Don't let them twist our words,facts,issues-fire up and get the truth out!

Dear Obama/Biden Supporters:


Did you ever realize the potency of words and how they can be twisted to support one's viewpoint before this election? The Republican Party has hijacked our language and turned things upside down. They have been doing it since John Kerry was Swift Boated and you would think we would have learned how to counteract this by now. So, according to them health care is now Obamacare and socialism at its best. It seems that government(as long as it is something you don't want to control like gay marriage) is an invasion into your life and completely over spending. Obama's financial rescue plan that kept us out of the largest depression ever (after W got us into this hole) is perceived as big government on an out of control spending tear.Once again, Karl Rove and now Glen Beck , have fired up this group of hypocrites who say they are for small government but don't want anyone to touch their Social Security and Medicare . What they do with their curious control of language is to get people to vote against their own interests. I mean do you really think that these greedy fat cats, who want to keep all their money, give a damn about the working class. They want their W tax cuts renewed at the cost of about 100 billion dollar deficit to this budget, they say they are so concerned about! It is this kind of language where you spin about bailouts,spending and deficits that makes all these people buy into it like it truth. Somehow I have to believe that this country has smart people who are beginning to see through this rhetoric. They are not as dumb as Rove thinks they are. The Tea Party message of keep government out of my life, except if I want to get rid of gay marriage,build a bridge to nowhere, keep tax cuts for the upper 1%(Koch brothers raison d'etre), dig for oil or abolish something we don't approve of like the education department. These great "father figures" know what is best for us and not that dangerous bloated government . The GOP and Tea Party use this spin that often is composed of lies (or distorted facts) and all use it consistently in lock step every chance they get. It is not about content but spin and saying it enough times that people begin to believe it.

We saw a movie last night in our film class that really drove this point home, called Fair Play, the story of Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame. There were all W's men including Cheney and Libby making this great case for Niger selling yellowcake uranium to Saddam Hussein for WMD's. You know the tale where Wilson wrote his report saying he traveled to Niger and talked to officials and found no evidence of the sale.He wrote a detailed report that stated," Moreover, because the two mines are closely regulated, quasi-governmental entities, selling uranium would require the approval of the minister of mines, the prime minister and probably the president. In short, there's simply too much oversight over too small an industry for a sale to have transpired."So back he goes and finds out in W's State of the Union address that what he had shown to be a false report was being taken as not only true but a reason to go to war with Iraq. W and Cheney were determined to go to war with Iraq. No information, facts, or discoveries of false signatures on the 1990's report was seemingly important or valid for them. This British report (remember those 16 words in the state of the union address) became the basis for war by raising fear that Saddam had Weapons of mass destruction.

I sat there cringing and watching news clips and wanting to tear out my hair over the manipulation of facts. At the very least Congress , which authorized the use of military force at the president's behest, should have investigated if the assertions about Iraq were warranted. Could we be falling for this again and the same guys selling us those lies. Here you have a man whose wife was an exposed CIA agent ,his family and his marriage were threatened because Cheney and Libby didn't agree with his report. Wilson sat down and wrote a an editorial to the NY Times about the results of his trip to Niger that negated the sale of uranium to Iraq. Hence, Libby had Plame outed in retaliation for this editorial. My friend in the film club said," I was not surprised at the lengths the Bush White House went to cover their behinds with the lies and deceit... but it was heartbreaking to know that many Iraqi scientists and their families who were depending on the US to get them safely out of the country, likely died as a result of the outing of Valerie Plame... and worse yet, is that there is no recourse, to this day, for Rove, Cheney, Bush and the rest! And of course the thousands of military and innocent Iraqis who died and continue to die, needlessly!"


Wilson felt both he and the CIA must tell the truth ,and his life was turned upside down and put into imminent danger because he did. Does one speak out when they know things are wrong? Do we protest the a candidate in Delaware is surprised that a separation of church and state is in the constitution. Do we fight back when Obama is pulverized by Fox news?Do we read newspapers and learn about issues since TV is no longer news but entertainment? Television doesn't seem to care about keeping us informed or getting the facts straight . Instead they like to talk about, Sharon Angle wanting Harry Reid to "man up". This is the same woman who sunk to a new low when she told a classroom of Hispanic kids in Las Vegas: "Some of you look a little more Asian to me". In the final scene of the movie Fair Game, Joe Wilson makes a rousing speech for speaking out against injustice and factual reporting. He asks his class how many of you students remember those 16 little words that led us into a war with Iraq? A few students raised their hands . Next he asked how many of you know my wife's name, and the whole room held up their hands. I rest my case says he about sensationalism making news. If you scream loud really loud you get your point across and that makes an impression.

I urge you in these last 10 days of the election to reach out to people. We have to speak out against injustice, no matter what the consequence. We need to get the truth out,since the GOP is more adept at spreading their message irregardless of the facts. The Republicans opposed the stimulus package that created between 1.4-3.3 million jobs. Go to www.FactCheck.org , the indispensable truth squad there says."It's just false to say the stimulus created no jobs".Where is the GOP plan that creates jobs? Indeed they propose actions that would worsen the fiscal situation. For starters they favor $700 billion in extended tax cuts for the most affluent Americans. This would lead to an even more gargantuan gap between rich and poor.They want to do away with health care reform that would mean an increase in deficits of about $455 billion. On the other hand,keeping health care reform will trim the deficits by more than $170 billion between now and 2020 says the C.B.O.(you can fact check this). You and I know these facts but the spinners are out there distorting the issues and making it seem like they will take us to" the promised land". We have to answer back and so many of you are out there doing just that by knocking on doors, making those calls, and e-mailing(don't worry there is an end in sight!!!). We cannot shut up and must report an injustice even if it is a pothole ! Please join me in getting out the facts and the vote on November 2. You can be sure that Palin will vote, Sharon Angle will vote, Rush Limbaugh will vote, and certainly Glenn Beck will vote. Lets don't let them beat us at our own game. We won in 2008 because we connected with the voters and each other. So many of you have come up with such terrific ideas and appeals to reach the voters from ****Dames for Democrats to ***Westchester 4 Change(see examples in this blog). We can and must keep fighting with facts and information against the outrageous unqualified people running for office with Tea Party support. They are not only ill informed but hypocrites begging for small government but not wanting anyone to touch their Social Security and Medicare. Yes we can and will spend these last days doing the right thing and getting our message out because this is who we are and what we do.

Love,Sunny

A Mama 4 Obama

From Betty in Scarsdale:

Nita is really lucky---and so are we to get rid of her opponent!!!

#2

Daily Kos: State of the Nation

Go Viral!!!!



From Jude in PA:

Hi Sunny! Thanks for keeping the fires lit. Let me know if any of your folks want to bus down between now and November 2nd--I'm running OFA operations out of Bucks County PA. we're about 45 minutes from philly, just slightly south of the lehigh valley. theres a train that comes into quakertown and doylestown.Hugs,


From Val in Ohio:

I guess you have not been persuaded to join the tea party (smiles). I just returned from the AARP convention in Orlando. Heard Kathleen Sibelius address health care reform; Larry King and Whoopi Goldberg shared a stage; was enthralled with Gladys Knight and BB King; gained wisdom from Sarah Lawrence Lightfoot; etc.etc. I bet there was not a tea party member in the crowd because the folks were not haters. They just came to have a good time. I didn't even find time to meet with your friend, Harriet.

Our local chapter of Drs. for America will be attending the rally on Oct. 30. That's going to be a nice way to wrap up the campaign season.

Sent the application for an absentee ballot to my son for his signature. Joe Sestak can count on a vote once he gets a ballot.

It's full speed ahead from now until November 2. I already voted so I can help get others to the polls.


From Sara in DC:

Hey obama family-

Hope this finds you all well! Put together a video essentially telling candidates threatening to repeal health care to back off-- thought you might be able to make some use of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4T-J04jwW0


Wonk Room has more: http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/05/aca-young-cover/

#2

Hope this finds you well. Thought you'd get a kick out of a video Campus Progress put together as a part of http://www.voteagain2010.com, an effort to boost youth turnout this midterm election cycle being orchestrated by over 30 groups and media partners.

http://www.voteagain2010.com/2010/07/iller/

The video is a response to the persistent talking point that young people who are politically active are zombies.


From Val in Ohio:

I drove down a newly paved street in my community this morning and a thought crossed my mind. If John McCain & Co. had been elected this road would not have been paved. Yes, it was stimulus dollars at work that got the job done. Now as the 2010 election draws near, I have to wonder what else will be taken away if the Rethugs dominate our national agenda. Prez Obama has tried to do what we asked of him with one hand tied behind his back (the Congress). We need to give him some help. Get out and vote!!! PS I hear James Carville said the Dems have come out of their fetal position and are starting to fight back.

From Hank in NY:

“What The World Needs Now” – October 12, 2010

Hal David, along with Burt Bacharach wrote that song many years ago. It was originally sung by Jackie DeShannon, and made even more popular by Luther Vandross. “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love, it's the only thing, that there's just too little of……” These lyrics were never more true than they are today.
Actually, the world, and especially America, is today so full of hate that we can’t even see straight. I thought there could be no more hated man in this country than George W. Bush, but the racist hatred being spewed at Barack Obama is so vile, and so vindictive, it makes the vitriolic contempt leveled on “W” seem as soft and sweet as cotton candy.

Given the level of racism still present in the U.S. in the early stages of the twenty-first century, it is almost hard to believe that Obama ever got elected. If not for the miserable opponent, John McCain, that he faced in 2008, and that candidate’s almost mind-numbing decision to name Sarah Palin as his choice for Vice President, Barack Obama might not be sitting behind that desk in the Oval Office.

