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

Dear Obama/Biden Supporters:


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


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

Dear Obama/Biden Supporters,

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

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


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

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

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

From Charlie in Vt:

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

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


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

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

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

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

From Mary in MO:


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

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

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

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

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



From Rosita in NYC:


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

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


From Hank:

Here is what I think of the whole mess!

Subject: To The Editor

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

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

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

From Judy R in Westchester:

Just despicable! There is a petition within the content!

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


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

Subject: Petition

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

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


From Robin in North Salem and marceline in NYC:

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

Terrific piece with all the talking points we need!

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

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

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

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









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



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



between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important



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


From Sue in Long Island:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Charlie:

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

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

From Andrea in Mamaroneck:

Laughter is the best medicine . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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