Thursday,December 24, 2009
We wish you a very
Merry Christmas and a
Happy Holiday season.
Peace in the
Middle East . . .
Huggs,
Todd L. Hoover and
Minerva L. Williams
California 37th Assembly District Representatives for LACDP. Please check us out in Santa Clarita Valley all year long at . . . http://www.scvyoungdems.org; http://www.scvdems.org; http://www.dn38.org and http://www.daa.org
OKAY so today President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle went to Norway to receive the coveted Nobel Peace Prize and you can't seem to hear enough about "9 days before, he agreed to sending 30,000 more troops raising the total to 100,000 troops in Afghanistan". How can he receive such an honor for having not been in office more than 8 months (depending on whether you consider the date he was called for the Prize or when the Prize Committee selected him) is being stated.
The bottomline, after 8 years of being in Afghanistan, we owe it to the citizens to assist in nation building although we have seen how corrupt Karzai can be. After years of dropping bombs on a society who had housed Osama and the Al Qaeda crew, we are trying to help them build their nation under the principles of a democracy that depending on whom you listen to, may not even be what they want. But that is the Obama plan.
The hope I believe with all capitol letters is that the people of Afghanistan will become more aggressive in wanting the help of American troops, builders, educators, and infrastructure contractors. But interestingly the areas we are looking to stabilize happen to be the same area where we know The Taliban is fighting tooth and nail for their right to be leaders in their own country. Do we have the right to go into the country and tell them what is best for them?
Will we be able to keep reigns on Karzai and keep reminding him "democracy" is not a dictatorship where you stash away 1.3 million votes when you believe you are about to loose?
The media has been screaming about the 18 months Obama said will be the deadline for pulling out. There are several comments in Huffington Post magazine, Amy Goodman's commentary on DemocracyNow! and Jesse Jackson on Tavis Smiley Show says that 18 months is a questionable amount of time to complete nation building, but has anyone factored in, that we are talking about a nation of people who have been around longer than our nation is old?
Maybe we shouldn't sell these people short! I'm sure they are tired of the time, money, families lost, bloodshed, and living without as we are of seeing them get back on their feet. And bottomline we want to see our soldiers come home in one piece, with a good sense of whom they are for the service they have given to this country. And not ever have troops feel as many expressed when they went to Vietnam, that their services weren't appreciated . . .
So maybe with the Peace Award President Obama will remember what the essence of the award means and stick to the 18 months withdrawal plan? We again, can only hope.
In the preview video by Buck McKeon, he said he would be watching for the following points in President Obama’s speech:
Hopefully Obama will provide the number of troops requested by General McCrystal.
Having spoken to McCrystal, McKeon said that 400,000 security force would be required to secure the country and that there was ½ that number in Afghanistan right now.
Time is another consideration: How soon will we be able to get the troops there? McCrystal said we needed additional troops in the area w/in 1 year. We are 3 months behind in momentum.
Winning is also a consideration. Will the President say that we will exit troops after winning or exiting (whether we win or not) Afghanistan w/in the 18 months.
Meantime, we can only hope that Obama’s speech covers these concerns and Buck McKeon will find Obama’s momentum favorable for all Americans including our fighting troops in Afghanistan. Looking forward to Obama’s speech.
It may be considered a Bible war going on in the internet but ladies and gentlemen when someone markets teddy bears, t-shirts, with Psalms 109:8 on it in reference to President Barack Obama, it is time to turn up the serious valve and ask is this an American Jihad and where are the religious leaders when you need them to stand up and exhibit contentiousness against such a decree!
And what is the CIA, FBI and Secret Service doing about any of this?
Last night we were happy to attend a lively celebratory gathering of a few local Castaic residents and their children, who were pleased that the election process was over.
No one ever said phone banking, literature dropping, knocking on doors, sign posting, writing letters to the editor, and attending house parties; community forums; teacher meetings; and eating on the run aren't exhausting. But when you have a candidate you believe in and they hugely win, you begin to see the overall wealth in "participating in the process". . . You have in affect, effected the "change that you believe in". Sound familiar?
