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Tuesday tantrums & some News …


Ok… today is a day to close your eyes breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply and release your breathe slowly … be still stay calm

Yesterday, the President announced his nominee pick for the Supreme Court, which was followed by a whole lot of whining , false reports and more rumors.  It is a side of Politics some in the News say is obvious yet it just seems like the President should get his pick and then follow the process without all the nonsense that seems to come with it.  We the People voted for Barack Obama and the vote the 53% the right to appoint and get who you want in place should come with all the power that any other President has had.

Though last night was both sad and disturbing; maybe it should enlighten people as well, AC360 had a birther who happened to have been a Military Officer, a well-known Doctor; who showed up with his lawyer who seemed more nutty than the doctor.  Is it just me or have we gone into to some twilight zone where people who have titles feel they are much more likely to know the truth to where our President is from? it was clearly an example of a guy who cracked who definitely was on the far right and is mad; maybe into making decisions that will affect him for the rest of his life … a Court Marshall… Cooper called him a once honorable man … corrected by Rolland Martin…thank goodness and just because you have a title does not mean you have a valid, legal or power challenge; specifically when the Hawaii Vital Stats has proved it beyond a reasonable doubt …and more important how many Presidents prior had to show their birth certificates eh? and tell me this is not a racist … maybe much more …that hair cut tipped me off … just sayin

For all those people who want our President to govern more left of center have to understand that Presidents have to at least work to get Congress and other lawmakers to come together … which, is center not left of center … that is how it works.

My take is that the job for We the People is to vote for people who are not extremists on either side, don’t practice exclusion and who believe in equal rights for all and from where i sit it looks like this is one of just a few problem points for Elena Kagan … that she doesn’t practice exclusion(Discrimination)… listen up people;  how middle America can you be with one parent being a Teacher the other a Tenant lawyer …

The BP oil spill is not just a spill anymore … what do we call it? an oil dump?  well, the oil dump on the Gulf Coast is almost 1 month now and what has not been talked about much …  what is going on on the Gulf floor … the blanket of oil on the floor of the water ways is very troubling and as we all think about whether BP and associates have made a good faith effort to deal with these kinds of accidents, they all seem content on pointing the finger at each other.  The group of  Three didn’t  seem to have had any emergency plan whatsoever and that is both disturbing and evidence that drilling cannot continue until companies have emergency plans, emergency equipment, boats in place ready to move in… not a month from the incident. It is also a sad thing to know that eleven people lost their lives and not much coverage in the News about that or what BP intends to do for those families.

Other News ..

The lettuce recall expands … Moore Ok, Yuma AZ, NY,Ohio and Michigan… Ohio based FreshWay Foods reported the 23State recall but the FDA is recalling more romaine lettuce from other States …

**UK’s PM Gordon Brown stepped down from office today;david cameron taking his position as Uk’s new PM today

**Reports of a new Climate Bill for consideration for Wednesday from Senators Kerry/Lieberman

**A Chilean judge ordered a Pakistani man to be held under an anti-terrorism law Tuesday after he was arrested in the U.S. embassy in Chile with traces of explosive on him.

**Flights to/from Morocco,Italy and Spain have effected ..check your flights asap

**The Obama Admin is working on new Drug controls

**A benefit/concert for the people on the Gulf Coast will include Lenny Kravitz



C-SPAN …

Nominee Kagan begins to lobby Senators

Supreme Court Justice Nominee Elena Kagan and the White House have begun their lobbying efforts with phone calls to Senators. She is expected to begin Hill visits tomorrow with an initial meeting with Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Confirmation hearings are expected to begin in early summer.

Oil leak Under CONGRESSIONAL Investigation

Executives from BP, Halliburton and Transocean appear at two Senate hearings today on the effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil leak to the local economies, tourism, as well as wildlife and natural resources. The Senate Energy Cmte. is reviewing offshore oil and gas development and later the Senate Environment Cmte. will investigate the environmental impact.

