Tuesday, October 8, 2013

I have been trying to understand the arguments around the new health care law(emphasis here on LAW!) that opened with insurance exchanges on Tuesday. It is my understanding that this law is meant to provide health care for the most vulnerable and disabled of our fellow citizens! It seems to me that our communities and our nation are as strong as our weakest links. I have always thought that it is a moral obligation to place compassion and support for the most vulnerable as a responsibility of our nation. We are an exceptional nation and if we lose our moral compass(as the tea party and extremists have) we compromise what makes us unique! Individual greed and selfishness diminish us. To me ,compassion is the essence of the definition of an American. Can we afford not to care? I don't get it. As an example,I refer back to a charming young woman who I met during the Obama campaign .She was under 26 and had been given a diagnosis of a very serious cancer. Her parents were going to mortgage their house and all they had to get her treatment. Instead she was able to go on their insurance policy and will not have to live under a pre existing condition due to the Affordable Care Act. She was so appreciative that upon meeting Michelle Obama(I actually witnessed this) they held hands and cried together for the joy of this act that saved her and her family from disaster. Do any of these crazy's in Congress calling this the worst act ever, think about the children with asthma, cancer, heart disease etc that will be served humanely because of OBAMACARES(  I love this name)? I don't understand the demonization of this act that Congress passed. I could go on and on with examples of people who will be helped for the first time by ACA(Affordable Care act) I am sure you know many such cases. So I say leave this act alone and watch what needs to be tweaked for later!!!!
 
Do the members of Congress have amnesia and forget that it is they who approved it? The law is good, but can be improved upon in the future. For years now it has been clear that the Tea Partyers have only one goal: to defeat President Obama on any field, anywhere. The future of our country and the plight of its citizens seems to be irrelevant to them! Lets remember what they are so desperately against in Obamacares-insurance companies will not be permitted to discriminate against people with HIV/AIDs, heart problems or just being a woman(a pre existing condition in old laws!).  It eliminates the doughnut hole for medications, and it enables over 30 million Americans who have not had health care to apply for affordable health care. It is such a mystery to me how they have been able to bring this up 41 plus times for defeat and can't seem to pass a budget. I wonder if the government were to shut down Congressional paychecks, if air traffic controllers were furloughed and travel came to a halt(remember those tea party guys who made travel an exception for not shutting down),if seniors stopped receiving Social security checks it would make a difference. I believe those same government haters would be outraged, and the shut down would be short lived. Shame on you, Congress . I do not consider you GOP House members essential since you do no work for our benefit, and keep repeating a repeal of the health care act that is the law! The country would be better off if you took a permanent furlough, that we the voters could make happen! You conservatives are wrong-just as you were when you were opposed to Social security, Medicare,and gay marriage. Again I say,SHAME ON YOU! We have to get out there and make our voices heard for the sanity of this country. We won the last election, and the only people who don't know it are the majority of the House-the crazies that make up the extremist GOP! WEll, I have news for ou guys-the country is fed up with your inane non governing ways. Congress should do something productive-like pass a budget! End of sermon,but please lets do the right thing and take back the HOUSE!

Monday, September 3, 2012

Fired up and Ready to Re-Elect the President

Sent: Mon, Sep 3, 2012 9:19 pm
Dear Obama /Biden Supporters:

I recently received this e-mail from Carol, a woman that I met at a DNC event in 08." Sunny:

What has happened to your wonderful inspirational emails? Are you still doing them and I am off the list? Please let me know. Above it the last one I received!! We only met once at a DNC event in NY but I really was inspired by your emails in 2008. The last few days of the Republican Convention have been sort of hallucinatory – so many lies and no policy specifics. I expected the business man Romney to offer some solutions. Instead he pretended to be everybody’s cozy grandfather which I don’t think played to his strengths but what do I know".

I wrote back to her that I had changed over to sharing info on my progressive Facebook page since it was almost impossible for me to keep up with all the correspondence I was getting from the blog. I wanted to be able to keep everyone connected and answer your e-mails but it was taking over my life and making it harder for me to actually work for Barack Obama at HQ, travel for him,or raise money for events. However,I am still so passionate about our President that I decided to write one more letter to you all in hopes that you are still fired up and ready to get our President re-elected. The Romney campaign's turn to a more combative message to attract a wider range of unhappy voters is a demonstration of the final chapter in the Republican strategy to recapture control of our government. After the 2010 midterm election where the GOP won control of the House and gained seats in the Senate,Mitch McConnel was quoted as saying"Our top priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term". In other words,not to care about the American people,jobs,or anything that would be better for the public,but just veto all bills. Veto any suggestions that might improve the economic situation ,and make it look like Obama has done nothing during this administration. This was the plan and the Tea Party carried it out just as Norquist(an unelected member of Congress) asked them to do. Congressional Republicans followed orders to a tee and frustrated every major administration effort to to improve the economy. Successful in this policy of obstruction,they are now blaming the President for the weak economy! We have to make sure that this election will hold those just say no voters accountable for the hard times, all their vetoes including the one that helped lower our financial rating !

