THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2009
DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2009
In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing, the Economic Daily Briefing, and meet with senior advisors in the Oval Office. These meetings are closed press.
Later, the President will meet with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in the Oval Office. There will be a pool spray at the bottom of the meeting.
In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press.
NOTE: The President is scheduled to meet with his national security team on Afghanistan on Wednesday afternoon.
In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CBS
Print: Tribune
Radio: CBS
Magazine Photo: New York Times
EDT
9:00AM Pool Call Time
9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press
9:50AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
10:10AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
11:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Pool spray at the bottom (Gather Time 11:55AM – Briefing Room)
4:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
Briefing Schedule
1:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
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Greater Providence Baptist Church | 2000 Milton Road | Charlotte, NC 28215
Friday, October 16, 20096:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Mix and Mingle Come meet and fellowship with WWSA members in a relaxed atmosphere prior to the main event on October 17. This is an opportunity for you to get to know the members, learn more about their individual ministries and about WWSA. This event is open to all at no cost.
Saturday, October 17, 20097:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Conference Praise & Worship, General Sessions, 11 Workshops, Open Forum Discussion, Testimonies.
Location:Greater Providence Baptist Church | 2000 Milton Road | Charlotte, NC 28215
Registration Deadline: September 18, 2009 Registration: $25.00 (lunch included); after deadline: $35.00
The first annual WWSA conference is less than three week away. We are excited and busy preparing to welcome you and share what God has laid on our hearts to bless you. So, stop procrastinating and get busy registering at www.wwsa.biz! The registration fee is only $25.00. Take the time to share the attached conference flyer with women you know will be blessed by being a part of what will be an extraordinary event. Finally, I'm sharing with you today the workshop topics that will be offered at the conference.
Loving A Child That Breaks Your Heart
Christian Marriage Is Not For Divas
Mental Abuse
Anger
Insecurity
Expired Dreams and Unrealistic Expectations
Christian Women and Anxiety & Depression
Raising Godly Children In An Ungodly World
All The Single Women: Get Those Stars Out of Your Eyes
Women of Purpose
Faith, Prayer and Praise
Looking forward to seeing you on October 16 & 17. To God be the glory!
-or-
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Written: August 22, 2009 Released: September 9, 2009
Greetings Honorable President, Governors, Regional/County Leaders, Mayors, and Congressional Leaders:
Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight
, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors
and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on that sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Dylan Thomas
The voters want the 111St Congress to Blend in Unisom with our 44Th President of the USA; the election was nine month ago or over thirty six weeks ago, enough! Let’s get to the light of Square Business. You have been elected to serve collectively your State or region in the best interest of our nation, the United States of America, your political party secondly! Do we really have to wait for another election to digest, address, and divest the concerns of the way our Congressional Leaders are doing business on the behalf of their constituents? The report cards on the credibility and accountability of our elected Congressional Leaders are reflective of the need for tutorial assistance, extended sessions and a reexamination of the congressional recess procedure, in times of major pending Bills to be signed and Regulatory guidelines to the Bill’s amendments to assure efficiency need to be revised, revisited, to assure progressive ongoing bipartisan fiduciary negotiations are simultaneously taking place in cooperation with the White House.
Whether Democrat or Republican, the obligation remains the same blending a sound USA government of, for, and by the people of America the Beautiful! The 2008 election was about Bipartisan actions for change, not bipartisan simulate rhetorical actions for political simulations of change. It is past time for standing and sitting USA Bipartisan Caucus throughout our government and within our Capitol Hill and White House base to facilitate and advance our 20Th Century filibustering mentality. That hinders the progressive momentum of our economy and is unraveling the political and social fabric union of our country as well as its national government. Is the change in the ways in which our leaders are advancing, respecting, and developing our government’s administrative procedures on all fronts being taken seriously or for granted?
The 21St Century Advanced Citizen must see our Congressional leaders as a group of leaders with willingness and propensity for give and take for the sake and longevity our nation. Health Care has been an unresolved issue and concern for over four decades and is currently. This unresolved issue is currently affecting more than fifty percent of the average American families----Republican and Democrats the time for a bipartisan health care reform is overdue. This is not a left or right wing issue or a Democratic, Independent, Republican, Libertarian or Other Party issue – this must be a bipartisan United State of America issue of check and balance.