Now, everything that is wrong with America is being blamed on Obama. The “Tea Party” movement actually started as a result of ultra right-wing hatred of the president. Even many in the progressive segment of his own party hates him for escalating the war in Afghanistan. The scenes of joy and tears from Grant Park are a distant memory now. On that election night America convinced itself that we had become a color blind nation. The world community, friend and foe stood up and cheered, amazed at what the American electorate had wrought! Then Obama was sworn in and took office. It was as if the president had disguised himself as a caucasian man, and as he drove and walked down Constitution Avenue that cold January 19th, 2009, he started taking off the make-up and showing the world that he was an African American.

The haters stared in immediately, tossing in grenades comparing him to Hitler, and accusing him of not being a U.S. citizen. (Some 18% of Americans still believe it). The Glenn Beck’s, Rush Limbaugh’s, Newt Gingrich’s and Sarah Palin’s of the world hit him with everything from being a total socialist intent on ruining America, to blaming him for both Bush wars and the deficit. The Republican minorities in the House and Senate decided long before Inauguration Day to “just say no” to anything this president asked for, and it was only with the unique courage and conviction that Obama possess that enabled him to get health care and financial reforms passed into law.

Now this hatred has spawned candidates for Governor, the Senate and the House, who are so unqualified as to be incapable of even spelling the word “legislation.” Carl Paladino, Sharon Angel, and Christine O’Donnell are the more prominent names that come to mind, but there are many races where a Tea Party candidate has defeated the Republican Party’s own choice, and got there because of the hatred of their supporters for this president and their own party regulars. We cannot, and will not, solve the massive problems America faces as long as so much hate is present in our discourse. We must become, as Bush 41 said, “a kinder and gentler nation.”

Whatever the voters decide on November 2nd, all Americans need to start singing, “what the world needs now……”

From Lee in DC/NYC OFA and DNC:

As you know we are moving into the final days before the important midterm election on November 2nd. The final weeks of any election are about one thing – getting out the vote. If we can get large numbers of our 2008 voters to vote again this November then Democrats will keep the House and Senate, and President Obama can continue to move America forward. Please help us by volunteering some of your time at our office in New York City.

Organizing for America

25 East 21st Street, 4th Floor

between Park Avenue South and Broadway

Phone banks are scheduled almost daily:

Monday - Thursday from 1:00PM-5:00PM in the afternoon and 5:00PM to 9:00PM.

Saturday: 23rd from 1:00PM-5:00PM

We are doing our GOTV push the final four days, from Saturday October 30th through Election Day, Nov.2nd - - we will be making calls from 10 AM to 9 PM .Additionally, the OFA team organizes Saturday and Sunday trips to canvas in Westchester and Long Island. ** If you have questions please contact our amazing OFA Volunteer Coordinator Clare White (and Women for Obama alum) at 917-783-8905 or at clareawhite@gmail.com. Clare is copied on this email.

Thanks for your continued support,



From Kathy in MO:





Sorry this message is so long. I just think we need to arm ourselves with facts and get out and talk to voters every chance we get.







If you are a Missouri voter or have friends and family who are, please encourage them to get out and vote on Nov. 2 and support Robin Carnahan for Senator. She and her family have a record of real service to Missouri unlike Roy Blunt who only claims to have Missouri values.







Robin supports strengthening Medicare and Social Security where Blunt has said it would have been better if they had never started these life saving programs that have kept seniors out of poverty for years. He claims they really don't benefit anyone. He has voted to privatize or weaken them whenever he has had a chance. This is a very real part of the Republican agenda if they regain control of Congress.







Blunt has a voting record in Washington; Robin does not. He likes to rail against spending in Washington, but he neglects to say that he was Bush’s point man in the House to push through the $700 billion TARP bank/Wall St. bailout of 2008. Many would argue that the government needed to step in, but as it was set up, there was no accountability as to how this would be spent and much of it went to paying bonuses to CEO’s instead of stimulating the economy.







As small business owners, we have watched the legislation on SBA loans carefully this year. Blunt and the Republicans claim to be pro small business, but voted against this important legislation every time it came up. This has delayed for nearly a year us being able to get the loans we need to expand our business. He has voted against Main Street and job creation at every opportunity and for Wall Street and big business at every turn.







Blunt and the Republicans like railing against the stimulus spending and claim it didn’t create a single job. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office claims it has created approx. 2.5 million jobs and saved thousands more jobs of teachers, firefighters, and police officers. Blunt voted against all measures to stimulate the economy.







He is trying to hang a label of corruption on the Carnahan family by running ads against Robin's brother's Missouri windfarm. The claims are totally false. No one lobbied for these tax breaks in the Carnahan family nor in the windfarm company. The money was set aside and designated for companies all over the country to create jobs and encourage clean energy, something the Carnahans have been doing for years not just to get tax breaks or grants this year. Over 1000 companies across the country got these grants and tax incentives. The windfarm is the largest private sector investment in the state in the past couple of years and is expected to generate more than 2500 jobs as well as clean energy!



Blunt is just trying to deflect from his own proven record of corruption. His ties to indicted Tom Delay and convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff are well documented. Even Chris Wallace on FOX questioned whether Blunt had the ethics to lead change in DC! One of his best known ethics breaches was trying to insert into a homeland security bill benefits for his tobacco lobbyist girlfriend and her company. He still maintains that making the tobacco industry stronger makes us all safer! His well documented voting record for big business and gifts from lobbyists is too long to list.







Millions of dollars of Blunt's ads are being paid for by Karl Rove's American Crossroads group and The US Chamber of Commerce that is rife with scandal over contributions from foreign countries to influence our election! They are running a well financed multi-million dollar smear campaign against Robin.



Please help us keep Blunt out of the Senate! He is a bought and paid for politician that exemplifies the very worst of Washington. Missouri and the country cannot afford to have him in the Senate.







Robin Carnahan has served MO well in many capacities most recently as our Secretary of State. She has fought corruption here and fought for consumers. She has also worked hard to make our elections safer and more ethical. We need her in the Senate.



Please support her with your vote and your volunteer efforts. You can see the volunteer opportunities at www.robincarnahan.com Thanks,



Also please Vote yes on Prop B which would strengthen regulation of the unsafe and inhumane puppy mills that MO has become infamous for!



From Mary in MO:



POWER!!!!!



This election is about power. It's about Republicans regaining power. They have shown they will stop at almost nothing to do so, up to and including using the feckless freakish tea partiers.



So now, the Republican Party has gathered under its "umbrella" people who engage in bigoted, absurd, and inflammatory rhetoric (and bahavior) and people who propose, among other things, the privatization of Social Security, the repeal of health care and Wall Street reform, and the impeachment of President Obama. The big "umbrella" includes people who say that government is too big and intrusive and yet propose that all abortions be illegal including for victims of rape and incest. As an advocate for abused and neglected kids for nearly thirty years, I can tell you that this last idea shows an abysmal lack of compassion and understanding.



To the point. Last month I turned 71.......the month before that, I completed treatment for breast cancer.



This month --- I PLEDGE to spend every Saturday until election day knocking doors for Robin Carnahan and to do whatever I can for the GET OUT THE VOTE effort.



I urge you, no, challenge you to do the same where ever you are.....there is work to be done. California, Wisconsin, Florida...there are races everywhere that could use help. Knock doors, make phone calls, -- just do it. I know some of you are already working hard --- enlist others.



In Platte County, Missouri: meet me tomorrowat at the HQ ( the Montee building) on 9 Hwy in Parkville 10:00 am. E-mail me if you can make it or if I can help you.



"They" say they want their country back but what they want to do with it is down right scary! I don't need to tell you that a Republican majority in both houses of Congress would be disastrous.



Let's do it........................







From Jane in Larchmont: How Dare Women not Vote after those who fought to get it for us only 90 years ago!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StF3_Mj0tBg

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say.

I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.

Hard to believe this actually happened and we don't even talk about it.



This is the story of our Mothers and Grandmothers who lived only 90 years ago. Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.





The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote. And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'





(Lucy Burns)

They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.



(Dora Lewis)

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote.



For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/prisoners.pdf



So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because --- why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining? Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.





All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. Sometimes it was inconvenient.





My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said. 'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use, my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.'



HBO released the movie on video and DVD. I wish all history, social studies and government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in order.





It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.' We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.







From Betty in Scarsdale:





We released this new ad today hitting Joe DioGuardi where he claims to be strongest: on his fiscal restraint, or, rather, the lack thereof when he was a congressman. Link to the ad is below. Please spread it to your networks.





Maggie Haberman and Celeste Katz have the ad up on their blogs:





http://www.politico.com/blogs/maggiehaberman/1010/Gillibrand_goes_negative_on_DioGuardi_.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/10/after-cheery-pro-vets-ad-gilli.html







From Val in Ohio:

I drove down a newly paved street in my community this morning and a thought crossed my mind. If John McCain & Co. had been elected this road would not have been paved. Yes, it was stimulus dollars at work that got the job done. Now as the 2010 election draws near, I have to wonder what else will be taken away if the Rethugs dominate our national agenda. Prez Obama has tried to do what we asked of him with one hand tied behind his back (the Congress). We need to give him some help. Get out and vote!!!



From Gloria in McCungie PA:

Macungie Volunteers -

Lots of good news this morning -

1 - Rick + Noreen have taken on the Herculean task of calling all *382 Obama `08 volunteers* for whom we have phone numbers to nudge them into action. Go, you guys! I'm sure they'd appreciate your help if you have the time.

2 - The Mac Institute has offered us the use of a room *FREE* for one night as reparations for locking us out last Friday night. Free's always good, right?

Bad news -

There are no rooms available there for this Thursday 10/14 as we'd hoped. Two alternatives:

* Wednesday 10/13

* Friday 10/15

Please *email me with your preference* ASAP and I'll let you know the group's consensus.

Fired up + Ready to go!



From Tommy in MO:

28 days left in the campaign --- you know that means, right? Tomorrow, I kick off my third Boots on the Ground operation - BOTG III.