There have been so many lies that came out of the Republican convention that the word "fantasy" has been used by columnists ranging from David Brooks(moderate Republican),Paul Krugman and Gail Collins to describe the GOP political party and how it is responding to public policy. If one were to really look at what Romney/Ryan are saying it would show that our nation's greatest difficulty is not the economy,environment,or medicare but the GOP's avoidance of reality. They don't believe in science,a woman's right to choose,a person's right to marry whom they please,Planned Parenthood,or saving the environment. The Republicans say they want government out of everything and are for "personal responsibility". Why then can we not be trusted to take "personal responsibility" for our most intimate and personal choices? I just don't get it ,no government for helping with illness,rebuilding our infrastructure,supporting our troops and police and fire men but government for laws against women's control over their own bodies etc,what is wrong with this picture? Can someone please explain this to me?

If for no other reason than for my new granddaughter Lucy , I am going to spend every waking minute working on re-electing our President. This precious baby will still be suffering from our loss if G-d forbid R and R are elected. She will be affected by the Supreme Court choices of our next President(possible 3 such new justices) since they are appointed for life as well as their hateful policies against women. A group of us have been working on showing all the President has accomplished in the last four years and I will be including this at the end of my letter. I will try to add some of the most recent wonderful e-mails you have sent me,but I am so hoping you will go to the progressive facebook page and join us all in our conversation about how to keep Obama in the White House! With the convention coming up,I know you will all be glued to the TV but I wanted to let you know that I am only a click away. If you want to travel,make calls,send money,or just ask about pertinent information to help in your conversations about the President,please don't hesitate to write!!

I am so excited to hear the President's speech on Thursday night. He inspires me as do all of you who have continued working and setting the record straight. I am so proud of our group for not letting the liars get by with their lies. It is definitely my goal to stop any and all lies with fact checked information,even though Mr Ryan doesn't't believe in fact checking. It is my genuine belief that those who don't stop lies are equally as bad as those who tell them. Just think about world war two and those who allowed the Germans to spread lies and turn the entire country against the Jews and other "undesirables". What would have happened if people stood up to them and said these are our neighbors, we know then,work with them and won't allow you to spread lies about them. Just keep this in mind when you get an ugly distorted e-mail. Please just go to www.snopes.com and or www.factcheck.com and stop the lies. It doesn't matter if Ryan is lying about his budget,how much his cuts will save, medicare vouchers,or the distance he purported to run in a marathon,a lie is a lie. We won't let them get away with it! If for any reason you doubt what accomplishments the President has made ,please take a look at this article that Greer from TX/MO sent me:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/11/1118960/-What-has-Obama-Done-Here-Are-194-Accomplishments-With-Citations-reposted-from-the-PCTC-Blog Here is a list of 194 Obama Administration accomplishments. This should be passed onto anyone who, as the article says, is "disappointed" about what Obama hasn't done, let alone anyone who plans on voting for Romney!

So once again I beg you to make those calls,reconnect with anyone in the swing states that might not realize how important their votes will be. It is up to us to wear those buttons,ring those doorbells,work in OFA offices,study our information, get the word out ,and learn those stories about what Obama has done for this country. We need to revitalize our base and sell like you have never sold before. I will leave you with one tale that I experienced about eight weeks ago here in New York. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing our first lady at Stone Barns(restaurant in upper Westchester) for a brunch with about 125 people. I was seated with my friends who came with me,and a lovely young woman and her mother and father who I did not know. I was at the other end of the table so I didn't get to talk to her much. However, I was told by one of the wonderful staff that I should go over and introduce myself to this very special young woman. I got up and met her,and her parents,and then asked her how she decided to come to this event. She proceeded to tell me that she was 23 years old and had been recently diagnosed with non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Her parents then said that they had to come to thank Ms Obama for the difference she and her husband made in their lives. It seems that their daughter was being treated with chemo and radiation and had been hospitalized but she did not have insurance. However,because she was 23 they were able to keep her on their insurance plan and instead of paying $650,000 for treatment and care so far,they had put out $6,000. It was an amazing look at what can happen to regular people who get life threatening diseases and would have no where to turn without the Affordable Care Act. We were privileged enough to go into see Michelle Obama together for a personal meeting. I saw the first lady hug this young woman with tears in her eyes,and hold the entire family close to her as they thanked her. I said to her,"you must get this story to the President". She said to me I will but I hear this over and over at every stop,people who have no insurance who are now able to keep their children on their policies. I'd say this was an amazing exapmle of what it means to say that Obamacares! Thank you and keep up your spirits-we will win this one,we have to for all of us women,men,and children of America who want to live sane and humane lives!!!!
With love and passion for the next President of the United States,Barack Obama
Sunny

A Mama/Grandma 4 Obama

1) Go to my facebook page The sunnyside progressive info!