We pay our Congressional Leaders to make crucial decisions at crucial time in the history of our nation, not to posture gestures with the party serving intense efforts focused with responsible solutions to the crises issues, rather, motivated with the established agenda to derailing or thwart the political gains of a party in the upcoming elections... The lives of tens of millions must be considered especially in a time when the number American people seek their civil rights of health care service in America must meet the needs of all citizens.
Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Demagogues “do not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”, assessment, regulation and a standing bipartisan review caucus must be employed by our administration of change and our bipartisan group. Health care must not be used as a straw man by the, Lewin Group, insurance companies or their counterparts.
The historical moment of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding is at hand.
The past election was about Bipartisan action, for the USA to blend for change not bipartisan simulated rhetoric for political simulation of change. After this recess, The 21St Century Advanced Citizen must see our Congressional Leaders as a group of leaders with communication skills showing their willingness to give and take for the sake and longevity our nation!
Barney Frank's answer was of a reactionary (Did he fail to understand that this unfortunate young lady believed the Congressional Leader, thus, causing us to waste valuable tax dollars an ask such a question?) and responsive to the bashing our party Demagogues are in engaged in as they shirk in there multi-thousand dollar obligation we elected and pay dearly for, for as they posture for their special interest groups and Party rather than our country.
Health Care has been an unresolved issue for many decades and concerns of more than fifty percent of the average American----Republican and Democrats the time for a bipartisan health care reform is now!
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors
and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
The foundation for a USA Universal Heath care Reform can be laid now with the Bill subjected to the review of standing Presidential Bipartisan Review caucus that can define, modify, and amend the check and balance of administering the economic, social, moral, cultural, contingencies of the various barometer to measure the Heath Care components within the Bill that would address the needs of our American citizens beyond Class and on a sliding scale. There are many components that must be examined and in many cases redefined such as: Welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, Family Health, Individual, Students, Senior, Infant/child/ teen, Disabled (permanent, developmental, accidental crises, temporary), and Emergency Medical crises intervention. We are apart of the voting family of the United States America.
The Heath Care Reform is an ongoing process that must be addressed in phases to be locked into over a ten year period if we are serious about the needs 21St Century Citizens. We must move out of the melting pot and into the woven fabric of America!
Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.
Senator Kennedy and Hatcher your country needs your teams at the bipartisan round table of National integrity to Lead and Guide and Speak out in compromise and cooperation with our elected White House Administration for the sake of the USA BLENDING WITH AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL FOR GENUINE CHANGE.
This is not a left or right wing issue – this must be a bipartisan United State of American absolute action of compromise and change where a Bipartisan caucuses from the House of Representative and the Senate send representatives from Congress to the White House to meet and be active solution-driven voices of a Specially appointed internal Bipartisan Presidential Review Caucus to review the Democratic Plan and Republican Plan and devise a Bill in the best interest of the American citizen to carry us into the 21St Century. Our Leaders must rise above the rhetoric and stop taking the intelligence of the American citizens for granted.
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.
Congressional Leaders, Political Party Advisors, White House negotiators, the citizens of the USA are wise enough, although we can be gullible at time --- to know that’ the Buck Stops On Our President Desk! To take ‘the Pledge of Allegiance’ to Party rather than the Country is a serious error that breach you’re your being sworn into office---it is time for change!
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Where are the Barney Frank and his counterpart's Bipartisan resolution teams, and what are they doing once they have finished thumb their nose at the innocent people that were fed rubbish by our Congressional Leaders through the Interest Groups our Congress have been hiding behind? We voted for change - we trust that this Administration will take a bold Constitutional action of change in ways that presently adjust our government leaders’ behavior of accountability in the time of national crisis es.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
On 11-11-09, Bloomberg says next president needs bold bipartisan agenda -...we are dire need of Community, State, Regional, and National Leaders with insight and foresight. The will of the people to dare to dream and project are in your hands. What will Historians write about and the Regional Leaders, Governors, County administrator, and Mayors that stood in their wake as they plotted the course of The United States of America into the 21St Century??