In the last 28 days of the campaign, I will again travel throughout this district's 28 counties. Tomorrow, we begin on Pine Street in my hometown of Rolla and proceed. Over the next 28 days, I'll join my growing field army to knock on doors and meet voters the old fashioned way.



From day one, my campaign made a strategic choice not to to run a conventional campaign. We wanted to build a campaign that people believe in, one less focused on me sitting in a call room dialing for dollars, and more focused on getting my boots on the ground, meeting voters.



That's why I need your help. Every minute I spend knocking doors and marching down Main Streets, my opponent will be destroying my name on the air. We need ammo to fight back. Every dollar you contribute means I can continue to communicate with the rest of the district via television and radio.Will you chip in to keep my ads on the air while I'm on the ground?I really appreciate your support as I prepare to hit the pavement!



From Betty in Scarsdale:



Elie Wiesel: Ground Zero mosque should be used to bring Jews, Christians and Muslims together Make sure and vote!!!



From Peggy in LA:

After a rocky start, Kirsten Gillibrand has not only found her footing, she is poised to assume the mantle of her formidable predecessor. Jonathan Van Meter reports on the Senate’s rising star. Photographed by Norman Jean Roy.

READ THE VOGUE ARTICLE, “IN HILLARY’S FOOTSTEPS”



From Sheila in Larchmont:



It was so great to be with a bunch of impassioned women (and a few men too), writing postcards until our fingers ached (and eating fabulous chocolate), knowing we were part of helping Senator Gillebrand stay in Washington to fight for the President and all of us. How great was it to see her ahead by almost 10 points in the polls the very next day (our postcards did not do it, but our spirit might have)!

Still I worry about all the potential upsets all over the country that may defeat our hopes for giving President Obama the support he needs and for furthering our progressive goals. I can't help thinking that if we could transport all the energy that was collected in your dining room yesterday to our neighbor state, Connecticut, where the wrestler and her money threaten Richard Blumenthal...! Maybe some of your Connecticut fans can tell us what we can do to help them in their efforts. CONNECTICUT: WE'RE HERE FOR YOU! WHAT CAN WE DO?



From Letty in NYC:

I strongly recommend the film "Budrus," about the triumph of Palestinian nonviolence in a small West Bank village. It will be playing in Manhattan from Friday, October 8th through the 21st.

Location: The Quad Cinema, 34 W. 13th St.

Letty

Here's a story on the film that ran in last Sunday's Times. Click here: Film - ‘Budrus’ Becomes Part of a Palestinian Debate - NYTimes.com



*** FOR SCREENING DATES IN L.A. AND WASHINGTON, D.C., CLICK HERE:

Click here: Budrus Official Film Website
Just Vision



From Amy in Mamaroneck:

Check out Joe on CBS News -- on total defensive



http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20018941-503544.html



From Randy in Berkeley ,CA:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/210904

This is an article from the October 15, 2010 issue of Rolling Stone by matt Taibbi.



Rolling Stones strikes again-- be sure to read the entire piece. As usual, Matt gets to the heart of the matter.



It's taken three trips to Kentucky, but I'm finally getting my Tea Party epiphany exactly where you'd expect: at a Sarah Palin rally. The red-hot mama of American exceptionalism has flown in to speak at something called the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, a gospel-music hoedown in a giant convention center filled with thousands of elderly white Southerners. Palin — who earlier this morning held a closed-door fundraiser for Rand Paul, the Tea Party champion running for the U.S. Senate — is railing against a GOP establishment that has just seen Tea Partiers oust entrenched Republican hacks in Delaware and New York. The dingbat revolution, it seems, is nigh.



"We're shaking up the good ol' boys," Palin chortles, to the best applause her aging crowd can muster. She then issues an oft-repeated warning (her speeches are usually a tired succession of half-coherent one-liners dumped on ravenous audiences like chum to sharks) to Republican insiders who underestimated the power of the Tea Party Death Star. "Buck up," she says, "or stay in the truck."



Stay in what truck? I wonder. What the hell does that even mean?



Scanning the thousands of hopped-up faces in the crowd, I am immediately struck by two things. One is that there isn't a single black person here. The other is the truly awesome quantity of medical hardware: Seemingly every third person in the place is sucking oxygen from a tank or propping their giant atrophied glutes on motorized wheelchair-scooters. As Palin launches into her Ronald Reagan impression — "Government's not the solution! Government's the problem!" — the person sitting next to me leans over and explains...



...(After speech runs out to speak to some listeners)OK," I say. "And what do you do for a living?"

"Me?" he says proudly. "Oh, I'm a property appraiser. Have been my whole life."



I frown. "Are either of you on Medicare?"



Silence: Then Janice, a nice enough woman, it seems, slowly raises her hand, offering a faint smile, as if to say, You got me!



"Let me get this straight," I say to David. "You've been picking up a check from the government for decades, as a tax assessor, and your wife is on Medicare. How can you complain about the welfare state?"



"Well," he says, "there's a lot of people on welfare who don't deserve it. Too many people are living off the government." "But," I protest, "you live off the government. And have been your whole life!"... The average Tea Partier is sincerely against government spending — with the exception of the money spent on them. In fact, their lack of embarrassment when it comes to collecting government largesse is key to understanding what this movement is all about — and nowhere do we see that dynamic as clearly as here in Kentucky, where Rand Paul is barreling toward the Senate with the aid of conservative icons like Palin...(Read rest on line really great article http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/210904)



From Jennifer in DC:



Is this the Jon Stewart clip you were mentioning?



http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-23-2010/postcards-from-the-pledge



From Eileen in MO:



Platform for the 2010 Election



I COULD SUPPORT THIS. GEORGE



THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!



I am sending this to virtually everybody on my e-mail list and that

includes conservatives, liberals, and everybody in between. Even though

we disagree on a number of issues, I count all of you as friends. My

friend and neighbor wants to promote a "Congressional Reform Act of

2010". It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be

strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of

Rights. I know many of you will say, "this is impossible". Let me remind you,

Congress has the lowest approval of any entity in Government, now is the

time when Americans will join together to reform Congress - the entity

that represents us.



We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a

Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These

people will become American heroes

Thanks,A Fellow American



Congressional Reform Act of 2010

1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.

A. Two Six year Senate terms

B. Six Two year House terms

C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding

Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home

and back to work.



2. No Tenure / No Pension:

A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay

when they are out of office. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and

back to work.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social

Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social

Security system, Congress participates with the American people.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers

envisioned citizen legislators, server your term(s), then go home and

back to work.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all

Americans. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers

envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and

back to work.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional

pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers

envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and

back to work.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in

the same health care system as the American people. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and

back to work.



7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American

people. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers

envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and

back to work. Or go to jail, if appropriate.

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective

1/1/11. The American people did not make this contract with congressmen,

congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and

back to work.





From Stef in KIrsten's office:

I have concerning news. As you know, Kirsten has been an unwavering champion of women's reproductive freedom both as a member of the House and in the US Senate with a 100% pro-choice rating from groups such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL NY.



Amazingly, NY Republicans have nominated Joe DioGuardi, an extreme anti-choice Republican to run against her. DioGuardi opposes reproductive rights even in the cases of rape and incest. He says he wants to see Roe V. Wade overturned and has voted to eliminate funding for emergency reproductive care when a mother's life is in danger.



Read about his extremist record here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lorna-brett-howard/joe-dioguardi-liar-liar-p_b_744184.html Please comment and spread the word to your friends and social networks.



You can help keep Kirsten fighting as our pro-choice champion and progressive advocate by helping out with Women's Week of Action!



Hundreds of women across the state are taking action and it's not too late to get on board! Please reply to this email or sign up at http://kirstengillibrand.com/womensweek to find out how you can help!



From Kathy in MO: In response to KC Star Editorial(see below)

Aren't they just hideous??? Anything that is humane or makes sense they are automatically against! This should be unanimously supported, but again they are twisting everything around to make it look bad to protect animals in this state! The fact that it is outside agitators like Joe the fake Plumber makes it even worse!

Joe the Plumber plunges into Missouri puppy mills

By BARBARA SHELLY

The Kansas City Star



A grand conspiracy is afoot, and it starts right here in Missouri.



So says none other than Joe “The Plumber” Wurzelbacher, John McCain’s improbable sidekick in the 2008 presidential campaign. Liking the limelight and desperately searching for a new gig, Joe has lighted upon the Missouri ballot proposition cracking down on puppy breeding abuses.



Joe wants you to know that Proposition B is not really about making sure that dogs have access to healthy food, clean water, reasonable veterinary care, protection from extreme cold and heat, and room to move around.



No. Prop B is a plot by the dreaded Humane Society of the United States, “simply to get rid of ALL dog breeding in Missouri — the unlicensed AND licensed breeders.”



But it doesn’t stop there. Here’s Joe, on the website Alliance for Truth, dedicated to “exposing hidden political agendas.”



“This bill is just a stepping stone. HSUS eventually wants to extend this law to ALL animals. Their idea of utopia is a United States with NO animal ownership; NO meat to eat; NO pets; NO hunting; NO fishing; NO service animals.”



Is that the end of it? Oh, indeed not. More from Joe:



“Even the extinction of our food industry isn’t the scariest part of this whacko liberal agenda. A law is only as good as it’s enforced. And HSUS is happy to fill the void. HSUS has now become the self-appointed law enforcement of the animal world. We have to draw the line and hold these radical animal rights activists back.”



Wurzelbacher’s rantings could be dismissed as comedy but for one thing: His arguments have been voiced many times in the halls and chambers of the Missouri Capitol.



That’s why the Humane Society mobilized to get Proposition B on the ballot. Animal protection measures are radioactive in the state legislature.



