Pennsylvanians for Obama

Peace

Walt — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:48:15 EST

These are some of the words of the Dalai Lama when he accepted the 1989 Nobel peace prize. The Dalai Lama is the leader of the Tibetan people in exile and someone I admire very much.

"Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighbouring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. True peace with oneself and with the world around us can only be achieved through the development of mental peace. The other phenomena mentioned above are similarly interrelated. Thus, for example, we see that a clean environment, wealth or democracy mean little in the face of war, especially nuclear war, and that material development is not sufficient to ensure human happiness."

Lieberman

Gaylord from Philadelphia, PA — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:10:00 EST

Here's my question: if we're going to let Lieberman push us around on healthcare and, essentially, eradicate any REAL healthcare reform, what about the other issues we need to tackle like financial reform, or immigration reform? We need his vote on those, too. Do we just let him crap out those initiatives, too, just to get 60 votes?

Yes

Walt — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:29:37 EST

Yes I can
Yes I will
Yes you can
Yes you will
Yes we can
Yes we will
Yes I, you, we will prevail.

Rethink reform

Walt — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:28:40 EST

There is a disgusting full page ad on page 17A of today's USA Today. It shows the bare bottom of a male patient in a hospital gown. It is a view I sometimes see at work but we are trained to preserve a patient's modesty by securing the ties of the gown. Small print at the bottom of the ad says ,"paid for by the Employment Policies Institute." I went to their web site and to the Rethink Reform site at www.rethinkreform.com. There is no information there about where they are getting their money. That information would be very helpful and I think that it should be required in all advocacy ads in the future. I will make that a priority in the future. We don't need a list of all donors, but we do need to know where the big donations are coming from.

Senators to get in touch with....Thanks Donna

VA . Greatgran 'Grab A Mop' for President Obama — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:41:48 EST

Well done, Donna! Calls, Letters, Emails and Faxes are Needed to request a vote for HCR with a strong P.O.
By Donna No Shock Barack No Drama Obama of MD Yesterday at 10:26 am EST (Updated Yesterday at 10:26 am EST) Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
355 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-4843
Fax 202-228-1371
Email:Link

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Washington, D.C.
720 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-6551
Fax: 202-228-0012
Email: Link

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Washington, DC
328 Hart Senate Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-5824
Fax: 202-224-9735
Email: Link

Sen. Joe Lieberman (CT)
Washington
706 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-4041
Fax: 202-224-9750
Email:Link

Ends/means

Walt — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:44:22 EST

Do the ends justify the means? That is a question all of us have been asked in school. Usually the discussion is about hypothetical's and when we are young, the alternatives don't mean a lot. However, now the discussion is about to get very real and each of us will be asked to decide if the ends have justified the means. Let's assume that everyone in the Bush administration had the best interests of the US at heart when they tried to protect the country from future attacks. We soon will be asked if the means they used were justified by the ends they sought. It is going to be a very difficult time making those judgments.

Enhanced interrogation

Walt — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:56:54 EST

George W. has said, "We do not torture" so often that I think that he actually believes that lie. At some point, not yet, the American people are going to demand the truth. By then Dick Cheney will probably be too old or ill to be prosecuted and Barack will probably pardon George W. Those who facilitated torture and the many who carried it out will face prosecution.

A new day

Walt — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:21:04 EST

A new day dawned
Exactly one year ago tomorrow.
His critics see a glass half empty
Barack sees a good beginning.
The road ahead is hard and long
The BushMess will not yield
In a day or month or year.
Those of us with Barack
Should stop from time to time
For a bit of fun and to survey the path
How far to go and how far we have come.
The Right may raise their voices
But that is all they raise
Everything else they lower
Hopes, expectations and results.
The BushMess is their doing
As much as it was George W.'s.
BushMess, BushMess go away
Don't return another day.
Wishing will not prevent a repeat.
Only hard work and constant vigilance
Will preserve our freedoms and our democracy.

SPOOOOKY Healthcare Trick or Treat Sign!

Karen from Kutztown, PA — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:07:37 EDT

"Don't be scared by Washington tricks Support the Public Option" Get this great Trick or Treating sign, courtesy of Manan Trivedi, candidate for the PA 6th District's Congressional seat in 2010, aka Gerlach's seat.

Just follow this link to down load a pdf of the sign: http://www.trivediforcongress.com/window_sign1.pdf

So Many Died on 9-11 So Many Are Waiting To Die!

MaryPickford — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:29:15 EDT

Life is always full of surprises. Two months ago I was informed my husband has Stage 4 Cancer. His life expectancy is between one and six months. My husband worked delivering newspapers at the Ground Zero Area before and after the disaster. Three years ago he had skin cancer removed from his face. Due to No Insurance this went undiagnosed for a long time. The skin cancer appeared almost as soon as he become disabled and stopped working in 2003. My Husband began his career delivering newspapers to the offices in the World Trade Center in 1973, he is also a Veteran.

I have been married to him half of my life. We have raised our three children together. I am so angry over his impending death. I feel so ashamed at myself for believing our Government that the Ground Zero Area was safe for workers to return. I am furious over the lack of Special Services available to former area workers for Ground Zero. He told me the dust was so thick it effected his vision and slowed down. I washed his clothes everyday to get rid of the smell. I encouraged him to return to work and forge a living for us. Now I am helping him to prepare to die. Here is a letter I have emailed to Senator Bob Casey. Whether or not I receive any help is a mystery.

Carolyn Waugh-Tandy

8552 Bumble Bee Way

Tobyhanna, PA 18466

October 23, 2009

Dear Senator Casey:

Three years ago my husband had skin cancer removed from his face. My husband was a worker from the Ground Zero area in New York City. He had always delivered the New York Daily News to the Twin Towers and continued to service the area after the disaster. My husband became disabled in 2003 and stopped working. He was collecting a Veterans Pension for a couple of years before Social Security declared him disabled and awarded him full Social Security Disability Payments. I had contacted you when this Pension was terminated because the Veterans Administration wanted reimbursement of six months of benefits- We paid the $6700 from money awarded through Social Security. My husband was stationed in Germany during 1970-1972 and has an honorable discharge. He is from a family of Veterans: 2 brothers & a Father who served in WWII.

Currently my husband is in Stage 4 preparing to die from cancer. There is no Chemo that will help him. There is no cure since he was diagnosed with this in August 2009. His body is riddled with tumors including giant tumors in his lungs. I still do not know how I will pay his medical bills and afford to give him the Funeral he wants. I am asking for help from your office- 4 yrs ago I attempted to sign up for the Medical watch group in New York for 9-11 workers. I missed the sign up date by one day.

It seems so unfair we were told the air was safe & the workers should return. The dust was so thick my husband couldn’t see thus slowing his delivers. His clothes reeked of foul odor - I washed them every day! I sent off to work - I encouraged him to move forward and provide a living for us. I now must have the courage of my decisions and ask for financial help during this most difficult time.

My husband is Thomas Tandy

Thank You-

Respectfully;

Carolyn Waugh-Tandy

Vote Nov 3 for the Democratic Statewide Judicial Candidates

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:16:42 EDT

We need your help on Election Day to keep PA Blue!

Download the PA Democratic Statewide Judicial Candidates Voter Guide at this link:

http://www.padems.com/Officials/Candidates/PA_Dems.pdf

Murphy’s Law: If NEGOTIATIONS are working, then don’t change a good thing

ARK — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:38:54 EDT

Since dialogue and negotiations are working with Iran, then why all those threats of sanctions? Some politicians are trying to look hawkish and tough on Iran and are saying: “If there were no threats of further sanctions, then Iranians would not be willing to compromise?!” To those types of exaggerated comments I would like to reply; that type of attitude is furthest from the truth. If threats could work against Iran, then 8 years of threats and a few sanctions would have worked on Iranians during the previous administration.

However, the only thing that has worked with Iranians is the positive attitude of President Obama as well as his Excellency’s mostly objective and visionary approach to international affairs. So if such a positive approach and vision for CHANGE works, then why ruin a good thing with threats? Just to look tough?! Please DO believe it, friendly is much more effective than tough with Iranians. I would like to reemphasize this previously made point; if tough talk and threats could work, then they would have worked in the past. President Abraham Lincoln: “Believing everybody is dangerous, but believing nobody is more dangerous”

Ship College Democrats Health Care Rally!!!

Joshua Neyhart — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:05:54 EDT

So last night I set out organizing a meeting of local community democrats to sit down and talk about local issues, national issues, the upcoming elections, and how we want to try to organize. So far the response has been minimal. That's ok though! I'm not giving up yet, I promise this much. I am the currently the communications director for the Shippensburg University chapter of College Democrats. This morning I spoke with the president of the group and he let me know we're planning on having a health care rally next week! Very exciting stuff. We'll be meeting this weekend to workout the details and paint some banners. We're going to search for some information to print and make plenty of copies to hand out. I plan to tell the students to e-mail and write their senators and representatives to say we want healthcare reform now! Should be an exciting event.

-Joshua

Organizing in Shippensburg

Joshua Neyhart — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:26:51 EDT

I decided to day to see what I could do. I want the people of Shippensburg and the surrounding area to meet and see what they can do to once again influence change. This is a very conservative area, but I know that there are plenty of democrats and progressives around here. I set up and event for next Sunday, so we'll see what happens! I am very excited. I would like to sit down and meet with locals who would like to see change and see what we as a group could do. It might start and be very very simple. But we could grow into something big. We'll see what happens. I'll keep everyone updated. So if you think you can make it, PLEASE come out! It'll be fun and we can take step one to making changes in the community.

A Certain International News Network based in US and with Large AD revenues from a Certain Arab country is returning the favor to that Arab country by Spreading anti Iranian propaganda

ARK — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:02:39 EDT

US national interests go far beyond some network news propaganda games. If the US wanted to promote ties based on human rights, then it would NOT have a single Arab 30% ally in the Persian Gulf region... AND since a country can NOT play by double standards, then the US can not hold Iran to highest standards of human rights and ignore unlimited human rights atrocities and lack of democracy in some other Persian Gulf countries, also known as (A.K.A.) 30% allies.

On the other hand I would strongly recommend that a Certain International News Network would separate its News Division from the Propaganda and Advertising Division. Such a well known international news network should not let an advertiser dictate news policy! Because once a news network sells it sole which is independence and objective journalism, then it is no longer called a news network but a… who sells to the highest bidder.

Nobel peace prize part 2

Walt — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:54:22 EDT

The Nobel committee gave Barack the prize in part to show that the world has a different perspective on his efforts than many of his critics here in the US do. Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa received his Nobel peace prize in 1984, ten years before the dismantling of apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela. Archbishop Tutu had not completed his work in 1984 and some think that he received the prize to ensure his safety from the white South African government. Giving Barack the prize now may be the international community's way of answering Barack's critics here in the US. They approve of what he is trying to do and want him to succeed. That is not true of many Republicans at this time.

8 months

Walt — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:09:27 EDT

January 20 to September 26, 2009. The Obama presidency is only 8 months and a few days old, but it seems like forever. The Bush administration is a rapidly fading bad dream. If Barack had a honeymoon, it was certainly a short one. All the Republicans can do is make noise and delay, and that they are doing at full volume. Barack continues to make good decisions and great speeches. Soon the 2010 electioneering season will be upon us and it will be another 12 months of the same old right wing noise. The time is going to drag, but we can make use of it to reduce their numbers in Congress. The Republicans are counting on history to increase their numbers in Congress. Let's give them a big surprise.

President Obama Meets the Peacekeepers

EsquireUK — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:45:06 EDT

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/09/24/President-Obama-Meets-the-Peacekeepers/

President Obama Meets the Peacekeepers

Posted by Samantha Power

President Obama convened an unprecedented meeting with the leaders of countries who contribute troops and police to peacekeeping operations around the world. On the rare occasions when UN blue helmets have made the news in the past, it has unfortunately too often been in the context of situations where peacekeepers have failed to shield civilians, or even when the peacekeepers themselves have been involved in abuse. But every day more than 113,000 peacekeepers around the world go unrecognized as they put their lives on the line to patrol tense front lines, assist the delivery of humanitarian aid, and protect civilians in harm’s way. In light of his administration's commitment to global burden sharing and to peace and security, President Obama felt that it was important to gather those who have put troops in the line of fire to express his appreciation for their sacrifice, and to solicit their views on how best to strengthen peacekeeping, a vital instrument for U.S. security and global stability.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/09/24/President-Obama-Meets-the-Peacekeepers/

Shortly after noon today President Obama sat down with Heads of State from Bangladesh, Rwanda, Italy, Pakistan, Ghana, Senegal, Nepal, Uruguay on the challenges faced by peacekeepers in the field. Observers to the gathering of Heads of State included Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, and Foreign ministers and/or UN permanent representative from other leading contributors, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Nigeria. [Prime Minister Singh of India, the second largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping, sent his sincere regrets, as he was unable to attend the 64th UN General Assembly.]

The meeting included lively interventions from each of the assembled heads of state. A few highlights: President Obama thanked President Kagame of Rwanda for the fine service of his forces in Darfur, and the Rwandan President expressed the hope that the United States and other UN member states would help reenergize political processes so that peacekeepers would in fact have "a peace to keep." President Zadari of Pakistan, the UN's leading troop contributor (with more than 10,000 soldiers active around the world) expressed tremendous pride in his country's forces and emphasized the salutary effect of UN missions of so many nationalities mingling in service of a common cause. Prime Minister Nepal of Nepal – a country active in peacekeeping for more than five decades -- stressed the peacekeepers' need for greater logistic support, and greater clarity in Security Council mandates. [He also said he had brought President Obama the gift of a large Gurkha knife, to symbolize Nepal’s commitment to peace – a knife that the U.S. secret service could not allow him to deliver!] And President Vasquez of Uruguay declared peacekeeping a bargain investments, as its benefits to all countries dramatically outweigh its financial costs. He also said that President Obama’s attention to the issue "had not gone unnoticed" around the world.

President Obama, who listened and took notes during much of the meeting, concluded by summarizing what he took to be the key message from the troop contributing countries represented: UN member states needed to work together to: ensure that the resources provided to peacekeepers are sufficient to enable them to carry out the mandates given to them; improve and expand the training, equipping, and transporting of peacekeepers; invest in prevention and conflict resolution so that peacekeeping is not simply what he called a "band-aid for where there is insufficient diplomatic attention;" support, listen to, and, above all, protect local populations. The President pledged to those gathered that his administration "would follow up on a bilateral as well as a multilateral basis so that you receive the support, respect, and thanks that you deserve."

Samantha Power is the Senior Director for Mulilateral Affairs.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/09/24/President-Obama-Meets-the-Peacekeepers/

Republican Metcalfe: Domestic violence a family value?

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:32:12 EDT

A simple resolution to recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was halted by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Republican representing Butler. Why? Because, he said, “It has a homosexual agenda.”

On the same day, also on the House floor, he made matters worse. The House was about to vote on increasing marriage license fees from $3 to $28, with the increased amount going to a fund for victims of domestic abuse. Metcalfe opposed the measure, calling the funding a domestic violence programs “a slap in the face to family values.”2 The bill passed despite his outrageous claim.

Until America Wakes Up!

Peter and Linda — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:17:03 EDT

While reflecting on the tragic events of September 11, 2001, I couldn't help but miss the "We're All Americans" spirit. There's a noticeable void, where once was a sense of unity and pride. Hence, I have made a a cognizant decision to rethink my support for various organizations, causes and charities.

I have sent notice, to many charities, of my decision to discontinue any further support. If people elect to act like "animals", then that's exactly how I'll view and treat them. After some forty years of monthly support for such organizations as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the American Red Cross, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and various local churches and charities, (just to mention a few that I've been extremely loyal to) each has been notified of my decision and all automatic monthly contributions have been discontinued immediately.

When we can once again come together as "Americans", as a respectful society, then and only then will I reconsider my position.

Regretfully,

Peter

President Obama's Remarks On Healthcare

EsquireUK — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:29:11 EDT

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/The-Presidents-Remarks-and-a-Letter-from-Ted/

"I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. It will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year."

– President Barack Obama, February 24, 2009

President Obama spoke to a special joint session of Congress and the American people to outline his plan for health insurance reform. The core of his plan: provide more security and stability for people who have insurance, provide quality, affordable care to those who don’t, and rein in skyrocketing costs that are crushing American families, businesses and the government itself.

If You Have Health Insurance More Stability and Security
Ends discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions.
Limits premium discrimination based on gender and age.
Prevents insurance companies from dropping coverage when people are sick and need it most.
Caps out-of-pocket expenses so people don’t go broke when they get sick.
Eliminates extra charges for preventive care like mammograms, flu shots and diabetes tests to improve health and save money.
Protects Medicare for seniors.
Eliminates the "donut-hole" gap in coverage for prescription drugs.
If You Don't Have Insurance Quality, Affordable Choices for All Americans
Creates a new insurance marketplace – the Exchange – that allows people without insurance and small businesses to compare plans and buy insurance at competitive prices.
Provides new tax credits to help people buy insurance.
Provides small businesses tax credits and affordable options for covering employees.
Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice.
Immediately offers new, low-cost coverage through a national "high risk" pool to protect people with preexisting conditions from financial ruin until the new Exchange is created.
For All Americans Reins In the Cost of Health Care for Our Families, Our Businesses, and Our Government
Won’t add a dime to the deficit and is paid for upfront.
Requires additional cuts if savings are not realized.
Implements a number of delivery system reforms that begin to rein in health care costs and align incentives for hospitals, physicians, and others to improve quality.
Creates an independent commission of doctors and medical experts to identify waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system.
Orders immediate medical malpractice reform projects that could help doctors focus on putting their patients first, not on practicing defensive medicine.
Requires large employers to cover their employees and individuals who can afford it to buy insurance so everyone shares in the responsibility of reform.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/The-Presidents-Remarks-and-a-Letter-from-Ted/

Welcome to the Future

Walt — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:13:01 EDT

I was eating breakfast at work Sunday before beginning my shift at 7:00 am when a music video by Brad Paisley captured my attention. It featured smiling and attractive children of many races with captions stating their choices for future occupations. The optimism of this video is so uplifting and encouraging that it contrasts greatly with the dissension and anger that so much of TV news presents today.