Just the day before rising at 4:30PM Tuesday, November 3rd for poll working at 6PM to 9PM seemed to be a calling of the truly willing. The sound of shower water awoke me and slowing I shuffled for my bath robe.
A lady arrived at 7pm the first to cast her votes for the local Castaic School Board and local Newhall Water Board candidates. She was overly cheerful. Don't you love morning people! Overall 3% of the total electorate went out to vote in LA County. Makes you think about CNN news portraying poor nations clamouring and excited to be able to go the polls, standing in line through rain, snow, sleet at daybreak heavily clothed and expelling warmth to frosty air, to have the advantage of selecting their leaders. it is important to them. We are either spoiled, reckless, or presumptious that someone will speak to our concerns when we don't go vote.
Why didn't people realize their local elections are where their true political power begins. Last I heard, we still have the ability to take two hours off of our jobs to go vote, it is a federal mandate.
Have people forgotten that little American caveat.
But in spite of these concerns we wish to say:
CONGRATULATIONS TO ATTORNEY SUSAN CHRISTOPHER, the original OBAMA GIRL for our region
and
LAURA PEARSON, AND VICTOR TORRES, whom we met for the first time!
So we soldier on for the next election, the next campaign and the next nail biting returns . . . being proactive in the change that we believe in . . . Peace out, Minerva & Todd Hoover,
Journalist Jeff Greenfield responded to the ongoing battle from the media this week, when reporting, that the FOX NEW’S DEPARTMENT is being accused of being the research and communication’s arm of the Republican Party. He also says that “. . . Fox’s bottom-line has increased 13% since Obama came into office. So perhaps they are crying all the way to the bank”.
Obama accuses Fox News as appearing “to be more like a talk show format and not a news format”.
There is no question that the Rupert Murdoch owned conglomeration’s opinions predominately favor the far Right Republican agenda. So when the White House decides not to give more fuel to Fox’s perceived negativity and refuses to be on their programs, is this an exercise of free speech? On the other hand, is it an exercise in futility? The points of views coming from the White House will be interpreted as the voice of the Obama Administration no matter what the administration representative says when they appear on FOX. Being fair however, MSNBC has been called the most left in their presentation of Obama’s opinions. So to whom do we listen for the “true news story”? Nevertheless, who would that be?
Where do we find a news source that is truly balanced? Personally, I find I have to listen to them all and weigh what seems “logical”, but I was taught in journalism school and at the LA TIMES that politics are highly hinged in “manipulating emotions and the illusion”.
*Come join our JOINT BIPARTISAN SESSION
Please note the correct date for the William S. Hart School Board Forum is Wednesday, October 28, 2009. The Democratic Club of Santa Clarita Valley and the Democratic Alliance for Action and residents of the 37th and 38th Assembly District in the Santa Clarita Valley area will be hosting a joint candidate forum for the Hart School Board Race. We will be meeting at Vincenzo’s Pizza at 24504 ½ Lyons Avenue in Newhall on Lyons Avenue, please arrive early to socialize. Each candidate will be given an opportunity to talk about their campaign and priorities for the Hart School Board.
As of press time: Bob Jensen, Joe Messina, Suzan Solomon, and Linda Valdes confirmed that they will be present.
More importantly, you will have the opportunity to ask some of those burning questions, so you can decide who you want to “vote smart” for on Tuesday, November 3rd Election! We hope to see you there. For questions leave message at (661) 295-9318 or write: minwilli@gmail.com. All Polls open at 7AM and close at 8PM. Absentee ballots can be dropped off at the polls. You can bring your children with you when you vote. Question on where your polling site is call 800-481-8683 or visit: http://www.lavote.net
Saw this in yesterday's Business section of the L.A. Times, CVS and Walgreens promote free flu shots for the unemployed.
CVS will immunize 10,000 individuals that are jobless and Walgreen will give the shot to the uninsured. For a list of the vaccination locations visit www.cvs.com <http://www.cvs.com/> or call (888) FLU-SHOT. Walgreens will also give out vouchers to eligible people. Go to www.walgreens.com <http://www.walgreens.com/> or call (866) 484-TOUR for further information.