Elected officials in Missouri have argued that tougher rules for puppy breeders are the first step to limits on livestock production. They portray the Humane Society (HSUS to opponents) as a fringe organization determined to turn us into a nation of vegans.



Meanwhile, Missouri holds the dubious status of the “puppy mill capital” of the U.S., with about 1,500 licensed breeders supplying four of every 10 puppies sold at pet stores around the nation — many with breeding and health problems. Officials believe hundreds of unlicensed breeders also operate in the state.



Law enforcement raids continually turn up starved, sick and mangy animals, some stacked atop one another in wire cages.



Contrary to what Wurzelbacher and others claim, existing laws don’t adequately protect dogs. Missouri’s animal care facilities act is 18 years old and lax compared with animal welfare laws in other states.



“The provisions ensure that the dogs survive. It does not ensure that they’re treated humanely,” said Barbara Schmitz, director of the Humane Society of Missouri.



As Schmitz observed, opponents of Proposition B don’t want to talk about the way dogs are treated. So they hide behind smoke screens and outright falsehoods.



Experience from other states debunks the claim that the new regulations would “put almost every breeder in Missouri out of business,” as Wurzelbacher warns breathlessly. In any case, the demise of a business that forces animals to exist in misery is no great loss.



And although some states empower employees of animal protection groups to inspect breeding operations and enforce laws, in Missouri those responsibilities would fall to Department of Agriculture employees and local police and sheriff’s departments.



Wurzelbacher’s ominous vision of “HSUS employees running around with guns and police-like badges breaking down doors,” would not play out here.



Joe the Plumber would love to throw a wrench into the animal welfare campaign. But his conspiracy theory leaks like a bad faucet.



From Judy in Mamaroneck:



Click here: Op-Ed Columnist - Facebook Politicians Are Not Your Friends - NYTimes.com

From Dani in Brooklyn:



When Dowd's good, she's good...



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/opinion/10dowd.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



October 9, 2010

Lord of the Internet Rings

By MAUREEN DOWD

It didn’t take long, sitting with an enthralled audience and watching the saga of the cloistered jerk who betrayed those around him and ended up unfathomably rich and influential, to understand why it has been hailed as a masterpiece.



They had me at the mesmerizing first scene, when the repulsive nerd is mocked by a comely, slender young lady he’s trying to woo. Bitter about women, he returns to his dark lair in a crimson fury of revenge.



It unfolds with mythic sweep, telling the most compelling story of all, the one I cover every day in politics: What happens when the powerless become powerful and the powerful become powerless? ...



From Amy in Mamaroneck and Todd in Gilllibrand's office:

I think we have the ideal name for DioGuardi: "Old Crony." It was the SEC's nickname for him when he was investigated as part of a ponzi scheme. Below is our press release we sent out today. I think between his tax cheating, his election law scheming and this, "Old Crony" sort of sums it all up. An old time insider using his connections to better himself.





http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/10/12/2010-10-12_feds_link_gop_senate_hopeful_joe_dioguardi_to_ponzi_firm.html#community







BREAKING…. NY Daily News: Feds link GOP Senate hopeful Joe DioGuardi to Ponzi firm









The SEC described DioGuardi, who faces incumbent Democrat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in next month's election, as an "old crony" of the company's bosses and suggested "he's connected to the original fraudulent scheme."







As of last November, thousands of investors were owed $1 billion. The feds froze the company's assets; the case is pending.













BY Kathleen Lucadamo

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER



Tuesday, October 12th 2010







U.S. Senate hopeful Joe DioGuardi prides himself on his accounting expertise - but he has a history with a firm the feds say ran a $1.7 billion Ponzi scheme.Medical Capital Holdings and its subsidiaries bilked investors out of $1 billion while sinking millions into a mega-yacht and Hollywood flop, a complaint filed last year by the Securities and Exchange Commission said.From 2007 to 2009, the former Westchester Republican congressman was paid $5,000 a month as a consultant for the subsidiary Medical Capital Corp. - and also got $16,000 a year to sit on boards of various other MCH subsidiaries.MCH managed the messy books for several of the companies involved in the so-called scheme and was named in the suit.DioGuardi, a trained accountant, claims he was oblivious to any wrongdoing.







"As a consultant, Joe was tasked with saving hospitals in New York from being shut down, but knew nothing of the schemes that were occurring behind the scenes," said his spokesman Brian Hummell, adding that his boss "has never seen the books."The SEC described DioGuardi, who faces incumbent Democrat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in next month's election, as an "old crony" of the company's bosses and suggested "he's connected to the original fraudulent scheme."...(Read rest on line)







From Val in Ohio:

The OSU rally had a lot of "fillers" leaving me to think the Prez had not arrived on time. The tea baggers put out a fake agenda listing speeches in five minute increments. Things like Obama explaining the trillion dollar budget, Michelle talking about childhood obesity, etc. Since it wasn't nasty, it was actually amusing. John Legend was great!

Off to a rally tomorrow for John Boehner's opponent. Canvassing last today. This is busy season.



From Hank in NY:

Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2010 9:19 AM

To: 'letters@nytimes.com'

Subject: To The Editor

“The Rage Won’t End on Election Day” – Frank Rich – October 17, 2010

Mr. Rich’s essay is correct, but he doesn’t include the major reasons why. America has lost her way. In many Caucasian neighborhoods, hate thy neighbor has become the lexicon, especially if that neighbor is a Muslim, Latino or African American. Our children are obese, apathetic and are leaving school unprepared to compete in the global economy. Our elected officials vote what the “polls” say, even against the best interests of their constituents. America doesn't make anything anymore, and as the Fed considers printing more money to stimulate the economy, the beneficiaries of that strategy will be Wall Street, not Main Street.



We have been mired in unwinnable wars for a decade, the cost of which measured in lives and national treasure is beyond calculation. But the real reason the rage will continue after the midterm elections is, those elected will do no better than those in power, and perhaps worse. There was a time when American voters could influence their own destiny with their ballot, but today American corporations and billionaires control the outcome of our elections. If we want a real target for our rage, look no further than that.



From Sue in Long Island:



We have a choice in Washington: Moving forward to solve our many challenges vs. pandering to anger and fear. Nov. 2 will be one of the most pivotal elections in our lifetimes. You can make a difference!

Call, walk and talk for Tim Bishop now. The race is neck-and-neck. Most polls show Tim Bishop is ahead among registered voters but trailing among “likely” voters. That’s why we need you: To tell Bishop supporters the importance of this election and make sure they Vote. Please join us! If you care about education, if you care about healthcare reform, if you care about preserving Medicare, if you care about equal rights, if you care about a woman’s right to choose, if you care about the environment, if you care about long-term job growth instead of boom and bust cycles...



From now until Nov. 2, our extraordinary volunteers have organized a bonanza of canvasses and phonebanks. They can’t make all those calls and knock on all those doors alone. Besides, these events are fun! Tonight please join Mike and Irene to make phone calls, join Mike on Saturday for a Bridgehampton canvass, and Susan on Sunday to go door to door in Sag Harbor. Next week Arlene is hosting a Monday night phonebank, Mike’s organized a Southampton canvass, and David will lead a team going door to door in East Hampton. Details here:



PHONEBANKS



Mike and Irene’s Southampton Phonebank

Call first time 2008 voters and get them to the polls!

CANVASSES



Will you help out during the most important 4 days of the campaign season? Commit to work during Get Out The Vote weekend Oct. 30-31, Monday, Nov. 1 and Election Day, Nov. 2 – all day or a half-day. Please contact Sue at suehornik@aol.com, 631-605-4689 or David at dposnett@med.cornell.edu, 631-324-4158

From Judy in Mamaroneck:



Wife of Clarence Thomas Reaches Out to Anita Hill Over 1991 Episode

>

> Virginia Thomas, the wife of Associate Justice Clarence

> Thomas of the Supreme Court, left a message last weekend on

> the voice mail of Anita Hill, who accused her husband of

> sexual harassment during his confirmation hearings, a

> spokeswoman for Ms. Thomas confirmed on Tuesday.

>

> In a message left at the office of Ms. Hill, who is now a

> professor at Brandeis University, Ms. Thomas apparently

> brought up Ms. Hill's accusations against her husband during

> the 1991 hearings.

>

> Andrew Gully, senior vice president of the Brandeis

> University communications office, confirmed that Ms. Hill had

> received the message and that she had turned it over to the

> campus department of public safety. That office, in turn,

> passed it on to the F.B.I.

>

> Read More:

> http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/us/politics/20thomas.html?emc=na



From Betty in Scarsdale:

There are less than two weeks until Election Day and the stakes for New York have never been higher.



Andrew Cuomo needs your support not only to win this election, but to build a movement to turn our state around. And Andrew has run his campaign just like he will govern – by building a coalition for reform that draws support from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.



But our ability to move New York forward depends on how many supporters like you cast your vote.This election is your chance to send Albany a message that we need to change direction and build a better future for New York.



Make the pledge to vote on Election Day -- Tuesday, November 2nd:



From Elizabeth in Mamaroneck:

Dear friends,

This video clip just about had me in tears, it's so good. Please don't miss it.



President Obama has been harshly criticized by many Democrats for his slow and cautious approach to gay civil rights, but a new video in which he talks about gay teenagers who are bullied is a breakthrough.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/22/obama_speaks_to_gay_teens.html



From John R- ********* Note from Sunny,I loved it and think you will too!

Hi got this from Dean and found it share worthy. Check out the video:



http://bit.ly/9Y7H4Y



**** From Robin in North Salem:Wonderful example of starting a creative appeal to voters:

Dear All,



Got this from my dear friend robin I worked on Obama and the WLF with. It is terrific and I sent home to MO for them to do with Robin Carnahan . Can we do it for our candidates here and Kirsten and chuck? Let me know if any one of you can do this quick break down of who to vote for and few sentences of why?



