PORT ST. LUCIE – The Iduka Corporation Board of Directors invites the public to come out to meet the mayor and enjoy a cup of coffee at the Grand Opening of Iduka’s Thrift Store on Thursday, September 24. Mayor Patricia Christensen is scheduled to cut the ribbon to officially open the store at 10:00 a.m. Several Chamber of Commerce representatives will also attend the event. The Iduka Thrift Store is located in the Town Centre Plaza, 10073 S. Federal Highway (US 1) in Port St. Lucie. Proceeds from thrift store sales will help provide microloans for needy students.
Iduka, a non-profit organization headquartered on the Treasure Coast, is dedicated to helping college students attain higher education through micro-lending. The Iduka Thrift Store will help bridge the financial gap of needed money sources to fund the organization’s microloan program.
Shoppers are encouraged to check out the affordable, gently used clothing, furniture, appliances, and electronics and more available at the Iduka Thrift Store, 10073 Federal Highway, in the Town Centre Plaza where Aegis Workforce, Bealls, Staples, China Garden Buffet, and Liberty Medical are located.
The store provides an important retail service to the Port St. Lucie Community and other outlying neighborhoods on the Treasure Coast. Donors and volunteers are actively being recruited. Anyone interested in donating items or volunteering at the Iduka Thrift Store should call 772-335-9030 or send an email to iduka.thriftstore@gmail.com. Visit Iduka’s Web site atwww.iduka.org to learn more about the organization and how to get involved with their mission.
Iduka Corporation is a non-profit organization with a 501©(3) tax-exempt status. Its mission is to promote college affordability by connecting students with lenders, schools, and community service organizations through an Internet based micro loan program. The goal is to provide students and their family one more financial tool to help them in their pursuit of higher education. Iduka makes this possible by offering an innovative plan secured in a Web-based micro-lending system that connects students with lenders, and incorporates, whenever possible, student volunteerism as a mean for students to pay back their loans.
iduka.info@gmail.com
www.iduka.org
www.facebook.com/iduka.microloans
772-335-9030
Port St. Lucie, August 12, 2009 – Press Release
Port St. Lucie, FL - On Saturday, August 29, Iduka Corporation will hold its inaugural “Little Black Dress Party for College Affordability” event in Port St. Lucie to bring members of the community together to show support for college students with varying financial needs. The event will take place in Saint Lucie West at Elements Martini Bar, 2096 NW Courtyard Circle, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986.
Online registration is available at http://www.iduka.citymax.com/events1.html. Pre-registered participants will pay $5 at the door, all other attendees without RSVP will pay $10 donation for entry. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. Drink specials and finger food will be served until 10:00 p.m. Ladies in black dresses are eligible to win prizes! Ladies get one free drink. Please register early, as space is limited!
Iduka Corporation is a non-profit organization that has a pending application for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Our mission is to promote college affordability by connecting students with lenders, schools, and community service organizations through an Internet based micro-loan program.
Our goal is to provide students and their families one more financial tool to help them in their pursuit of higher education. We make this possible by offering an innovative plan based in a Web-based micro-lending system that connects students with lenders, and incorporates, whenever possible, student volunteerism as a mean for students to pay back their loans.
Media contact:
Darlene Craddock
darlene.craddock@iduka.org
772-284-6455
www.iduka.citymax.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4NKllI3AfM
Script: http://obama.3cdn.net/f784db384369464c65_nym6b54tr.pdf
I just watched a segment on the Rachael Maddow show featuring Meghan McCain. It was interesting to hear her explain her perspective on the Republican party and where she thinks it needs to go to be an effective sustainable party. I believe that her thoughts resonate with many Republicans and non Republicans alike that are sick and tired of steering far right even when life's road is straight or takes a turn to the left. In all fairness the same can be said for the Dems that steer far left, even when reason, logic and the betterment of America calls for a different direction than hard left.