Honorable President Obama hindsight is gaining on our country quickly. This is beyond Party lines---- our willing to forfeit there pay when their work reflects they have gone two quarter of the year without substance, content, and reputable votes to support National Plans of progress. President Obama, do not give into the demagogues lone-party call which I hearing from both Political Parties for gains that are not selfless!
And you, my father, there on that sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
This is a National, Cultural, Moral, Social and Civil responsibility decision that the world and the citizens of this country are watch closely. What is the Culture of our great nation, America the Beautiful? Stumbling, babbling, and struggling against ourselves isn’t American and far from being responsible national leaders, the time is now for action, it is pass noon, at two o’clock labor must increase the harvest of our nation for generation to come! ---E. RayE. Walker 8-20-09 in contrast Dylan Thomas, versifier
The 21St Century Kennedy-Hatcher Bipartisan Great Health Care Reform Compromise is waiting for the United States of America a Bipartisan Solution Driven Righteous Cooperative Bill of Response from Our Elected Leaders. Let walk quietly, and together carrying our National Rod of Justice.
May God Continue To Bless America!
Sincerely, In love Truth, and Spirit,
E. RayE. Walker
Ernest RayEdward Walker
EXCELLENCES
I have great health insurance. I pay $36.00 twice a month, $100.00 deductible and the plan includes vision. When I went to the eye doctor I got two name brand pair of glasses at no cost to me.
The reality is that if I lost my job I would have no health care and like millions of other individuals I would postpone going to the doctor and then go to the emergency room when I had been sick to long.
During this period my illness had escalated and what began as a simple problem has expanded to a major problem. I don’t have insurance but I am seeking treatment. The burden of my medical bills now becomes the responsibility of the tax payers. The bill that could have been 150 dollars with preventative care now is 20,000 dollars because I am admitted into the hospital. This scenario can happen to 47 million individuals that don’t currently have health insurance. I don’t want to bare the burden of health insurance but by supporting this reform I am protecting my family from the burden of medical bills, my credit being destroyed and losing the battle of my health because I had no preventive care.
The reality is that we are already paying for health care for those that have none. Would you rather pay 150.00 now or 20,000 or more later? The other question is where will you turn when you have no health insurance? Health insurance Reform is about protecting all individuals so that if the unexpected life issue occurs you will be able to be insured regardless of whether you have a pre-existing disease or not.
While protests continue remember it could be you that loses their job. Protect your future by supporting health care reform.
There has been much focus on the Gates saga. I hope that it will be a teachable moment for the country but I am also saddened that it takes a major event to open the dialogue about race in this country and the fact that we have not included classism, sexism, ageism, discrimination against homosexuals, ethnic and religious discrimination.
For twenty five years I have written about the victories and struggles of children. I have tried to expose our innermost prejudices and provide solutions to some issues and open the dialogue on current issues that children face.
“Children of Plains Estates” and “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates is now being offered for a limited time for $6.99 on the publisher’s website. www.publishamerica.com
There are no simple answers to discrimination but I do believe that this series of books will open the dialogue to discuss our biggest secrets and our own stereotypes and bigotry and hypocrisy.
Claudette Milner is the author of “Children of Plains Estates” and “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates. Her third book will be titled “Silent Tears”: Children of Plains Estates.
Website: www.claudettemilner.com
To book Ms. Milner to speak at your conference : www.wwsa.biz
That a powerful statement. Can the President deliver for all Americans. That means you and I, color or race, young or aging gens, and rich or poor. Imaging not having to worry about health care for yourself or family. The President wants health for all Americans. That's great news for us to be included in the President's agenda. He is fighting for you and I so we do not have to fear not being able to purchase our medication or not be denied coverage for health coverage. It does matter what pre-existing condition you have. We finally have a choice to decide which doctors we see and if money is a problem we have choice to public options. How can you not support President Obama's three principles: reduce cost, guarantee and affordable for all Americans. What else is left? The vote in Congress is your turn. Stand up for Health Care Reform! Sit down for Health Care! but Do something for Health Care Reform.
Claudette Milner is the author of a five book series entitled Children of Plains Estates. The current books in the series include “Children of Plains Estates”, “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates and the third book will be entitled “Unshed Tears”: Children of Plains Estates. In December 2008 Ms. Milner’s current release “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates received honorable mention at the London Book Festival.