Love,Sunny



Fired up and ready to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!







Sent to me by my North Salem friend Robin!



Our sample of using their idea--Dear Friends: On behalf of Elizabeth,Susan,Rachael,Sunny,and the Dames for Democracy, I am forwarding this email to each of you in the hope that you will read it and send it to 10 of your democratic women friends in our area and remind them to vote on November 2. We need honest, thoughtful, level headed, hardworking people representing us at the state and federal levels – people who are willing to reach across ideological divides to get really important things done (like finishing healthcare reform, fiscal discipline in government and addressing global climate change). These are huge, complex, nonpartisan issues and republicans and democrats should not be fighting over them -- and would not be fighting over them (at least to the point of paralysis) but for the vicious partisan lie machine at work in our society. John, Mike and Tom (as diverse as they are) are each this kind of leader. I support all three of them. I also support Kirsten Gillibrand for exactly the same reasons. Robin Albin recently sent around a good article about Kirsten in Vogue. If you have not read it, please do and pass it along as well.



Recently I became part of a group called "Dames for Democracy." It is a local group of 10 women formed because research shows when women vote democrats win. This midterm election is crucial. Traditionally voter turnout is low during the midterms when every vote counts even more. The Republicans and Tea Party are using scare tactics to frighten the public about social issues. We must elect people who will support the issues and causes we believe in. Each one of us agreed to contact 10 democratic women and ask each to:





1. Promise to vote

2. Reach out to 10 additional democratic women and ask them to do the same



3. Provide absentee ballot information to friends with kids in college.



We can affect big change with this simple recipe for voter turn out. PLEASE join me and the other Dames for Democracy.



Here is our ballot line up:





Nita Lowey for U. S. House of Representatives: etc etc who can fix this up for us?



John is a staunch supporter of healthcare reform based on a real life family experience where he had to fundraise for a family member to afford medical treatment. He chairs the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, where he is an ardent advocate for the proper treatment of veterans. He has voted reliably forextensions of unemployment insurance, phased withdrawal of troops from Iraq, support for infrastructure projects, affordable healthcare, and protecting social security.







Nan Hayworth is a very wealthy former ophthalmologist who made enough money in 16 years of work under the current health-denial system to retire at age 45 to pursue her political aspirations. Her husband is the CEO and President of Mount Kisco Medical Group (MKMG) and one of only 9 doctors on the national advisory board of Aetna Healthcare.







She OPPOSES the DISCLOSE ACT (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h5175/show) which requires those corporations paying for advertising and funding campaign to put their NAME on their ads – BP/Exxon Mobil NOT ‘Citizens for sensible energy’ – Aetna or Cigna not ‘Americans for Healthcare Protection’.







She is in favor of the repeal of the healthcare reforms. A repeal would protect the profits of doctors and facilities like MKMG where her husband is CEO. Repeals of things like allowing people with preexisting conditions to get healthcare; allowing children to stay on their parent’s plan until 26; preventing insurers from dropping members who have been faithfully paying their premiums for years once they got an expensive illness to treat; no co-pays for preventative care, annual physicals, OB/Gyn etc.; Money to seniors to close the ‘doughnut-hole’



She is not pro-choice and supports the Stupak Amendment. (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/15284081/Stupak-Amendment-to-HR-3962-Rev-108)



She would like to see:



a Permanent extension of tax cuts for millionaires (like her)



Elimination of the estate tax which only affects the wealthiest Americans with estates valued OVER $3.5 million (like her)



Privatization of our social security – subjecting it to fluctuations in the market; privative Medicare and Medicaid – allowing Medicare which cost about 1.5% to administer to cost 35% or more; extending the Social security eligibility age to 70; and privatize the VA – subject our veterans to denials and rejections of claims arising from their service to our nation. Instituting a national sales tax – a 23% INCREASE for the middle class and elimination of MORTGAGE interest deduction.





Mike Kaplowitz for NY State Senate:



Mike is a Financial Planner and budget expert NOT a career candidate like Greg Ball.



Mike voted AGAINST Andy Spano’s budget, tax increases and pay raises and was FIRED from a leadership position as punishment.



Mike cut $120 Million in taxes and wasteful spending.



Mike has been in the County Legislature for 12 years – Greg runs for office, ANY office every election cycle.



Mike supports: Consolidation and downsizing of agencies; reduced reliance on property tax to pay for schools; Empowering individual legislators by reducing the total power of party leaders.



Greg Ball:



Greg wants to be promoted from the NYS Assembly to the Senate with a record of 0-132 he has failed in 3 years to have any one of 132 pieces of legislation he sponsored passed.



GREG IS A MEMBER OF THE NYS ASSEMBLY AND AN ALBANY INSIDER – A PART OF THE PROBLEM.



MIKE IS AN OUTSIDER WHO HAS NEVER HELD AN OFFICE IN ALBANY – yet Greg says HE is the outsider and Mike is the insider – clearly he has a problem with basic facts and logic.

Exciting Event coming up on Ocotber 18th with Michelle Obama

Concert with Mrs. Obama and Sarah Jessica Parker and Patti Labelle at the St. James theater for $250 general seating, $1,000 preferred seating or $2,500 preferred seating and meet and greet with Sarah Jessica Parker and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.


http://my.democrats.org/NYOct18

Get out the vote,GET OUT THE VOTE, Tell them and Tell them again---Fire UP!

Dear Obama/BidenSupporters:


I hate to beat a dead horse but what the hell is up with this election? Christine O'Donnell doesn't understand why monkeys can't turn into people right before her eyes. Bill Maher released another old clip of her on his HBO show where she argues that "Evolution is a myth." He can't believe that she is stupid enough to think primate evolution could happen fast enough to observe it. This is truly scary stuff(much more than her high school witch beliefs) since she could be in a position to make decisions about scientific issues,like global warming and stem cells. This is a woman who thinks primate evolution can happen in a week. We are in serious trouble here, not just the Dems but more importantly our country!! Look at the buffoon running for Governor of the great state of NY who declaring himself mad as hell and is being supported by the tea party movement. How better to dwarf the issues than personally attack your opponent to drown out any debates over policy? This Paladino is sending out e-mail jokes about Obama being an African-tribesman. He has also sent out mailings of a doctored photo of our President and Mrs Obama showing the president in a stereotypical pimp's costume holding the hands of the first lady,who is dressed as a prostitute in a grotesquely revealing outfit. Another example of this fine upstanding fellow is his e-mail showing a woman performing a sexual act on a horse. There are many more and he has acknowledged forwarding them,but now says he showed poor judgement in doing this. I believe these e-mails raise legitimate questions about the capability of this man to govern and more importantly that he is really not well.

This election is about values and we can't let our progressive values to be taken away from us. I understand the anger over jobs and the economy , but this all this shouting isn't going to solve problems. Problems also aren't being addressed in the "Pledge to America" released last week by the GOP that outlined their policy agenda. All it seemed to say was deficit are a bad thing and lets make them bigger. There was no information on the cuts they would be making but this document condemned federal debt 16 times. However, it also had as its main proposal to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, which independent estimates say would add about 3.7 trillion to the debt over the next decade-about 700 million moire than Obama administrations tax proposals. All the rest of the "Pledge" seems to be about the need to cut spending but there is only one specific cut proposed,canceling the rest of the TARP. So where do we cut, well they don't talk about this in the Pledge to America, lets leave it fuzzy(like fuzzy math). What are we doing wrong that we are not getting this message out. My friend Kathleen told me that you have to tell them what you want to say, tell them and then tell them again. I think this is very good advice. We need to get the message out there short ,sweet, but to the point. All I know is that with all its problems government is not evil, it is cures to diseases, roads,schools, police, firemen, and safety from terrorism.The institution of government is the glue that holds societies together, When it weakens,things come unstuck.

Our task is clear we have got to wake up and smell the roses. Apathy is going to be our downfall. If we don't get everyone out to vote, young ,old,and those who helped us win in 08 we are going to turn our government over to very scary unqualified people. I don't know what more it would take than to get onto Christine O'Donnell's web site, or listen to Palladino, Joe DioGuardi or Sharon Angle and their anti- choice anti- everything ranting. If you do that and can sleep at night without getting out the vote, than I give up. Remember what happens once these people take over and turn their real, not-so -secret agenda into reality which mainly involves privatizing and dismantling Medicare and Social Security. The scariest thing of all , according to Paul Krugman of the NY Times , is "the clear and present danger isn't that the GOP will be able to achieve its long-run goals. It is rather,that Republicans will gain just enough power to make the country ungovernable,unable to address its fiscal problems or any thing else in a serious way." This leaves Barack Obama with his hands tied and unable to do anything about the problems facing this country.

I think Tom Friedman's article on the Tea Kettle Movement was quite effective and really said most of what the movement is based on. HE calls it the Tea Kettle movement -because most of what it is doing is letting off steam. This movement has no plan to restore America to greatness,says Friedman. He feels the movement can't have a positive impact since it has misdiagnosed the main problem and has no credible solutions for the problem it has identified. "How can you take a movement seriously that says it want to cut government spending by billions of dollars but won't identify the specific defense programs,Social Security, Medicare or other services it's ready to cut-let alone explain how this will make us more competitive and grow the economy.?" How can we take this movement seriously when it was silent while W launched two wars and a new Medicare prescription drug program while cutting taxes? Now all of a sudden they are mad and screaming at Obama and Friedman wants to know where these people were for those eight years. It all makes sense to us, but they are still yelling about government bloat and socialist spending, and have been able to take control of the dialogue. How come we have let their voices be heard and not ours? I know that steam from a tea kettle can burn, but you can get over it by pointing out the facts. make those calls, write those postcards, reach out to get voters registered in these last few days, and don't give up hope. Tell them what you want to say, tell them and tell them again. We can win if we show how extreme these people are and that they have no solutions to any of these problems. Ask those screaming and yelling what they would do,and how they would make things better. Do they not appreciate the small business support they are getting from Obama's small business bill that has just passed,health care bill, appointments on supreme court supporting a woman's right to choose, and most of all his dismantling of Iraq war mess from W. I could go on and on, but we have to get to work and understand we are up against an extreme group of wealthy individuals and corporations like Fox News,Newcorp,Koch Industires and those Koch brothers,etc.) who really work to invoke fear in voters and don't pay any attention to the facts. It is our job to get the vote out and the truth out to these voters!!!