Peace out, Minerva
On the 4th day of September, with the temperature of 104’; we held a rally & marched up to Buck Mckeons office. Yes we we were unannounced, but I think the element of surprise, was essential. See article. (http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/17635/ ). We were small in size, but effective. 5 adults, 2 children & Brian Charles of the Signal Newspaper, stood on the corner, with many people stopping by to thank us for our effort.
Too often, we as a people jump on board only when we see huge support. It takes allot of courage to be the first to step forward. I applaud those that did. Dennis Bartash, a Veteran and Senior; Pattie Sulpizio, An activist/former Delegate, member of DAA; (the largest democratic club of Santa Clarita) and our calm voice of reason; Sarah Reader & Jasmine Romero, both single mothers; One a current student at C.O.C., the other aspiring to become one soon; myself, Sherryan Lima a OFA Organizing Lead in Santa Clarita and Mother of 6, representing the uninsured; Brian Charles a Signal newspaper reporter, whom has found it necessary to stand up, speak out, challenge and hold accountable those that should be telling the truth but have chosen to do otherwise and Finally, Jordan Lima-Kuderer & Kai Romero representing the future.
We told our stories and encouraged Buck to take this moment to step up and do the right thing for his constituents. To represent us when he goes back to Washington. To tell the truth, (no more miss leading statements). To work in a bipartisan way with the President; for the common goal of affordable health care for all.
Will he hear us? That still remains to be seen! I am not going to let up. What is small today, will surly be larger tomorrow. We as a people will continue to step up. Continue to speak out. Dennis is right, we are a Government run "By the people for the people" I for one, take that “RIGHT’ seriously!
Go to the link’s below to see some of the events planned for the month of September in Santa Clarita. Make your voice heard, you will effect change. I Promise!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/myevents?source=sidenav
http://www.daa.org/
http://www.dn38.org/
President Obama asked us to turn the page. He asked us to believe in the change that we deserved. I can’t believe that all this GOTV, letter writing, phone banking, poll tending, volunteering, home parties, restaurant presentations, cheerleading for a year and a ½ to get him in the winner’s circle is causing a rise in my cynical interpretation. We understand that Obama has to be a worldwide respected, flexible American representation. We understand he wants to include all of America. We know deep reform in healthcare is necessary and a given. More than 75% of Americans want healthcare reform that includes the public option, universal healthcare, and single payer, whatever you want to call it. President Obama experienced the downside through his own mother’s dying. He had to know that there would be an all and out war with dysfunctional profit making, no holds bar, hundreds of billions healthcare making system. He knew the ravages in the financial system. In addition, yes, we see those fear mongering, hating, imposing gun packing/toting self-centered paid obstructionists at town hall meetings. So where is the line in the sand? We voted for “real change” not propping the industry, which disrespect our right to human healthcare. Take off the gloves, Fight Obama, Fight! Remember you are head of the United States military. CIA, FBI and Secret Service know the drills! Don’t lose your eye on the healthcare prize. Yes, we can!
Barack Obama won by more than 7.5 million votes over the Republicans . . . How then can he be so wry in stating what he wants this healthcare reform bill? Obama won more votes than any other candidate. He even won Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Virgina, and handsomely, California (except Orange County).
Those of us who field the calls, go out to the malls, set up workshops, pass the word, produce pass outs, e-blast, twitter, and Facebook are interested in knowing why there is so little information regarding the strategy behind Obama’s statement that the “public option is just a sliver of the proposed objectives and may not be in the final bill”?
Obama-ites and individuals in need of healthcare who believe in the change necessary to stop the medical bankruptcies, to provide efficient, effective and standardized health delivery are supporting healthcare reform. Many understand the need for preventive care, which is to lower the costs of pharmaceuticals, doctors, hospital healthcare, which is strangling our weary seniors, and HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and cardiac treatment. I believe we all know someone with a nagging irreversible illnesses requiring medicinal cocktails, patches, pills, shots, and tonics to make it through the day.