Ms. Milner has given interviews on Let’s Talk Honestly with George Cooper, The Maxine Shaw Show, Artist First, and Global Talk Radio and has been featured in the Charlotte Post, Pasco Times, Black Coffee Magazine, and The New York Review. Ms Milner has conducted book signings in several NC libraries, and bookstores and festivals throughout the United States. She recently joined Jerome Imes and Edward Garnes in conducting the James Weldon Johnson Seminars and Workshops in Durham North Carolina for the upward bound program and facilitated an economic education seminar for middle school students for Citi-Bank. Her most recent speaking engagement was entitled a Call to Service delivered to the Village of Louisville, a nonprofit organization for At-Risk children.Ms. Milner has worked in several capacities as an educator, CRA officer, Trainer, Manager, CSR, and Counselor but her mission is to minister to all God’s people worldwide through her writings and the visions that God has placed in her heart. God's will for her life is to minister to those that do not know God’s unconditional love and compassion and to bring them closer to God by being a follower of Jesus and not just a Christian. Join her in reaching the world with the love of God by ministering to the lost.
Wise Women Speakers Association (WWSA)™ is a faith-based national all-women's speakers bureau. While most bureaus focus on secular speakers (usually with a much higher emphasis on male, secular speakers), we have identified the top faith-based female voices of today and tomorrow. We provide the top motivators, leaders, experts and entertainers to all audiences, for all occasions.
Wise Women Speakers Association (WWSA) was founded primarily to fill two needs. Whether you need a speaker for your event or you are a speaker who needs someone to coordinate your engagements, we can help.
For Speakers From booking engagements to negotiating contracts to travel arrangements; WWSA can help. WWSA can do as much or as little as you like, depending on your desires.
For Organizations/Clients Choose from our experienced, talented and gifted list of speakers and entertainers to help make your event a resounding success. WWSA speakers are available for retreats, conferences, keynote speeches, weddings, church services, and many other occasions. Whatever you need, we stand ready to assist.
Our History Founded in 2007, WWSA is the fruit of a God-given vision of its founder, Carrie Johnson Pegues. It's purpose is to impact lives of individuals for Christ and by extension their families, churches and communities through professional and wise presentations inspired by a love and knowledge of God.
WWSA is a faith-based for-profit ministry. It serves as a Godly channel through which Christian female motivational speakers and artists can share their God-given gifts, talents and abilities in a way that is honoring to God. WWSA is a premier speakers organization through which Christian, civic and community organizations will have access to qualified, professional and wise female speakers and artists who will engage and inspire their audiences on issues of importance to them.
Whatever you need to help your speaking ministry, we stand ready to assist. Don't delay starting on your journey. WWSA is here to help you follow your vision and reach your goals.
To Book Ms. .Milner or for additional information VISIT – WWSA.biz
I ask all people to pray for this country. Pray that instead of hatred and prejudice that Christians will find their way back to being followers of Jesus and that they will show compassion and love so that the world will know that Jesus lives.
Claudette Milner is the author of
"Children of Plains Estates"
"Unheard Voices": Children of Plains Estates
www.claudettemilner.com
Oh c'mon, Leon, a little less Bologna, please. Of course you can't discuss the specifics-- as W. Bush explained, that always ends the world in five minutes, but if not numbers you could comment on proportion, no? Fourteen al Qaedas supposedly killed compared to 700 civilians, and this from a U.S. government source, comes out to .02 in decimal form. Wow, what a success rate!
But I'm right with you, Leon, when you suggest that the drones are the only show in town. Could I modify this? The drones and rockets are the one place we're putting on a show of trying to look good, but...
But you've got the information and we don't, Leon, right? Only the C.I.A. knows about the Predator that wedged in the big trans-world wormhole thus stopping the slimy things from their fast crawl from Afpak to Wichitaw.
When I was young I spent a lot of time protesting against civil rights issues. As I matured I began to redirect my energy toward supporting victims of domestic violence and rape, by walking and raising money for diabetic research and March of dimes. I am a woman of faith. I believe that life starts at conception. I do not believe in abortion for myself. I felt so strongly that I had a tubal ligation after having twins at the age of 25. I did not want more children and birth control did not work for me and I did not want to be confronted with the decision to bring children into the world that I could not afford or did not want. The most important thing was that I made the decision. No one made it for me.