Love,Sunny

A mama 4 Obama
(*** Post away to your hearts content!)Please join me at both of these sites where you can make statements and they will reach many more people than in the past. In order to get to the blog please go to http://progressivegovernment.blogspot.com/ and read my updates and make comments

You can also find me on Facebook at "The Sunny Side - Political news for the Friends of Progressive Government" at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/The-Sunny-Side-Political-news-for-the-Friends-of-Progressive-Government/141511589209655.

From Betty in Scarsdale:

You are the BEST!!!! Wonderful message to cling to during this craziness!!!

#2

You gotta have heart, President Obama says at $1.4M Manhattan fund-raiser

From Fritzie in NYC:

The Jen in Soho? Kapular? She's amazing. I didn't know that's where you

went! I need it too! WAAAAY too much going on!

ahhh. My Jen is fabulous as well. And we need it in this rising tide of stupidity. Thank you so much for being the force you are! Brava!

From Caren in NYC:

Hi Sweet Sunny,

Unfortunately I am with you. I can hardly stand reading the newspaper or watching the news. My blood boils with the manipulation of untruths that are passed off as news today. It makes me SICK!!

From Jane in Larchmont:

Great news!!

http://www.lohud.com/article/20109220350

Westchester GOP drops candidate over inflammatory essay

Westchester County Republicans dropped their twice-chosen candidate, Jim Russell, as a challenger to Rep. Nita Lowey on Tuesday after the surfacing of a 2001 essay in which he embraces eugenics, cites anti-Semitic commentary and warns against interracial marriage.


The 16-page essay titled "The Western Contribution to World History" combines scholarly language with racist theories. It accuses Jews of stealing "Western" inventions, and — citing research on goslings and finches — warns against racial mingling.

The article ran in The Occidental Quarterly, a journal classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It surfaced Monday on the Politico website.

Russell is a perennial candidate from Hawthorne and a longtime activist for immigration enforcement. He was endorsed by the GOP for the second time this year to run against Democrat Lowey.

#2

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/ny/new_york_senate_dioguardi_vs_gillibrand-1469.html

From Tina in CO:

We have to ignite our friends, the party base and moderate independents and Repubs. I just hope we can do it in time for this election.

From Dale in MA:

HI Sunny - I loved reading this!! I recently heard Barack say something to this effect -- when you voted for me you voted to change the old guard, and now we have to vote to guard the change!

I also loved reading Eleanor Roosevelt's quote.

Keep these coming!


From Nancy P in NYC:

That Tea Party movement is so very disturbing to me. I think that

Obama has to put the creation of jobs before any other policies.

People are just suffering from poverty so badly, they just want things

to resemble the past 50 years where there was growth and jobs more

relevant to creating things, not just services: eg: homeland security.


From Sharon in Scarsdale: (While you are at in MO people,don't forget to vote for Robin Carnahan who backs Prop B 100%!)

The attacks have started.

This November, voters in Missouri -- the nation’s number-one puppy mill state -- will vote on a measure that will stop puppy mill abuses. It’s called Proposition B, and it would establish common sense standards for the care of dogs.

But last week, the puppy mill industry launched its campaign against Prop B with robo-calls to households across the state spreading lies about this measure. We can’t let those attacks go unanswered.

Missouri is home to approximately 3,000 puppy mills, about 30 percent of all the puppy mills in the country. And this massive industry is going to fight to keep business as usual, so they can continue to cram dogs into small and filthy cages, deny them veterinary care, expose them to extremes of heat and cold, and give them no exercise or human affection.

These puppy mills are cruel and the way these dogs are treated is wrong. And this dirty business affects all of us, because Missouri’s puppy mill dogs are shipped all over the country, sold to pet stores and directly to consumers over the Internet! In fact, as you read this, there is very likely a puppy from a Missouri mill staring out from a cage at a pet store near you.

Please help us with a special donation today to counter the false claims of the puppy millers -- and urge Missouri citizens to vote YES! on Prop B this November.

We can’t let voters be fooled by the falsehoods of the puppy mill industry and their paid consultants who are willing to say whatever it takes to maintain their cruel abuse of animals in the name of profit. If our opponents have their say, tens of thousands of dogs will continue to suffer.

We need to fight back, and set the record straight. With your support today, we can communicate our positive message of the humane treatment of dogs to voters all across Missouri between now and Election Day, through TV ads and other efforts. Please make a special donation now to the campaign to pass Proposition B.

Thousands of dogs suffering in Missouri are counting on you. Thank you so much for your help today.

Wayne Pacelle

President & CEO

The Humane Society of the United States

Congresswoman Nita's office:

Thanks...

I know...What a scary thing....And thank God the GOP dropped him...We just want to make sure that as many people as possible have seen this because not everyone reads the local papers and watches local news! Thanks Sunny...

Have sent it out and so thrilled he is being dropped by GOP. Sent to Nita last night following:

http://www.lohud.com/article/20109220350

Westchester GOP drops candidate over inflammatory essay

Westchester County Republicans dropped their twice-chosen candidate, Jim Russell, as a challenger to Rep. Nita Lowey on Tuesday after the surfacing of a 2001 essay in which he embraces eugenics, cites anti-Semitic commentary and warns against interracial marriage.

The 16-page essay titled "The Western Contribution to World History" combines scholarly language with racist theories. It accuses Jews of stealing "Western" inventions, and — citing research on goslings and finches — warns against racial mingling.

The article ran in The Occidental Quarterly, a journal classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It surfaced Monday on the Politico website.

Russell is a perennial candidate from Hawthorne and a longtime activist for immigration enforcement. He was endorsed by the GOP for the second time this year to run against Democrat Lowey.

From Helen in NYC:

Two places for people to get talking points on the changes in our health care system put in place last week. Some very good news for a lot of folks who have been kicked around by what we've had.

People can also go to the website Consumers Union set up on just this subject, www.prescriptionforchange.org

Can you get these on your blog? Website?

From Andy T NYC/DNC:

Team! In the first place it’s worth noting the extraordinary successes achieved in the face of the most partisan obstructionism in our history. A Washington Post report makes that case here.

(It’s of particular relevance if you happen to know anyone who has a pre-existing condition or a job that would have been lost or a stock portfolio that would have been decimated in a depression.)In the second place, we may do better November 2 than some expect.

The President and Vice President have now switched from “governing mode” to campaign mode, with much the same team that charted a path to success in 2008. And OFA’s tools have now grown even more sophisticated. For example, click here for a demo of the amazing new iPhone app. Once you sign up, it knows where you are . . . gives you specific doors to knock on . . . coaches you on how to conduct your visits . . . then uploads your results to enrich our database (and keep any one door from being over-knocked).

We are not perfect -- nor would we be even if we DIDN’T face an opposition that cheers when our Olympics bid fails and prays (literally: prays!) for the failure of universal health coverage and filibusters their own Bipartisan Deficit Commission legislation once the President signs on to it.

But as Joe Biden is fond of quoting former Boston Mayor Kevin White: “Don’t compare me with the Almighty. Compare me with the alternative.”

The choice is clear. We would be insane to hand the keys back to the team that drove us into the ditch, and who have now explicitly pledged to drive the same way they did before (see Jon Stewart, here).

Because this election will be determined by turn-out . . . and because the sweet spot are the 15 million unlikely voters who came out for the first time in their lives to vote for President Obama . . . whom we are asking, door to door, face to face, to come out to help him again . . . and because almost the entire effort is volunteer (imagine the competitive advantage of a business where only the supervisors had to be paid!) . . . I hope you will chip in, here. If you do, you’ll have reason to feel proud no matter how we do November 2. Many of you have already been magnificent, and it is deeply appreciated. Help again if you can.Thanks, as always, for your support.

From Debbie in NYC working for CARE: Job opportunity for part time lead advocacy volunteer in Congresswoman Nita Lowey's district!

CARE USA, the humanitarian and development organization focusing on global poverty reduction and women’s empowerment, has an opportunity for a part-time lead advocacy volunteer in Congresswoman Nita Lowey's district. The role of the District Chair is to develop opportunities to build awareness of the issues and legislation on which CARE works, recruit other volunteers, and engage Rep. Lowey and her staff. This would include organizing a few small events, recruiting and leading a delegation to our advocacy conference in Washington, DC (March 8-10, 2011) and outreach to Rep. Lowey’s district office. We train volunteers in advocacy and the issues, and provide all materials and information. Availability and interest of the volunteer will further determine the scope of the position.


Mrs. Lowey is a great supporter of the issues on which CARE works – which include maternal health, girls’ education, food security, microfinance, gender-based violence, and climate change –and we want her to know of her constituents’ support. E-mail Debbie Cooper if interested:E-mail: dcooper@care.org

From Congresswoman Nita Lowey:

Yesterday, Congress passed and sent to the President's desk legislation I introduced that will help small businesses gain access to the capital they need to grow our economy and create jobs.

Small businesses are the engine of economic growth in our region, creating 64 percent of new jobs. Unfortunately as credit lines have dried up, it has become more difficult for them expand inventory, find new customers, and grow.

My bill – passed in a larger measure to help small businesses – will increase the maximum size of federal small business loans from $2 million to $5 million. It will also increase the maximum size of micro-loans from $35,000 to $50,000. This is especially critical for small businesses in our high-cost region where it is more expensive to own and operate a business.