Efficiency

Walt — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:58:45 EDT

What price efficiency? How much is efficiency in financial markets worth? How much is it worth to you or to me? The hedge fund owner/manager who clears $billion in a single year, $500,000 per hour, thinks he/she is worth the price. If we put the job out for bids, I am sure that someone would volunteer to do it for $500,000 per day and then someone else would offer to do it for $500,000 per week and then another for $500,000 per month and finally $500,000 per year. I don't care if the financial markets are super efficient or not. I might be willing to pay $500,000 per year or I might not.

The standard argument heard from Wall Street is that huge salaries and bonuses are necessary to keep the talented from joining competitive firms. So what? If the talented were not profitable to an individual firm, it would not matter who they worked for.

Then there is the other false argument thrown out by those who support the present tax structure, that the US has a high rate of taxation. That may be true on paper but it does not reflect the real world of tax loopholes and tax havens. If the hedge fund owner/manager really believes this, let him/her take his firm elsewhere and start paying taxes in a foreign country with a lower tax rate that lacks the tax loopholes that exist here in the US.

The numbers describing the US economy are huge, in the $trillions, but that is not an infinite number. If some pay themselves and friends in the $billions, that leaves less to be divided among the rest of us. How much is enough and how much is too much? We can read about how much is more than enough when we read about Wall Street's greed.

Eighth Anniversary Of 9/11 Attacks

EsquireUK — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:05:24 EDT

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/09/11/A_Legacy_That_Still_Shines_Brightly/

Today marks the eight anniversary of the tragedies of September 11. In a proclamation recognizing the anniversary, the President honored those who lost their lives on that day:

Through the twisted steel of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the scarred walls of the Pentagon, and the smoky wreckage in a field in southwest Pennsylvania, the patriotism and resiliency of the American people shone brightly on September 11, 2001. We stood as one people, united in our common humility and shared sorrow. We grieved for those who perished and remembered what brought us together as Americans.

Today, we honor the lives we lost eight years ago. On a bright September day, innocent men, women, and children boarded planes and set off for work as they had so many times before. Unthinkable acts of terrorism brought tragedy, destruction, pain, and loss for people across our Nation and the world.

As we pay tribute to loved ones, friends, fellow citizen, and all who died, we reaffirm our commitment to the ideas and ideals that united Americans in the aftermath of the attacks. We must apprehend all those who perpetrated these heinous crimes, seek justice for those who were killed, and defend against all threats to our national security. We must also recommit ourselves to our founding principles. September 11 reminds us that our fate as individuals is tied to that of our Nation. Our democracy is strengthened when we uphold the freedoms upon which or Nation was build: equality, justice, liberty, and democracy. These values exemplify the patriotism and sacrifice we commemorate today.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/09/11/A_Legacy_That_Still_Shines_Brightly/

Service and Remembrance

Posted by Dr. Jill Biden

I wanted to share some news with you that the First Lady and I are pleased to announce on this National Day of Service and Remembrance.As some of you may know, Michelle and I have been working together to find ways that we can support our military families. We have been meeting with Generals and their spouses, visiting bases, meeting with community and service groups to learn about what they are doing, what is working and how Americans can help. As the mother of a National Guardsman who is serving in Iraq, this is personal for me. I share the concerns, the anxieties, and the pride that come with being a member of a military family.When our troops are deployed, their families are left behind with a completely different set of duties, and I have seen first-hand what a difference it makes when people reach out to show support, whether in school, in the neighborhood, or in the workplace. That’s why Michelle and I are both happy to announce today that we have recorded a public service announcement which will hopefully encourage as many people as possible to join us in taking time to honor those who sacrifice for our nation. We each have the power to make a difference in the lives of service members and their families. Please join us in this effort with your own act of service.

-Jill

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Service-and-Remembrance/

Letter from Senator Ted Kennedy to President Obama

Jill 4 Obama — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:50:16 EDT

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _______________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 9, 2009

Below is the text of the letter from Senator Edward M. Kennedy referenced by the President in tonight's address to a Joint Session of Congress.

May 12, 2009

Dear Mr. President,

I wanted to write a few final words to you to express my gratitude for your repeated personal kindnesses to me - and one last time, to salute your leadership in giving our country back its future and its truth. On a personal level, you and Michelle reached out to Vicki, to our family and me in so many different ways. You helped to make these difficult months a happy time in my life. You also made it a time of hope for me and for our country.

When I thought of all the years, all the battles, and all the memories of my long public life, I felt confident in these closing days that while I will not be there when it happens, you will be the President who at long last signs into law the health care reform that is the great unfinished business of our society.

For me, this cause stretched across decades; it has been disappointed, but never finally defeated. It was the cause of my life. And in the past year, the prospect of victory sustained me-and the work of achieving it summoned my energy and determination. There will be struggles - there always have been - and they are already underway again.

But as we moved forward in these months, I learned that you will not yield to calls to retreat - that you will stay with the cause until it is won. I saw your conviction that the time is now and witnessed your unwavering commitment and understanding that health care is a decisive issue for our future prosperity. But you have also reminded all of us that it concerns more than material things; that what we face is above all a moral issue; that at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.

And so because of your vision and resolve, I came to believe that soon, very soon, affordable health coverage will be available to all, in an America where the state of a family's health will never again depend on the amount of a family's wealth. And while I will not see the victory, I was able to look forward and know that we will - yes, we will - fulfill the promise of health care in America as a right and not a privilege.

In closing, let me say again how proud I was to be part of your campaign- and proud as well to play a part in the early months of a new era of high purpose and achievement. I entered public life with a young President who inspired a generation and the world. It gives me great hope that as I leave, another young President inspires another generation and once more on America's behalf inspires the entire world.

So, I wrote this to thank you one last time as a friend- and to stand with you one last time for change and the America we can become. At the Denver Convention where you were nominated, I said the dream lives on. And I finished this letter with unshakable faith that the dream will be fulfilled for this generation, and preserved and enlarged for generations to come.

With deep respect and abiding affection,

Ted

KEEP THE PUBLIC OPTION!

eric HUSSEIN graff — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:56:23 EDT

Call backsliding Dem & Republican leaners & POLITELY asking for their support the PULIC OPTION which is one of the FEW ways we'll be able to control costs as reform moves forward examples include Sen Arlin Specter D-PA 202-224-4254, Max Baucus D-MT 202-224-2651, Susan M Collins R-ME 202-224-2623, Olympia J Snowe R-ME OR YOUR SENATOR

Thank you Mr. President

Miz Clark — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:49:56 EDT

Many of us secrectly wondered, “If we help you will you forget?”

We wondered what we were getting into because you came out of no where like a shooting star. We were inspired by your willingness to admit you didn’t have all the answers and that you may make mistakes. Some of us have forgotten you said you would work hard to correct them as they came to light. Many have also forgotten you are not a dictator and there are several people with whom you consult, who have a say in the decisions you make and that you just can’t go off on some tangent “all willy-nilly.”

No Mr President, you have to be careful with every step you take and every word you say. You have the weight of the world on your shoulders, and still had time to be a father to this nation.

Sasha and Malia are the luckiest girls in the world, because with everything already on his plate their Daddy took time out of his day to give words of encouragement to millions of kids who may not have had anyone to do that for them. I live in one of the districts where it was decided your message wasn’t important enough to interrupt the school day. Some were given an excused absence so they could be taken out of school and view it off campus, but you had to give them prior notice and I was concerned as to what they would miss.

The President's Address to America's Schoolchildren

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:04:33 EDT

THE BRIEFING ROOM

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release September 8, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN A NATIONAL ADDRESS TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLCHILDREN

Wakefield High School
Arlington, Virginia

12:06 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. All right, everybody go ahead and have a seat. How is everybody doing today? (Applause.) How about Tim Spicer? (Applause.) I am here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we've got students tuning in from all across America, from kindergarten through 12th grade. And I am just so glad that all could join us today. And I want to thank Wakefield for being such an outstanding host. Give yourselves a big round of applause. (Applause.)

I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now -- (applause) -- with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could've stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning.

I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived overseas. I lived in Indonesia for a few years. And my mother, she didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with an American education. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday. But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning.

Now, as you might imagine, I wasn't too happy about getting up that early. And a lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and she'd say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster." (Laughter.)

So I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.

Now, I've given a lot of speeches about education. And I've talked about responsibility a lot.

I've talked about teachers' responsibility for inspiring students and pushing you to learn.

I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and you get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox.

I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, and supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working, where students aren't getting the opportunities that they deserve.

But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world -- and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed. That's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education.

I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.

Maybe you could be a great writer -- maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper -- but you might not know it until you write that English paper -- that English class paper that's assigned to you. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor -- maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine -- but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice -- but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.

And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.

And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. The future of America depends on you. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.

You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.

We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that -- if you quit on school -- you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.

Now, I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.

I get it. I know what it's like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mom who had to work and who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us the things that other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and I felt like I didn't fit in.

So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been on school, and I did some things I'm not proud of, and I got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.

But I was -- I was lucky. I got a lot of second chances, and I had the opportunity to go to college and law school and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, she has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have a lot of money. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.

Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.

But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life -- what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home -- none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying.

Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.

That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.

Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school. Neither of her parents had gone to college. But she worked hard, earned good grades, and got a scholarship to Brown University -- is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to becoming Dr. Jazmin Perez.

I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three. He's had to endure all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer -- hundreds of extra hours -- to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind. He's headed to college this fall.

And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods in the city, she managed to get a job at a local health care center, start a program to keep young people out of gangs, and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.

And Jazmin, Andoni, and Shantell aren't any different from any of you. They face challenges in their lives just like you do. In some cases they've got it a lot worse off than many of you. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their lives, for their education, and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.

That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education -- and do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time each day reading a book. Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all young people deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, by the way, I hope all of you are washing your hands a lot, and that you stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.

But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.

I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star. Chances are you're not going to be any of those things.

The truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject that you study. You won't click with every teacher that you have. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.

That's okay. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures. J.K. Rowling's -- who wrote Harry Potter -- her first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that's why I succeed."

These people succeeded because they understood that you can't let your failures define you -- you have to let your failures teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time. So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to act right. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.

No one's born being good at all things. You become good at things through hard work. You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. The same principle applies to your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right. You might have to read something a few times before you understand it. You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new. So find an adult that you trust -- a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor -- and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.

And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.

The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.

It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and they founded this nation. Young people. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google and Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.

So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country?

Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn. But you've got to do your part, too. So I expect all of you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down. Don't let your family down or your country down. Most of all, don't let yourself down. Make us all proud.

Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. Thank you. (Applause.)

END
12:22 P.M. EDT

Support the Public Option Sign the Petition

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:08:27 EDT

Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Friday night, Keith Olbermann led his show talking about the PCCC's latest campaign:

"More than 200 former Obama staffers, 13,000 Obama volunteers, 23,000 Obama donors on a petition: A bill without a public option would not be 'change we can believe in.'"

And those numbers are increasing! All weekend, former Obama organizers are putting their skills to use -- calling and emailing other Obama organizers to get them involved in this campaign.

Will you add your voice to theirs -- and join the thousands of Obama voters, donors, and organizers who still believe we can defeat the insurance interests and bring real change to the health care system?

Please sign the petition at this link:

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5649/t/4951/content.jsp?content_KEY=2802&tag=pod_e2-non

Then, please forward this to friends. Time is of the essence. This Wednesday, President Obama will speak to Congress about his health care priorities.

We're making a national ad that will highlight the voices of former Obama staffers who want the public option -- and it will include the number of petition signers. So let's get the number as high as possible.

We need to make sure President Obama (and any White House staff urging him to capitulate) knows that the overwhelming majority of Americans want a public option -- and that includes those who worked hardest to get him elected. Can you add your name to the petition?

Thanks for being a bold progressive. -- Adam Green, Stephanie Taylor, Michael Snook, Evan Miller, Andrew Perez, and the PCCC team

http://boldprogressives.org/

Greatly disturbed and offended in Nutley, NJ

Peter and Linda — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:11:51 EDT

September 4, 2009

I am greatly disturbed and offended by the decision of the superintendent of schools in Nutley, New Jersey to preview a Presidential speech in an attempt to find “relevance”.

An address directed toward school children about education is unquestionably relevant. The address will not have anything to do with any academic curricula. The speech is to be a commentary on the importance of education. I am certain that President Obama will not attempt to brainwash or indoctrinate our children regarding health care reform or economic proposals.

The importance of staying in school, earning a diploma and/or a higher degree, learning a trade and being a responsible citizen, and similar concepts have been integral to President Obama’s position on education. While most children learn political20ideas from their parents, are these not values that all children should learn regardless of political orientation? Even if one does not agree with the President’s political ideas, it is nonetheless, beneficial for our children to hear differing opinions and ideas and discuss them. By not encouraging our children to listen to the Presidential address we are promoting censorship. We cannot pretend that his ideas and commentaries are irrelevant just because they may not coincide with our personal political agendas.

In my opinion, it is an egregious disregard for the President’s well intentioned attempt to inspire our children, and in essence, the future of our nation.

Sincerely,

Alicia Realmuto
Nutley, NJ

NJmortican@gmail.com

Peace in the Middle East

Walt — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:49:10 EDT

In the near future, the Obama administration is going to produce substantial progress in settling the decades-old conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestinian Arabs. If you want to increase your background knowledge at this time about the founding of Israel, I suggest two novels by Leon Uris, an American Jew who passed away in 2003. The books are The Haj and Exodus. Exodus is the better known book which was made into a movie starring Paul Newman in 1960.

Both books are novels that read like history that reads like life. Neither is dry or dusty. I suggest reading The Haj first which describes the events leading to the founding of Israel before WW2 mostly through Palestinian Arab eyes, while Exodus is mostly post WW2 through Jewish eyes. I like to read several books on a subject at the same time to meld varying viewpoints. In this case, it is better to read the books in chronological sequence, although Exodus is the better book and written first.

Uris is very pessimistic about the chances for peace with the Palestinians. Of course, his is only one view and it is the opinion of a Jewish writer. It would be interesting to get the viewpoints of Palestinian Muslim Arabs. In any case, the Obama administration is poised to facilitate negotiations between the two sides.

MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ARE EXPRESSED TO ...

ARK — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:30:43 EDT

MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ARE EXPRESSED TO PRESIDENT OBAMA & THE FIRST LADY for the death of their dear friend and supporter, SENATOR TED KENNEDY. My DEEPEST CONDOLENCES and PRAYERS also go out to Senator Kennedy’s wonderful wife, LADY VICKI KENNEDY, his honorable children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family.'

Health Care Events

Katherine — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:42:40 EDT

I'm about to have my sixth health care event on Saturday. It's been a long hard trip, but well worth it! People really want to talk about their ideas about health care, and I'm happy to be a sounding board for them, guiding them to Obama's 3 principles or even single payer. This Saturday we're going to stand on a corner and get people to sign on to the 3 principles, hand out information including information about contacting congressmen, and just TALK to people. I've gone canvassing twice. Everyone wants to talk about health care and I'm ready to be there for them to do it. Once we stop they have all had deep and meaningful thoughts about health care: they'll never think about it the same way again. And it's all the thoughts they had in their heads all along!

Go canvassing, people. Sponsor house meetings. We had two where we watched health care movies such as "Sicko." Call people on the phone! Yeah, we won in November, but the real work is going on now!!!

Health Care Reform & Info. in Layman's terms

Jerry from Hurleyville, NY — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:37:08 EDT

Hello everyone.

Sure. It's been a while since my last post, but, fret not, I've been quite busy for our cause. Recently, I've been ingesting and decifering the lastest revised bill to come out of the House. From what I can tell, there's is much to be explained for the layman. In my opinion, that's about 73% of our country's population.

Besides death panels and other outrageous drummed up issues, the opposition, which consists largely of simply uniformed individuals, has no foundation to stand on. Even in the bible, we learn the lesson of the house built on the sand. Because there is no basic principal foundation for the opposition, they will fall in the end.

A strong wind ( liberal uprisig - A.K.A. knowledge ralley) will began to tilt the house that health care reform ignorance was built on. Once this tilting occurs, most of the uninformed will stand with us. i know this because no one wants to be on a losing team. To drive that point home further, would you stand inside a collapsing building?

Therefore, though our work ahead will be strenous, we ought not wait to began bringing down the house that ignorance built. We have a way of bring understaning and confromity to our opponents when we show our teeth and extend our hands ( with the proper test answers scribbled on them). So get out there and turn water into wine. Trust me..., they'll love that.

March for Health Care!

Jill 4 Obama — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:59:59 EDT

March For Healthcare - Global

Organize a march on September 13th across the USA.

Every city in the country needs you to come out on that day and March For Healthcare.

If there are a million of you out there then we can make our voices heard.

Let's March!!!