Congress Looks at Safeguarding Wall Street

Last week, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped almost 1000 points from its previous closing number. Yesterday, Federal regulators agreed in principle to a system that would slow trading during periods of market volatility. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairwoman Mary Schapiro will explain the terms of the agreement and respond to lawmaker’s calls to implement a “one size fits all” system before a House Financial Services subcmte. hearing.
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ThinkProgress.org


UNDER THE RADAR

CIVIL RIGHTS — IOWA LAWMAKER PRESSES THE STATE TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LGBT FAMILIES AT CAMPGROUNDS: In April 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously overturned a 10-year ban on same-sex marriage in the state, making it one of five plus the District of Columbia that currently performs and recognizes same-sex marriage. Although the far right claimed that this decision would upend traditional marriage, a September 2009 Des Moines Register poll found that 92 percent of Iowans believed marriage equality had “brought no real change to their lives.” But now, Iowa state Sen. Merlin Bartz (R) is trying to convince the public that LGBT families threaten the pastime of camping. Bartz, who sits on the Iowa Senate’s Administrative Rules Review Committee, believes the legislature should intervene in the Iowa Department of Natural Resource’s (DNR) effort “to make gay couples eligible for family camping at state parks.” The rule change would not allow gay families to pay a lower camping price — camping prices are already equal for families and non-families — but instead allow gay families the option to “put up more than one tent on a camp site.” Bartz said he wants to be “vigilant” as state agencies adjust policies in the wake of the court’s decision. “A lot of the advocates of gay marriage in Iowa have said, ‘It doesn’t affect anything. Nothing has changed,'” Bartz said. “The reality of it is that everything is changing.” The DNR has said the change has nothing to do with the court ruling and instead reflects the agency’s effort to “comply with a state policy that prevents discrimination.” Bartz has been a staunch opponent of marriage equality, encouraging county recorders to refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Bartz’s effort, however, to “pass legislation giving county recorders a free pass to discriminate” failed.

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Congress at Work


The Senate will convene at 2:00pmET and will be in a period of morning business until 3pmET

At 3pm, the Senate will resume consideration of S.3217, Wall Street Reform.

There will be no roll call votes on Monday. We expect the next vote to occur Tuesday morning
Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.520, a resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Glacier National Park. (S.Res.520)

Tuesday’s schedule below is on the Senate calendar but subject to change ?

The Senate will convene at 10:00am and resume consideration of the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 (S.3217), with up to 80 minutes for concurrent debate in relation to Sanders amendment #3738, as modified, and Vitter amendment #3760.  Senators Sanders, Vitter, Shelby, and Dodd, or their designees, will control 20 minutes each. ?         Upon the use or yielding back of debate time, the Senate will proceed to vote in relation to the following amendments: o    Sanders amendment to Dodd-Lincoln amendment in the nature of a substitute #3739, to require the non-partisan Government Accountability Office to conduct an independent audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System that does not interfere with the monetary policy, to let the American people know the names of the recipients of over $2,000,000,000,000 in taxpayer assistance from the Federal Reserve System, and for other purposes. (#3738, as modified) o    Vitter amendment to Dodd-Lincoln amendment in the nature of a substitute #3739, to address availability of information concerning the meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee, and for other purposes. (#3760) ?         The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm for the weekly caucus luncheons.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:30pmET on May 11. 2010

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manic Monday News …


Today, our President is going to announce his newest pick; definitely a perk of being President …adding a new and possibly more left of center Supreme Court Justice. This is a very busy President and though it seems like folks aren’t recognizing it … the job numbers are up the economy is getting better but those things are just not as controversial enough to get press time … the Media is by far more likely to say okay the reports are a candidate is ok on the airwaves but then questions the what happens ifs …What ? give credit to the President and acknowledge what this man was given by the last guy and stop trying to make Americans look so bad … the likes of limbaugh,beck, bachmann and the others make us look vulnerable and maybe less safe with their comments maybe by people who are on the edge are more likely to do awful things

Though there are rumors out there about Ms Kagan,  Solicitor General, teacher and public servant:FYI as stated by the President, ” Elena is widely regarded as one of the nation’s foremost legal minds.  She’s an acclaimed legal scholar with a rich understanding of constitutional law.  She is a former White House aide with a lifelong commitment to public service and a firm grasp of the nexus and boundaries between our three branches of government.  She is a trailblazing leader — the first woman to serve as Dean of Harvard Law School — and one of the most successful and beloved deans in its history.  And she is a superb Solicitor General, our nation’s chief lawyer representing the American people’s interests before the Supreme Court, the first woman in that position as well.  And she has won accolades from observers across the ideological spectrum for her well-reasoned arguments and commanding presence.”