Please click below and "LIKE" our page!

http://www.facebook.com/newsfromthesunnyside

I have tried to include many of your newest e-mails but if you want to see them all ,please go to the Facebook page!

2) Here are some sites that are terrific for specifics as well:

visit

Barackobama.com

Barackobama.com/wlf-conference

women.barackobama.com

barackobama.com/truth-team


From Ruthie in AZ:

Speaks volumes,no comments needed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGAvwSp86hY&sns=em

From Andy T in NYC:

HOT LINK #1:
www.snipurl.com/obamagroundgame

Click that one just because the whole world is at stake and somehow you have the capacity to help yet a little more. I will see your contribution and jump – nay, LEAP – thru the screen to say thanks. (Stand back.)

HOT LINK #2:

https://my.barackobama.com/September18NYConcert?CUSTOM1=2318989

Click THAT one to join the President of the United States at a concert Tuesday, September 18, in New York with two enormous contemporary stars still under wraps but so huge that even +I+ have heard of them. (And coming from a guy who thought for two years that “some woman” was singing “cherry pie, cherry pie” when in fact it was Lady Gaga singing “can’t read my, can’t my” poker face, that’s saying something.) Tickets start at $1,000; those able to do $10,000 (solo or per couple) are honored guests in the photo line.

Whatever you can do, please do something.

And if you think you’re legally maxed out, ping me – turns out, we’re not.

One other way to help? Forward this to YOUR list.

Thanks!


From Karen in DC:

Hello Sunny and Co.,

We will win if we turn out the women’s vote. Young/old e cannot sit it out. We must get the word out about birth control to young women. I also think we can keep Akin’s insensitive comments alive as I tried to do with my story below. Close to 200 women have written since I told my story on Women’s Equality Day, some with their own stories and I urge them to go public. I first sent my story to the list I compiled in 2008 when I was a senior advisor to the Obama campaign for Women for Obama. I urge people to contribute to his campaign here: https://donate.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/2012/KMulhauser.

Then I was asked if I would go even more public and have a letter to the editor in the Washington Post.

Letter to the Editor

A rape survivor tells her story

Published: August 26

What’s an “illegitimate” rape anyway? The kind that is not forced? When is rape not forced?

Thirty-four years ago this month, I was raped at gunpoint by two men who broke into my home. My husband was out of town, and our young son was sleeping. I knew I must not scream and wake him. For 21 / 2 hours, as I was bound while they stole everything of value in the house and raped me repeatedly, all I could think of was survival — that my husband would return to find both of us dead.

I did not have bruises — would I be able to convince anyone I had been “forcibly” raped? I did not have pictures of the gun at my head — would I be able to convince anyone I had been “forcibly” raped? I did report it to police — but would that be proof enough for Todd Akin that I’d been “forcibly” raped?

In the weeks that followed as I talked with friends and received tremendous support from family and others, I was grateful that anger could replace fear. I could do something about anger. I was executive director of NARAL at that time, and I testified in both the House and Senate to support abortion funding for rape survivors who became pregnant.

That was the first time Congress considered legislation to not fund abortion, even in cases of rape and incest, unless the rape was forced. Todd Akin, with his talk of “legitimate rape,” “forcible rape” and false claims of rape, is just the latest to take up this cause.

Thirty-four years, and Congress is still talking about forced rape, legitimate rape and fertilized eggs with more rights than women.

Karen Mulhauser, Washington

The writer is chair of the advisory council for the Women’s Information Network.

Comments


From Elizabeth in Mamaroneck NY:

Dear phone bank veterans and those who've expressed interest in participating in phone banks,

Last night was fairly typical and gratifying, both. From my house, volunteers made 317 calls to Pennsylvania voters, had 72 conversations, and found 42 strong Obama supporters. Of special note, we had good discussions with several undecided and/or confused voters, helped others find out how to get the proper voting identification for themselves and their family members, and provided information to others who were voting for the first time. Also of note, we had volunteers who had never done phone banking before and did a superb job. This often happens - the reluctant novices need only one call to become masterful experts.


So I write now to encourage you to overcome your reluctance if you still have any, or to stick with it if you're a veteran. In the coming weeks, there'll be phone banks at Gloria Strauss's house in Larchmont, 48 Stuyvesant Ave., at my house in Mamaroneck, 702 Hall St., and at our Westchester County Headquarters, at 931 East Boston Post Rd., Mamaroneck. We start at 6:30 and continue until 8:45, but of course you can show up for any part of that period. Actually, it's fun!


Wed., Sept 5 - Gloria's

Mon., Sept. 10 - Gloria's

Wed., Sept 12 - Elizabeth's

Wed., Sept. 19 - Elizabeth's

Phone banks are also set for Mon., Sept. 24 and Mon., Oct. 1st. They will be pretty much constant at the headquarters, and every night at one of our houses also, throughout October. As the campaign progresses, we might well be calling voters in North Carolina and Florida or elsewhere. Please call me with any questions 914-698-7569.