Contact Info Email:

Website: http://www.marchforhealthcare.com

Town Hall Meeting at UPJ

Rev. Sam Scales Community Worker — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:20:04 EDT

I have found out from a few sources I have, that a Town Hall Meeting will be held in our area. Since the time of the elections, most of us have went off into other directions and I went in the direction of knee-surgery (What a direction right?) Anyway, all of us I'm sure have been paying attention to the debate on healthcare, town hall meetings and the disruption of those meetings, by special interest groups who want to kill the healthcare package.The voice against any form of healthcare has tried to almost drown out, the voices of those who both care about this issue and need this the most. I am a disabled veteren like some of you so I'll always be covered with healthcare any place I go in United States or on any US military base on this planet.My friends, my loved ones and some of you, do not have that luxery of choice and I find that totally unfair and unsatisfactory. If you've been listening to the Democratic party to include the White House, it seems the most important part of the healthcare package, which is the creation of a Government competative agency, to drive down the cost of healthcare with a healthcare agency that mimics the sucess of medicare, Social Security and the Veteran Administration is slowly being taken off the table.We have to let our elected officials know in one loud voice, that we as REAL Americans want a bill, that will cover all Americans and those who can't afford what's currently out there. Please pass this on to everyone you know and if you live in the Johnstown, cambria county area (if you can) please try to come out and show your support. We don't have to yell or scream or make nutty comments or resort to "scare" tactics. All we have to do is show up, and let Senator Casey and those who came to disrupt see, that in our area we want to learn more about the bill, we want to hear the facts and we want to voice any of our concerns.Please come out.Rev. Sam Casey Town Hall at UPJ

When: Thursday, August 20 at 2:00 pm

Where: The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
                 Living and Learning Center
                 Heritage Hall
                 Johnstown, Pennsylvania

***Media preset at 12:30 pm. Doors open to the public at 1:00 pm.
Seating is first come, first served.

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR CALLS

VA . Greatgran 'Grab A Mop' for President Obama — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:51:50 EDT

I obtain so much information from my sisters and brothers on OFA. I find it helpful when

calling my neighbors list. It is amazing that so many folks that voted for our President have

forgotten his words that "CHANGE" doesn't come easy and we must want it bad enough to work

with him to make it happen. I will continue to post daily on OFA,...however time making calls,

attending listening events and canvassing go hand in hand with our OFA BLOG. I,like so many

others here have learned how to post and make calls and email our Senators at the same time.

I hope calling a few neighbors daily will be added to that agenda.

VAgg

Human life

Walt — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:05:27 EDT

The media gives us bread, circuses and celebrity shenanigans as a daily diet. It is time to demand that they use some of that time and space for more important matters, such as human life here in the US. We can devote time to saving human life outside the US once we get our own house in order.

All media should present daily a small black-bordered box listing the causes of death and the cumulative totals for each cause from January 1 to date comparing this year with the preceding year. For causes of death, let me suggest the following: motor vehicles, cancer, stroke, abortion, guns, and war. If we quantify deaths and present the data to the voters, I think that we finally will get some much needed action to reduce those totals.

York PA, Health Care Reform Town Hall Meeting Update

George A Sanders — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:19:54 EDT

It got a little crazy in the beginning. We got there early with several other volunteers (8 of us) to collect health care declarations after attendees signed in. Once the first meeting got started a couple of us worked the line outside the building for health care declarations. The press was there and produced some good news for us:http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_13000951 http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-pm-healthcaremeeting,0,5882369.story

Yes, It's Time for Change!

Jill 4 Obama — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:17:45 EDT

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. speaks with Admin. Jackson and Sec. Donovan on the new green economy. Photo credit: Johnny Simon Green the Block Obama Administration officials and members of the Green the Block campaign discuss opportunities in the new green economy and announce their first major initiative.
Correspondence Video The President's position on health care insurance reform is informed by the ten letters he reads every day. Watch a behind-the-scenes video showing how these letters are chosen from the tens of thousands he receives daily.
White House Photo, Lawrence Jackson, 7/31/09 Weekly Address: The Economy & GDP 8-1-09 The President discusses the state of the economy amidst positive signs from the GDP. Recognizing that is little comfort to those struggling, he offers hope for the time ahead.

Health Insurance Consumer Protections Watch the President's remarks, or get the fact sheet on how 8 fundamental consumer protections in reform can bring you and your family peace of mind.

Correspondence Video The President's position on health care insurance reform is informed by the ten letters he reads every day. Watch a behind-the-scenes video showing how these letters are chosen from the tens of thousands he receives daily.

Let's go change the world...

It's time for Health Insurance Reform!

Statistics

Walt — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:34:32 EDT

Statistics are the last refuge of a scoundrel. In a recent survey of scoundrels, of those responding 83% stated that they had taken refuge in statistics within the past 30 days.

The Cast of 'HAIR' on 'Late Nite'

Bob Bethany — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:56:31 EDT

Excellent performance by the 'Broadway Cast' of 'HAIR'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n4bSTvsWvM

The Current Health Care Debate

George A Sanders — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:44:47 EDT

This document was put together by Jodi Griffin from Red Lion, PA. She was tired of the spin and misstatements about health care reform. She wanted to know in more detail what the President wanted to achieve; what were the accurate statements and what is spin?

It looks like Insurance Companies (like United Healthcare) and Republican Senators (and some Democratic Senators) think that if the debate takes too long the emerging bill will be defeated. They think it is a victory to push a vote until after the August recess. They think during the delay they can win by spreading fear.

I think that delay gives us time to share accurate information with friends and neighbors and call our senators. Who wins the debate is up to us. We can fight organized money with organized people. We can fight fear. Yes We can.

Declare your support: http://my.barackobama.com/reform

Stand with President Obama on Health Care

Peninnah — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:19:41 EDT

Stand with President Obama on Health Care

I know this is long, but it is very important. We can’t afford to be apathetic, and carefree this time. I am calling on you, ordinary citizens, Democrats and Republicans, Independents every citizen from the Appalachian Mountains to the Youth in the Hood to put aside your politics and support health care reform. The debate going on now should not be political; we are at war with the powerful lobbyists for the health and life of our families.

Everyone agrees that we need health care reform. It is the number one expenditure for most families other than their rent and mortgage. Millions of Americans have inadequate health care or no health care at all. Of these millions of uninsured and underinsured, I am certain that they are not all just Democrats. These uninsured and under insured, are Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. So why have we allowed this debate to be a political one. Republicans and Independents need health care too. It is ridiculous too to assume that the only people who are uninsured or under insured are Democrats. Get real people, health care reform is for all Americans not just for one political party. Let put politics aside and support our President’s effort to help all of US.

GOP Senator Jim DeMint told a special-interest attack group that if they're "able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him." And Republican Chairman Michael Steele backed up DeMint's statement 100%. At the same time, the Republican National Committee is running deceptive ads to scare Americans away from the reform we need.

Their plan is simple: oppose health care reform as a political ploy to weaken the President and defeat his entire agenda of change. The GOP is playing with our lives to stop Obama!!!! That’s what this debate has been about for them. Well, I am outraged, and you should be too.

President Obama said, "Think about that. This isn't about me. This isn't about politics. This is about a health care system that is breaking America's families, breaking America's businesses and breaking America's economy. And we can't afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care. Not this time, not now. There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake."

I am asking all citizens of every stripe to stand with the President, stand with US. Stand against special interests, lobbyist and opponents of health care reform in Washington who have made their priority clear: attack President Obama at any cost. President Obama is not just President of the Democrats, he is the President of All the citizens of the United States of America. America, please support YOUR President.

It’s obvious what the crooked politicians get out of it, however, this corruption is widespread, lobbyist have even gotten to the media. We can't let this kind of slash and burn politics succeed. We can fight back by collecting as many signatures as possible backing the President's principles for health care reform. A huge response will show Washington and the media that when Republicans try to "break" the President, Americans are ready to stand up for what's right.

The President has consistently argued that health care reform must: reduce costs, guarantee choice -- including the choice of a strong public insurance option -- and ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care. These principles are the key to keeping our country healthy -- and protecting our families, businesses, and economy from costs that are spiraling out of control. It's the change the American people voted for and so desperately need.

But special interests and Republican leaders are so concerned with scoring points and destroying Obama that they are willing to cut off their noses to spite their face. They seem to think health care reform is a political game. They are literally playing politics with our lives and livelihood, and it has to stop.

We know that they will not "break" President Obama or the movement that supports him. And if we work together, they will not stop congress from enacting the real health care reform that Americans need and demand.

They don’t care about US

Why is it that all the people speaking out against health care reform have health insurance for themselves and their families. Shouldn’t they be listening to US. What we want, what we need!

But this is more than just the GOP playing politics some how that perhaps could have been expected. But it is also about corruption and greed. I think that some of the Democrats, Republicans and Independents have succumbed to the millions of dollars being thrown around by Insurance, Pharma and Hospital lobbyist.

Some senators who oppose this are not listening to the constituents that put them in office. They are not listening to YOU. You put them in office, however, the insurance companies have deep pockets and they cannot resist the lure of all that money. They sold US out to the highest bidder. I believe that some senators are brought and paid for and some in the media too. Sadly, it is working they want to line their pockets instead of support health care reform.

Congressional Budget Office Director commented that the House and Senate health bills would not rein in health care costs. But what they were saying is that health care reform cannot happen unless we are more efficient in the delivery of health care and cut out the waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system.

Republicans pounced on the remarks to fan the flames and sow discord among the Democratic Senators. Those comments taken out of proportion has given the greedy just the excuse they needed. They are still working on the bill, and will find the cost savings.

Another thing the GOP and the Media have pounced on are the comments made by Max Bacus that The President is not helping. What he meant is that President Obama’s doesn’t want to tax health benefits and that does is making it harder to fund health care reform.

Well I have my own ideas about funding. I want to privatize NASA and let the private industry that benefits the most take it over. The technology that is advanced from the NASA experiments benefit private industry so they should pay for it. I would rather use those trillions of dollars saved to fund health care for American citizens. Space exploration is a luxury that we cannot afford. Take care of home first, take care of the problems on this planet before we waste money in outer space, this is ridiculous we need that money here on earth. All the GPS systems, satellites, etc that are built from the technological experiments that are conducted in space are sold back to the United States by private industry. We are paying twice for technology that we discovered, I really don’t get that.

The other funding method that I advocate is to reform Medicare so that we are not paying for Medicare benefits for multi-millionaires. At this time every person over 65 is eligible for Medicare whether they need Medicare or not. It is just automatically given out to anyone who turns 65. Medicare is not Social Security. Every one who worked all their lives is entitle to the commensurate amount of Social Security that they heard. But Medicare should only be for those who need it. If you are a millionaire, you don’t need Medicare, you know you can afford your own health insurance. Its there for the taking so people just take it without thinking. There should be an income cap on Medicare. I don’t want to tax the wealthy to pay health care reform. I just want those who can afford to pay for their own to do just that. That’s my idea and I am sure you can think of some other cost saving methods. We can do it, yes, we can.

Don’t be scared by all the crazy ads you see on TV sponsored by the powerful lobbies. There will be no rationing or exclusion of pre-existing conditions. It is time, for the richest Country in the World to provide health care for All it citizens now.

Cut and trim and find the money. Look at NASA and all the other programs that don’t have any intrinsic value to the people. Oh it nice to ooh and aah about the space program, but it is time for the government to get out of that business, it is really not value added to the people.

I heard some one in the media suggest recently that the reason some politicians won’t support health care reform is that the millions of people who are uninsured or under insured don’t vote. So it back to that old adage that if you don’t vote, you don’t count. They have already counted you out of this equation. You better have your say on this before its too late.

Politicians are only concerned about their voting constituents. Well voting or not, you represents all of the people in your districts. We must let our voices be heard. Tell your representatives loud and clear. WE WANT HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS NOW!

Wake up people we can’t expect some one else to do this, we must rise up and do this for ourselves. Go to http://www.democrats.org/declare and sign the declaration of support for health care reform. Go to www.whitehouse.gov and enter your zip code to find the contact information for your congressional and senate representatives and let them know you want health care for ALL.

Again, please declare your support today. Sign your name in support of the President's health care principles. Or if you've already signed, please forward this message to all your friends and neighbors.

Raise a Rukus today.

President Obama still needs us

George A Sanders — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:30:13 EDT

Have you heard the health care reform bill is coming together? It is by no means a done deal. President Obama needs us to lobby for his 3 principles of reform. We can not control every detail in the plan (and this wouldn't be much of a democracy if we could), but we can help keep it on the track the President laid out. The three principles:

1) REDUCE COSTS

2) GUARANTEE CHOICE (including a public plan option)

3) ENSURE AFFORABLE CARE FOR ALL

Many of us are not as intimately familiar with the legislative process as a lobbyist but the next couple weeks will be critical. To make our impact we need everyone's help. There are 1500 past volunteers in our area that we need to contact next week. Yes, it needs to be next week. Organizing For America wants each of them (and us) to contact all of their congressman to request that they support the health care bill and the reform principles. While lobbyists have made this kind of effort for years, a grassroots organization directed by the President's goals has not. Let's make history together again! We need to fill up our congressmans' voice mail with messages of support for the President's health care reform principles. If you want health care reform. Next week will be the chance to keep it on track and influence the legislation.

"There's going to be a major debate over the next three weeks, and don't be fooled by folks trying to scare you saying we can't change the health care system. We have no choice but to change the health care system because right now it's broken for too many Americans." - Barack Obama

When can you make time in your schedule to help?

A response: So far a disappointing show?

Johnathan Waters | Advocacy4change — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:26:40 EDT

Many of us are looking for a Tylenol solution to a problem that requires delicate precise surgery involving an open minded scalpel, sound calculated experimentation, perseverance and progressive rehab til our Nation's wellness begins to take root. The Obama administration is trying to proceed with confidence without hasty decision making. Consequently, this will prove to allow sound results for Americans now and in future, not just for tomorrow or the next day :)

However, it is going to take more than policy reform to make this work amongst all Americans; the reconstruction of the US must include spiritual reform as well. In this country as a whole, we are falling short in the fundamental mission of concerning ourselves with both the underlying best interest of others as well as ourselves. All of us will experience a recurring back set, if we rush to find the quickest solutions that only numb the core root of our Nation's problems. These problems, within our nation, existed well before the Obama Administration. We should welcome criticism, but lets us welcome justifiable criticism that advances common ground and thorough analysis that leads to lasting progress. Furthermore, criticism that is driven by a spirit that welcomes tough love and respect for human self worth and dignity; not a spirit that promotes further impulsive, stumble blocks and policy bottlenecks, selfish self interests, and negative pessimism.

In God We Trust,

Johnathan Waters

Who is a TRUE Friend? A TRUTHFUL Friend

ARK — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:30:07 EDT

The person who tells a friend what they like to hear! Or an honest world leader who gives an advice to the same friend about what is best for them in the long run? Certainly the later, because true friends tell their friends the facts even if those friends wouldn’t like it. When Presidents Obama emphasizes below facts, then he certainly has the best interest of Israel in mind…And that is a durable and comprehensive peace for Israel and its neighbors after 60 years of conflict, as well as economic prosperity and happiness for the region as a whole. Those who tell Israelis what some conservative Israelis like to hear are not true friends of Israel, just old fashioned politicians trying to please those people. , Those types of statements would harm the cause of peace and prosperity in the Middle East for the long run. When the US President makes a statement, then the rest of the US administration should follow his lead and DO NOT make contradictory foreign policy statements. Those types of statements send contradictory signals to present as well as potential friends and allies…

Fact 1: Any type of new settlement activity would very much harm the cause for peace and prosperity for the Israelis as well as in the Middle East as a whole.

Fact 2: Attacking Iran would very much create an unprecedented turmoil in the region and will delay indefinitely a comprehensive and durable peace in that part of the world. Henceforth such actions would be very much against the strategic interests of US and Israel…And those who say otherwise do NOT have the best strategic interests of these two countries in mind.

Listening Tour - York/Lancaster Update

George A Sanders — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:59:00 EDT

We had a great turnout at the listening tour meeting held at Park City Mall on Tuesday July 7th. David Driscoll-Knight answered questions about heathcare and the new OFA staff in PA. He emphasized the uniqueness of OFA. It has not been attempted to re-staff campaign organizations so soon after an election to help promote the elected official's agenda. The organization will provide us with training, support, and goals to promote the President's agenda but also a way to share ideas with national OFA staff and the White House. State staff participate in weekly phone meetings with Mitch Stewart, OFA Director. National OFA staff communicate regularly with White House staff. Our feedback will help them stay in touch and improve this experiment.

We recorded all questions and comments and provided that information to David for the State OFA staff to review. Thanks to everyone that attended

I provided an opening statement that I felt remind us of the change we need (text in double quotes are from President Obama's books)...