I am not a member of either party, I am simply an American, and for me that is all I want to be. I feel this way because in my life, like most Americans I am confronted with experiences that will sometimes have me be conservative in my thinking and other times liberal. Not only that, but in my years, life and experience, knowledge can and will change some of your views. While I am not a party member I do believe that it is healthy to have parties that balance the scale, challenge, and test us in our plight to love our nation and make the world a better place. If you had to place me at this time in my life based on an average, I would say, TODAY, I am center left. But it depends on the issues. There was a time in my life when I was two, three clicks to the right of John McCain. Life happens and things change :)
Meghan McCain's position as a Progressive Republican is interesting to me because, of several points.
#1. Out here in the world of blood, sweat & tears, Americans from every walk, with every hat come together and make it happen. It works! We work. We make products together, the UPS man picks them up. The pilots fly them, etc... We make our jobs work, even when we don't see eye to eye on all the issues. Maybe it's because we are to busy working to fight about differences, instead we are connecting on common pourpose. Actually the fights do happen, but in most every case the job continues to it's fruition. So when I hear about people interested in maintaining their core foundation whether it be conservative values or liberal values, but those foundations not eliminating the probability of expanding/embracing difering views for a common pourpose, then I think it is great and is what brings us together to do incredibly wonderful things. It is what America is. We are different but come together for many a common poupose, hence we are "The United States of America."
#2. One of the biggest challenges that I see that face our nation is that our problem solving skills are lacking. Many people solve problems the best they can with the tools they have, I get that. I too do the same. What is different for me is that I am a process improvement guy "Lean Manufacturing guy" Six Sigma Black Belt guy (problem solving, continues improvement stuff kind of guy.) I have had a bit of exposure to various initiatives through out my working career. Some might suggest to much exposure! It has been very enlightening and I cannot imagine effective problem solving without the experience. Just like I can no longer imagine raising a dog minus active & dillegent obedience training. To me it is like raising a child without teaching him to speak. And what i know is that things change and new ways of problem solving are continuesly evolving. Also the one that gets you is continues improvement. Guess what it never stops, that is why they call it continues improvement!
OK, let me get to the point. My point is this, from generation to generation we are becoming better equipped with life's problem solving tools, and I am of the belief that in our efforts to solve problems we are coming closer and closer as a society with every solution and every failed attempt. We are migrating to the center rather than going to the fringes and I believe it is so because that is where the data is driving us. So I find it exciting to see young Meghan McCain holding to her principles but not being blinded by the reflection that can shine from what we hold dear, whether it is conservative or liberal cores. I find it encouraging because I, like most everyone wants to live in a country that truly lives up to the name it has been given. The UNITED States of America. I see a future where we are able to have our foundations and yet respect and work together to make life better. I believe it is inevitable because we live in a world that has information at lightning speed. Every word can be dissected to determine validity. That alone has the ability to drive the population to more consensus, it takes time, but not as much time as it used to!
#3. I do not think that anyone should fear that we will just become one big gray mass. What will happen is that we will still have different points of view but the things we differed on years ago we are more likely to agree on as the data & time reveals it's nature. We will magnify and find new things to differ on. i liken it to the saying "every coin has two sides." Well yes it does when you look at the coin from two feet away, but when you look at the coin through a loop you will see that the coin now has many sides, it has sides on it's sides! So will it be with our political views. As we come closer on issues, we will find new different issues, and we will always have issues to improve upon! And we will become better partners on dealing with and solving problems.
#4. While young people love their parents and can easily hold to various family values, they usually do not want to wear their parents bunched up old underwear. They want their own, rightfully so. Young people will inherently take the info/values handed down and they will make their own way. More and more with every generation. Why? Resources, info, knowledge & life coming at you fast. I don't think that we have to worry about babies picking parties, but certainly the younger generation is older in many ways then the previous similar generations. So the days of hand me down politics gets taken with young grains of salt and will be shaped accordingly. My hope is that it is not just Meghan McCain with her views and position of being a Progressive Republican but young people all over the world in all their beliefs and political perspectives!
I saw Jack Welch on Morning Joe, go off on the President about not focusing his teams energy on the economy and his cocktail buddies are freaking out because they are scared and loosing money. I almost spilled my coffee, thinking about how Jack Welch ran GE, and if he would have had his officers "just focus on one project at a time." I doubt it, I knew someone that was part of that team and it was balls to the walls 24/7 work hard play hard. So I don't know what all the confusion is all about. Hell all you have to do is watch the president on Saturday mornings and it will be crystal clear as to what the hell he is doing, not to mention the fact that he is on the other six days of the week talking to the American people.