Upward and onward to victory!



From Isolde in GA:


YOU go Sunny! We can do this! :)


From Hank in NYC:

Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 1:14 PM

To: 'letters@nytimes.com'

Subject: To The Editor

“Rosie Ruiz Republicans” – Paul Krugman – September 3, 2012

Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and Rosie Ruiz have something very specific in common: They are all pathological liars. These are people who not only tell lies and half-truths, but actually believe the falsehoods they try to perpetrate on others. While Rosie Ruiz’s “winning” the 1980 Boston Marathon was looked at as a very odd prank, her “win” was easily discovered and soon forgotten. Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan however, are attempting to dupe the American public in ways that have never been attempted before, and the affect of a Romney/Ryan win in November would be catastrophic for the nation.

The American electorate has always been able to “smell a rat” when they are lied to, and the hope here is that that smell will be so disgusting that they will turn away from the Republican ticket, or will have to hold their collective noses while voting for it.



From Charlie in New England:

Good morning – Heading into the DNC Convention, it’s time to focus on what Barack Obama and his team have accomplished during the past 3 and ½ years. To do that effectively, one needs to compare and contrasting proposed Republican approaches with actions already taken by the President across a wide range of policy areas. Today I will take three areas that have gotten a lot of Republican attention for hyperbolic attacks – solar energy, support for Israel and jobs. Sadly as ever, Romney and Ryan offer “ready, aim, mis-fire” charges left and right, compared to what Obama actually has done. (Note - In my next posting, I’ll examine the “Are you Better Off than you were four years ago?” question.)

First, Romney has alleged repeatedly, as did Clint Eastwood on Thursday night as well, that there are 23 million unemployed Americans. The actual number tabulated by the Department of Labor is 12.8 million unemployed Americans as of the end of July, meaning that Romney inflated the facts by 80%. CNN’s Money column cited below provides the documentation. What is also being drowned out in Republican rhetoric is the fact that the US under Obama has produced more than 4.5 million new jobs in the past 29 months of continuous private sector job growth. This chart is at the bottom of this post, before the quoted articles. Just ask an auto industry worker if the President’s policies have made a difference, or ask someone in the renewable energy industry (see below), or the health care sector. Only the government sector has seen jobs shrink, again contrary to the Republican fantasy miasma.

Let’s turn to solar energy and renewables, since the R & R ticket has demonized the Solyndra loan guarantee case as a boondoggle of epic proportions that epitomizes a federal government awash in waste and incompetence. The facts are dramatically different. First, the Energy Department renewables loan guarantee program was created under the Bush Administration in 2005, but only one project was brought forward for final approval before Obama took over, and ironically that was Solyndra. The vetting work, including tougher terms financially, were completed under the new Obama Administration and the financing closed in late summer of 2009. Since that time, DOE has closed on loan guarantees for 27 Renewable Energy projects valued at almost $16 billion and granted conditional approval to many billions of additional projects. Only the $550 loan guarantee issued to Solyndra for a solar manufacturing facility has defaulted. No other expenditure of money has occurred, since using loan guarantees as a “stimulus” doesn’t require any actual dollars from the federal government unless a project goes bad. As of June 30, 2012, the production from non-hydro renewable energy sources has grown by 78.7% since Obama took office to almost 19 gigawatt-hours. Of that huge increase, solar has seen the most growth in production – up by 285% - and wind is up by 171%, trailed by geothermal up by 13.5%. These are incredible statistics, and completely discredit Ryan’s charge that solar energy – as reflected in the Solyndra guarantee – was a “make believe” market. (see the Fortune article below by Dan Primack for additional context).

Finally, we should investigate if Israel has been “thrown under the bus” by President Obama, as Romney graphically smeared the President with having done in his Acceptance speech. With the Jewish vote in Florida a critical constituency that Romney has been trying to woo, both during his primary campaign, and with his clumsy trip to Israel in July to kow-tow to Netanyahu, this issue has major potential consequences for the outcome of the November election. If, however Obama’s policies and positioning towards Israel was seen as hostile by the hyper-sensitive Jewish citizenry, would a 54% majority of them tell pollsters that they approve of the President’s handling of Israel? And would their Defense Minister say that “the defense relations between Israel and the US are extremely stable and good”? This Romney attack is sheer nonsense while being designed to appeal to Jewish voters in the US who are hawkish about Israel, with US support, needing to attack Iran’s nuclear installations, something Obama has refused to be drawn into doing until sanctions and other efforts have been exhausted.
Over-all, it is an impressive record, and not one of “disappointment”. I for one, am more excited and happy to be voting for President Obama again in two months than when I first voted four years ago. Are you? If any memory refresher is desired, check out this “I am not Disappointed” video clip from a volunteer supporter of Obama made late last year -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJLvtVIk3R8 . Have a great Labor Day! Charlie

Charlie Kireker

Co-Chair, Obama Victory Trustees, New England


From Peggy in LA ,Justy in DC and many of you:

http://www.onetermmore.com/video_subtitles.html


From Greer in TX and MO:

Subject: What Has Obama Done?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/11/1118960/-What-has-Obama-Done-Here-Are-194-Accomplishments-With-Citations-reposted-from-the-PCTC-Blog

Here is a list of 194 Obama Administration accomplishments. This should be passed onto anyone who, as the article says, is "disappointed" about what Obama hasn't done, let alone anyone who plans on voting for Romney!
Hope you Brad, Lilli, Kevin and the beautiful new baby are doing wonderfully!