Apparently, Orrin Hatch has either forgotten his comments of the past or figures We the People have no true interest in what is going on that we don’t remember is beyond me; Mr. Hatch comes out against her but many progressive radio personalities have played his opposite comments …the guy seems to talk before thinking … isn’t that bad politics.  The Hatch comments from a year ago are below …

You have to admit, Elena Kagan is a brilliant woman,” Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said during a radio interview a year ago when Kagan was being vetted for a high court seat. “She is a brilliant lawyer. If [Obama] picks her, it is a real dilemma for people,” especially conservatives.  “And she will undoubtedly say that she will abide by the rule of law.”

And as we all hear the President announce his Supreme Court pick let the nonsense begin … fauxnews is coming out fast and quick to report what could be considered fauxnews about financial reform, racism and as Media Matters reports most if not all the questions about the BP spill being Obama’s Katrina; started by mainstream talking heads has been picked up by people on the right who also continue to repeat the Republican talking points then move on to embellish the story in a way only people on the right can.

The BP spill is getting worse the news is getting really ugly as profits from the spill itself were reported by some talkingheads this morning … which is very disturbing for the people on the Gulf Coast and the many industries associated …but hey that’s a part of having a huge insurance claim available. Congress will take time to investigate and  question the people of  BP for those who can do nothing but wait out this horrendous environmental tragedy.

Other News ..

**BP has spent 350mil on the oil spill so far and received an insurance claim of 256mil

**UK Gordon Brown PM will resign later on this year

**Lena Horne died at 92…great person;went to a concert with my mom

**Airports in Europe are closed as ash clouds keep planes down

**Richard Wolf will be on the Stephanie miller show 5/12

**Earthquakes in Indonesia get bigger and bigger 7.9

C-SPAN …

watch Pres. Obama’s Commencement Address read Washington Post: “Education can fortify nation”

Elena Kagan, New Supreme Court Nominee

Solicitor General Elena Kagan has been nominated by Pres. Obama to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. If confirmed, she would be the 112th Supreme Court Justice and the third woman on the current Court. Ms. Kagan may begin meeting with Senators this week. Confirmation hearings are expected to begin in late June.

watch Formal Announcement: Available Soon    watch Sen. Leahy Briefing: C-SPAN at 10:30am ET
read Wash. Post: Obama’s Supreme Court pick

Afghan President Visits U.S.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is visiting Washington D.C. this week to request U.S. support for peace talks between Afghanistan and the Taliban forces in the region. Later today, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs will hold a press conference with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of the international security forces in Afghanistan, and Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry.
watch Joint Press Conf.: C-SPAN3 at 1:30pm ET
read AP: Taliban vow new Afghan offensive

Forum Asks: On Key Issues, Can U.S. and China Work Together?

Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg headlines a Brookings Institution forum on how China and the United States can cooperate to address global economic challenges, climate change issues and the potential threat of new nuclear states such as Iran and North Korea. He and three panels are expected to review the history of U.S.-China relations on these key issues and discuss recent outreach efforts. China holds a majority of U.S. national debt, and the two economies have become increasingly intertwined as China expands its global presence.

watch Brookings: LIVE on c-span.org at 10:30am ET

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OFA in full effect …


Photos from around the country

From folks advocating reform on Wall Street in Manhattan, to those calling their neighbors in Ohio, to senators’ offices getting calls from across the country, thousands of OFA supporters in every state spoke out with one voice to demand change.

In Greenville, South Carolina, the headline yesterday was about the 50 OFA supporters who attended a “rally to demand Wall Street reforms.” And the Indiana News Center led with “Local Hoosiers ‘Call’ For Wall Street Reform.”

Even better? The stories we got from participants.

Trisha, in Columbus, Wisconsin, called an elderly neighbor. As she tells it, “I asked him if he’d ever contacted a member of Congress. He said ‘no’ he hadn’t. Then after a short pause he said, ‘Well, just what was that number? I guess there’s a first time for everything. I’ll make that call!'”

After meeting in front of the library in Branigan, New Mexico, Evelyn — an OFA Neighborhood Team Leader — said that she and other volunteers “talked to people passing by about the importance of standing up to the power brokers and the lobbyists and the big banks. What I love the most is when you really get to have a conversation and inform someone about what’s really going on — they are so appreciative of getting straight-forward information.”

And at an event on Wall Street itself, a volunteer named Erin said that “I am here today to stand up for the everyday people who work and raise families and don’t want to have their lives disrupted as a result of Wall Street’s reckless practices.”

Everything you did this week made a difference. That’s why Wall Street reform legislation is picking up steam — there could even be final votes as early as next week.

We’ll be in touch soon with more ways you can help push reform through the final stretch.

Thanks for all you do,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America