Please click here to read my statement from the Congressional Record detailing additional benefits this legislation provides for small businesses.

From Robin in NOrth Salem:

Thought you might enjoy this one….Found this on a blog…

http://www.r8ny.com/blog/gatemouth/karas_daddy.html

Today, to my utter shock, the Republicans nominated instead former Westchester Congressman Joe DioGuardi, who lost his seat in 1988.

And no, I do not regard his daughter being on "American Idol" as the same sort of street cred.

In this day of oversensitivity about the use of words like “Negro,” I think it is useful to understand that it is not the lyrics themselves which are important, but the tune they signify.

Here is the most famous thing Joe DioGuardi has ever said--a quote explaining why he opposed Medicaid abortions:

''You've got to look at the facts. The facts are that the minority groups in this country enjoy having children. It's their only joy, their only hope. It gets them another check. They're not going to have abortions.''

I should note that not so long ago, a Democratic candidate was forced from the same Senate race, after she was caught using the word “Nigger” to a reporter.

Though tonite that candidate is doing somewhat better, it should be noted that her use back then of the N-word indicated absolutely no bigoted intent. In fact, as the link shows, it was used pretty much in the context of showing empathy with the concerns of people of color.

By contrast, while DioGuardi’s quote is totally devoid of ethnic pejoratives, everything about it implies unspeakable contempt for people of color.

Quite clearly, there is more than one way to say NIGGER.

Joe DioGuardi is in every way the perfect running mate for Carl Paladino.

Truly, DioGuardi should be enough to make Republican nostalgic for Howard Mills.


From Jen in Tommy Sowers MO campaign:

I really enjoy your posts and send them on to others on the campaign and my friends who are Obama supporters. Thanks for sending along.

I thought I'd let you know, Russ Carnahan is also up against someone on Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics list, Ed Martin. He's terrible and unfortunately, a very viable candidate. I live just outside Russ' district in St. Louis but ask my friends to support him too, if they can.

http://www.citizensforethics.org/crookedcandidates2010

Be well and hope to meet you someday.

From Pam in CO:

I've been thinking of you too and sorry not to reply sooner. Just came in from yoga and thinking of you're trying to calm and center yourself! me too. But it makes my blood boil when I know what's going on with barack and the Republicans. Especially the idea of that f....in karl Rove coming into it now. He is the epitome of all things evil and corrupt! But let us not go there.!!!!! *****Note from Sunny:Pam is a wonderful artist with new webstie: please check out this fellow blogger's site! www.pamelajoseph.com

From Lee in NYC/DC and DNC:

“a startlingly strong month of fundraising”
“DNC Shatters Fundraising Record”
“best fundraising month in a congressional election cycle”
“DNC Has Its Biggest Month in Nearly a Decade”

Just one week after the RNC canceled a long-standing field deployment program due to a lack of funds, the Democratic National Committee reported a record-breaking fundraising month in September, hauling in over $16 million. Please see below for coverage of the DNC’s impressive fundraising announcement.

USA Today “DNC collects more than $16 million in September”: The Democratic National Committee had its best fundraising month of the election cycle, raising more than $16 million in September in what has been a tough political environment for the party. The announcement comes as Democrats try to counter that notion that Republicans are more energized a month before the crucial midterm election for Congress. DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse said the haul is "more confirmation that there's some movement in our direction." As further evidence of Democratic enthusiasm, Woodhouse said more than 80% of the money came from online donors who contributed in small amounts instead of contributors writing big checks. "We've found that our supporters are now focused on the election ... and understand the stakes," Woodhouse said in an e-mail. LINK

From Move On and Susan G-NYC:

On October 2nd, exactly one month before Election Day, hundreds of thousands of people are gathering in Washington, D.C. for "One Nation," a huge march for jobs, equality, and progress. Can you join us?

At the historic Lincoln Memorial, progressives from coast to coast will join human and civil rights leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, celebrities and more to rally for bold action to protect our economy and jobs—and to move our country forward.

With Republicans and their corporate allies determined to take back Congress in November, we'll join together to show the strength and unity of the progressive movement.

Rides are available on buses and in carpools from all over the East Coast, but they're filling up fast—so RSVP soon!

Can you join us in D.C. on October 2nd?

Yes, tell me more and sign me up

Sorry, I can't make it

We're joining dozens of progressive organizations involved in One Nation, including the NAACP, USAction, Win Without War, the Service Employees International Union, and so many more. And in addition to joining the march, MoveOn members are holding "Stop the Takeover" house parties nationwide that weekend, mobilizing get-out-the-vote volunteers in critical congressional races.

The One Nation march will demonstrate that progressives are united to fight—to fight for Congress, and for good jobs, true economic progress, social justice, and equality for all. And it'll also be a lot of fun, gathering with progressives from all over the country on the historic National Mall.

We've got 38 days until the election—can you join us in Washington, D.C. for the "One Nation" march?

Click here to find out more and RSVP:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90373&id=23651-4046455-Chld_.x&t=5


And if you can't make it to D.C., click here to find a "Stop the Takeover" house party near you (or sign up to host one if there's not one already!):

http://pol.moveon.org/event/stopthetakeover/?id=23651-4046455-Chld_.x&t=6

Thanks for all you do.

From Judy in Mamaroneck:

Extravagant promises and bluster are the stuff of campaign rhetoric, but the House Republicans’ “Pledge to America” goes far beyond the norm. Its breathless mimicry of the Declaration of Independence — the “governed do not consent,” it declares, while vowing to rein in “an arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites” — would be ludicrous, if these were not destructively polarized times.

While it promises to create jobs, control deficit spending and restore Americans’ trust in government, it is devoid of tough policy choices. This new “governing agenda” does not say how the Republicans would replace revenue that would be lost from permanently extending all of the Bush tax cuts, or how they would manage Medicare and Social Security, or even which discretionary programs would go when they slash $100 billion in spending. Their record at all of these things is dismal. Read rest on line(Click here: Editorial - The G.O.P.’s ‘Pledge’ - NYTimes.com )

#2

Barbarism continues! Subj: Stoning to death in Pakistan

Not for the faint of heart...circulate so others can see

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f7f_1285099569

From Betty and Amy in Westchester:

Subject: Tea Party - 60% of the crowd is women

Wow –

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703384204575510283851292698.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

Second is the rise of women as a force. They "are the drivers in this election cycle," Ms. Blackburn says. "Something is going on." At tea party events the past 18 months, she started to notice "60% of the crowd is women."

She tells of a political rally that drew thousands in Nashville, at the State Capitol plaza. She had brought her year-old grandson. When the mic was handed to her, she was holding him. "I said, 'How many of you are grandmothers?' The hands! That was the moment I realized that the majority of the people at the political events now are women. I saw this in town halls in '09—it was women showing up at my listening events, it was women talking about health care."

Why would more women be focusing more intently on politics this year than before?

Ms. Blackburn hypothesizes: "Women are always focusing on a generation or two down the road. Women make the education and health-care decisions for their families, for their kids, their spouse, their parents. And so they have become more politically involved. They are worried about will people have enough money, how are they going to pay the bills, the tuition, get the kids through school and college."

From Betty in Scarsdale:

Amy Siskind fires back at Rush Limbaugh: “Ignorant!”

Last week, The New Agenda spoke out in The Daily Caller demanding an apology from Sen Majority Leader Harry Reid for his reference to Senator Gillibrand as the “hottest” member in the senate. The New Agenda » Blog Archive » Amy Siskind fires back at Rush Limbaugh: “Ignorant!”

#2

Democrats Losing Support of White Women: Gallup Poll Data - The Daily Beast
I think NO ONE knows what is going on!!

From Chris in MO:

I hope all is well with you, sorry it's been so long since we last talked. I wanted to let you know I finally have a new article up on the examiner. http://www.examiner.com/democrat-in-panama-city/what-democrats-stand-for Let me know what you think. My re-posted piece is something I'm really proud of, even if it's from last year. I wrote it during a time of frustration with public political discourse (just like now). I'm hoping to write another article soon on the Democratic spirit and all the successes we've had since FDR, but especially recently thanks to our wonderful President. I really feel like people have forgotton all the progress that was driven by Democrats, progress that created our modern world. I'm shocked that when a new Democratic President tries to rekindle that spirit he gets shot down and people don't recognize his amazing achievements. I worry about November, but I know we're doing our best! Thanks, as always, for being a beacon in the struggle. I'll try to link my article to your facebook page tomorrow after work. Take care!

From Westchester4Change:

Phonebank

Click here for all phonebanks in New York City!

The O.F.A. campaign office is now open every afternoon until Election Day!

Monday - Friday, 1 - 5 PM at 25 East 21st Street, 4th floor (map)

Do you have a spare computer to donate? They're needed for data entry! Email Kate at DoehringK@dnc.org. Thanks for all you do!

From Judy in Mamaroneck:

Click here: Op-Ed Columnist - The Tea Kettle Movement - NYTimes.com

There are actually two Tea Party movements in America today: one you’ve read about that is not that important and one you’ve not read about that could become really important if the right politician understood how to tap into it. The Tea Party that has gotten all the attention, the amorphous, self-generated protest against the growth in government and the deficit, is what I’d actually call the “Tea Kettle movement” — because all it’s doing is letting off steam.

That is not to say that the energy behind it is not authentic (it clearly is) or that it won’t be electorally impactful (it clearly might be). But affecting elections and affecting America’s future are two different things. Based on all I’ve heard from this movement, it feels to me like it’s all steam and no engine. It has no plan to restore America to greatness.
The Tea Kettle movement can’t have a positive impact on the country because it has both misdiagnosed America’s main problem and hasn’t even offered a credible solution for the problem it has identified. How can you take a movement seriously that says it wants to cut government spending by billions of dollars but won’t identify the specific defense programs, Social Security, Medicare or other services it’s ready to cut — let alone explain how this will make us more competitive and grow the economy?