Saudis and others are again trying to interfere in US policies and influence the strategic Interest of this Great Country

ARK — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:11:39 EDT

The VOA/Persian has a permanent political commentator, a London Based journalist called Mr. Norizadeh. This person also gets paid well to write articles for a Saudi financed Middle Eastern newspaper. That same newspaper is the one which wrote a few negative articles AND prevented positive efforts of Mr. McFarlane to bear fruits and improve US/Iran relations during the era of President Reagan…Imagine if this Saudi backed paper had not done that, due to improved US relations with Iran, this Great country’s strategic Interests could have been further improved. ..But they did it then and they are trying to do it again! When President OBAMA, this very positive World Leader, came to power those who had VERY MUCH supported other candidates during the 08 US presidential elections, got very nervous. Especially since this very positive President wanted dialogue with Iran, the Saudis thought their regional interest of divide-US/Iran-and-rule the Arabian Peninsula would be in jeopardy. So they did every thing to prevent all that positive effort made by this positive and dialogue oriented US president NOT to bear fruits, just as was the case in the 80s…Now Mr. Norizadeh is a guest at VOA/Persian every night and is trying to set guidelines for the Iranian opposition leaders?! Mr. Norizadeh’s last recommendations/instructions to Mr. Mousavi and his followers: “He should keep up the momentum of street demonstrations or the crowd would do it without him?!” A journalist on Saudi payroll TRYING TO give instructions to an experienced Iranian opposition leader through VOA/Persian, this is really incredible! However, Mr. Norizadeh and his supporters should know that all Iranian opposition leaders are quite experienced politicians and very wise. These leaders and their followers will NOT fall in to this amateurish divide-and-rule trap. The post election dispute in Iran is an internal matter and nobody should try to fish in muddy waters and certainly NOT YOU and your supporters, Mr. Norizadeh. To date I have not seen a piece of solid and documented evidence to suggest that the elections were rigged to the degree that it could change the outcome. BUT I have seen two (2) solid evidences to suggest Mr. Ahmadinejad had won outright: 1-A pre-election poll done by an independent US organization, 2- The election results and recounts in Iran. There are rumors, speculations, emotions and international media hype but not one piece of documented and solid evidence. And since most high ranking US politicians are lawyers, and then they should know better. These people should base their conclusions on documented evidence and NOT rumors, speculations, emotions AND Media hype as well as desperate foreign propaganda. President Obama has always mentioned he would not like to meddle in Iranian affairs. Yesterday the British Foreign Minster also stated: “others should not meddle in internal affairs of Iran”…So perhaps the US State department as well as Saudis and some other US politicians could follow suit. If there is any documented and solid evidence about vote rigging, then it should be shared with the world. If there is NONE as it seems to be case right now, then politicians should act like politicians and not fall in to divide-and-rule traps set by interested third parties who are NOT even citizens. One day I certainly would like to see at least one third of the present Iranian Democracy in Saudi Arabia, just 33%, but I think even that is wishful thinking.

The same divide-and-rule trap was tried in 08 during the Democratic Primaries. When President Obama got nominated, some so called American well wishers convinced Mrs. Clinton and her followers that the nomination was not fair and they should either not vote at all or vote for the Republican Party?! In other words some third parties wanted Mrs. Clinton and her followers to commit political suicide! Thanks to the wisdom and leadership of style of Mr. Obama as well as compromises made by both sides those plots and rumors were neutralized and then the present US Unity Government was created. God bless Presidents Lincoln and Obama as well as those who follow in their path and those who DO NOT make foreign policy statements of their own.

'Nina Simone' 1969 Harlem Music Festival

Bob Bethany — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:25:59 EDT

Ain't Got No...I've Got Life from the musical 'HAIR'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUcXI2BIUOQ ...Bob

Letter for Distribution to newspapers / Reworked on Gosals letter.

VA . Greatgran 'Grab A Mop' for President Obama — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:46:27 EDT

These days, one can't go many places without hearing about the need for Health Care Reform and Insurance Plan coverage with choice of a Public Option plan,as well.

Today was a day where groups of people all over the Unites States attended Events having to do with Health Care Reform. These events were all organized by volunteers. There was no compensation other than the fact that the events were successful. Since these events were successful then the argument that we don't need Health Care Reform becomes a false statement. Today was just more proof of how much we do need Health Care Reform, and it must include a Public Option.

There is something else that can be done to prove the need for Health Care Reform with a Public option. Many Doctors, Nurses and Health Care Workers,are supportive because they know it's needed and must happen now. The fact that forty seven million Americans,that includes working people are without insurance,threatens the very core of our Nation.To the concerned members of our prestigious Medical Profession,I submit this challange...

How about organizing your own "Health Care Day", in cities all around the United States and volunteering your time and your service. I'm not talking about a day where blood pressure is taken and weight is checked. I'm talking about a Health Care Day where Pap Tests and Mammograms for women without Health Care Coverage are given at no charge. A Health Care Day where prostate exams are given to men without Health Care Coverage at no charge.

A Health Care Day like this would bring out thousands of people, because they do not have health care coverage to afford these tests. That would prove once again, that there is an urgency and need for a Public Option to be included in Health Care Reform.

So, to all Health Care professionals, are you ready to show your support, and volunteer just as Middle Class Americans did all over the United States today? We, Middle Class Americans,are asking you to do, what we are doing on a regular basis,"A Day of Service".

Obama Addresses the AMA

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:31:14 EDT

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Why Reform, Why Now Posted by Jesse Lee

This afternoon the President gave a landmark, sweeping speech on health care reform to the American Medical Association in Chicago. More so than at any time before, he explained his vision for comprehensive reform that addresses every weak point in our health care system. It is a vision that implements best practices that have allowed some towns and companies to cut costs by as much as half compared to others. It is a vision that makes sure everybody has access to quality, affordable coverage, whether your family hits a rough patch or you have a pre-existing condition. It is a vision in which patients’ and doctors’ interests are aligned. And it is a vision where Americans’ choices of doctors and coverage are maintained, and they also have a choice of a public option that can help keep private insurers honest. It is a vision that focuses on prevention, making sure Americans stay healthy throughout their lives. It is well worth the while to read through the entire speech, but here are a few key excerpts, including some key points you may not have heard before:

On the costs of inaction: If we fail to act -- (applause) -- if we fail to act -- and you know this because you see it in your own individual practices -- if we fail to act, premiums will climb higher, benefits will erode further, the rolls of the uninsured will swell to include millions more Americans -- all of which will affect your practice.

If we fail to act, one out of every five dollars we earn will be spent on health care within a decade. And in 30 years, it will be about one out of every three -- a trend that will mean lost jobs, lower take-home pay, shuttered businesses, and a lower standard of living for all Americans. And if we fail to act, federal spending on Medicaid and Medicare will grow over the coming decades by an amount almost equal to the amount our government currently spends on our nation's defense. It will, in fact, eventually grow larger than what our government spends on anything else today. It's a scenario that will swamp our federal and state budgets, and impose a vicious choice of either unprecedented tax hikes, or overwhelming deficits, or drastic cuts in our federal and state budgets. So to say it as plainly as I can, health care is the single most important thing we can do for America's long-term fiscal health. That is a fact. That's a fact. (Applause.)

On incentives for doctors: There are two main reasons for this. The first is a system of incentives where the more tests and services are provided, the more money we pay. And a lot of people in this room know what I'm talking about. It's a model that rewards the quantity of care rather than the quality of care; that pushes you, the doctor, to see more and more patients even if you can't spend much time with each, and gives you every incentive to order that extra MRI or EKG, even if it's not necessary. It's a model that has taken the pursuit of medicine from a profession -- a calling -- to a business. That's not why you became doctors. That's not why you put in all those hours in the Anatomy Suite or the O.R. That's not what brings you back to a patient's bedside to check in, or makes you call a loved one of a patient to say it will be fine. You didn't enter this profession to be bean-counters and paper-pushers. You entered this profession to be healers. (Applause.) And that's what our health care system should let you be. That's what this health care system should let you be. (Applause.) Now, that starts with reforming the way we compensate our providers -- doctors and hospitals. We need to bundle payments so you aren't paid for every single treatment you offer a patient with a chronic condition like diabetes, but instead paid well for how you treat the overall disease. We need to create incentives for physicians to team up, because we know that when that happens, it results in a healthier patient. We need to give doctors bonuses for good health outcomes, so we're not promoting just more treatment, but better care.

On making sure doctors and patients have all the right information: A recent study, for example, found that only half of all cardiac guidelines are based on scientific evidence -- half. That means doctors may be doing a bypass operation when placing a stent is equally effective; or placing a stent when adjusting a patient's drug and medical management is equally effective -- all of which drives up costs without improving a patient's health. So one thing we need to do is to figure out what works, and encourage rapid implementation of what works into your practices. That's why we're making a major investment in research to identify the best treatments for a variety of ailments and conditions. (Applause.)

On America’s relationship with doctors: But my signature on a bill is not enough. I need your help, doctors, because to most Americans you are the health care system. The fact is Americans -- and I include myself and Michelle and our kids in this -- we just do what you tell us to do. (Laughter.) That's what we do. We listen to you, we trust you. And that's why I will listen to you and work with you to pursue reform that works for you. (Applause.) Together, if we take all these steps, I am convinced we can bring spending down, bring quality up; we can save hundreds of billions of dollars on health care costs while making our health care system work better for patients and doctors alike. And when we align the interests of patients and doctors, then we're going to be in a good place.

On the Health Insurance Exchange and a public option: Now, if you don't like your health care coverage or you don't have any insurance at all, you'll have a chance, under what we've proposed, to take part in what we're calling a Health Insurance Exchange. This exchange will allow you to one-stop shop for a health care plan, compare benefits and prices, and choose a plan that's best for you and your family -- the same way, by the way, that federal employees can do, from a postal worker to a member of Congress. (Applause.) You will have your choice of a number of plans that offer a few different packages, but every plan would offer an affordable, basic package. Again, this is for people who aren't happy with their current plan. If you like what you're getting, keep it. Nobody is forcing you to shift. But if you're not, this gives you some new options. And I believe one of these options needs to be a public option that will give people a broader range of choices -- (applause) -- and inject competition into the health care market so that force -- so that we can force waste out of the system and keep the insurance companies honest. (Applause.)

Now, I know that there's some concern about a public option. Even within this organization there's healthy debate about it. In particular, I understand that you're concerned that today's Medicare rates, which many of you already feel are too low, will be applied broadly in a way that means our cost savings are coming off your backs. And these are legitimate concerns, but they're ones, I believe, that can be overcome. As I stated earlier, the reforms we propose to reimbursement are to reward best practices, focus on patient care, not on the current piecework reimbursements. What we seek is more stability and a health care system that's on a sounder financial footing. And the fact is these reforms need to take place regardless of whether there's a public option or not. With reform, we will ensure that you are being reimbursed in a thoughtful way that's tied to patient outcomes, instead of relying on yearly negotiations about the Sustainable Growth Rate formula that's based on politics and the immediate state of the federal budget in any given year. (Applause.)

And I just want to point out the alternative to such reform is a world where health care costs grow at an unsustainable rate. And if you don't think that's going to threaten your reimbursements and the stability of our health care system, you haven't been paying attention. So the public option is not your enemy; it is your friend, I believe. Perhaps the most rousing moment of the speech came about half way through, as he stated the underlying moral basis for health reform: We are not a nation that accepts nearly 46 million uninsured men, women and children. (Applause.) We are not a nation that lets hardworking families go without coverage, or turns its back on those in need. We're a nation that cares for its citizens. We look out for one another. That's what makes us the United States of America. We need to get this done. (Applause.)

The EVEN HANDED Message of PEACE & UNDERSTANDING, given by President Obama in Cairo was excellent

ARK — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:30:17 EDT

That message was one of the few fare and balanced messages given by any US President on the Middle East Conflict. However, there are some issues to be clarified:

A) Iran’s Peaceful Nuclear Program; All Iranians and especially the Supreme Leader of Iran have said and are saying: “This Program is for peaceful purposes, Nuclear weapons are against Islamic Principles and nuclear weapons are NOT part of Iran’s defensive strategy.” The Leader of Iran recently also mentioned: “Iran wouldn’t want to have nuclear weapons even if some one paid them to have some.” Now the West says Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon program?! The International Atomic Energy Agencies (IAEA) says Iran is abiding by NPT rules but they have not been able to inspect all of Iran’s military installations. Iran says “of course NOT, because they do have conventional weapons and IAEA inspectors could easily give those details to Westerners just as they did in the case of Iraq and that is very much against Iran's national & strategic interests.” Then IAEA says that is unverified Iranian behavior?! Now if IAEA has some evidence on an Iranian nuclear weapons program; then they should show some documentation or be quite about it. One can not guess and speculate on what a country could have without solid documentation! ONE CAN CERTAILY NOT RELY ON FALSIFIED REPORTS GIVEN BY A KNOWN INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION CALLED the MKO!

B) On The SAD EVENT of the Holocaust – While some European countries want the world to forget about this very important historical atrocity; Iran President’s statements and request of debate on this issue; has brought this very sad genocide event to the forefront of international recognition…AND henceforth for the first time a US President visited a genocide camp…And from now on this very sad event will be commemorated every year. The other positive effects of this debate is that now some underground Western Neo Nazi groups have resurfaced again, so from now on they could be easily watched and their racist actions controlled and limited.

C) VOA/Persian willingly or unwittingly mistranslated some very crucial points of President Obama’s speech in Cairo and used a harsher tone. Why? However, their coverage of a few other issues has become less biased, thanks to the even-handed policies of the HOPE LEADER.

Healthcare Reform - State your Support

Jill 4 Obama — Sun, 31 May 2009 08:17:18 EDT

Sunday 31, May 2009 | 8:11am Sunday, May 31, 2009 Search

On the Front Lines

Doctors are on the front lines of the country’s health care crisis and see firsthand every day why Americans are demanding reform. That’s why on Wednesday, White House Director of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle hosted the latest in a series of White House Stakeholder Discussions with doctors from around the country.

Larger Vision

President Obama's Saturday address to the American people caps a week which saw major health care players, from providers to payers, meet face-to-face at the White House to work out ways to cut more than $2 trillion from the nation's health care costs.

Larger Vision

The current health care system does not work for women. On Wednesday, Secretary Sebelius met with women small-business owners at a knitting shop in Washington D.C. to discuss health reform.

Larger Vision

A Discussion with President Obama: The President held a meeting in the Roosevelt Room on May 12, 2009 with employers to discuss innovative workplace practices to improve the health of workers and reduce the rising rate of health care spending.

Larger Vision

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Health Care Reform

Many Americans are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of care goes up while others face losing insurance as businesses struggle to cover employees.

Dear Friend,

Last week was National Small Business week, and I would like to talk about a top concern of those Americans that run and work in these companies: health care. Read more

President Obama is committed to enacting comprehensive health reform this year that lowers costs, guarantees choice of doctors and plans, and assures quality affordable health care for all Americans.

Read more about recent events supporting this commitment.

The current health care system does not work for women. A new report Roadblocks to Health Care: Why the Current Health Care System Does Not Work for Women explains how the system leaves too many women without access to coverage for care.

View Report | Printable PDF | Watch Secretary Sebelius Discuss the Report

View Hard Times in the Heartland Report | View Bottom Line Report | View Costs of Inaction

A Weekly Update on Health Reform

Weekly Video Posted May 29

Archived Weekly Updates |

Captioned Version

If you see a red box in the place of the view player, please install the latest version of Flash from http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer.

Join the Discussion on Health Reform

We want to hear what you think about health reform. Send us your story, proposals and ideas.

Health Care Community Discussions

The recommendations from more than 3,200 Health Care Community Discussions were systematically analyzed to compile the report, Americans Speak on Health Reform.

View Report

Printable PDF

Read a Sample Report From Your State

HealthReform.gov Recognized

The Innovations Gallery celebrates the innovators and innovations who are championing the President’s vision of more effective and open government. HealthReform.gov was recognized by www.WhiteHouse.gov for allowing Americans to take part personally in the health reform process.

Watch Video

The White House Forum on Health Reform

President Obama brought together leaders with diverse views at the White House Forum on Health Reform. The White House issued a report highlighting the productive discussions from the event.

Read the White House Forum on Health Reform Report (PDF)

Read Director of the White House Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle’s blog post

Health Reform and the Budget

The President’s 2010 Budget lays the groundwork for reform of the American health care system, most notably by setting aside a deficit-neutral reserve fund of $635 billion over 10 years to help finance reform of our health care system to bring down costs, expand coverage, and improve quality.

Over the past ten years, which has increased faster: the average cost of a home, or spending on health insurance premiums?

Check Out The Answer

Thursday, May 28, 2009

“Health Bill Would Fix What’s Broken”

Today, Senator Ted Kennedy wrote an Op-Ed in the Boston Globe, underscoring the need for health reform this year. In the piece, Senator Kennedy shares how his recent battle with cancer has given him extra incentive to ‘fix what’s broken’ in the health care system. Senator Kennedy outlines some of the key principles of what he and President Obama seek in a health reform bill.

Read Excerpt

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

More Small Firms Drop Health Care

Rising health care premiums and sharp declines in revenue from the recession are forcing some small businesses to choose between dropping health insurance or laying off workers – or staying in business at all. A recent Wall Street Journal article highlights the struggles small business owners face from rising health care costs.

Read Excerpt

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

“Time is Now to Fix Health Care”

On Sunday, the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald published an editorial, urging Congress to pass health reform this year. The Herald-Telegraph pointed at the increasing percentage of uninsured Americans and the increasing price of prescription drugs as two of the most pressing reasons to reform health care.

Read Excerpt

Thursday, May 21, 2009

America cannot afford to wait

Americans across the country realize that the health care status quo is unsustainable. However, nurses are on the frontlines of health care. Today, Margaret Drugay, a nurse from Arizona writes an opinion piece in the Arizona Daily Star, appropriately stating that “America cannot afford to wait.”

Read Excerpt

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Pennsylvania Democratic Party State Committee Meeting June 5 - 6

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:30:03 EDT

Pennsylvania Democratic Party State Committee Meeting June 5 - 6

June 5-6, 2009
The Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh

We still have tickets for the Inaugural Catherine Baker Knoll Dinner, scheduled for Friday, June 5th, available at PA Dems Party Headquarters and padems.com. Call Rachel Moore at 717-920-8470 to order by phone or click here to order your tickets online.Join Governor Ed Rendell, Sen. Bob Casey, Sen. Arlen Specter and PA Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney for what promises to be an unforgettable night honoring an unforgettable public servant.