When a woman becomes pregnant it is a major event and I don’t believe that the decision women make is made without much thought and deliberation and I don’t think that the pain is ever lifted from their heart. It follows them throughout their lives. Unfortunately there are many teenage mothers. Most of these children are trying to feel an empty hole in them, seeking love in all the wrong places.
I believe that protest open dialogue and I hope President Obama is willing to sit down and discuss this issue with individuals that do not support abortion and supporters of a women’s right to choose. However I also wonder how much time these individuals have spent time talking to teenagers that have become pregnant. I wonder how many visit schools and open forums for discussions. I wonder how many churches in the area reach out and accept these individuals in their church, but most importantly how many through their actions show unwed mothers the forgiveness and love of God because I am certain if the church reaches out to teenagers, mentors them, supports them, leads them to Christ so that they will see the amazing love of God that we will reduce teenage pregnancy, that we will reach and touch lives and we will decrease the abortion rate in this country.
My thoughts: Exercise your right to protest but spend time understanding the issue because it is not black and white. We would all like to dig our heads in the dirt and just say you must choose life but there must be early intervention, support systems, programs set up by the church and other groups. Groups that make millions of dollars on abortion offer more support to pregnant women than those of us that believe in the preservation of life. The church cannot ignore the issue. We cannot afford to sit and judge instead of reaching out. When we stand up in love and not judgment and each of us begins to support and mentor our young then we will begin to decrease the rate of abortion in this country and around the world.
Claudette Milner is the author of “Children of Plains Estates” and “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates
As I have listened to the government side which wants to limit CEO compensation and reward CEO’s based on merit and not reputation I consider my own career. I have never been a CEO, I have never had the option to get fired and be rewarded millions and sometimes billions of dollars although after I left the company owed the government billions of dollars because I mismanaged the company causing thousands of employees to be out of work, many losing their homes and without health insurance struggling to maintain a living and feed their families. Most Americans are in my boat because there are a limited number of CEO’s and they seem to migrate from one position to another. Some fail at one company then are paid millions to fail again.
The banks and Wall Street argue that if compensation is limited then the top talent will go to other companies due to a global market. I say let them leave but take the million dollar compensation packages and pay back Americans for the money that has been used to bail out the mess they left behind. Some CEO’s seemed shrewder than the rest. They came into a mess and demanded millions of compensation for taking the job. Some only lasted a couple of months and yet they took home a tidy sum. I don’t blame them because they were only taking care of business however I do blame W all Street for conducting business as usual with no thought to the huge liability they would be placing on the taxpayers.
Do I expect corporate American to feel guilty? No, I am not naïve. Nor do I expect them to cut off large compensation packages. What I do expect is the government to impose strict regulations on CEO compensation and for Wall Street to pay off every dime they owe to the taxpayers before they use our money to finance the old boy network.
.The ideal solution would be for Wall Street to recognize that there are talented men and women that have run smaller companies and have been successful. They need to tap into this talent and award these individuals with a competitive salary and bonuses based on merit and success. It would show our children that hard work is the road to success and when a company makes money everyone should be successful not just a few but it is morally wrong when a CEO walks away with millions after failing the company, the stockholders, the employees and the public that only the employees lose everything.
Claudette Milner is the author of:
“Children of Plains Estates” and “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates
Senator Mitch McConnell is all smiles as the Republicans defeat a bill which would have given homeowners more flexibility in renegotiating mortgages. He said "We did Good". The victory shattered the dreams of millions of homeowners facing bankruptcy. Despite the recent loss in the House and the Senate the republicans still don't have a clue about the needs of main street Americans. It will take a major defeat in 2010 for them to get a clue but will it be to late for millions of Americans?
McConnell's quote in the Sunday Courier Journal reminds us that although Americans are losing their homes,jobs and healthcare the Republican party has one concern and that is protecting Wall Street. Working Americans had only this bill to try and keep their home once they filed bankruptcy. Now they are not only struggling to feed their families on reduced incomes the republicans have united to protect the interest of banks and Wall Street. While they are touting their victory the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans are being shattered. Republicans do not have a clue about the needs of main street and a tour of the country will not give them a new perspective. Despite the massive donations from Wall Street it will be main street Americans that will flock to the polls against the party of no health insurance for the poor, no protection of women's rights, no assistance for the unemployed, no breaks for struggling homeowners and no empathy for the plight that Americans are facing.