With the recent morphing of the Obama Plan, “NO OPTION”, many are raising their eyebrows regarding the “non information” getting to the front lines and this can be quite wearying when you are taking the “shots, the hits, the late night calls, and the hissing” from those who believe you are on some “blind ambition” that Obama can deliver.
So what is all of this hesitation, maneuvering and double speak that we are hearing? Are the Democrats just downright gutless wonders on an issue that affects us all? Bush is not around to kick this time. The media won’t allow us to be oblivious to the disruptive, gun toting and gun strapped, reddened, head-vein popping, bulging eyed, yelling “patriots” at town hall meetings. We understand that change is abominable to some and frightening to most when the government steps in. We know how groups take advantage of the “gaping loopholes” and “financial windfalls” due to poor planning and pencil pushing administrators who can’t think their way out of wet paper bags. Nevertheless, Obama et. al. says they have “studied the plan, they know what they need to shore up the gaps before execution.”
Won’t we, in the meantime, demand that our legislature stop taking money from the corporate entities that stand to lose when healthcare is spread throughout the United States? While legislators fully enjoy superior taxpayer-supported healthcare, paid in full, every year, on time, without denial for prior medical conditions, can’t we be vigilant and exclaim to our elected leadership that they represent us and our families’ future? What is wrong with us that a subject we all require to live each day becomes something not worth fighting for? Is it really something in the water? Will someone explain this to me?
CONTACT: progressivedemocratslosangeles@gmail.com: Attention Linda Sutton
Thursday August 6, 2009
After a grueling three weeks of questioning, it is confirmed today that the 111th Justice of the distinguished Supreme Court of the United States of America, nominated by Barack Obama (the 44th President of the United States and the 1st African American) is Sonia Sotomayor.
Sotomayor is the first Hispanic, the third woman, and the youngest member at 55 years of age . . .
The count was 68-31 with most Republicans voting no!
This is indeed the change we can believe in!
Congratulations Lady!
May our hispanic brothers and sisters remember this when they go to the polls. Yes, after she served our country, with seventeen years on the bench, Sessions and his ilk of conservative right-wing friends in the Republican Party, didn’t believe she was “good enough”.
Nine Republicans and two Independents considered her a moderate and cast their votes for her. She will replace retiring Justice David Souter, a liberal named by former President George H. W. Bush. Sotomayor is not expected to alter the court’s ideological split.
May our sista’s and brotha’s in the Hispanic political family remember . . . always . . . Cesar Chavez must be smiling down at us.
Best wishes to her and her family members . . .
Minerva Leah Williams & Todd L. Hoover, Santa Clarita Valley, 37th Assembly District Representatives, Los Angeles County Democratic Party’s Central Committee
I believe we need to know this facts when we are debating the healthcare reform issue.
The legislative recess is occuring and with that the BIG BOYS will be shooting out more advertising, lies, and misleading facts because the facts will be sandwiched between the untruths to confuse the average consumer who is probably not eating and sleeping these issues. The intend is simple to cause enough chaos to make the "average nonpolitico" scratch their heads and not get into the healthcare discussions. Hopefully we will all be able to stand up to this opposition. Here is some ammunition . . .
THE SECURITY YOU GET from health insurance reform:
Here are a few words from Linda Douglass:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Facts-Are-Stubborn-Things/
Here are some of the facts:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/
Suppose you are from New York? Let me know what you think . . . HAPPY FRIDAY . . .
The question of whether Obama was legitimately born in the United States continues to stir considerable controversy. Reservist Major Stefan Cook of the US Army refused to deploy to Afghanistan, questioning Obama’s authority as commander-in-chief. Cook told the Army he needed proof that Obama was actually born in the US. Without such proof he believed he should not be compelled to follow the President’s orders to deploy to Afghanistan. To further exacerbate this, the Army subsequently rescinded his orders, leading many to hold this as further proof that Obama just may not be a US born citizen and should therefore be removed from office.
Why the army didn’t pursue further action against Cook and simply revoke his deployment does raise serious questions. This is certainly not in line with the Army’s normal procedure for those who refuse to follow orders. Consider the case of Lt. Erin Watada. Watada refused to deploy to Iraq on the ground that to do so would constitute a war crime, namely that of waging a war of aggression. The Army certainly did prosecute him. Although one of the charges got hung up on a technicality, there are still other significant charges pending against Watada, which will most likely have serious consequences.