And don't miss the FREE workshops on Friday afternoon. All workshops will be held in the Westmoreland Room and are open to all registered Democrats in Pennsylvania

2:00 PM - How to Manage Your Volunteers: Using the Voter File with Mark Sullivan, co-creator of Votebuilder
3:00 PM - Netroots Nation: Blogging and using social networks like Facebook
4:00 PM - Moving Forward: Party Building in 2009 and Beyond

For more information on the FREE PA Democratic Party workshops and to register visit this link: http://www.padems.com/committee/june09

Ten Things To Know About Judge Sonia Sotomayor

Peter and Linda — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:16:56 EDT

Today, President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be the next U.S. Supreme Court justice. Of course, the Right is already fighting against her confirmation—so we need to get the facts out about her impressive qualifications and background.

Below is a list of 10 key things about Sonia Sotomayor that you might not know. Can you check it out and send it to 10 friends today? If each of us forwards the list, we can start to get the word out about Judge Sotomayor, and help to ensure that she gets a speedy and fair confirmation process.

Ten Things To Know About Judge Sonia Sotomayor

1. Judge Sotomayor would bring more federal judicial experience to the bench than any Supreme Court justice in 100 years. Over her three-decade career, she has served in a wide variety of legal roles, including as a prosecutor, litigator, and judge.

2. Judge Sotomayor is a trailblazer. She was the first Latina to serve on the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and was the youngest member of the court when appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of New York. If confirmed, she will be the first Hispanic to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.

3. While on the bench, Judge Sotomayor has consistently protected the rights of working Americans, ruling in favor of health benefits and fair wages for workers in several cases.

4. Judge Sotomayor has shown strong support for First Amendment rights, including in cases of religious expression and the rights to assembly and free speech.

5. Judge Sotomayor has a strong record on civil rights cases, ruling for plaintiffs who had been discriminated against based on disability, sex and race.

6. Judge Sotomayor embodies the American dream. Born to Puerto Rican parents, she grew up in a South Bronx housing project and was raised from age nine by a single mother, excelling in school and working her way to graduate summa cum laude from Princeton University and to become an editor of the Law Journal at Yale Law School.

7. In 1995, Judge Sotomayor "saved baseball" when she stopped the owners from illegally changing their bargaining agreement with the players, thereby ending the longest professional sports walk-out in history.

8. Judge Sotomayor ruled in favor of the environment and against business interests in 2007 in a case of protecting aquatic life in the vicinity of power plants, a decision that was overturned by the Roberts Supreme Court.

9. In 1992, Judge Sotomayor was confirmed by the Senate without opposition after being appointed to the bench by George H.W. Bush.

10. Judge Sotomayor is a widely respected legal figure, having been described as "...an outstanding colleague with a keen legal mind," "highly qualified for any position in which wisdom, intelligence, collegiality and good character would be assets," and "a role model of aspiration, discipline, commitment, intellectual prowess and integrity."

Judge Sotomayor is an historic, uniquely qualified nominee to the Supreme Court. Let's get the word out and make sure we get a prompt, fair confirmation on her nomination.

Thank you!

FORM: Being Advisors to the Obama Administration

Madama Ambi — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:29:58 EDT

The idea behind Feminist Advisory Board for Obama has always been to find ways to make visible and audible the voices of the people who can speak about their lives and their needs directly to the ones who make policy. Since I formed FAB (November 2008), the landscape has changed, not radically, but we know a little more of how the Obama administration is comporting itself. I know more about some members of this group and I know more about the femisphere. Some of my ideas about women's needs have grown into huge ideas (needia), and other of my projects have taken a back seat while I've been roaming the femisphere like Lewis and Clark on an epic journey.

Which brings me to my subject today: form. Form is important, structure can be determinative. Which comes first, the what, the who, the where, the how or the when? Where is the why?

WHERE Member Jon Pincus feels that a wiki is the best place to support group communication. I don't agree, but I'm interested in hearing from other group members. What OFA gives us is this listserve, and each of us has an OFA blog that feeds into the blog for FAB. So, for instance, in addition to sending you this email, I could post this to my blog on OFA and then cross-post it to FAB and other groups within OFA, and anyone who is a member of MyBO/OFA can read and comment. Furthermore, what gets blogged at MyBO/OFA gets crawled by Google, so our blog posts will show up in public searches. We also have 157 members on FAB/Facebook, where anyone can post to the wall or to the discussion board. Also, the FAB/FB group is open, so even non-members can participate and read what is posted.

WHAT Two members of this group have asked if we have a Mission Statement, and I answered that I have ideas about one and then I invited each of these members to head up the committee or the wiki or whatever you want to call it to develop a Mission Statement. This is how I lead--I ask people to take responsibility for the projects they bring to the group. I can't do it all and I don't want to do it all. I want to contribute where I have skills, expertise or leadership energy, and I want members to do the same.

HOW Taking a page from National Organization for Women's organizational model, I have some ideas about creating something on the order of "Officers" within FAB. I will spell this out in a separate posting. If you have ideas about organizational models, please step up to the plate. You don't need permission from me to be a leader in this group. Got an idea? Go for it.

WHEN Along with my idea for appointing "Officers" (a term I'm not crazy about, actually. I prefer "Advisors..."), I'd like to see this group produce a monthly or a quarterly Advice Memo that we would then submit to appropriate government officials. Because I called this group Feminist Advisory Board for Obama, some people have assumed that I have an insider track to the White House. I don't. True, I supported Obama for president and know many people who did the same, and some who went on to have jobs in the administration. Still, I am NOT an insider. My activism will always be as an outsider because I happen to believe that once you get on the inside, you find yourself preserving the status quo. In my view, you cannot be an activist, an agitator, a critic or a change-agent from the inside. This is just my opinion, and I welcome yours.

WHO It's just us. We are the change we've been waiting for.

WHY I think we all know why. If you didn't already have a sense of why, you wouldn't have joined this group...I think...

Please post your feedback, your thoughts, your ideas, your criticisms, to this list and/or to your OFA blog and FAB's OFA blog. Or post to FAB/FB and cross-post to OFA. If you don't understand how that works, first go nose around OFA and see if you can figure it out. If you can't, post your questions to the group list.

A Personal Message for Obama Supporters from Judge Anne Lazarus-Vote May 19,2009

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:40:15 EDT

A Personal Message for Obama Supporters from Judge Anne Lazarus

Democratic Candidate for Pennsylvania Superior Court – Vote Tuesday May 19,2009

My name is Anne Lazarus and I am a Democratic candidate for Superior Court. I'm asking for your support on May 19th.

I began my career as a judge nearly 20 years ago when I was appointed by Governor Robert P. Casey as a merit selection judge to the Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. On the Court of Common Pleas, I have served as a judge in both the Criminal and Civil Divisions and currently on the Orphans’ Court. I remain as excited today about the opportunity to dispense justice fairly and equally as I was when I first joined the court.

For the past four years, I have served as Chair of the Ethics Committee of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges, a role that requires me to provide guidance to judges throughout the Commonwealth on standards of ethical behavior as directed by the Code of Judicial Conduct. I am proud to say that no judge that has sought an advisory opinion from the committee, and has followed our advice, has ever been disciplined for misconduct.

As committed as I have been to the law, I have been equally committed to the community and volunteering. I have served as a board member of the Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program and in 2006, the Pennsylvania Bar Association recognized my work with the first-ever Judicial Pro Bono Award. I also serve as an adjunct professor at the Widener University School of Law, the National Judicial College, and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

I believe it was for all of these reasons that I was again given the Bar Association’s highest rating “Highly Recommended” for this campaign. They wrote that I am “intelligent, thoughtful, candid and scholarly, … and demonstrate superior writing ability, knowledge of the law and exceptional judicial temperament.” I am the only Democrat running for Superior Court who won the Bar’s highest rating.

I hope I can count on your vote on May 19th. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me at anne@lazarusforsuperiorcourt.org or 215-687-6348.

Thank you.

http://www.lazarusforsuperiorcourt.org/

No.1 Terrorist Org. is Al-Qaeda which in the past 8 years has murdered about 8000 Americans and injured/disabled tens of thousands more… AND their supporters are some regional Dictators or so called US friends and allies NOT A FABRICATED FOE CALLED IRAN

ARK — Sat, 02 May 2009 06:01:11 EDT

According to recent news reports, just in April of 09, Al-Qaeda and their allies in Iraq have murdered 18 Americans, 355 mostly Shia Iraqis, and more than 81 Iranians. Now when you and I know those facts, then the US State Department knows the details of those Al-Qaeda/B'ath Party/Taliban Trio atrocities much better than all of us put together! So why the should-be-trusted US State Department would fabricate such a false report on Iran and call that country the number one state sponsor of terrorism? The following could be some of the reasons, not all the reasons but some of the reasons:

1-CONSTANT STATE OF DENIAL or Always blame it on some one else; as was the case during the initial Al-Qaeda attempt to place explosives in the parking lot of the World Trade Center few years prior to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack. At that time the US Government blamed that attack on Iran as well, but when the second terrorist attack happened by the same group of terrorist who were mostly Saudis, and then the US government had nothing to say!

2-The second reason could be that Saudis and a few of their Arab neighbors are so heavily invested in the US, that one SHOULD NOT ANGER THEM so they would move their investments to another country! Under the US Anti-Terrorism Law the assets of any group or people who are supporters of terrorism should be confiscated, so if they decide to move their assets, then that is exactly the way they will be dealt with.

3- Those Arab Dictators are US friends and allies in the region so one SHOULD NOT ANGER THEM, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO! With friends like that who needs enemies. There is a poem that reads: "It is good to have wise friends, wise enemies are better than unwise friends!" Not that Iranians are enemies but the US State Department likes to call them that, and they would fabricate reports to substantiate such allegations! Those types of reports will prevent any kind of meaningful dialogue in the future so the wishes of those people at the State Department will come true and potential true friends and allies will remain fabricated foes. Are those people at the State Department politicians or experts in destroying peace and meaningful relations as well as masters of demolitions?

4- Those Arab Dictators have nothing to do with Al-Qaeda financing so they are not state sponsors of terrorism?! That statement bring about a few scenarios: a-Those dictators know nothing about their own country and activities of some in the Royal Family; so they are not competent leaders and one can NOT COUNT ON THEM as reliable friends and allies, b- A friend who passed through Abu Dhabi, UAE Airport said that he saw more Al Qaeda & Taliban there than one would expect to see in Kabul Airport! So one could asses that those dictators KNOW their own country and activities of some in the Royal Family, BUT CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT; so they are not competent leaders and one can NOT COUNT ON THEM as reliable friends and allies, c- Those dictators KNOW their own country and activities of some in the Royal Family, BUT SINCE THESE TERRORISTS ARE ALSO A THREAT TO THE INTERNAL SECURITY OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY, THEN THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BEING EXPORTED TO IRAQ, PAKISTAN & AFGHANISTAN TO MURDER AMERICANS, PAKISTANIS, AFGHANS & IRAQIS. Henceforth those rulers are not trustworthy friends and one can NOT COUNT ON THEM as reliable allies.

5-And certainly the money those Royals as well as others spend on Al-Qaeda and Taliban is given to them by their rulers, so those dictators should know where that money is being spent, if they don't, then after reading this BLOG they should know and stop those payments; IF they don't STOP, then some thing VERY FISHY is going on!

Now who are No 1, 2 & 3 Royal sponsors of terrorism?

Hypocrisy 101

Peter and Linda — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:22:14 EDT

Talk about hypocritical bigotry ... They "pretend" to care, ONLY when it's convenient for their agenda.

Read this email that was forwarded by the so-called "Christian" conservatives. They do nothing but condemn President Obama's policies and slander him and his administration with misleading pretenses and by adamantly insisting that he's a Socialist. If they truly cared about their "brothers and sisters", they wouldn't object to extending a helping hand to those in need.

Read your Bible folks, then live what you learn!

"A holy man was having a conversation with God one day and said, ‘God, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.’

God led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.

In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished.

They were holding spoons with very long handles, that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.

But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

God said, 'You have seen Hell.'

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.

There was the large round table with the large pot of stew, which made the holy man's mouth water.

The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, 'I don't understand.'

It is simple,' said God. "It requires but one skill.

You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

The nezt time you decide to forward your deceitful emails, stop and thnk about the message first!

President Obama's First 100 days!

Bigskygirl — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:51:25 EDT

I am inviting you all to chime in tomorrow night at 5:00pm Pacific Coast time, 7:00pm Central, and 8:00pm Eastern. You can blog, tweet, or even call in. CNN has been pretty good about airing twitters, but I am not certain, who the M.C. is going to be. I have twitter Address' for Larry King, Don Lemon, & Anderson Cooper, so far. The Tea-Baggers, will be out in force, but guess what, we out number them, and I am thinking, we are on our computers more! The Inter-Net, the new "Power-Tool!!!!"

My goal is to break records, of the most participation, in one of these events, ever! If even half of the people that voted for him, called, twittered, or blogged, we could literally blow up their circuit boards, now THAT would be news.

If you'd like to follow me, tomorrow evening, I am @bigskygirl

Be there or be square! Obama will be speaking directly after. Let's show our new POTUS how proud we are!

N.Mc.

There are THREE (3) Taliban GROUPS in Pakistan & Afghanistan also; 1-Very Harmful Terrorist Hardliners (VHTH), 2-Harmful Terrorist Helpers (HTH) & 3-Moderates, AND present Governments of Pakistan & Afghanistan certainly can NOT WORK with the First TWO (2)

ARK — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:28:28 EDT

So for some western diplomats to also ask Pakistan & Afghanistan governments to work with all of them regardless of their background is quite impossible and detrimental to the security of those countries. The first group or VHTH are those who do joint financing with Al-Qaeda and DO PLAN & EXECUTE THOSE PLANS. The VHTH Group is being directly active in terrorist attacks against thousands of civilians as well as US and other NATO troops and they get paid by top level VHTH & Al-Qaeda leaders for doing so. The second group is an ally and sympathizer of the Al-Qaeda as well as the VHTH group & DO provide indirect help to them. The HTH group will not get directly involved in attacks, but they will provide information to Al-Qaeda and the VHTH Group as to where to attack. The Second Group could also provide Safe Heavens and logistics for attacks by Al-Qaeda & VHTH and get paid well for services rendered. The first and second group could also include women & men who have had relatives killed in previous conflicts. The third Group is the moderate one and they are caught between a rock and a hard place! So perhaps they could have a mutually beneficial cooperation with the Pakistani & Afghanistan governments. The only problem faced by these moderates is; if they do so, then they will be harshly dealt with and their lives put in jeopardy by Al-Qaeda as well as the first two groups just as was the case with some moderate Iraqi tribal leaders who cooperated with their Government. Now therefore, asking Pakistan & Afghanistan Governments to work indiscriminately with the Taliban regardless of detailed investigations to find out which group they belong to is NOT feasible and quite impossible.

There are THREE (3) B’ath Party GROUPS left from Sadam era in Iraq; 1-Very Harmful Terrorist Hardliners (VHTH), 2-Harmful Terrorist Helpers (HTH) & 3-Moderates, AND the present Government of Iraq certainly can NOT WORK with the First TWO (2) GROUPS

ARK — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:55:33 EDT

So for some western diplomats to ask the Iraqi government to work with all of them regardless of their background is quite impossible and detrimental to the security of that country. The first group or VHTH are those who also finance Al-Qaeda and DO PLAN & EXECUTE THOSE PLANS , being directly active in terrorist attacks against thousands of civilians and US troops and they get paid by top level VHTH & Al-Qaeda leaders for doing so. The second group is an ally and sympathizer of the Al-Qaeda as well as the VHTH group & DO provide indirect help to them. The HTH group will not get directly involved in attacks, but they will provide information to Al-Qaeda and the VHTH Group as to where to attack. The Second Group could also provide Safe Heavens and logistics for attacks by Al-Qaeda and get paid well for services rendered. The first and second group could also include women & men who would have relatives killed in previous conflicts. The third Group is the moderate one and they are caught between a rock and a hard place! So perhaps they could have a mutually beneficial cooperation with the Iraqi government. The only problem faced by these moderates is; if they do so, then they will be harshly dealt with and their lives put in jeopardy by Al-Qaeda as well as the first two groups just as was the case with some moderate tribal leaders who cooperated with the Iraqi Government. Now therefore, asking the Iraqi Government to work indiscriminately with the B’ath Party regardless of detailed investigations to find out which group they belong to is NOT feasible and quite impossible

Please forward to Liz Cheney

Peter and Linda — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:11:39 EDT

Of course, the average concerned American does not have access to email addresses of the pompous, rich and famous that just say whatever they want and we have no way to respond! Anyone that is able to contact Ms. Cheney, please forward this for me.

Thank you, in advance.

Peter Realmuto

Dear Liz Cheney,

You don't consider what was done torture? If you're serious, what would you think it was if it was done to your family members? I'll bet you'd change your smug, arrogant mind then. I thought, in America, no one was above the law? Apparently, that does not apply to you and the rest of the socially superior snobs.

Apparently, as brain washed and biased as you are, anything your daddy and the corrupt Bush regime did was fine ... of course, it didn't affect you or your family. You probably think your daddy and "Cowboy" Bush were the only ones able to keep America safe. I'm surprised you didn't reiterate what your despicable daddy said about how vulnerable we are now, without them in charge ... deviously hoping for another attack, so President Obama looks like a failure. Of course, future attacks won't affect you and your families directly anyway, so to hell with the rest of us, right?

Why don't you, your daddy and George W. just quietly ride off into the sunset? Hopefully, hell is just beyond that sunset.

