Tag Archives: Wall Street

When Republicans Attack


42 Days Until the Election

Election Day is just 42 days from today and everything you and I care about is on the line.

A Republican victory would unleash an agenda so extreme that it would make George Bush blush. Well, that’s not going to happen.

I’ve reviewed the DCCC‘s campaign plan. They have a smart, aggressive battle plan for winning this election based upon a carefully targeted media strategy and a Get-Out-The-Vote plan using sophisticated voter turn-out models that even our opponents say is second to none.

But, this plan depends upon a secret ingredient: Committed grassroots supporters like you. To launch into action, we must raise $278,451 more before Friday’s deadline to get money to campaigns before their Day of Action this Saturday.

Every dollar you give can mean the difference between victory and defeat on Election Day.

Contribute $5, $10 or more to Democrats’ Early Voter Action Fund before Friday’s deadline when we have to finalize our field plans. Your contribution will be matched 2-to-1 by a group of committed Democrats to help in even more close races.

The fact is more than 75% of the DCCC’s funding comes from individual donors like you. The DCCC knows how to put those dollars to work exposing radical Republicans’ promises to privatize Social Security, repeal health care reform and gut Wall Street regulations.

I’m asking you to step up right now and provide the financial resources we need to get out our message and turn out our voters.

Contribute $5, $10 or more to Democrats’ Early Voter Action Fund before Friday’s deadline when we have to finalize our field plans. Your contribution will be matched 2-to-1 by a group of committed Democrats to help in even more close races.

The stakes in this election could not be higher. Its outcome will determine whether we continue to move forward with President Obama or return to the failed Bush policies of the past. I’m asking you to stand up and be counted by supporting House Democrats with as generous a contribution as you can afford.

Thank you.

Wes Clark
Wesley Clark
General, U.S. Army (ret.)

P.S. Mobilizing our voters and getting them to the polls is the key to victory on Election Day. We need the financial support from committed Democrats like you to help lead the way. Contribute before Friday’s deadline and your support will be matched 2-to-1 by a group of committed Democrats. Thank you.

*Map includes absentee voting.

Bush Still Takes Brunt of Blame for Economy vs. Obama


Obama sees more blame now than a year ago, but 51% assign him little to no blame

Gallup Poll

by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ — Nearly two years into his presidency, 51% of Americans say President Barack Obama bears little to no blame for U.S. economic problems, while 48% assign him a great deal or moderate amount of blame. More Americans now blame Obama than did so a year ago, but a substantially higher percentage, 71%, blame former President George W. Bush.

Great Deal/Moderate Amount of Blame for U.S. Economic Problems -- George W. Bush and Barack Obama, 2009-2010 Trend

More specifically, the Aug. 27-30 USA Today/Gallup poll finds 24% of Americans blaming Obama a great deal for the current economic problems, 24% a moderate amount, 25% not much, and 26% not at all. By contrast, 37% blame Bush a great deal, compared with 10% assigning him no blame.

Bush fares poorly on this measure partly because a relatively high proportion of Republicans — 48% — blame him a great deal or moderate amount, as do most Democrats (89%) and independents (73%). By contrast, relatively few Democrats, 19%, blame Obama. These patterns are consistent with Gallup’s findings on the same question in April.

Blame for U.S. Economic Problems for Obama and Bush, by Party ID

Bottom Line

Americans are far from charitable when it comes to their evaluations of Obama’s performance on the economy. Recent Gallup polling found 38% approving of the job he is doing in this arena — among his worst job scores on the nation’s top issues. However, that still exceeds Bush’s final approval rating on the economy of 27%, measured in February 2008. That was prior to the Wall Street financial crisis that rocked both the economy and consumer confidence later in the year, so Bush’s rating likely fell even further by the time he left office.

Obama’s overall job approval rating was 46% at the time of his latest economic rating, in early August, and continues to hover in the mid- to high 40s in Gallup Daily tracking. The gap between his approval on the economy and his overall approval may be partly explained by Americans’ tendency to believe that the enduring economic problems are at least not of his own making.

Survey MethodsResults for this USA Today/Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 27-30, 2010, with a random sample of 1,021 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.

For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones (for respondents with a landline telephone) and cellular phones (for respondents who are cell phone-only). Each sample includes a minimum quota of 150 cell phone-only respondents and 850 landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.

Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, education, region, and phone lines. Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2009 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in continental U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

View methodology, full question results, and trend data.

For more details on Gallup’s polling methodology, visit http://www.gallup.com/.

Gallup -1 of 4Bills they say the public agrees with


Among Recent Bills, Financial Reform a Lone Plus for Congress

Most Americans oppose four other prominent legislative acts

by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ — The financial reform bill President Obama signed into law in July is the most popular of five major pieces of legislation Congress has passed in the past two years — in fact, it is the only one tested in a recent USA Today/Gallup poll that a majority of Americans support.