It is undisputed that Iraq never attacked the United States or even threatened to do so. It is also undisputed that President Bush never secured the constitutionally required congressional declaration of war against Iraq. It would be difficult to find a better example of an illegal and unconstitutional war, which is precisely why Watada refused to obey orders to participate in it.
My father was in the service and always gave me the impression that the United States Military rarely backs off of an insubordinate soldier without providing an explanation. I would think that they would want to make an example out Cook. Did releasing Cook open the door for every soldier, sailor, and airman to get a free "get out of war" pass?
In the Cook case why didn't the Army pursue further action? Where did the order come from to revoke his orders? Under what conditions were these orders revoked? Why was there no explanation? Will the Army ever provide answers to these questions, or at least an explanation as to why his case is closed? Respectfully yours, Minerva L. Williams, Castaic, CA.
It may appear to be a cliffhanger for Obama’s appointment to the Supreme Court, but the word from the Washington Post Tuesday is, that with the assistance of Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, the one lone Republican and the twelve Democrats of the Senate Judicial Committee finally confirmed Sonya Sotomayor for the Supreme Court! That means six Republicans said no. Graham says that he feels good about Sotomayor. Speaking on judges, he said that “sometimes they have left our ideals down”. And they have often seen the larger picture through the Constitution, when many of us weren’t able to move away from our beliefs. He said the questioning of Sessions, although he was entitled to his inquiries, will tend to run individuals away, who would be good judges.
He said that his colleagues of the Senate Judicial Committee “have a chance to respond” and “being a judge is different”, “the law should be a quiet and unpopular place” because something more than 50+1 is going on. He referred to Sotomayor as “competent, not just qualified”, “left of center” “of good character” and pointed out that her 12-year record doesn’t show activism. The other story is that the speeches and advocacy needed to be put into context of what she was talking about, did bug the hell out of him, but she embraces her ability to speak on an opinion even though it may not be the position that he would take. “We are 200 years old as a nation and the fact that she is the first Hispanic woman to be chosen is very important”, “she meets the qualifications test”. If she can inspire other Latina women to seek law as a profession then America would be moving forward and a better nation for having done so.
Depending on whom you read, there is rumor that if Republicans block her nomination, they will have hell to pay in their Hispanic districts. Mind you these guys still have to go home and run for their positions. Others say that they are staying true to their base (conservatives) by looking at Sotomayor through moderate glasses. So hopefully the rest of the voting will be a formality at best for the rest of the Senate. The Supreme Court convenes in September so Judge Sista Girl, and I do mean this affectionately, can take her place, as one of newest human rights liberals, on the nine member high bench. I can see Judge Roberts, and crew reaching for the Maalox.
Sotomayor is only 55-years-old, appears to be in great health, has spunk and many years left to live (looking at the perseverance and sacrifice of her mom). We can only hope Sotomayor will continue reviewing cases and passing down her judgments as she has done for the past 17 years as a federal judge. Sotomayor will be replacing Judge Suter who was appointed by Bush
The conservative base of the Republican Party is disagreeing with Graham. They believe she is disguising her views and guarding her personal views. Now if you were in the running for a judgeship and there stood a chance that your personal views may direct your judgment, would you send off firecrackers and a strobe light to forewarn this squeamish bunch? After all of these caustic statements, is that all they have come up with?
I don’t think so. . . .There is still rumor though that there will be a last minute shockwave of revelation, but many pundits believe this is the usual Republican drama being played out, to keep us watching the CSPAN proceedings. And you can bet there are a few of us making time to watch the saga unfold.
She may not ideologically change the balance of the court, however, I’m sure she can write some hellfire responses. She is the third woman and the first Latina to be a member of the all boys club. Wow! Obama, will everything you touch create continual drama? Well, at least, they are paying close attention. Viva La Raza Sotomayor! Viva! Viva!
REFERENCES:
Picture from: http://www.voanews.com
http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/
http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10812499