Disgusted with all of you,

Peter Realmuto

President Obama’s 1st Latin American Trip was Very Successful

ARK — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:05:02 EDT

What does the Republican Party expect? Kicking foes or hitting them over the head with a BIG SILLY STICK? Since such important countries as Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Peru and Ecuador moved away from the US in the past, then such policies certainly did NOT WORK during the those 8 YEARS and will never work. Very sorry to disappoint you again guys! One should be able to learn from history and if one is NOT ABLE LEARN THOSE LESSONS, then one should not govern. Turning foes to friends is President Obama’s expertise and he did that very successfully during the last Latin American Summit. Congratulations are in order to all Americans for having chosen such a smart President with a very positive administration and an active congress to back them all! GOD Bless President Obama and all those who work towards durable peace throughout this interdependent global village. In today’s world no country is an Island! NOT even those countries which are geographically called Islands! And especially A VERY BIG & POWERFUL COUNTRY SUCH AS the US is CERTAINLY NO ISLAND.

HAITI: Fanmi Lavalas Banned, Voter Apprehension Widespread

Jacob Fran�ois — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:51:41 EDT

HAITI: Fanmi Lavalas Banned, Voter Apprehension Widespread
By Jeb Sprague*

NEW YORK, Apr 17 (IPS) - Weekend senatorial elections in Haiti are mired in controversy as Fanmi Lavalas (FL), the political party widely backed by the poor majority, has been disqualified.

As the global financial crisis unfolds, U.N. officials in New York City and Port-au-Prince are struggling to defend a troubled electoral process while gathering donor aid.

Meanwhile, a recent study by the Florida-based advocacy organisation Haiti Priorities Project (HPP) has found widespread popular apprehension and disaffection among Haitians ahead of the upcoming senatorial elections.

During eight days in early April, seventy HPP volunteers, 10 from the United States and 60 from Haiti, dispersed across the country. Their goal was to survey how people viewed the upcoming election.

"Only 5 percent of potential voters nationwide say they are ready to go to the polls in order to elect 12 senators for the upcoming elections on April of this year," said the group in a press release. Many of the respondents had never heard of the candidates fielded in the election.

Jacob François of the HPP explained to IPS, "We organised our census primarily through town hall meetings, where organisers spoke to people in groups and individually. From this we tallied the opinions of what was estimated to be 65,000 people out of a population of 8 million."

In February it was announced that Haiti’s Conseil électoral provisoire (CEP) would not recognise candidates from FL in the upcoming senatorial elections. The reason given was that the candidates - listed in two different slates - did not have the signature of the party’s head, former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was ousted by the George W. Bush administration in 2004.

FL is in a process of reorganisation that even sympathetic observers have termed "disarray." After the initial failure of the two separate FL slates to gain CEP approval, the factions came together agreeing upon a unified slate. The slate was signed by Emmanuel Cantave - keeper of the party's seals - who has approved FL slates for the past 13 years.

Still, the CEP rejected the list. Its stated objection was that the list lacked Aristide’s signature; giving just days notice, it requested a non-fascimilied signature from Aristide, exiled in Pretoria, South Africa.

U.N. officials initially urged the CEP to include all parties.

Praising the efforts of FL to be included within the electoral process, the U.N. representative for a Security Council delegation, Jorge Urbina, stated that they "were glad to hear from (Lavalas) that they are using every legal instrument in their power to reverse this decision."

In a press release, the secretary general of the Organisation of American States, José Miguel Insulza, stated, "I cannot help but express my concern about the possibility that an important group of Haitian citizens might feel that they are not being represented in this process."

By early March, Haitian Judge Jean-Claude Douyon had ruled that the CEP could not disqualify the FL candidates. Concluding that "[t]he political rights of the Lavalas have been violated," he ordered the "reintegration of candidates of that party, if they each individually meet the legal standards."

However, not long after, Judge Douyon was mysteriously removed from his post, and the CEP disregarded his ruling.

In recent weeks, following a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a consensus cemented among government elites to go forward with elections without FL. Criticism of the exclusion ceased.

In late March, U.N. press agencies reported that 100 tonnes of election equipment had arrived in the country, divided into 12,000 voting kits.

CEP and U.N. officials now lay blame at the feet of ousted President Aristide. The U.N.'s Urbina says that FL's exclusion was due to Aristide’s unwillingness to sign.

Some proponents say Aristide, who has been kept from returning to the country, does not wish to give his support to elections under which holdovers from the U.N.-backed dictatorship of 2004-2006 remain and the potential for fraud and vote rigging are high.

Top leaders of his movement have been systematically targeted, in part explaining FL’s internal dissension. The highest former office holder of FL, Yvon Neptune, spent two years in jail, and has a case hanging over his head despite it being ordered dismissed two years ago by a Haitian appeals court, and almost a year since the Inter-American Court of Human Rights told Haiti to halt the case. Another FL leader, Father Gérard Jean-Juste, who spent seven months in jail with untreated cancer, is sick in a hospital in Florida.

At the same time, FL political prisoners, such as Ronald Daulphin, remain in jail after five years without being tried. A justice process for thousands imprisoned and killed under the interim government remains out of sight.

Even so, since Aristide's ouster, a few senators have, without Aristide's endorsement, run in elections claiming to represent FL without any objection made by the CEP. Only in recent months, with violence decreased, has FL come together nationally to participate in elections.

François of the HPP, discussing the U.N. and Haitian government's actions, explains, "They just do not learn. They can’t exclude a major party in Haiti from an election, that's total exclusion. It will undermine the entire process. In addition, the CEP has no business going into the internal affairs of Lavalas."

The tenuous political alliance between Haiti’s President René Préval and FL has collapsed.

Elected in 2006, Préval had the support of the impoverished majority who hoped, through his candidacy, for a return to normality and an end to post-coup repression that left thousands dead.

Once elected, critics say, Préval's administration imposed the priorities of foreign donors and elites. The emphasis today is on garment exportation.

Thousands of Lavalas activists have mobilised against the disqualification, more demonstrations are planned for the weekend.

With the credibility of the upcoming elections badly damaged, foreign donors have attempted to smooth things over with a hastily organised conference pledging aid disbursement.

Speaking to donors and NGOs, whose influence in Haiti is colossal, U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon explained, "Haiti is at a turning moment...by acting now, we will protect the considerable investment and progress we have made so far."

Meanwhile, grassroots Haitian activists, such as a Ronique, a member of a women’s collective in Cité Soleil, condemn what they claim has been a thwarting of democracy led by Préval, the CEP and the U.N.

"In the matter of elections, basically what you have is a decision to explode Fanmi Lavalas, that is the way we in Haiti see it, that this was a decision by the international community with the complicity of President René Préval to get rid of and exclude Lavalas from the election because everyone knows FL is the majority party in the country," she said in a radio interview.

She added, "People are not enthused, it is a complete silence around this election. You don't see candidates going through the neighbourhoods where the people are suffering. Nobody is interested because they don't see themselves participating in this process."

With sadness in her voice she mentions Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, one of the most internationally recognised FL leaders. He was abducted in late 2007, just after announcing his intention to run in senatorial elections, and remains missing. A leading human rights activist, he worked tirelessly to bring former death squad leaders to justice.

IPS has found that one death squad leader has been living in a luxurious hotel overlooking Port-au-Prince. Louis Jodel Chamblain, a founder of the infamous FRAPH death squad that murdered and raped thousands during the early 1990s, was interviewed by IPS a year ago at the Ibo Lele Hotel. Within earshot, U.N. officials and NGO dignitaries dined and slept.

*Wadner Pierre in Miami contributed to this story.

Ripped Off

Christopher from Brooklyn — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:46:28 EDT

I hate to admit it but I feel totally ripped off by the new administration. My wife and I were quite active in the campaign--not as active as many, but more active than most. On top of my volunteering efforts, i donated more that 5% of my earnings to the campaign (even more if you look at post tax income).

And now, Obama's selling out to Wall Street has me totally disgusted. If I had know that he would appoint the people he did (Geithner and Summers in particular) and let them run amok with taxpayer money to further enrich their Wall Street buddies, I would have let the campaign rely on their contributions to get Obama elected.

Perhaps some needs to remind President Obama that it wasn't Goldman Sachs that went door to door in Pennsylvania to get out the vote.

If a bank is insolvent, it should go bankrupt. If it's too big to fail, it's just too big and needs to be broken up. If parts are insolvent, cut the dead weight. A lot more could be accomplished by giving the bailout money directly to the American people.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm still elated that Obama won. I think we would be in even worse condition had McCain won. I think Obama has done some very good things like overturning the global gag rule and acknowleding that climate change (and science in general) are real. But on this key item, I just feel totally ripped off.

(By the way, I never earned enough to get the cuts under Bush and earn too much to get the cuts proposed by Obama. I'm not complaining about the amount of tax I pay, rather what that tax is used for.)

I'm posting this rant here in the hopes that those of us who contirbuted to the campaign can affect some change rather than writing a letters to the editor.

Stop forwarding your trash!!!

Peter and Linda — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:55:38 EDT

I'm sick of all the negative emails, knocking every single thing President Obama suggests or tries, in his attempt to find solutions to rebuild America and the American spirit after the last 8 miserable, disheartening years. Here's just one example of the trash they waste their time forwarding.

"You can say it all you want. Obama is ushering in socialism. One doesn’t have to be a brain surgeon to understand that. Apparently though, you are having difficulties."

I will not even write what I really want to say to them. It would definitely be XXX-rated. If they have nothing constructive or productive to say, let them please keep their wretched opinions to themselves and don't say anything at all. Instead of wasting their time trying to tear the country down, these characters might want to participate in any and every attempt to restore America to it's greatness of yesteryear.

Get over yourself and pray that President Obama succeeds, so all Americans succeed. Think about it the next time, before you begin to criticize and display your arrogance and ignorance.

I call this ignorance. What do you think?

Peter and Linda — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:24:34 EDT

The following email is just one example of the trash my disenchanted right-wing wacky relatives send everyday! They're uninformed, obnoxious and yet very, very arrogant ... what a coincidence ... just like Bush and Cheney ... the losers they admire and revere! Unequivocal ignorance, right???

"Tear the country down? Like badmouthing America to every country he has visited? How about spending more in three months then Afghanistan and Iraq has cost us combined? I don’t have to tear down. OB has done it all for us."

I think it's sad. They'll do or say anything to demean our president and undermine the efforts of his entire administration.

Open Letter to Leaders at Fem2pt0 : society’s issues + women’s voices

Madama Ambi — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:06:59 EDT

Please read my post and leave your comments at Fem2pt0's blog or wiki. The wiki can be found at www.fem2pt0.wetpaint.com.

Perhaps and ONLY If They Decide to Do so, then Rightist in The Middle East Could be more Empowered, Inclined and Able to do a COMPREHENSIVE as well as a FAIR & JUST PEACE DEAL.

ARK — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:47:30 EDT

Whether one likes it or not those Middle Eastern rightist are better equipped to do a Peace Deal than moderates; that is IF THEY WOULD WANT TO DO SO! Why? I believe the following points are sufficient:

1-Mr. Menachem Begin who made the one and only durable peace deal in the region (with Egypt) was a rightist prime minister of Israel at the time. Mr. Robyn who was a moderate politician tried to do another peace deal and he was assassinated by an Israeli extremist…I repeat an extremist and NOT a rightist/conservative because there is BIG DIFFERENCE between the two. Rightist/conservatives oppose peace deals through political means and extremists assassinate peace promoters!

2-Those who usually oppose any kind of a deal are the rightist/conservatives and when they approve a deal, then moderates who usually support peace will not & COULD NOT oppose them;

3- On the other hand, if moderates try to make peace, then rightist/conservatives who usually oppose any kind of a deal based on their previous stance CAN and WILL easily oppose it; because if there would be any kind of a deal, then they want to be a major part of it;

4- The same goes for some other countries in the region; those legitimate and elected governments who have the power to make war can easily make peace as well AND from the position of power and nobody could blame them for doing so from a position of weakness or fear.

5-Those regional fearful dictators who ask Israel to do their dirty work and attack Iran do NOT have the best interest of Israel in mind. They neither have the power nor the domestic and international legitimacy to make peace…And all they want is to create more conflict between Israel and Iran so they could fish in muddy waters! BUT I certainly believe Israelis are much smarter than falling in to such a NO WIN trap. Iranians have a saying: “It is good to have wise friends, but a wise enemy is better than an unwise friend. A wise enemy will help you reach a new height; an unwise friend will create for you an unprecedented plight.”

May all REAL as well as FAIR & JUST PEACE PROMOTERS in the WORLD WIN! I repeat my claim that Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas could be positive peace partners. Those people could easily negotiate a FAIR & JUST PEACE ACCORD from the position of power and international respect and not from the position of fear and weakness like some regional dictators who try to persuade Israel to do the ultimate unwise act…And as eight years of Bush Administration threats proved; Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas do not respond well to threats BUT respond very well to a positive treat. So all threats can do is to ALIENATE THESE POTENTIAL, REAL & POWERFUL PEACE PARTNERS and I certainly HOPE wise Israelis who want REAL PEACE in the region would refrain from such a language, even if it is just words…Because even words could be misinterpreted!

Easter Monday at the White House

Jill 4 Obama — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:18:38 EDT

President Obama at The White House Easter Egg Roll

Stephen Crowley/The New York Times President Obama during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House.

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
Monday, April 13th, 2009 at 12:27 pm Egg Roll! If you have not been watching, be sure to check in on our coverage of the White House Easter Egg Roll. You can watch some of the best artists, story-tellers, chefs, and egg-rollers around on four separate live-streams, carrying on and expanding on the tradition established by President Bush. President Obama and the First Lady spoke to the happy crowd this morning: var params = { allowscriptaccess: "always", allowfullscreen: "true", wmode:"transparent"}; swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/jxz0c8C8BI8&hl=en&fs=1&showinfo=0&showsearch=0", "flashcontent", "480", "295", "8", null, {}, params);

download .mp4 (24.8 Mb) | also available here

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody -- that's Malia, our technical advisor. (Laughter.) It is wonderful to see all of you today. Welcome. I hope everybody had a wonderful Easter. This is one of the greatest White House traditions because it reminds us that this is the people's house. And to see so many children out here having a great time just fills Michelle and myself and the entire family with a whole lot of joy. So I'm not really in charge here today. My sole job, in addition to thanking Fergie for that wonderful rendition of our National Anthem and thanking my buddy, the Easter Bunny, for being here, is to introduce my First Lady, your First Lady, Michelle Obama. (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: All right -- okay, it's working. Welcome everybody. I don't have much to say. I want to welcome you all to the 2009 White House Easter Egg Hunt. Yay! Our goal today is just to have fun. We want to focus on activity, healthy eating. We've got yoga, we've got dancing, we've got storytelling, we've got Easter egg decorating. Oh, we've got basketball -- (applause) -- a little soccer, as well. And we want everybody to think about moving their bodies, get out -- we don't have tennis; it's on the tennis court -- the peanut gallery back here. (Laughter.) So the goal today is to have fun, to get out and play. And let's get things started with the Easter Egg Roll. Thank you all for coming today. Have fun. Thanks so much. (Applause.)
(President Barack Obama smiles up at a young child in bunny ears as he shakes the hands of guests attending
the White House Easter Egg Roll Monday, April 13, 2009, on the South Lawn of the White House.
White House Photo/Pete Souza)

Tell it like it is ... period!

Peter and Linda — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:23:24 EDT

A message from one of our southern (Georgia) relatives, followed by our very rapid response.

The message:

"So you are one of "them" that I can blame all the new taxes that are going to hit us.... good thing you are up there and not down here for me to smack the back of your head!"

Our response:

"Actually, you're lucky you're down there. You sound just like your brother. We tried it "your" way for 40 years. We didn't hear you characters complain for the last eight miserable years. Our retirement account is gone, we're working longer hours and more days just to make ends meet, but God forbid we should wake up and take a stand for change. It can't get a hell of a lot worse!!!

If y'all want to continue the red states vs blue states crap, you're going to be the big losers, so keep it up. It's coming!!!

Linda and I were VERY committed and involved in this election, like never before. We had had it with the same old conservative broken promises and their lies. We were very active ... canvassing, making phone calls, mass mailings, registering new voters, got voters to the polls and attended focus groups and rallies, not to mention all our monetary support. What exactly did any of you complaining, sore-losers do to get McSame elected???????

If the GOP didn't turn into "the party of no", maybe you would all see exactly what could be accomplished, if we ALL acted like Americans, instead of being divisive, blind party followers! Oh, I forgot, only the Christian conservatives love their country ... according to that white trash Palin."

God bless President Obama and may God bless America!

'Stand By Me' - International Performance

Bob Bethany — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:35:58 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM

FAB/OFA news reported by Tom Hayes

Madama Ambi — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:21:50 EDT

http://digg.com/politics/Feminist_Advisory_Board_FAB_within_Organizing_for_America

How nice to wake up and find an idea that exists right now in my head and in words is getting eyeballs. Tom Hayes, the Synergist, has posted about FAB and http://needia.blogspot.com at his blog.

Someone has also DUGG the post! Oy, this reminds me of the months I spent doing the drill for the Obama campaign! Push push push! Digg Digg Digg! Tweet Tweet Tweet!

thank you, Mr. Tom Hayes, whoever you are...I see also that you are an entrepreneuer? Would love to have your input on needia.