The republicans are not blameless for the defeat of the bill. 12 Democrats voted against the needs of the American people to protect their campaign contributions from the banks.
Note to the Republicans. We as Americans are a resilient group and our memory is not short term. We will bookmark this stab in the back by Republicans and their desire to crush the American dream to protect the republican brand, be the party of no new ideas, protect entry into the party by excluding those of different thoughts and vote to derail the properity of all Americans in order to secure campaign contributions from the extreme right. The republicans are on a self destructive path but Americans will not join them. I predict that this victory they are smiling about will be one of the votes that crushes them in 2010.
Claudette Milner is the author of "Unheard Voices" Children of Plains Estates and Children of Plains Estates.
Enough Already, If You Voted For President Obama Then Send The Message to The Congress And The Senate That If They Want Our Support In 2010 And 2012 Get on Board With The Presidents Budget And Policies or we will Find People Who Will Support Him. It’s Time Those Democrats Grow A Backbone and Do What’s Right For The People Who Put Them There!!! We took two years to get President Obama Elected to follow through on his promises to fight for the common people. Now it’s not the Republicans who stand to jam up the works, but Evan Bayh of Indiana and his group of weak Democrats that obviously didn’t pay attention to what the voters were saying in November. If Evan Bayh and his follower don’t back and vote for the Presidents budget and policies, then it’s time to vote them out of office and bring people in that will work with the President and support him. It was not bad enough that they all voted themselves a pay raise when the country is in such bad shape, but then to say they can not support the president’s budget because it raise the deficit to high. Tell the family that has lost their house, or their jobs, or through no fault of their own get evicted because the people they rent from lost the house and they have to get out. Evan Bayh you need to suck it up and do what’s right for the common people not all the Bank Folks you took money from, those days have got to come to an end. This just really makes me angry that our own party would derail the only chance we AMERICANS have to recoup some of the equality we have lost over the last eight years. So if they won’t support the President then we need to support democrats that will run against them that will support our President. Let’s send the message quickly that if these Congressman and Senators don’t support the President they can look for new employment elsewhere.
On April 14th I had the honor to speak at a Gala held by the Village of Louisville founded by Mozzie Dewalt held at the Holiday Inn in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Village of Louisville is a community based organizations whose goal is to mentor teens not only through athletics but through educational tutoring and SAT and ACT prep. Last nights benefit included speakers from Health and Education as well as United Way and the Assistant School Superintendent. Most importantly it featured students that had excelled in the program and had gone on to complete a college education.
As I walked to the podium to deliver my address I was humbled to be asked to speak. Below is my address to this community group.
On Inauguration day President Obama challenged Americans to a call to service. That call to service included each of us in this room regardless of race, gender, religion, economic status or educational level. He challenged each individual to contribute to their community, to be a mentor, to visit the elderly, and to make a difference in someone’s life. This is the mission of the Village of Louisville, to impact the lives of young adults and to make positive changes in their lives. The mission is admirable but it can only be accomplished through a commitment from its founder Mr. Dewalt, the board members and Volunteers and the students and parents, and the community that participate in the program.
I have taught my children and grand children that each person has a commitment first to God to fulfill his destiny for their lives, to themselves to educate themselves in order to be successful, to their family as a support system and a role model, to their community to unite and to give back, to their race to know their history and help create their destiny. We all wish that we could wake up and have the skills of Michael Jordan or be able to swim like Michael Phelps or invent great things like Alexander Graham Bell but the reality is that all of these men worked diligently educating themselves and developing their crafts. Let me ask you a question. If I gave you a swim suit and sent you to the pool and the pool had no water in it could you swim to the other side?
If I picked two teams and you took to the court but you didn’t have a basketball could you play?
Would you think of going to the basketball court without someone having a ball?
Would you go to a swimming pool without water?
Then why would you go to school unprepared for success. Why would you just not show up to the game.
When a basketball team fails to show up for the game they have to forfeit. The players that don’t show up let the team down and their peers. They set the team up for failure.