From our wonderful Lilly Ledbetter who is going all over speaking for the President! ***** Note from Sunny if you haven't read her book, Grace and Grit,you are missing something special!!!!

Sunny, dear friend!!!!

Wonderful news U are now a grandmother!!! Life takes a whole new meaning!

I am so happy mother & baby are fine!!! I love the name----

I was in Atlanta, GA---then Denver, Colorado campaigning for President Obama!

They are saying if he wins Colorado----he will win!!!! The response was very

good. Debbie W. Shultz was out with me in a couple places!

I was on Alex's Show out of New York. On my way home to get some rest!!!!

Love U,

#2 Earlier

Hello---I have been thinking about you & wondered about the baby.

I am working as hard as I can ---- I am with you the BIG MONEY & ALL the ads are

what scares me----I can't stand to watch them-----

Unless I get bumped----I will be on Lawrence O'Donnell's Show tonight----(she was great!!!!!)-

Will speak to an EEOC Conference in Atlanta Friday a.m. Then off

To Colorado for the President's campaign-----
We have to stay strong & fight for what we know is right for the USA!!!!!!!



From Julie in CA:

Hi Sunny!!

I am so sorry to hear you've been under the weather especially in light of the fact that you're so boldly out on the front lines of the Obama Campaign!

The Facebook link is as follows:

http://www.facebook.com/HaveYouObamaedToday (wonderful group of women working on doing something special every day to get the President re-elected!!!!)

Best way to go about getting your email list activated on Facebook page is to send out the below email.

All the love!! My designer is still willing to create the layout for post-cards - just haven't gotten confirmation on copy yet.
Love that Lilly L is heading to KC.
All my best - juju
PS Copied my mom on this since she is also able to manage the Facebook Page as are you and Kathy!

JUST CUT AND PASTE BELOW EMAIL AND SEND TO ALL OF YOUR CONTACTS:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

My Dear Obama Supporters!

I personally am asking you to support the Obama Campaign in a very simple, interactive way.....

Step One: Have good old-fashioned one-to-one conversations about WHY TO VOTE FOR OBAMA wherever and whenever possible in your daily lives.

Good places to do this:

Starbucks line

Bus Stop

Getting Manicure

Dry Cleaners

Water Cooler at work

Dinner Party (perfect!)

Phone Bank (yes, Volunteer!)

Subway Platform

Conversation Starters: http://www.barackobama.com/record ;

We’ve added back more than 4.4 million private sector jobs

The President signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, making progress in a decades-long battle for women to get equal pay for equal work.

Under the new provisions in the Affordable Care Act, women will have access to the care and family planning services they need without worrying about the cost.

As part of the President’s plan to support American jobs, he signed into law the Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior tax credits to encourage businesses to hire unemployed veterans and veterans with service-connected disabilities.

Step Two: Share your daily conversations and actions taken with ALL OF US on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/HaveYouObamaedToday

How to do this on Facebook??

Login to account (if you don't have one - CREATE ONE!! It's 2012 and in 2008 Social Media gave Obama the competitive edge to WIN!!)

Go to http://www.facebook.com/HaveYouObamaedToday and "Like" the page

ANYONE and EVERYONE can write something on the WALL, upload photos of your own, cut and paste links to articles that inspire our community, etc

Have fun with it!





WHY PARTICIPATE, YOU ASK:

These TWO easy actions will to the following:

Solidify your commitment to TALK about the reasons why to vote for Obama on a DAILY basis

INSPIRE your fellow Obama Supporters to keep the conversation going DAILY especially when they're tired and just want to "go home and relax"

Provide new and creative ways to ENGAGE our local communities in order to GET FIRED UP and WIN in November!!!!
My sincerest "Thank You" for keeping the conversation going!!
Love,
SUNNY

From Kathy in MO:

Here is a great site to visit and share today…FoxNews.com. Seriously… This person will probably not have a job after today for speaking the truth. She analyzes Paul Ryan’s speech and calls it: dazzling, dishonest, and distracting. A really good breakdown of the lies. It might be something you want to share with your Republican friends who get all of their info from Fox News!

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/30/paul-ryans-speech-in-three-words/



Monday, April 2, 2012

Long Time No See-Hope you are fired up and ready to rumble!