Thank you very much President Obama for a Positive and Courageous Persian New Year message of HOPE & PEACE to Iranians

ARK — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:47:17 EDT

That positive new year message coming from the President of the most powerful nation in the world is a very meaningful first step. It takes a lot more courage to be a promoter of peace than decelerate of wars. It shows the US HOPE Leader has lots of inner strength and confidence which is the sign of all great leaders. Actually such a great leader is a lot more powerful than those US presidents who used to brag and insult others… Persians have a saying that only vacant taxis use their horns to get customers and empty drums make a lot of noise!

Hopefully this atmosphere of misunderstanding will be lifted sooner than later between these two great nations of US and Iran as well as their respective leaders. Then an era of international cooperation, peace, prosperity and trade will begin; the result of which would benefit many nations in this region and throughout the world. Thanks again President Obama the Great and GOD bless you!

Obama truly is the Anti-Reagan!

Robert Lynch — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:19:26 EDT

I am pleased that President Obama is the opposite of Ronald Reagan. Reagan was an ignorant man who claimed that racism no longer existed. (In 1980!) He hated Roosevelt and was for destroying the social safety net and turning the poor out into the streets. He was for destroying Unions. He was for the De-Regulation of Finance which has led us to this global economic crisis.

Reagan was for the corrupt practice of illegally funneling taxpayer dollars to help right wing death squads and drug dealers known as the Contras in Central America. These murderers raped and tortured priests and nuns as well as shipping cocaine into our cities. Then when the scam was exposed, Reagan pretended he didn't remember anything about it.

Reagan gave money and weapons to Saddam Hussein to fight against Iran. Reagan supported the "Mujahedeen" radicals in Afganistan with money and weapons who turned out to be the Taliban, as well as Al Queda founder Osama Bin Laden. Good job Ronnie!!!!!!

Thankfully, we no longer have to deal with Reagan's stupidity and right wing extremism. But of course his deadly and toxic legacy lives on in the politics of the Anti-American Republican Obstructionists who infest Washington and this website like cockroaches.

Yes We Can!!

Jane Gallagher — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:54:36 EDT

I just read a post from someone in Texas during the campaign, and it's reverberating through time to me here in the Boston area in late March 2009, giving me the push I need to get active again to support the President's agenda to actually make the changes we elected him to lead. That's the deal, when you think about it, Barack always says that it's all about us. If we just sit back now that he's in office, we'll just get the same old discouraging results, especially now, when so many people are afraid of their own short term economic concerns that they can't see how the long term vision contained in the ten-year budget plan will make life better for all of us. With this amazing chance, we all need to keep standing together to make the whole vision a reality, not just winning the election. Let's give each other another push or two to keep on going. I now see the value of these posts!!

'Soweto Blues' Mariam Makeba

Bob Bethany — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:47:48 EDT

Mariam Makeba - Soweto Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTj4qjC4akM

You have to love Frank Schaeffer ... we do.

Peter and Linda — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:14:30 EDT

Frank Schaeffer
New York Times best-selling author

You Republicans are the arsonists who burned down our national home. You combined the failed ideologies of the Religious Right, so-called free market deregulation and the Neoconservative love of war to light a fire that has consumed America. Now you have thenerve to criticize the "architect" America just hired -- President Obama -- to rebuild from the ashes. You d o nothing constructive, just try to hinder the one person willing and able to fix the mess you created.
I used to be one of you. As recently as 2000 I worked to get Senator McCain elected in that year's primary. (McCain and Gen. Tommy Franks wrote glowing endorsements regarding my book about military service, AWOL.). I have a file of handwritten thank you notes from Presidents Ford, Reagan, Bush I and II. In the 1970s and early 80s I hung out with Jack Kemp and bought int o his "supply side" myth and even wrote a book he endorsed pushing his ideas.) There's more, but take it from me; my parents (evangelical leaders Francis and Edith Schaeffer) and I were about as tight with -- and useful to -- the Republican Party as anyone. We played a big part creating the Religious Right.

In the mid 1980s I left the Religious Right, after I realized just how very anti-American they are, (the theme I explore in my book Crazy For God). They wanted America to fail in order to prove they were right about America's "moral decline." Soon after McCain lost in 2000 I re-registered as an independent in disgust with W. Bush. But I still respected many Re publicans. Not today.
How can anyone who loves our country support the Republicans now? Barry Goldwater, William F. Buckley and Ronald Reagan defined the modern conservatism that used to be what the Republican Party I belonged to was about. Today no actual conservative can be a Republican. Reagan would despise today's wholly negative Republican Party. And can you picture the gentlemanly and always polite Ronald Reagan, endorsing a radio hate-jock slob who crudely mocked a man with Parkinson's and who now says he wants an American president to fail?!
With people like Limbaugh as the loudmouth image of the Republican Party -- you need no enemies. But something far more serious has happened than an image problem: the Republican Party has become the party of obstruction at just the time when all Americans should be pulling together for the good of our country. Instead, Republicans are today's fifth column sabotaging American renewal.

President Obama has been in office barely 45 days and the Republican Party has the nerve to blame him for the economic and military cataclysm he inherited. I say economic andmilitary cataclysm because without the needless war in Iraq you all backed we would not be in the economic mess we're in today. If that money had been spent here at home on renovating our infrastruc ture, taking us toward a green economy, putting our health-care system in order we'd be a very different situation.

As the father of a Marine who served in George W. Bush's misbegotten wars let me say this: if President Obama's strategy to repair our economy, infrastructure and healthcare fails that will put our troops at far greater risk because the world will become a far more dangerous place. So for all you flag-waving Republicans who are trying to undermine the President at home -- if you succeed more of our troops will be killed abroad.

When your new leader Rush Limbaugh calls for President Obama to fail he's calling for more flag-draped coffins. Limbaugh is the new "Hanoi Jane."

For the party that created our crisis's of misbegotten war, mismanaged economy, the lack of regulation of our banking industry, handing our country to rich crooks... to obstruct the one person who is trying to repair the damage is obscene.

Just imagine where America would be today if the 14 to 20 million voters -- "the rube base" who slavishly follow the likes of Limbaugh -- had not voted as a block year after year thus empowering the Republican fiasco. We would have a regulated banking industry and would have avoided our current financial crisis; some 4000 of our killed military men and women would be alive; over to 35,000 wounded Americans would be whole; we would have been leaders in the environmental movement; we would be in the middle of a green technology boom fueling a huge expansion of our economy and stopping our dependence on foreign oil, and our health-care system would be reformed.

After Obama was elected, you Republican leaders had a unique last chance to send a patriotic message of unity to the world -- and to all Americans. You could have backed our president's economic recovery plan. Since we all know that half of our problem is one of lost confidence and perception, nothing would have done more to calm the markets and project resolve and conf idence than if you had been big enough to take Obama's offered hand and had work with him -- even if you disagreed ideologically. You had the chance to put our country first. You utterly failed to rise to the occasion.

The worsening economic situation is your fault and your fault alone. The Republicans created this mess through 8 years of backing the worst president in our history and now, because you put partisan ideology ahead of the good of our country, you have blown your last chance to redeem yourselves. You deserve the banishment to the political wilderness that awaits all traitors.

Frank Schaeffer

Vote for an Obama-Maniac

Paul "Sluggo" Shelly Jr. — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:35:26 EST

Dear Friends,

It has been a long time since I blogged the MYBO. I had a serious illness that I just recently recovered from. It's all good now but was scary for a while.

I am seeking re-election to my City Council seat in McKeesport. I hope to continue to share Barack's message of hope and positive change to the city I love.

If you could, please vote for me in a current online poll. You don't have to be a Mckeesport resident to vote, just someone who wants more people with shared vision elected:

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/mckeesport-pa/T1PT5SBHEEJH9BS89

You can read up on me at www.paulshelly.com

If you have any friends in Mckeesport, please put in a good workd for me.

We did it folks. We "shook up the world!" !

Better days are ahead.

Peace.

Paul

Killing Me Softly (original 1972) Lori Lieberman

Bob Bethany — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:11:30 EST

Press to watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2eHqctEPJE

Twitter- Know Your Obama

Jill 4 Obama — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:56:12 EST

TWITTER

KnowYourObama

Following

You follow KnowYourObama
KnowYourObama's updates

Obama is getting out of the bubble. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id...21 minutes ago

HOPE

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.
- Emily Dickinson

looking for DISABLED Katrina Evacuees

darlene matthews — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:32:16 EST

Attention Hurricane Katrina Survivors!

We want to hear from people who have a disability or who have diabetes who had an experience with Hurricane Katrina.

Are you someone or know someone who:

Has a disability or has diabetes?

Is 23 years of age or older and evacuated from southern Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina?
Would be willing to participate in our research study and share their story about their lives before, during, and after the storm?

We are doing research to study the impact of Hurricane Katrina on people with disabilities or diabetes. We are collecting information on the barriers and disruptions they experienced in their lives, the strategies they used to reestablish their lives and their disaster-related needs as they recovered from Hurricane Katrina. Participants will be asked to spend approximately 30 minutes on the telephone answering survey questionsand will receive financial compensation for their time.

To sign up for this study or for more information call 1.866.578.4366. This project is in collaboration with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University and the ILRU Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital.

found this on disaboom.com

Support the PA Democratic Judicial Candidates

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:46:33 EST

Obama Supporters the PA Democratic Judicial Candidates Need Your Help

Judge Jack Panella for Supreme Court http://votejackpanella.com/

Judge Anne E. Lazarus for Superior Court http://www.lazarusforsuperiorcourt.org/

Judge John Milton Younge for Superior Court http://www.judgejohnyounge.org/

Judge Robert J. Colville for Superior Court http://www.judgecolville.com/

Dan Bricmont for Commonwealth Court http://danbricmont.com/

Judge Jimmy Murray Lynn for Commonwealth Court http://www.padems.com/node/1765

Reminder it is petition time in Pennsylvania.

First day to circulate and file nomination petition February 17

Last day to circulate and file nomination petitions March 10

PA Democratic Municipal Primary May 19, 2009

Obama supporters stay active and engaged at the local level.

Your local Democratic Party needs your help and ideas.Use the PA Democratic Party map to locate your local party website.

PA Democratic Party County Map: http://www.padems.com/about/map

If the local county party does not have a website listed on the PA Democratic Party Map contact the PA Democratic Party for local contact information.

PA Democratic Party: http://www.padems.com//

http://www.padems.com/about/staff

Try doing something constructive!

Peter and Linda — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:25:40 EST

Below is just another example of the trash the "conservative right" is circulating. I have a sense of humor, but with our country in crisis, don't you think their time could be better spent?

Instead of trying to do something constructive to get our country back on track, they deny losing the election and degrade our president and everything he stands for, every chance they get. Everything is a joke to them. They should be concentrating on solutions to begin to heal the "real" people out here that are hurting more and more each day.

The photo below captures a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect U.S. wildlife.

Animals that were formerly self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democratic Party . . . as they have apparently learned to just sit and wait for the government to step in and provide for their care and sustenance.

This photo is of a Democrat black bear in Montana nicknamed Bearack Obearma.

Give our President a chance!

Randy — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:28:17 EST

THERE IS A METHOD TO HIS MADNESS. OUR PRESIDENT B. OBAMA HAS DONE MORE FOR OUR COUNTRY IN ONE MONTH THEN ANY OTHER PRESIDENT. SO I'M GONNA TAKE ONE MINUTE OF MY TIME TO THANK HIM AND SUPPORT HIM ALL THE WAY. SO HERE IT IS (THANKYOU PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA!!!) AND YOU CAN COUNT ON MY SUPPORT. DOING SOMETHING RATHER THEN NOTHING IS WHAT SEPERATES US FROM THE ANIMALS. AMERICA IS EXPERIENCING A VERY HUMBLING TIME IN ITS HISTORY BUT WEV'VE HAD IT TO GOOD FOR TO LONG AND MAYBE SOMETHING GOOD WILL COME OUT OF THIS. MAYBE THIS WILL BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER WE HAVE BECOME A CULTURE OF EVERYONE FOR HIMSELF AND THATS JUST NOT RIGHT. WE NEED TO GATHER OUR MORALS BACK UP AND JOIN THE ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE CLUB CALLED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!

RANDY OF MI.....

Santelli, WHO???

Peter and Linda — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:00:35 EST

I just read this and had to comment.

"This Santelli thing is just total B.S.

He's a self-promoting blow-hard. Before his made-for-TV rant, who'd ever heard of this guy, other than his mom and next-door neighbor?

Anyone can gain a smidgeon of fame by saying outrageous things on cable TV. He's just following the mold of Jim Cramer and Ann Coulter.

The problem is that the media echo chamber can't help themselves when it comes to these fame-seeking blowhards. It's better for ratings to put on a frothing-at-the-mouth lunatic like Cramer, Coulter or Santelli, than it is to put on someone who talks in full paragraphs, like a Robert Reich, or a thousand other economists you've never heard of."

Author unknown ... however, I couldn't have said it better myself.

I'd love to meet this Santelli character. Instantly, he's smarter and knows more about the economy than President Obama. I think not , Santelli, you worthless bum. You couldn't shine Obama's shoes. You're simply a miserable wannabe. You're a big mouth, show-off!

Give an obnoxious Italian-American, with a few bucks, a microphone and there will surely be a scene and for the most part, they will always make an ass out of themselves (just as this jackass did).

I know what I'm talking about. I grew up in an strictly Italian-American neighborhood (being of Italian descent myself). I've seen bums like Santelli come and go. For the most part, simply ignore them. They will eventually go away in disgrace or wind up in jail.

God bless America.

Help for Homeowners

Jill 4 Obama — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:21:31 EST

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 9:36 am Help for homeowners The President’s strategy for economic recovery is a stool with several legs, as he’s said, and one of them is solving the foreclosure crisis.

"We must stem the spread of foreclosures and falling home values for all Americans, and do everything we can to help responsible homeowners stay in their homes," he said yesterday as he signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law.

Though communities across the country have been affected by the crisis, Arizona has been hit particularly hard -- in 2008, only two states had more foreclosures.

And President Obama is there today, in Phoenix, to unveil his "Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan," which will help bring relief to homeowners and bring some order to the housing market.

The President will talk more about his plan a little later today. In the meantime, we’re sure you have a lot of questions, like, Am I eligible for assistance? Might I be able to modify my loan? When do I apply? We've put together an example sheet that will show you what options might be available to you, depending on the circumstances of your mortgage, as well as answers to some common questions (below).

Questions and Answers for Borrowers about the
Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan

Borrowers Who Are Current on Their Mortgage Are Asking:

What help is available for borrowers who stay current on their mortgage payments but have seen their homes decrease in value?

Under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, eligible borrowers who stay current on their mortgages but have been unable to refinance to lower their interest rates because their homes have decreased in value, may now have the opportunity to refinance into a 30 or 15 year, fixed rate loan. Through the program, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow the refinancing of mortgage loans that they hold in their portfolios or that they placed in mortgage backed securities.

I owe more than my property is worth, do I still qualify to refinance under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?

Eligible loans will now include those where the new first mortgage (including any refinancing costs) will not exceed 105% of the current market value of the property. For example, if your property is worth $200,000 but you owe $210,000 or less you may qualify. The current value of your property will be determined after you apply to refinance.

How do I know if I am eligible?

Complete eligibility details will be announced on March 4th when the program starts. The criteria for eligibility will include having sufficient income to make the new payment and an acceptable mortgage payment history. The program is limited to loans held or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

I have both a first and a second mortgage. Do I still qualify to refinance under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?

As long as the amount due on the first mortgage is less than 105% of the value of the property, borrowers with more than one mortgage may be eligible to refinance under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. Your eligibility will depend, in part, on agreement by the lender that has your second mortgage to remain in a second position, and on your ability to meet the new payment terms on the first mortgage.

Will refinancing lower my payments?

The objective of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is to provide creditworthy borrowers who have shown a commitment to paying their mortgage with affordable payments that are sustainable for the life of the loan. Borrowers whose mortgage interest rates are much higher than the current market rate should see an immediate reduction in their payments. Borrowers who are paying interest only, or who have a low introductory rate that will increase in the future, may not see their current payment go down if they refinance to a fixed rate. These borrowers, however, could save a great deal over the life of the loan. When you submit a loan application, your lender will give you a "Good Faith Estimate" that includes your new interest rate, mortgage payment and the amount that you will pay over the life of the loan. Compare this to your current loan terms. If it is not an improvement, a refinancing may not be right for you.

What are the interest rate and other terms of this refinance offer?

The objective of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is to provide borrowers with a safe loan program with a fixed, affordable payment. All loans refinanced under the plan will have a 30 or 15 year term with a fixed interest rate. The rate will be based on market rates in effect at the time of the refinance and any associated points and fees quoted by the lender. Interest rates may vary across lenders and over time as market rates adjust. The refinanced loans will have no prepayment penalties or balloon notes.

Will refinancing reduce the amount that I owe on my loan?

No. The objective of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is to help borrowers refinance into safer, more affordable fixed rate loans. Refinancing will not reduce the amount you owe to the first mortgage holder or any other debt you owe. However, by reducing the interest rate, refinancing should save you money by reducing the amount of interest that you repay over the life of the loan.

How do I know if my loan is owned or has been securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac?

To determine if your loan is owned or has been securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and is eligible to be refinanced, you should contact your mortgage lender after March 4, 2009.

When can I apply?

Mortgage lenders will begin accepting applications after the details of the program are announced on March 4, 2009.

What should I do in the meantime?

You should gather the information that you will need to provide to your lender after March 4, when the refinance program becomes available. This includes:

- information about the gross monthly income of all borrowers, including your most recent pay stubs if you receive them or documentation of income you receive from other sources
- your most recent income tax return
- information about any second mortgage on the house
- payments on each of your credit cards if you are carrying balances from month to month, and
- payments on other loans such as student loans and car loans.