When you don’t show up for school you set yourself up for failure. You defeat yourself. The more you miss the less prepared you are until finally you give up on your dreams your goals and yourself.
The average graduation rate in the country is 51%. That means that a minimum of 49% of your peers will not graduate your senior year. It means that 49% of your peers will not be prepared for the 21st century. It means that a minimum of 49% of your peers will be working minimum wage jobs, homeless, undereducated, in prison, or living in a cycle of dependency on welfare.
It used to be that the undereducated of our society could work in manual labor, work in a factory, do blue collar jobs and make a decent living but those jobs are gone. One needs a high school diploma to be a janitor during a recession.
My question to you is what are your dreams? How are you going to accomplish your goals? Are you preparing yourself to meet the challenges of the 21st century or you looking for a short cut to success?
There are no shortcuts. Success takes hard work. Many times it takes working two or three jobs. It means cultivating your skills, It means turning off the television,, limiting the video games, going to the library, separating yourself from the crowd. It means standing alone.
If I believed in statistics I would not spend time traveling across the United States speaking to youth. I believe that our youth have replaced the priority of education with reality television and gang banging. Our parents have given up our children to the streets. Our community and churches would rather praise God every Sunday and ignore the needs of our children Monday – Saturday.
First we as adults must begin to be role models for our children. We must stress education in our home and create an environment for learning. There is no excuse for not attending meetings at school or not checking homework or not making education a priority and when parents are undereducated there must be community organizations that will step in the gap with tutoring and mentorship programs for our youth. Our teachers must step up to the plate and expect excellence from our students instead of mediocrity, our principles and the school board must fire teachers that no longer have an enthusiasm for learning, our principles must create an environment of excitement for learning off the sports fields.
The school board must reorganize its systems and be innovative in teaching our children.
Even if we accomplish these goals the bottom line is that each of you must make a commitment to success by graduating from high school and continuing your education rather it be a junior college or technical college or a four year college. Then you must heed your call to service back in your community through volunteerism, teaching, mentoring, assisting the elderly, making an impact on someone’s life, then you must build your own family stressing educational values and being a strong role model for your children. We all have a destiny within ourselves. God has given all of us gifts and talents. Don’t get it twisted. God did not give Michael Jordan a gift to be a millionaire. If you remember he was not a great player until later in his high school years. He had to work hard to be a super star. God blessed the works of his hands to give himself glory. He blessed him so that he could be a role model, so that he could set up a foundation that would mentor other children. He proved that with hard work each of us can be great. That is our mission to glorify God in our deeds. My mission is to minister to youth. What is your mission? I challenge you to a call to be a success in fulfilling God’s destiny for your life. I believe in each of you.
It’s time for everyone to just sit back and take a deep breathe and give President Obama’s policies time for the ink to dry before asking how are they working!!! If everyone on both sides of the fence would put their Greed away and start to do what’s good for everyone “and that didn’t include passing a pay raise for themselves either”, they would find the American people would have more faith in their ability govern fairly. The Helio Castroneves Tax Fraud case is a perfect example of unfair governing, the Treasury secretary got pardoned of penalties but a Race Car Driver who has a contract with a payment that he has not received yet, and they uproot his life and livelihood with a Tax Evasion law suit. It’s time to remember that we now live in a society of perception, if we perceive it to be it is, and that’s a shame that we don’t take the time to separate fact from fiction anymore or take the time to think things through and make our own minds up and not be swayed by others. As the president has said things are not always as bad nor as good as they are portrayed to be. I know for a fact that in the automotive business that Sema just did a survey and found out that 28% of Warehouse Distributors said business is up, Used Car sales are up and the repair parts business is looking better. I personally know of twenty people going back to work in the construction business, that didn’t think they would be working this year. So if we all just help one another out in any way we can, we will find out that “Yes We Can” Survive, sound familiar thought you might remember it. Now let’s all just start living it. I truly believe from all the companies and consumers I talk with that everyone believes the worst is behind us and better days are right around the corner. So hang in their, Pray and believe in whom we elected to do the right things and it will be just fine. God Speed to President Obama.