And how can you take seriously a movement that sat largely silent while the Bush administration launched two wars and a new entitlement, Medicare prescription drugs — while cutting taxes — but is now, suddenly, mad as hell about the deficit and won’t take it anymore from President Obama? Say what? Where were you folks for eight years?

The issues that upset the Tea Kettle movement — debt and bloated government — are actually symptoms of our real problem, not causes. They are symptoms of a country in a state of incremental decline and losing its competitive edge, because our politics has become just another form of sports entertainment, our Congress a forum for legalized bribery and our main lawmaking institutions divided by toxic partisanship to the point of paralysis...

#2

Click here: Op-Ed Columnist - What Is Paladino About? - NYTimes.com by Bob Herbert

Is the Republican candidate for governor of New York a racist, sexist, pornography-loving creep? Or are there other, more benign, explanations for the stomach-turning e-mails distributed by Carl Paladino?

One of the things that can happen in the news business is that some portion of a story becomes so vile, so offensive, it is virtually impossible to effectively recount or describe. Reporters keep their distance. Editors lunge for the delete button.

Such is the case with the images and videos forwarded by Mr. Paladino to a wide variety of people. The public should know about these mailings, and Mr. Paladino should give a full, thoughtful explanation of why he trafficked in such filth.

Example: A photo showing a group of black men trying to get out of the way of an airplane that is apparently moving across a field. The caption reads: “Run niggers, run.” ...(Read rest on line http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/opinion/28herbert.html)


From Letty P in NYC:

Subj: Short film about women in firefighting

A short film about women in firefighting made by high school students who participated in the summer Tribeca Film Institute. They've done an amazing job (in under 8 minutes!) exploring the invisibility of women in this traditionally male job and why, despite the obstacles, the women love this work. Check it out and please circulate it widely to your friends and colleagues.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid331422615001?bctid=602073068001

From Betty in Scarsdale:

Abortion Issue Re-Emerges In Kirsten Gillibrand-Joe DioGuardi Battle: Update

Using NARAL Pro-Choice New York's attack ad on anti-abortion GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino as a springboard, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign is out with a slap at Republican rival Joe DioGuardi on the same topic.

"As NARAL Pro-Choice New York speaks out resolutely against Carl Paladino’s anti-choice positions, New Yorkers should know that former Congressman turned lobbyist Joe DioGuardi also opposes reproductive rights even in cases of rape and incest. In fact, Joe DioGuardi voted to ban funding for reproductive care even when a mother’s life is in danger," emailed Team Gillibrand.

"Right to Life groups have enthusiastically endorsed DioGuardi and testified to the fact that he does not support any exceptions for reproductive rights - even cases of rape and incest. Note this endorsement from Right to Life Party - 9th Judicial District, which specifies certain candidates that do support exception. According to the Right to Life Party, DioGuardi does not support exceptions."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/09/abortion-issues-emerge-in-kirs.html#ixzz112Bt7YUC...(Read the rest on line)

From Mike in Gillibrand's office:

Wonderful! Stef was telling me you're doing a postcard party! Thanks so much!! You've got it. Can't win without everyone we know voting for Kirsten!


From tommy Sowers in MO:

Our new ad, "Horse Manure" has been on the air for less than 24 hours (have you seen it?) and everyone we talk to is already raving about it. Voters agree with Tommy and are tired of Jo Ann Emerson's lies.

Clearly, this ad is resonating with voters (and the national press)...we need to keep it on the air, but we need your help!With 36 hours until the end of the fundraising quarter, please help us finish the quarter strong and dump the manure! This is a very critical week: Today we are airing our newest TV ad and right now we are less than three days away from the third quarter fundraising deadline!

I'm tired of Jo Ann Emerson airing false ads about me because she doesn't want to talk about voting for bad trade deals and bank bailouts. And she's spent this year collecting money from special interests and lobbyists, then using that money to spread lies. While Emerson has dumped a ton of horse manure on my district, our television ad will remind her that she cannot bury the truth.

Check out the ad for yourself here. Then please, chip in to help us keep it on the air.

With less than 72 hours until the end of quarter fundraising deadline, we need your help now so we can come out of this quarter strong and with the resources to deliver the truth.

Jo Ann Emerson's lies, however, and nothing new -- it's the same sort of manure spewed by incumbents devoid of ideas everywhere, desperate to hold on to their seats. She's not just dumping on me -- but on all of us. I appreciate your support,Tommy

From Dani in Brooklyn:

With only five weeks to Election Day, I need your help to make sure Barbara Boxer is re-elected to the U.S. Senate. Recent polling shows Barbara Boxer in a virtual dead heat with challenger Carly Fiorina -- an extreme abortion opponent -- with neither candidate reaching the magic 50%.

A champion of women's rights, abortion rights and the environment, Boxer never backs down from a fight when our rights and lives are at stake. And now she needs us more than ever.

As you read this, Feminist Majority's Independent Expenditure campaign to re-elect Barbara Boxer is sending organizers to key college campuses throughout California. Right now polling shows young people comprise the largest segment of undecided voters. With a race this close, even modest movement in this key group of voters -- especially young women -- could be the difference between winning and losing.

The Feminist Majority has just the right experience to inform, organize and turn out younger women at the polls -- but we need your help. Please take a minute now to contribute generously to our Independent Expenditure Campaign to re-elect Barbara Boxer.

Carly Fiorina is so extreme on abortion, she has said "I absolutely would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade if the opportunity presented itself," and has been endorsed by every major right-to-life organization. But polls show most voters -- especially young women -- don't know how extreme and out of step with Californians she is .

We must ensure that college students -- particularly young women -- understand what is at stake, particularly for abortion rights - and then we must make sure they vote.

Even in a big money race like this one, election day Get-Out-The-Vote still counts big time, especially in inspiring young people to get to the polls on November 2.

We MUST act now to send a clear message to Carly Fiorina that a woman's right to choose is not for sale. Click here to learn more about how you can help.

For Equality,Eleanor Smeal President Feminist Majority

P.S. We need money for campus organizers, travel, printed materials, and phone-banks. We can reach literally hundreds of thousands of students with our Campaign. But to win this - we need your help. Please act today.

From Dani in Brooklyn:



A useful, if simplified, reality check geared to the "numbers don't lie" crowd. Is is possible that Finland is doing something we aren't - like supporting teachers and helping enrich communities...? Gee.

"But there’s no evidence that teachers’ unions are holding our schools back. Finland, which is currently cleaning our clock in education scores, has teachers who are almost totally unionized. The states with the best student performance on standardized tests tend to be the ones with the strongest teachers’ unions."


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/opinion/30collins.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Your imagination is the preview to life's coming attractions.
#2

Bad teachers should be removed from the classroom, if not the profession - and fast. Tenure rules should be changed, as they are corrupt and ineffective. There is to my mind, however, a way that unions can be part of the solution, rather than demonized as the root of the problem. Without teacher's unions in the picture, under the current regime, teacher's voices "from the front lines" are being erased, while bureaucrats with zero years in the classroom make all the judgment calls. It's humiliating as a professional to be muzzled, intimidated and passed over. It breeds resentment and hampers teachers' efforts to grow so they can do the best job in the classroom. Study after study has shown that teachers who feel empowered in decision-making for their schools are more effective for their students, no matter which assessment tool is used to measure student progress. Moreover, they enforce higher standards for themselves.

From Michelle in CT:

I certainly do not have the inside track on that question but it largely relates to people being largely unhappy with the current “establishment”. Unfortunately, I think that blumenthal represents the establishment. Also, we have a lot of independents in our state and they seem to be moving towards the mcmahon since the whole thing came out about his war service record.

It will be interesting as we get closer to the election and he gets more tv ads out there to see if the tide turns. As I am sure you are aware, we tend to believe everything that we see on tv and she has been bombarding us!!!!!

You wonder if the political process was a little less invasive then we might get some good people to actually run. Now we seem to get the bottle of the barrel. Sad state of affairs for our country!!!! Pretty depressing!!!!!


From Erik in Brooklyn:

busy as u are, ck out this article in the recent new yorker about what

kind of community organizing really works by malcolm gladwell.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/10/04/101004fa_fact_gladwell


From Brad in NYC/DNC:

We are very excited to announce Mrs. Obama’s first political trip since the campaign on Monday, October 18th! She will kick off her first trip in New York with 2 events – an intimate reception at the home of Donna Karan and a concert on Broadway. Both will be terrific events and great opportunities to show your support! Here are the details for the reception:

Cocktail Reception and Discussion with Mrs. Obama at the home of Donna Karan

Monday, October 18th at 4:30PM (includes photo with Mrs. Obama)Location: Donna Karan's home (address upon RSVP)
New York City

To RSVP, click http://my.democrats.org/NYOct18Dinner

Or contact Brad Thompson at ThompsonB@dnc.org or (202) 479-5171

If you cannot make the reception, the First Lady will also headline a concert later in the evening at the St. James theater in New York. Details below:

Concert with Mrs. Obama and Sarah Jessica Parker and Patti LaBelle ,Monday, October 18th

Location: St. James Theater on Broadway (246 W.44th Street)

Guest Call Time: 4:30PM

To RSVP, click https://my.democrats.org/page/contribute/NYOct18

Or contact James Pepper at PepperJ@dnc.org or (202) 572-5451

Concert with Mrs. Obama and Sarah Jessica Parker and Patti LaBelle

Monday, October 18th


Location: St. James Theater on Broadway (246 W.44th Street)

Guest Call Time: 4:30PM

To RSVP, click https://my.democrats.org/page/contribute/NYOct18

Or contact James Pepper at PepperJ@dnc.org or (202) 572-5451