, preaching the need for belt-tightening when the real problem is inadequate spending.

Unemployment—especially long-term unemployment—remains at levels that would have been considered catastrophic not long ago, and shows no sign of coming down rapidly.

In the face of this grim picture, you might have expected policy makers to realize that they haven’t yet done enough to promote recovery. But no: over the last few months there has been a stunning resurgence of hard-money and balanced-budget orthodoxy.

While long-term fiscal responsibility is important, slashing spending in the midst of a depression, which deepens that depression and paves the way for deflation, is actually self-defeating.

So I don’t think this is really about Greece, or indeed about any realistic appreciation of the tradeoffs between deficits and jobs. It is, instead, the victory of an orthodoxy that has little to do with rational analysis, whose main tenet is that imposing suffering on other people is how you show leadership in tough times.

You can read the whole thing and pass it on to your friends here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/opinion/28krugman.html

And click here to send Sens. Murray and Cantwell a fax to demand that the Senate does their part to get the economy growing again:

http://pol.moveon.org/fax?tg=FSWA_1.FSWA_2&cp_id=1395&id=21582-9640874-tSp8G8x&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Laura, Nita, Duncan, and the rest of the team