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.
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