I am glad that we have a President that knows to fight a war on various fronts. But lets stop the BS and cut to the chase.
The real problem is that there are those that are loosing their ass, because they can't manipulate what is left of the market like they did for years. That is where their confusion is coming from. Many of those years where in Jacks hot & happy years. If you want to get dizzy Jack, and be confused, then maybe you ought to be a talking head about Madoff, but I guess now that he is not there for cocktails, it's Obama's fault. That's the team spirit, the American way, Jack can do it better! I wonder how your tail end would be puckering as a world leader in this day and time. Just be glad you are not the president. Everyone has the answer when they watch from the side lines.
Give me a break Jack, that little episode was disheartening and shed light on where you really stand. It is amazing what is revealed as the waters of the swamp drain out. The party is over Jack, do you remember that little book you shoved down the throats of GE employees, "Who moved my cheese" dig out and read it.
He is right this time.
"We need earmark reform," Obama said in September during a presidential debate in Oxford, Miss. "And when I'm president,
I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely." A quote from the President and what I voted for.
It is simple for me, if you are trying, then you are failing, you either are doing it or you are not. The notion that this is last years business and needs to pass is crap and I am not buying it. I am actually offended that the president and his cabinet have the gaul to make that the reason for him to wink on this. It is disingenuous and plays us for fools. Apologies are in order for Americans concerning the last year business spin from the white house.
Own it, you wanted the job and either do what you committed to and what we voted for or just tell us the truth. You said things on the trail that now that you are in office you are not able to accomplish the way you intended. Level with us, be honest, and call your dogs (keep your staff in check.)
Even the scriptures/bible say that it is better for a man to be Hot or Cold but to be luke warm is unacceptable. I have been around way to long to hear excuses of why we can't, I know better and Americans know better. Your election is a testament to that, therefore you must meet that standard. If this pig gets to your desk, kill it, plain and simple. The world will not stop turning and the congress will yield and make a way where there is no way. But you signing this corrupt bill is not help, it is nothing less than approving & fascilitating the dysfunction in government that we are determined to eradicate.
Other than this very defining issue, you are doing a great job, and we support you on the good, hard, smart work!
President Obama,
Senator McCain is right concerning the earmarks on the current Omnibus bill. It does not matter if it was last years business. That is like quitting smoking and saying, well I better smoke the rest of the packs because I already bought them.
The fact that the admin would even try to float the last year BS is not acceptable. nothing pisses me off more than when someone trys to play me.
You promised us that you would not allow this garbage. You need to take the lead on this issue and VETO the bill or get line item VETO. Or pray that it gets shut down before it gets to you.
If you do not handle this your credibility goes out the window. I support you, but you made it clear not once, twice, but many times that you would stand up and be a leader and protect Americans from this kind of kurupt washinton lobby laden spending. Look at Pelosi's polls, do you want yours to mirror hers???
I know and understand that we need to spend alot to get back on track, and I support that. but not foolish, Cloack & Dagger questionable earmarks that WILL be used against you/us in the future. You must find a way to cut the earmarks out or you will pay an extremely high political price.
I have written to both of my senators, Republican and Democrat to shut down the foolish spending. I have posted on CNN MSNBC and everywhere I can.
President Obama, please do what is right with our money, Veto the pork laden bill. I am dedicating my extra time creating the needed buzzz/preasure for the Congress & Whitehouse to go through, line by line. Explain to America why we need to know why pigs stink??? And why you think it is a good Idea to use our money to find out. What the heck is this.
And if there are any Senators out there that are standing agaiinst this pork, please do not just vote no. Get the testicular fortitude out and raise hell about it every chance you get, get a gang together and sleeping bags and sleep on the Capitol steps if you must, filibuster this pig, but do not just give some weak handed NO vote. Do something radical and substantial, but legal. Make a way where there is no way.
I encourage everyone to also contact your congress people. That is what we can do. At the very least do some research on this and see if it is what and how you want things to proceed in DC.