Dear Obama/Biden Supporters:


Please,please go to our facebook page and start sharing your thoughts,ideas,and information there. This is going to be a very difficult election,filled with GOP lies,and scary accusations about the economy and how they will fix it. We all know Barack Obama is the answer; slow and sure he is moving us back from W's disastrous eight years. The GOP and Romney etal. want to use W's failed economic "trickle down" no taxes for the rich insane economic recovery tactics. We are smart enough and care enough to know that this didn't' work with W,and it won't work with whomever they put up.It has taken Obama 4 years to turn things around from the mess this country was left in. We must, and I repeat must, make sure this man is re-elected. A woman who votes for the GOP is like a chicken who votes for Perdue. Please remember it is the Supreme Court that is at stake here,and those people remain forever, that and a little social issue about women's control over their bodies!!!


Take care and check out the Progressive FAcebook page. I will keep us all connected as usual but there will be fewer e-mails,and the best way for us to keep in touch is through this page:

Dear Obama/Biden Supporters,

Since we are gearing up for the race of a lifetime, in order to save our values and issues, we need to come together and share as much information as possible to get Obama/Biden re-elected.

In addition to my emails and blog, I have now set up a Facebook page where I will share news and information that is critical to our efforts. I hope all of you (as well as all your like-minded friends and supporters) will join me here and share YOUR thoughts as well.


Please click below and "LIKE" our page!
http://www.facebook.com/newsfromthesunnyside

Feel free to message/email me if you need any support in your local efforts. We are still a grassroots organization that will only win by reaching out to each other.

I look forward to meeting all of you on Facebook and sharing our hopes, dreams, methods and successes on our path to the White House. Tell everyone you know to meet us here!
Sunny Yeddis Goldberg
Mama 4 Obama
newsfromthesunnyside@gmail.com
http://progressivegovernment.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/newsfromthesunnyside

From Charlie in Vt:

News flash – did you know that Mitt Romney, after four years of campaigning and many many millions of dollars invested, both directly by his campaign and by his Super-Pac, fell six (yes, 6, count ‘em) votes short of the total votes he obtained in 2008 against John McCain and assorted other losers? My take is that the number 6 is thus more significant than the much more widely bally-hooed 8 vote margin of Mitt’s victory over Rick Santorum in Iowa last night.

Another interesting number is that almost 51% of Iowa voters DID NOT vote for Romney or Santorum. That is why Obama strategist David Axelrod has dubbed Mitt Romney “the 25% man”! And this winning total was the smallest winning total by any Republican candidate ever in the Iowa caucuses. Second lowest number ever heretofore was 26% by Bob Dole in 1996…………and some of us remember how well that turned out for the genial Kansan who was fond of talking about himself in the third person against President William Jefferson Clinton!


Lastly, I can’t resist touting Newt’s penchant for coming up with one of the more rapier sharp attack lines when he described Romney as a “Massachusetts moderate who will be pretty good at managing the decay but has given no evidence in his years in Massachusetts of any act to change the political structure or change the government.”

So, good night from the rotting neighboring state of Vermont. The Republican carnival comedy continues, with weekly new episodes, hopefully for months to come!

From Sheila in Larchmont:
Check out this video on YouTube: (and send it out liberally to those who might
not understand)....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izUkZpTft2w&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I wanted to share with you a new video titled “America & Israel: An Unbreakable Bond.” You can view it here: http://barackobama.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88bf20eadc0f65bca7c15fb8b&id=a545f81e4f&e=7619466fdd
This video summarizes the outstanding relationship between our country and the State of Israel that has been significantly enhanced by President Obama’s commitment to Israel’s security. Please share it with your friends and family across the country so that they too can understand the special relationship that the Obama Administration has with our ally, Israel.

From Mary in MO:


Tuesday night Alex and I attended a meeting of the Northland Democrats here in Kansas City. The speaker was the Executive Director of the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri. The subject: Protecting the Vote. Specifically the effort throughout the country to suppress the vote by requiring voters to show government issued photo ID in order to vote.

If you think you are immune because the state you live in has not passed this or other legislation intended to suppress the vote --- WRONG!!!!
We are all vulnerable. Voter suppression can skew the presidential election, it can skew key senatorial elections and it can further compromise our right to vote and thus our democracy. It doesn't matter what your politics are, if you value -- if you hold precious your right to vote, this should be a matter of concern.

As I've said before, implementation of these laws is not coincidental. There is a grand design to supress the votes of millions of Americans in the 2012 election and beyond. Who will be disenfranchised next???

LEARN MORE AT: Protecting the vote.org ,alec exposed.org

Missourians can also go to: Stacey.Newman@house.mo.gov to learn what is happening with voter suppression legislation in our state.
REMINDER ----- speak out at a Federal Courthouse near you against Citizens United -- the Supreme Court decision that gave enormous power to corporations for financing political campaigns.



From Rosita in NYC:


Recently I was invited to submit a piece for the new Washington Post small business blog on what elected officials might learn if they listened to small business owners. It was published today. Here's the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/remember-lawmakers-you-work-for-us/2012/01/05/gIQACtAjjP_story.html


From Hank:

Here is what I think of the whole mess!