Support for Congressional Legislative Achievements in the Last Two Years

Six in 10 Americans approve of the legislation to strengthen government regulation of the financial industry. By contrast, a majority disapprove of the 2009 economic stimulus package, the auto industry bailout, healthcare reform, and — most of all — the 2008 banking industry bailout.

Financial reform does best due to a relatively high level of support from Republicans — 42% approve of it — as well as majority support from independents. Independents join Republicans in mostly opposing the other four legislative initiatives tested. Democrats, on the other hand, approve of all five, although to varying degrees.

Support for Congressional Legislative Achievements in the Last Two Years, by Party ID

Of the five legislative acts, healthcare reform and the economic stimulus package are the most politically divisive. By contrast, financial regulatory reform, as well as aid to automakers and banks, sparks more similar reactions from Republicans and Democrats.

Bottom Line

Congress’ approval rating has been stalled at or below 20% for most of this year, down from 39% in March 2009 — and recent Gallup polling finds Americans no happier with the Republicans than with the Democrats in Congress. While some of this may be due to unavoidable fallout from the prolonged economic downturn, it may also represent an accumulation of public discontent with the more prominent spending and policy programs Congress has made law. Wall Street regulatory reform stands alone as a major legislative accomplishment that congressional incumbents would be wise to tout as they campaign for re-election this fall.

Survey MethodsResults for this USA Today/Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 27-30, 2010, with a random sample of 1,021 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.

For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones (for respondents with a landline telephone) and cellular phones (for respondents who are cell phone-only). Each sample includes a minimum quota of 150 cell phone-only respondents and 850 landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.

Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, education, region, and phone lines. Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2009 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in continental U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

View methodology, full question results, and trend data.

For more details on Gallup’s polling methodology, visit http://www.gallup.com/.

wacky Wednesday &some News


President Obama is in Ohio and will give a detailed speech today

The change 53% voted for has been stopped, blocked, scaled back and slowed down by the Republican Political Party.

It is up to those who do lean left of center…even our fellow independents to keep the people leaning right of center informed. It is important to challenge the crap coming out that clearly are lies, on the edge or overtly reflect a nasty rhetoric often spewing fear hate and discrimination. On 10-2-10 will March on DC to show unity as a Nation who believes in our Constitution in every way. It is a march that welcomes everyone that believes in the People, the 14th Amendment and equality for All people regardless of the race, creed, religious or gender preference. It is a moment needed to let those who practice exclusion to hear those who believe in helping our fellow man.

The cliché, “When the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” is an important statement right about now because big corporations made big bets against the people for other folks who were definitely rich or getting richer but ran out of luck; the government in our case had to step in and up to help All Americans because free trade was not going to correct the bets because the casino shut itself down. The economic collapse that happened was an opportunity to change the failed way things were done in order to move into the 21st Century

I have been listening, reading and hearing comments about President Obama having taken great first steps toward change but hasn’t gone far enough to sedate or fulfill the promises he made to special interest groups during his campaign. First, what special interest groups is the Media talking about that is upset because libs are definitely apart of the Democratic Party. The negative comments are becoming bold, louder and more frequent but they are coming from the right, the more extreme of our society the group of people being stirred to cause physical damage. We can blame the Media for the selective misinformation they all give viewers. It is now quite obvious that ratings are so important that reports leave out parts of a story instead of giving all angles or even having a guest to rebut the opinions of the host, commentators.

Change takes time… It takes a Congress with courage to create and pass laws that should be for the greater good that covers all Americans.

**Environmentalist… like Phil Radford, exec director/Greenpeace USA  stated among other things,” Obama is missing in action” as it relates to global warming …in an article written by Bryan Walsh from Time Magazine. I am willing to say that Congress is a partner that President Obama has had to fight with since coming into office and those who have been paying attention it was not just with Republicans it was, has and still is with democrats. This President and his administration needs support to move the US into the 21st Century to a Green economy… It takes courage to admit we need to do what is right for our children and generations to come by keeping and or voting more democrats into office in November people.

**Immigration/SB1070 …Do you “look” undocumented? This week, the Arizona state legislature approved an anti-immigrant bill that essentially gives police the right to profile people based on race. It will also give natives the right to sue local law enforcement if, in their opinion, not enough is being done to hunt down undocumented immigrants.

Reasonable Suspicion, what does that mean?