A Sample of the 9,287 Omnnibus Bill Earmarks
Amount Recipient/Purpose Congressional Sponsor
$1,049,000 Mormon Crickets, Utah Bennett
$475,000 Sidewalk Construction in Ashland & Cherryland, CA Lee
$225,000 Everybody Wins! LaHood
$200,000 Tattoo removal program in Mission Hills, CA Berman
$190,000 Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, WY Cubin
$237,500 Theater renovation, Merced, CA Cardoza
$75,000 Totally Teen Zone, Albany, GA Bishop, Chambliss
$500,000 National History Day Several Lawmakers
$570,000 Ronald Reagan Parkway, Boone County, IN Buyer
$100,000 Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation Allen, Snowe, Collins
$332,500 Build a school sidewalk, Franklin, TX Edwards (TX)
$381,000 George Eastman House, Rochester, NY Slaughter, Schumer
$380,600 Versailles Borough Stray Gas Mitigation Doyle (PA)$75,000 Wayne Gomes Youth Baseball Diversity Foundation Scott$381,000 Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, NY Nadler$5,813,000 Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate, Boston, MA Kerry, Byrd, Harkin, Durbin, Mikulski, Dodd $950,000 Bus and Bus Facilities, Lawrence, KS Moore, Roberts$300,000 Montana World Trade Center Rehberg$2,673,000 Wood Education and Resource Center President, Byrd$380,000 Lemon Street Reconstruction and Enhancements, FL Bilirakis$17,500,000 FDR Presidential Library renovation Gillibrand, Reid, Schumer $2,000,000 LBJ Presidential Library Hutchison $22,000,000 JFK Presidential Library Markey, Lynch, Kerry $300,000 GoGirlGo! Boston, MA Capuano, Kennedy, Kerry $285,000 Kansas Farm Bureau, Manhattan, KS Brownback $6,838,000 John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Several Lawmakers$427,500 Bicycle/Pedestrian Pathways, Provo, UT Cannon, Hatch$950,000 World Trade Center of St. Louis, MO Bond$725,000 Illinois Height Modernization Johnson (IL), LaHood$298,257 Small business program, Florida Department of Citrus Boyd, Putnam, Martinez $237,500 Sidewalk Construction, Vienna, VA Davis (VA)$190,000 Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI Inouye $100,000 Police Athletic League of Buffalo, Inc Slaughter$206,000 Wool Research Conaway, Rodriguez (TX)$475,000 5th & Market St. Transportation Improvements, PA Specter $494,000 Business incubator, Arkansas State University Berry, Lincoln, Pryor $400,000 Salisbury House, Des Moines, IA Harkin, Grassley, Boswell$138,000 John Nance Garner Museum, Austin, TX Rodriguez (TX)$190,000 Sidewalk Improvements, Williamstown, VT Leahy, Sanders$870,000 Red Wolf Breeding Facility Relocation Shuler$190,000 George C. Wallace Community College-Dothan, AL Everett$142,500 Pregones Theater, Bronx, NY Serrano$6,623,000 Formosan Subterranean Termites Research Landrieu, Vitter, Alexander$1,903,000 Landfill Gas Utilization Plant in NY Schumer $475,000 Replacement of Bus Fleet, Topeka, KS Boyda$285,000 Widening of County Road 222, Cullman, AL Aderholt$2,192,000 Center for Grape Genetics, Geneva, NY Schumer, Walsh, Hinchey, Arcuri $1,791,000 Swine Odor and Manure Management Research, Ames, IA Harkin$950,000 Bossier Parish Congestion Relief Plan, LA Landrieu, Vitter$712,500 Replacement Buses, Detroit, MI Conyers, Levin, Stabenow$4,545,000 Wood Utilization Research Several Lawmakers$200,000 Oil Region Alliance Peterson (PA)$2,565,000 Renovate the Cox Building, Maysville, KY McConnell, Davis (KY) $400,000 Minnesota Teen Challenge Ramstad, Coleman $190,000 Berkshire Theater Festival, Stockbridge, MA Kennedy, Kerry$4,750,000 Shiloh Road, MT Baucus, Tester$143,000 American Ballet Theatre, New York, NY Maloney, Schumer $100,000 Ready, Willing & Able, Philadelphia, PA