Subject: To The Editor

“The Republican Contest” – Editorial – January 11, 2012

This is less a contest, and more a skit from “Saturday Night Live”, or the old comedy show, “Laugh-In”. “From Iowa’s social conservative fight to New Hampshire’s economic fantasies”, should continue with, “and on to South Carolina’s bigotry, religious idiocy, and the mad, ultra-conservative ravings of Senator Jim Demint. Rick Perry will raise his ugly head once again, appealing to the right-wing nuts and evangelicals, and all the remaining candidates will spend millions defaming Romney.

Mr. Romney, who will almost surely be the Republican presidential nominee, could not garner more than 39% of the vote in what is basically his home state, while the second and third place finishers, Paul and Huntsman, received 40% together. This election may be the most important in recent memory, because our fragile economic recovery is at stake, and we face monumental domestic and foreign policy challenges. None of the Republican candidates can shine Mr. Obama’s shoes, and all of them are best suited for the ensemble cast of “Send In The Clowns”.

From Judy R in Westchester:

Just despicable! There is a petition within the content!

Click here: Mike O'Neal, Kansas House Speaker, Emails Prayer Some Say Wishes For Obama's Death


From Marcelline in NYC:
Very easy to sign on to this. Marcelline

Subject: Petition

This is about a constitutional amendment that will establish, constitutionally, that corporations aren't people with civil rights equal to those of natural humans. Corporations were created as a legal fiction for the purpose of undertaking tasks, and liabilities, beyond the reasonable ability of humans. We have lost sight of the fact that corporations are the result of a LEGAL FICTION. There is no doubt that the legal fiction is useful, but extending the rights of corporations to political contributions allows a very few people to multiply their political influence to the detriment of the vast majority of the citizens of this country. It should not be so.

http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=f1c2660f-54b9-4193-86a4-ec2c39342c6c


From Robin in North Salem and marceline in NYC:

Andrew Sullivan: How Obama's Long Game Will Outsmart His Critics

Terrific piece with all the talking points we need!

Subject: Fw: Andrew Sullivan on Obama-super article all must read!!!!!!!!!!http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/01/15/andrew-sullivan-how-obama-s-long-game-will-outsmart-his-critics.html?fb_ref=article%3Barticle&fb_source=home_oneline

Betty in Scarsdale:This important action alone, giving women "some" parity in the bedroom--i.e., rom :insurers already cover Viagra, for men, but, to date, they have declined to cover birth control-- makes it paramount to support President Obama. Bravo!! So good!! (From today's NYT).
Obama Reaffirms Insurers Must Cover Contraception
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: January 21, 2012

WaSHINGTON - The Obama administration said Friday that most health insurance
plans must cover contraceptives for women free of charge, and it rejected an exemption sought by the Roman Catholic Church for insurance provided to
employees of Catholic hospitals, colleges and charities.

Federal officials said they would give such church-affiliated organizations one additional year - until Aug. 1, 2013 - to comply with the requirement. Most
other employers and insurers must comply by this Aug. 1.
Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church had personally appealed to President Obama
to grant the broad exemption. He made the final decision on the issue after
hearing from them, as well as from family planning advocates, scientific experts
and members of Congress, administration officials said.The rule takes a big step to remove cost as a barrier to birth control, a longtime goal of advocates for women's rights and experts on women's health.









In announcing details of the final rule on Friday, Kathleen Sebelius, the



secretary of health and human services, said it "strikes the appropriate balance



between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important



preventive services.""Scientists have abundant evidence that birth control has significant health benefits for women," Ms. Sebelius said, and "it is documented to significantly reduce health costs."Catholic bishops issued a statement saying they would fight the "edict" from the government."In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences," said Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.In an interview, Archbishop Dolan, who is to become a cardinal next month, said,"We're unable to live with this."Other opponents of the rule said they would seek legislation to block it and might challenge it in court as well.The rule includes an exemption for certain "religious employers," including houses of worship. But church groups said the exemption was so narrow that it was almost meaningless. A religious employer cannot qualify for the exemption if it employs or serves large numbers of people of a different faith, as many Catholic hospitals, universities and social service agencies do.


From Sue in Long Island:

There’s been so much nastiness in South Carolina as Republicans duke it out, here’s a little humor for a snowy day:

The President Can’t Believe Betty White is 90 (And Asks to See her Birth Certificate).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zUsV7Tj2zY

The President sings!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-hDt2E8MoE&feature=email

If those videos didn’t make you smile, how about this: In the last few days President Obama has ensured access to contraception coverage for millions of women, and he denied the Keystone XL oil pipeline a permit until there’s a more thorough review.