Author Claudette Milner will sign her latest book “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates at the Corner Bookstore and More on April 18th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. The bookstore is located at 101 N Main Street in China, Grove NC. Each time a book is purchased you may enter a raffle for Unheard Voices Shirts, Hats, and a free signed book.
Ms. Milner is the author of the “Children of Plains Estates series which includes “Children of Plains Estates” and “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates. She received honorable mention in the teenage category at the London Book Festival held in December 2008. She grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and has lived in Charlotte, NC for the past 15 years. Ms. Milner has recently relocated back to Louisville. She will join with Jarold Imes of Our Teen Voices in conducting the James Walden Jr. Workshops and Seminars at High Schools in Rocky Mountain NC and Durham NC schools.
Ms. Milner can be contacted through her website at www.claudettemilner.com.
I am a major supporter of health care and education reform, reeling in Medicare cost and stimulating job creation. What I am against is earmarks in the latest bill approved in the house.
As a conservative Democrat I will do everything in my power to support the President in helping get this country back on track. I am now calling for national outcry against any earmarks in any new legislation. We are tired of politics as usual. Every American has been called on to act responsibly and make personal sacrifices. It must also include all elected officials. Our eyes are watching every dime that is allocated and no matter if you are Democrat or Republican if our money is wasted on earmarks we will act swiftly in 2010.
I am asking Senate Democrats to clean up this bill before it goes to President Obama. The time to act is now but if you fail then this bill must be vetoed if our top priority is rebuilding this country.
The London Book Festival Awards were held on December 10, 2008. Top Honors were presented to “The Gonzo Way: A Celebration of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson” written by his wife, Anita Thompson, The winner in the teenage category was “Lines of Velocity”: Words That Move from Write Girl. Louisville, Kentucky author Claudette Milner received honorable mention for her book “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates.
Claudette Milner is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. She attended Purdue and Columbia University. Ms Milner is a former educator for Watterson College and CRA officer for Liberty National Bank. She relocated to Charlotte NC in 1994 where she has resided while completing the first two books of the “Children of Plains Estates” series. Ms. Milner has recently relocated to Louisville while she completes the third book of the five book series.
Ms. Milner has been featured in the New York Review, Black Coffee Magazine, Charlotte Post, and Florida Tribune and has been interviewed on the Maxine Thompson Show, Global Radio, and Let’s Talk Honestly with George Cooper, and Artist First Radio. She has conducted book signings at several Charlotte, NC public libraries and book festivals.
Ms. Milner will join Jarold Imes of Our Teen Voices and other authors for the The James Weldon Johnson Literary Workshop & Symposiumin conducting two workshops at local schools in the Raleigh-Durham area on 04/17/2009. For more information Ms Milner may be contacted through her website www.claudettemilner.com
Republicans have clogged up the airways trying to justify to the country why they voted against the stimulus bill. They have wined on every morning and evening talk show that they were not included, that nobody stroked their ego, that they didn’t get to the plan and that it was needless spending. The ironic thing is that they expected the American people to believe that they did what was best for the country.
The Republican Party expects Wall Street and a bank to get it, when they don’t have a clue, other than tax cuts how to tackle the economic problems that this country faces.
Millions of Americans are unemployed or in jeopardy of losing their jobs.
Republican answer: tax cuts.
Millions of the unemployed have no health care: Republican answer: Health insurance is a privilege only for those that are working and can afford it.
Our children are undereducated:
Republican Answer: Let’s give 2% of our children vouchers to go to better schools and the rest will just have to educate them.
The schools need new construction:
Republican answer: As long as the school is still standing a child should be able to learn. We only want to create jobs for the educated and the wealthy not laborers and blue collar workers.
We need better teachers.
Republicans- This is wasteful spending. Quality education is not a priority.
Money for Education Grants: Wasted spending. Only the rich should have the opportunity to go to school.
Money to extend unemployment insurance and food stamps: Let Americans that have no jobs starve and lose their homes. There is no place in the bill to help the homeless and unemployed.
Republicans want tax cuts only and their refusal to support the bill was strictly for political gain.
Americans are hurting and struggling to meet their basic needs. We don’t care about your political strategy to reclaim the majority. The only thing we care about is working together to rebuild this country and if you refuse to ride the train with us in our struggle in 2010 you will be riding the train alone.