Brady (PA) $250,000 Lederer Theater, Providence, RI Reed$1,187,500 Wolf Trap Performing Arts Multi-Use Trail, Fairfax, VA Moran$3,800,000 Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, MI Levin$294,500 Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, East St. Louis, IL Durbin $143,000 Historic Jazz Foundation, Inc., Kansas City, MO Cleaver, Emanuel$1,000,000 Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Ruppersberger, Mikulski, Shelby $237,500 Street Rehabilitation, Doral, FL Diaz-Balart (Lincoln)$49,134 Bronx Council on the Arts Serrano$475,000 Pedestrian Bridges, Iowa City, IA Loebsack$167,000 Autry National Center for the American West, Los Angeles, CA Schiff, McKeon, Bono, Boxer $315,000 Music education, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY Maloney, Schumer $122,821 Greater Toledo Arts Commission Kaptur$950,000 55th Street East Grade Separation, Minot, ND Dorgan, Conrad$951,500 Energy Efficiency Street Lighting, Detroit, MI Kilpatrick, Levin, Stabenow $143,000 Stockbridge-Munsee Museum, Bowler, WI Kagen$475,000 Italian American Museum, New York, NY Ackerman, Nadler$1,217,000 Citrus Canker, Greening, FL Several Lawmakers$900,000 Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, Chicago, IL Jackson, Jr., Emanuel, Davis (IL)$142,500 Bus Replacement, Culver City, CA Watson$2,150,000 Wisconsin Height Modernization Obey$1,900,000 Hattiesburg 4th Street Improvements, MS Cochran, Wicker$71,000 Dance Theater Etcetera, Brooklyn, NY Velázquez$333,000 Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, GA Marshall (GA), Isakson $1,235,000 Reconstruction and Upgrade 2300 West Street, Lehi, UT Hatch, Cannon$380,000 Revitalize Aliceville, AL Shelby$150,000 Nashua Police Athletic League Youth Safe Haven Hodes, Gregg $237,500 Paving, sidewalks and streetlights, Islip, NY Israel$238,000 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA Kennedy, Kerry $1,425,000 I-85 Widening, NC Burr, Dole, Hayes, Watt$285,000 Sun Valley Lighting Project, CA Berman$119,000 Children's Discovery Museum, San Jose, CA Honda, Lofgren$385,000 World Trade Center Utah Bishop (UT), Bennett $300,000 Shakespeare and Company Olver, Kennedy, Kerry $476,000 National Council of La Raza in Washington, DC, Menendez, Bingaman $508,000 Karnal Bunt, Manhattan, KS Brownback, Roberts, Moran, Boyda, Tiahrt$300,000 Fairplex Trade and Conference Center Dreier, Napolitano$237,500 SR-91 Congestion Relief, Orange County, CA Miller (CA)$380,000 Construction of On/Off Ramps, Midland, TX Conaway$380,600 Carbon Neutral Green Campus, NV Porter, Reid $150,000 Manufacturers Association of Central New York Walsh$475,000 Calhoun County Highway 1 Resurfacing, IL Hare$45,000 Weed It Now on the Berkshire, MA Olver$24,000 A+ For Abstinence, Waynesboro, PA Specter $819,000 Catfish Genome, Auburn, AL Shelby, Rogers (AL), Everett, Davis (AL) $196,514 Beaver Street Enterprise Center, Jacksonville, FL Brown (FL), Martinez $75,000 Chattahoochee County Family Connection Bishop$2,188,450 Bismarck State College Center Of Excellence Laboratories, ND Dorgan $469,000 Fruit fly facility, HI Akaka, Inouye, Hirono$800,000 Oyster rehabilitation, AL Shelby $238,000 Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley, CA Boxer $475,000 55th Street Extension, Rochester, MN Donnelly, Lugar
Source: Conference Report of HR 1105
You promised us that you would not allow it. You need to take the lead on this issue and VETO the bill or get line item VETO.
If you do not handle this your credibility goes out the window. it started bothering me the other night at 3:00 AM. It should be keeping you up at night also.