Any legislation forth coming needs to be comprehensive immigration reform. The public needs to accept the complicit relationship of the past and correct it and move into the 21st Century; this can only happen if we vote more Dems into office -November is a national election as far as i am concerned. What happens in November will impact the  future of All Americans

read the article by Prernal Lal…stay informed

**Gay/Lesbian leaders… are starting to make comments about Obama not going far enough on don’t ask/don’t tell but today he announced he will enact federal benefits for same sex couples …moving too slow?  too little too late? come on, People of colour know what being impatient means. This is yet another issue that will be stopped in its tracks if we do not vote more Dems into office people. If do not get Dems out to Vote in November the progress made thus far; even if some feel it is not enough, just think what will happen if Republicans gain control and do what they have threatened all along. We all know republicans feel they have the corner on what “family values” are and push this as apart of their agenda if they gain control. The governing they plan will definitely not include same sex marriage contrary to what most Democrats feel should be an issue of equality.

**Health-care  -liberals… are impatient and talking about how they put Obama in office and threatening a change in 2012 … this is unacceptable for me because the new law covers those with children up to 26 which is college age and will save money for so many parents; it is not a welfare program. It stops discrimination against women and allows those who have debilitating deceases the right to see a doctor without their insurance companies saying you are not worthy of being helped. Health Care Reform is in itself is a Jobs Bill and who would not be for a new law that gives more access to health care while creating more jobs to the public. It will and that is something more members of the Democratic Party in Congress should be letting the public know.

**Wall Street … flexed their muscles to show Obama who really is in charge of the market … bad behavior needs to be regulated with a big R and ten months the Obama Admin and Congress passed legislation to regulate Wall Street that should continue to be adjust to hold those who still place bets against the people of the United States.

The fact is change will happen. The President can’t do it all himself, we need to call, write and March 10-2-10 to let Congress know what We the People voted for a change we can believe in but some folks left of center just do not understand that this change will take time, support and pushing our Congress to get the job done.

The notion that the President is to blame for the scaled back legislation that was passed in the Senate is ridiculous. It is a combination of the 60rule, filibuster and the lack of Political will of the Democratic Party to push the envelope. I think conservadems need to be shoved into a box but the real solution to the inability to get substantial bills through that will not only help ALL Americans and our economy is simply getting out and voting for the Mid-term elections.

This is a moment that is just as important as the 2008 elections people because without more Dems in Congress the change we all want will continue to be scaled back by Republicans.

Other News …


CSPAN …

Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.) Briefing on Gulf Oil Spill Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.) Briefing on Gulf Oil Spill

C-SPAN Local Content Vehicle:  Pennsylvania 7th Congressional District Race C-SPAN Local Content Vehicle: Pennsylvania 7th Congressional District Race

Islamic Society of North America News Conference on U.S. Attitudes Toward Muslims Islamic Society of North America News Conference on U.S. Attitudes Toward Muslims

White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Dems can beat them


The Democratic Party
From the day President Obama took office, Democrats have worked to rebuild our country’s economy, put into place the basic financial reforms needed to empower and protect consumers, and lay down a new foundation for growth.

Republicans made a different choice: They locked arms with the special interests and voted to protect the insurance companies, credit card lenders, and bankers on Wall Street.

The GOP embraced a singular goal: opposition to the President’s agenda.

Now Republicans are scheming to win back Congress. With a majority, they’ll do everything they can to reverse the progress Democrats have made. They’ll turn back the clock on behalf of their special interest friends, their big donors, and the extreme right-wing elements that have taken over their party.

But we have a plan to beat the GOP.

Since May, we’ve been focused on an unprecedented push to elect Democrats who will fight alongside President Obama. With the help of supporters like you, we’ve launched the strongest, most sophisticated effort this party has ever put together for an election like this.

The special interests don’t fund it — our Vote 2010 campaign relies entirely on supporters like you.

Can you chip in $5 or more to power this work?

Republicans have promised to repeal health insurance reform and roll back new consumer protections — but it won’t stop there. Across the country, the GOP has nominated a set of right-wing ideologues who are vowing to undo the victories won by our parents and grandparents — the promises those generations made to the future.

Republicans are supporting candidates like Nevada Republican Senate nominee Sharron Angle who believe the United States should leave the United Nations and that we should shut down the Department of Education.

They’re working to elect conservatives like Alaska Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller who argue that unemployment benefits are “not constitutionally authorized” and that we should end Social Security.

They’re fighting for people like Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul who believe that civil rights should be up for debate in this country because they think that businesses should have the right to discriminate based on race, gender, disability, or any other factor.

We all understand the consequences of this election.

That’s why grassroots Democrats are knocking on thousands of doors every week. That’s why we have a goal of reaching out to 15 million voters by November 2nd.

Americans have a choice to make with this election, but from now until November, we’re going to work to make our case.

Can you help out? Donate today:

http://my.democrats.org/OurCase

Thanks,

Governor Tim Kaine
Chairman

P.S. — At 12:30 ET today, I’ll be giving a major address in Pennsylvania to talk more about what this election means. Click here to watch live.