The choice this year is stark, so join us at one of the fun and informative events below to sign the President’s petition to get him on the NY State ballot and to hear how we’re going to win in 2012. These events over but keep watch for newest get togethers!! Thanks to all of you who are circulating petitions. We appreciate your hard work!
From Judy in Westchester:

Next week marks the 200th anniversary of the British novelist Charles Dickens's birth. The London of Dickens's time was a bleak place: little social support, debtor's prisons, pollution, and children working in factories.
If you look at the Republican presidential aspirants today you'd think they want to return to those good old times: no environmental regulations; no worker protection laws; no social safety net; and children working as janitors.
As a child Charles himself was forced to work in a boot polish factory. All that he saw around him and experienced is reflected in his novels. It's a sign of an author's genius when his characters step out of the stories and become words in the language. Dozens of Dickens's characters are now part of the English language.
From Hank in NYC:

What would we watch if they stopped the Republican Debates!?

To: 'letters@nytimes.com'
 To The Editor
“Don’t Stop the Debates” – Editorial – January 31, 2012
The Republican debates are much more than “an open window onto the failed policies and dubious values of the Republican Party.” These debates are a national disgrace. The American public has been subjected to the lowest form of political antics, and exposed to the unbelievable weakness of the GOP. Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney? Is this the best Republicans can do? A washed up Washington insider who cheated on two wives versus a two-faced former Governor of Massachusetts whose positions change as quickly as the seasons? Let us not forget that these guys look great when compared to the failed campaigns of Perry, Bachman and Cain.

It is no small wonder that only slightly more than half of all eligible voters go to the polls. In my lifetime we have gone from the excitement of casting my first ever presidential ballot for JFK, to voting for a terrible candidate like John Kerry for fear of what a second Bush 43 presidency might do to the nation. Whether one is in favor of Barack Obama, or believes he has failed the country, anyone watching the Republican debates must come away feeling that the current President is far better than this bunch of clowns.

From Charlie:

….….….to enter the race, can you believe that stat from today’s Exit Polling??! And 40% of the Romney supporters in FL think Romney is “not conservative enough”- as the Church Lady on SNL used to say, “isn’t that special”?!
Another interesting - nay, depressing - stat coming out of Florida is that of the $15 million-plus spent on ads in support of Romney, only ONE of those ads was a positive pro-Romney ad, and it ran sparingly. As Chris Matthews just said, Romney “ran a smash-mouth” campaign. And there was “no grace in victory,….. nor in defeat”, based on Gingrich’s non-concession speech.

What would you think are the chances of “party unity” down the road between Romney and Gingrich?! And what are the chances that Romney will run anything but a “smash-mouth” campaign against Obama this summer and fall?.......I’d say about zilch……….and that is why we have to arm the President at this time with the resources needed to build his Campaign organization, rising above all the negativity, to promote his vision for the country, and his record of meaningful accomplishments in the past three years.

From Andrea in Mamaroneck:

Laughter is the best medicine . . .

The problem with political jokes is they get elected. ~Henry Cate, VII

 We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. ~Aesop

* If we got one-tenth of what was promised to us in these acceptance speeches there wouldn't be any inducement to go to heaven. ~Will Rogers

* Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato

* Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river. ~Nikita Khrushchev

* When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it. ~Clarence Darrow

* Why pay money to have your family tree traced; go into politics and your opponents will do it for you. ~Author Unknown

* If God wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates. ~Jay Leno


* Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel. ~John Quinton

* Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other. ~Oscar Ameringer

* The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it. ~P.J. O'Rourke
I offer my opponents a bargain: if they will stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them. ~Adlai Stevenson, campaign speech, 1952

* A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country. ~Texas Guinan

* Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so. ~Gore Vidal

* I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. ~Charles de Gaulle

* Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks. ~Doug Larson

* Don't vote, it only encourages them. ~Author Unknown

* There ought to be one day - just one - when there is open season on senators. ~Will Rogers

Friday, December 23, 2011

From Tina in CO:

Subject: : PP: Obama's advantage: people personally like him



Hopeful...

Subject: PP: Obama's advantage: people personally like him



http://wapo.st/rsOHwG



Merry Christmas, everyone!

From Betta:

Thank you so much for your encouraging words, Sunny!


I am thrilled to connect with you and know that all of us are being

brought together at the exact right time to help save the world!


Your blog was brilliant by the way, please do add me to your list. In

fact, you've inspired me to make blogging my New Year's resolution-

something I've been meaning to do for way too long!

I'm looking forward to connecting with you in 2012, hopefully lots of

great work and fun in our future!


In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday and happy new year!!


Cheers,

Betta

p.s. Mark sends xoxo

Terry from Sounth Nyack,NY:

Thanks for your wonderful email about Obama and the battle ahead for the Democrats.

I flew to Kansas City for Thanksgiving...were you there? We had quite a family get together...even my 82 year old Mother flew in from Wisconsin. Perhaps we'll bump into each other again en route...or here on the East Coast.


Have a wonderful Holiday and thanks for sharing your emails with me!

Warmest regards,

From Judy R in Mamaroneck

Here's the SNOPES link http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/ike.asp


Source for quote from Ike!!!