We know and understand that we need to spend alot to get back on track, and we support that. but not foolish, cloack & Dagger questionable earmarks that WILL be used against you/us in the future. You must find a way to cut the earmarks out or you will pay an extremely high political price.
I have written to both of my senators, Republican and Democrat to shut down the foolish spending. President Obama, please do what is right with our money, Veto the pork laden bill. I will spend the rest of the time creating the needed buzzz/preasure for the Congress & Whitehouse to go through, line by line.
Senator McCain is right concerning the earmarks on the current bill. It does not matter if it was last years business. That is like quitting smoking and saying, well I better smoke the rest of the packs because I already bought them.
The fact that the admin would even try to float the last year BS is not acceptable. You promised us that you would not allow it. Pelosi raised her hand saying she would not put pork in the stimulus. It does not matter if this is not the stimulus. You need to take the lead on this issue and VETO the bill or get line item VETO.
If you do not handle this your credibility goes out the window. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired of wasteful spending. We know and understand that we need to spend to get back on track, and we support that. but not foolish, questionable earmarks that will be used against you/us in the future. You must find a way to cut the earmarks out or you will pay an extremely high political price. You cannot tell us one thing and do another. You do not work for Reid or Pelosi or any of the congress, you work for the American people. We will stand behind you, just do the right thing.
I will be writing to both of my senators, Republican and Democrat to shut down the foolish spending. President Obama, please do what is right with our money, Veto the pork laden bill.
President Obama, Vice President Biden. You guys are the best!!!
Keep the faith and keep on keepin on!!!
Jindal Bells Jindall BellsJindal votes no wayOh how sad it is to see The GOP's disarayay
Please add more verses!!!
The Nation & the World has watched you stretch your hand out to the Republicans to establish bipartisan relations, only to be slapped back and ridiculed by their bulk, some of which who have claimed the mantra of reaching across the isle themselves. And at the same time, many of those to the left of you refuse to turn the other cheek for fear that it continues to get slapped.
What you are doing is part of the mandate that America has set fourth and not necessarily pleasing to the Right or the Left. It is not a new battle but one that has turned swords of every medium into plow shares. Many throughout mankind's history have proclaimed the power in unity and contrastingly the consequences when it is deficient or lacking all together.
The commitment of this country and it's constitution is based on unity, as in "The United States of America." I am one grain of sand out of millions on the shores of this blessed land, and I say to you, do not loose heart, keep the faith, keep on keeping on, lest you become like them. You are re-sculpting what once was precious to us and over time has been worn and destroyed, take the time needed to re-sculpt the unity that will ultimately change the world for the better, but never, ever stop doing it.
Senators Spectar, Collins & Snow rock! They are spot on and they have worked tirelesly to produce a bill, unlike the other Repulicans that insist on lock-down.
Now, left wing House Democrats rolled the dice and screwd the pooch on this bill from the begining, which in turn will cost the loss of some important funding that they could have gotten had they of seriously brought moderate Republicans to the table. Now we pray that they do not commit double jeopordy and change what the three Republicans agreed to.
If the house Dems loose this bill for the nation, the continual economic losses will be on their shoulders.
So, I say to those Dems that think they will tread on the three GOP Senators that have signed on.
If you screw this up, you screw the President, and if you screw the President then you screw the American mandate that he was given and you will pay with your seat, while your Republican colleuges laugh you out of the House.
So take a chill pill, go on vacation, do whatever it takes.
BUT DO NOT INSIST ON CHANGING THE SENATE STIMULUS BILL. YOU WILL FAIL AMERICA.
Americans are demanding that Congress telvise the conference meetings. Enough of the closed door meetings that do not disclose to Americans who is saying what, on their behalf. We need to know and we are demanding transparancy on this very important piece of legislation.
People, please take a moment and e-mail your President, Congress & media demanding televised meetings of this very important stimulus bill reconciliation between the House and Senate. We where promised transparancy and these meetings warant it. Feel free to copy and paste my statement to your letter if you wish, or do a video on U-Tube.
Where is John "Reach across the Isle" McCain??? You can tell a tree by it's fruit and like his vote on Veterans benefits he is MIA. Republican senators need to heed the call and set aside bitter feelings of the major loss in Nov. A NO vote is inaction. Go to work or get out of the way. They forget that this country belongs to Americans not Republicans or Democrats. Democrats need to also grab their Republican coleuges by the hand and drag them into the meetings for bipartisan solutions. THAT IS AMERCA'S DIRECTIVE, in a word "UNITY."
Even the scriptures/bible teaches that a house divided will not stand. And when it falls NO ONE wins. A mandate was clearly set, McCain quickly acknowledged it that night. Elections in this country better mean something or else we are dead in the water as a Nation. I expect more of you Senator.
The Ideological battles of the past are old, tired and do not produce $$$ when they alone are implemented.
Real Life Example: You are a Lender and your customer defaults on the home. Your company tries to collect and ultimately has to reposes. They won't leave the house, you will have to file a writ with the sheriff.
You have two choices, proceed on with the repo as planned the cost $4,000.00 for attorneys, the cost of funds?, repair & clean-up, replace apliances. and about one year of it sitting on the books.
Or, you can negotiate a "Cash for Keys" deal, where the defaulting customer gets some money to help them move and get on their feet, say $1000.00, if they sign the home over, clean it, and do not destroy the appliances.
The ideologues say WHAT, they are the ones that are going back on their commitment, NO WAY, Why should we pay them, it is fundamentally wrong.
The pragmatist say, yes you are right, they have fallen on their commitment, but $1000.00 is less then $4000.00 by $3000.00. And we have 30,000 repoes.So if we can actually pull it off for 1 in 20 we can save $4,500,000.00And besides not only do we loose money by trying to enforce an ideological perspective alone, but it won't work in substantial percentages because we are not addressing the root cause, we are further up the rung.
So, we save what we can $$$ and find root cause and work on eliminating the defect/root cause, if nothing more than reducing it percent by percent as we develop viable solutions.
OK, so you can do the same scenario with, unwanted pregnancies, AIDS, and many programs that Ideologues believe we should not fund. They may be right on principle. But the Feds do not print principle, they print money and we trade & tax in money.
So to me the answers are: Will it cost us money or save us money on the bottom line? If we don't have these programs does it cost Americans more to treat AIDS rather then prevent AIDS, etc? But this alone is not the answer, throwing money at the problem alone will not work, you have to find root cause/culture and address it also so that people learn best practices and in turn reduce the problem by percentage.
Fellow Citizens, there are real & good problem solving techniuqes that the Congress can adopt and use to solve problems, but they cannot, until they check their party hats at the door.
Why? Because they will have to where a different hat. A Six Sigma, Lean, problem solving hat. And i will tell you that when you put on those hats there is no room for nothing that does not come to the table with reliable concise data & facts.
I am sick and tired of the obstructionist to a bill that works for Americans in this crucial time of need, obstructionist on both sides of the isle. The Dems that put crap like tennis courts and stuff we may need and want but not in this bill and Republicans that are seizing the opportunity to throw the new admin under the bus by not coming to the capitol with America's mandate at the forefront. We are not stupid we smell the Karl Rovian type crap that drags and stalls and ultimately creates a situation where Republicans can try and fool people in thinking that Obama failed. IT AIN' T GOING TO HAPPEN.
We will re-Elect President Obama if we think that he is the best man for the job. We will also throw Democrats and Republicans out of Congress if they fail to come together and get the job done on this bill. I fire people that fail to do their job, and I have the energy, experience and will to campaign hard to put competent people in Congress. NOTHING is more important to America.
We know that President Obama has come to the table in the spirit of delegating and bi-partisanship. He did not come to Washington to be a Bush type Dictator. But the fact is that it does not matter what he does there are those that will always be bitter that they/GOP lost and they will always say that he is not doing enough, or he didn't do it this way or that way.
The Majority of America has spoken and you better listen because we support our President. You have eight years of crap to clean up before your next election, get it done. And I am not a Democrat or Republican nor do I want to be, I am an American and that is all I need to be.
Yes We Can! Yes You Can! Yes I Can! Yes We Did! Yes We Will, Together :)