Borrowers Who Are at Risk of Foreclosure Are Asking:

What help is available for borrowers who are at risk of foreclosure either because they are behind on their mortgage or are struggling to make the payments?

The Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan offers help to borrowers who are already behind on their mortgage payments or who are struggling to keep their loans current. By providing mortgage lenders with financial incentives to modify existing first mortgages, the Treasury hopes to help as many as 3 to 4 million homeowners avoid foreclosure regardless of who owns or services the mortgage.

Do I need to be behind on my mortgage payments to be eligible for a modification?

No. Borrowers who are struggling to stay current on their mortgage payments may be eligible if their income is not sufficient to continue to make their mortgage payments and they are at risk of imminent default. This may be due to several factors, such as a loss of income, a significant increase in expenses, or an interest rate that will reset to an unaffordable level.

How do I know if I qualify for a payment reduction under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?

In general, you may qualify for a mortgage modification if (a) you occupy your house as your primary residence; (b) your monthly mortgage payment is greater than 31% of your monthly gross income; and (c) your loan is not large enough to exceed current Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits. Final eligibility will be determined by your mortgage lender based on your financial situation and detailed guidelines that will be available on March 4, 2009.

I do not live in the house that secures the mortgage I’d like to modify. Is this mortgage eligible for the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?

No. For example, if you own a house that you use as a vacation home or that you rent out to tenants, the mortgage on that house is not eligible. If you used to live in the home but you moved out, the mortgage is not eligible. Only the mortgage on your primary residence is eligible. The mortgage lender will check to see if the dwelling is your primary residence.

I have a mortgage on a duplex. I live in one unit and rent the other. Will I still be eligible?

Yes. Mortgages on 2, 3 and 4 unit properties are eligible as long as you live in one unit as your primary residence.

I have two mortgages. Will the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan reduce the payments on both?

Only the first mortgage is eligible for a modification.

I owe more than my house is worth. Will the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan reduce what I owe?

The primary objective of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is to help borrowers avoid foreclosure by modifying troubled loans to achieve a payment the borrower can afford. Lenders are likely to lower payments mainly by reducing loan interest rates. However, the program offers incentives for principal reductions and at your lender’s discretion modifications may include upfront reductions of loan principal.

I heard the government was providing a financial incentive to borrowers. Is that true?

Yes. To encourage borrowers who work hard to retain homeownership, the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan provides incentive payments as a borrower makes timely payments on the modified loan. The incentive will accrue on a monthly basis and will be applied directly to reduce your mortgage debt. Borrowers who pay on time for five years can have up to $5,000 applied to reduce their debt by the end of that period.

How much will a modification cost me?

There is no cost to borrowers for a modification under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. If you wish to get assistance from a HUD-approved housing counseling agency or are referred to a counselor as a condition of the modification, you will not be charged a fee. Borrowers should beware of any organization that attempts to charge a fee for housing counseling or modification of a delinquent loan, especially if they require a fee in advance.

Is my lender required to modify my loan?

No. Mortgage lenders participate in the program on a voluntary basis and loans are evaluated for modification on a case-by-case basis. But the government is offering substantial incentives and it is expected that most major lenders will participate.

I'm already working with my lender / housing counselor on a loan workout. Can I still be considered for the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?

Ask your lender or counselor to be considered under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan.

How do I apply for a modification under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?

You may not need to do anything at this time. Most mortgage lenders will evaluate loans in their portfolio to identify borrowers who may meet the eligibility criteria. After March 4 they will send letters to potentially eligible homeowners, a process that may take several weeks. If you think you qualify for a modification and do not receive a letter within several weeks, contact your mortgage servicer or a HUD-approved housing counselor. Please be aware that servicers and counseling agencies are expected to receive an extraordinary number of calls about this program.

What should I do in the meantime?

You should gather the information that you will need to provide to your lender on or after March 4, when the modification program becomes available. This includes

- information about the monthly gross income of your household including recent pay stubs if you receive them or documentation of income you receive from other sources
- your most recent income tax return
- information about any second mortgage on the house
- payments on each of your credit cards if you are carrying balances from month to month, and
- payments on other loans such as student loans and car loans.

My loan is scheduled for foreclosure soon. What should I do?

Contact your mortgage servicer or credit counselor. Many mortgage lenders have expressed their intention to postpone foreclosure sales on all mortgages that may qualify for the modification in order to allow sufficient time to evaluate the borrower's eligibility. We support this

The Source of Present Economic/Financial Crisis (SPEC)

ARK — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:17:23 EST

Simply put and in TWELEVE (12) CRUCIAL WORDS, the Source of Present Economic/Financial Crisis (SPEC) is: Large Balance of Trade Deficits (BTD) AND Balance of Payment Surpluses (BPS) of the past.

A- Unhealthy consequences of Large Balance of Trade Deficits (BTD) Year after Year

1- Severe decline in quality of goods manufactured, productivity, international competitiveness…So many industries lost out due to these wrong economic policies, AND one predominant losers is the US auto industry…So in order to make up for these losses, the auto industry and others had to be awarded large defense contracts. So their mission of auto manufacturing was faded away by lucrative defense contracts. Then more attention was paid to where the money was rather than what the US automobile consumer market needed which resulted in less research and development (R & D)!

2- The above resulted in loss of markets and increased unemployed AND we are still feeling the outcome.

3- On the other hand US trade partners were able to export their goods and services to this country. So they had large cash reserves, higher employment rates, as well as improved and better quality products as well as a competitive pricing structure.

4- Since they did not have too many options and they also had to control their internal inflation, those US trade partners invested large portions of their cash reserves in the US financial systems and that resulted in US Balance of Payment Surpluses (BPS). It all sounded fine and dandy and excellent economic policy of UNLIMITED FREE TRADE, but mistakes were piling up year after year until the bubble burst of 2007- 2008!

B- Unhealthy consequences of Large Balance of Payment Surpluses (BPS) of the past

1- Lots of money was invested in the US financial system which was very strong but had a limited capacity to absorb those large sums of Foreign Direct Financial Investments (FDFI).

2- So US financiers had to come up when new and creative ways of investing those moneys and expanding a limited financial system year after year. Then they came up with creative schemes such as lending the same money over and over again or another one called the Sub-Prime fiasco!

3- Limited financial capability on the part of consumers and unlimited funds resulted in foreclosures and the Domino Factor of Financial Institutions failures in the US and worldwide, etc. etc…

C- Near Future Outcome and Proposed Solutions

1- After this ECONOMIC Financial Crisis (EFC), unfortunately and due to excesses of the past, there could be less capability or tendency for FDFI in to the US. So we can NO LONGER rely on past mistaken economic policy of Large Balance of Trade Deficits (BTD) AND Balance of Payment Surpluses (BPS). If didn’t work, then lets CHANGE it!

2- FREE TRADE SHOULD ALSO BE BALANCED & FAIR – Let us say that country X exports to US a lot more than it imports from US and that country is also hosting some US bases on their soil and is a GOOD Security Partner. Since every single factor should be taken in to consideration, then we will have to come up with a FAIR & FREE TRADE FORMULA that protects the rights of all trade partners. One sided deals have never worked in the past and will never work in the future! So here is a proposed FREE & FAIR TRADE FORMULA: $ Value of the Country X’s exports to the US less compensation for US bases in that country (if any), less a maximum trade surplus allowance for country X of 10-15% = US exports to that country.

In some cases and hopefully, the US would have some trade surpluses with third party countries (TPC) and those TPC could have trade surpluses with countries X, Y, & Z. who have trade surpluses with the US… Perhaps and only if US wants to give an additional advantage to those X,Y, & Z countries, then parts of the US balance of trade deficit with countries X. Y, & Z could be offset using the trade surpluses US would enjoy with third party countries.

3- The policy of artificially Devaluating a Country’s Currency to make Exports cheaper and imports more expensive! Such countries should be warned and if those countries do NOT respond within a year to WTO & US written and official warnings, then tariffs the export of their goods and services to the US. The amount of these tariffs should be even more than the amount of artificial devaluation policy adopted by the country at fault! Why more? Because punishment should fit the crime and importers should be compensated for past Tainted Trade Policies (TTP) as well. Free Trade should really be FAIR AND UNTAINTED…And artificially devaluating a country’s currency will certainly taint the spirit of Free & FAIR Trade!

Obama Scores Another Major Victory

N. Julio Barthson - E-Campaign Leader — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:40:47 EST

The Republicans must have been in a long period of hybernation for the last two years and missed everything that was happening throughout the campaign period. They surely still believe that Barack Obama won the election by chance, even though he defeated some of America's most seasoned politicians during the Democratic primaries and caucuses - including Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton; and even though he won a landslide general election by trouncing America's most known war hero alive - John McCain. Barack Obama is no fool. He is a smart and tough guy. He gave the Republicans an opportunity to join in crafting a bipartisan economic recovery bill; he stretched out his hand in a gesture of friendship. What did the Republicans do? They bit his fingers and tried to cut out his hand. So he recoiled, and hit back. He hit hard with a victory for the people. We now have our economic stimulus plan, and the lazy, do-nothing Republicans can do nothing about it! Instead of gathering around real leaders in order to figure out things, they're instead turning their party to Rush Limbaugh's schizophrenic leadership. How sad. America deserves a better opposition to the ruling party than what the Republicans have offered. Frank Rich tells us in his most recent NYT op-ed, why the the Republican Party is becoming more and more irrelevant...

Get real, folks!

Peter and Linda — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:19:38 EST

We get a kick out of the emails we receive, complaining about the direction (or lack thereof) of the Obama Administration. It's amazing, isn't it?

OUR president has accomplished more in his first three weeks than Mr. Bush did in 8 years. Yet, the "blind followers" of the GOP "conservative right" are already complaining that "nothing" is getting done. Get real folks!

OUR president has attained major milestones already, without any partisanship at all. He has really tried (and is continuing to do so) to reach across the aisle. However, partisanship certainly lives on in Washington. To hell with all of us, as long as they adhere to their party's ideals ... even though those are the exact "ideals" that put our country in the sad position it is today.

We must send a clear message to the GOP. We spoke in November. We wanted change. We voted for change. We won. They lost. Will someone please tell Mc Cain and the rest of them that they LOST! Either get onboard or get out of the way of America's President, so he can make the changes promised to ALL Americans.

Let's go get them. God bless.

Peter and Linda

E-Verify is a flawed system, rightfully taken out of the Stimulus Package

Robert Lynch — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:19:31 EST

An excerpt from Federal Computer Week-------------------

Currently, about 100,000 employers voluntarily use E-Verify, formerly known as Basic Pilot. Under an executive order issued by President George W. Bush, federal contractors are supposed to start using E-Verify in May, though business groups are challenging the order in court.

Critics point to relatively high error rates in the government databases used to determine initial eligibility. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which jointly runs the program with the Social Security Administration, estimates that about 4,000 U.S. workers in every 1 million would be initially denied eligibility because of the database errors.

Groups such as the Immigration Policy Center refer to E-Verify as “deeply flawed” because of the error rates and have warned of the danger of American workers losing or risking their jobs because of the shortcomings in E-Verify. They also said E-Verify would slow the impact of the stimulus spending.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obviously, E-Verify is a defective verification system that puts U.S. CITIZENS out of work. 4000 errors out of every million is pathetic. If 5 Million people are screened using this system for stimulus jobs, that means that 20,000 applicants will be rejected because of this inferior program. Noone in their right mind would support E-Verify, unless they are working for the company that sells it.

The President's Weekly Address

Peter and Linda — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:09:14 EST

First of all, congratulations to the president (and all of us) on the passage of the stimulus package.

I just watched President Obama's weekly address and hope all of you have had the opportunity to see it. He never ceases to amaze me. I love this guy .... Barack!

http://www.politicalpeon.com/2009/02/president-obamas-weekly-radio-address.html

The best to you all. Stay well.

Peter

Apply For A Job

Jill 4 Obama — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:42:14 EST

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 9:47 am

Apply for a job

We're happy to announce that the jobs application feature is now live on WhiteHouse.gov. The Jobs Application feature enables people everywhere to apply to be considered for a political appointment in President Obama's Administration. You can get to it by clicking on the "Jobs" link at the very bottom of each of the pages on WhiteHouse.gov.

That link will take you to a page which tells you a little bit more about the application process, with a a button at the bottom marked, "Begin Application Form." That’s where you fill out your information, upload a resume, and tell us what kinds of positions you’re interested in. But a quick heads up – you have to complete the application in one session, and it’s going to take you about 15 minutes to do it. So before you start, you might want to print the Paper Application, gather up the information you’ll need, then sign back in.

We’re looking to fill several thousand politically appointed positions in the Executive Branch. We’re already interviewing for many of the upper level positions, but will be reviewing applications and making decisions on appointments over the next few months. Remember, the WhiteHouse.gov jobs application is just for politically appointed positions in the Executive Branch of the government. These are positions that serve at the pleasure of the President and so are by definition temporary, not permanent. We have received more than 350,000 applications to date for several thousand positions; the selection process is very competitive and rigorous. For more information on these types of appointments, click on the Executive Branch link on the "Our Government" page of WhiteHouse.gov, or check out the Plum Book. (We also encourage you to look at the many thousands of permanent career positions with the government. Go to USAJobs.gov for more information and to fill out an application.)

If you already submitted an application to Change.gov, you don’t need to submit a new one. All applications from Change.gov have been brought into the White House applicant database and are currently being used to search for candidates.

A number of people have asked whether they can update an application. If you want to modify an application you submitted to Change.gov or WhiteHouse.gov, you will need to submit a brand new application to WhiteHouse.gov. The security requirements of the White House technology environment will not permit applicants to retrieve and modify already-submitted applications.

If you have skills and a desire for public service, check out the WhiteHouse.gov jobs page USAJobs.gov (career positions) and tell us about yourself.

Bailout Idea!!!

Miz Clark — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:02:27 EST

Our economy is a mess, and taxpayers are being expected to foot the bill. I have no problem paying may fair share, business or personal, but how do we know they won’t squander those funds too?

I don’t know about you, but I’m thouroughly disgusted with how things are turning out. Companies like Enron, WorldCom and others have been allowed to walk away from the havoc, some have not even got a slap on the wrist.

Why can’t the government require these individuals to payback all the money above their regular income? I don’t advocate taking from the rich and giving to the poor, but as a business owner I don’t get a bonus if the company is in financial trouble.

President Barack Obama, First Press Conference

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:44:45 EST

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
Monday, February 9th, 2009 at 8:10 pm

President Obama is holding his first press conference. You can watch it streaming at WhiteHouse.gov/live.

He opened up with some brief remarks, which you can read in full (as prepared for delivery) below.

OPENING REMARKS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA -- AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY
First Presidential Press Conference
East Room, The White House
Monday, February 9th, 2009

Good evening. Before I take your questions tonight, I’d like to speak briefly about the state of our economy and why I believe we need to put this recovery plan in motion as soon as possible.

I took a trip to Elkhart, Indiana today. Elkhart is a place that has lost jobs faster than anywhere else in America. In one year, the unemployment rate went from 4.7% to 15.3%. Companies that have sustained this community for years are shedding jobs at an alarming speed, and the people who’ve lost them have no idea what to do or who to turn to. They can’t pay their bills and they’ve stopped spending money. And because they’ve stopped spending money, more businesses have been forced to lay off more workers. Local TV stations have started running public service announcements that tell people where to find food banks, even as the food banks don’t have enough to meet the demand.

As we speak, similar scenes are playing out in cities and towns across the country. Last Monday, more than 1,000 men and women stood in line for 35 firefighter jobs in Miami. Last month, our economy lost 598,000 jobs, which is nearly the equivalent of losing every single job in the state of Maine. And if there’s anyone out there who still doesn’t believe this constitutes a full-blown crisis, I suggest speaking to one of the millions of Americans whose lives have been turned upside down because they don’t know where their next paycheck is coming from.

That is why the single most important part of this Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is the fact that it will save or create up to 4 million jobs. Because that is what America needs most right now.

It is absolutely true that we cannot depend on government alone to create jobs or economic growth. That is and must be the role of the private sector. But at this particular moment, with the private sector so weakened by this recession, the federal government is the only entity left with the resources to jolt our economy back to life. It is only government that can break the vicious cycle where lost jobs lead to people spending less money which leads to even more layoffs. And breaking that cycle is exactly what the plan that’s moving through Congress is designed to do.

When passed, this plan will ensure that Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own can receive greater unemployment benefits and continue their health care coverage. We will also provide a $2,500 tax credit to folks who are struggling to pay the cost of their college tuition, and $1000 worth of badly-needed tax relief to working and middle-class families. These steps will put more money in the pockets of those Americans who are most likely to spend it, and that will help break the cycle and get our economy moving.

But as we learned very clearly and conclusively over the last eight years, tax cuts alone cannot solve all our economic problems – especially tax cuts that are targeted to the wealthiest few Americans. We have tried that strategy time and time again, and it has only helped lead us to the crisis we face right now.

That is why we have come together around a plan that combines hundreds of billions in tax cuts for the middle-class with direct investments in areas like health care, energy, education, and infrastructure – investments that will save jobs, create new jobs and new businesses, and help our economy grow again – now and in the future.

More than 90% of the jobs created by this plan will be in the private sector. These will not be make-work jobs, but jobs doing the work that America desperately needs done. Jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, and repairing our dangerously deficient dams and levees so that we don’t face another Katrina. They will be jobs building the wind turbines and solar panels and fuel-efficient cars that will lower our dependence on foreign oil, and modernizing a costly health care system that will save us billions of dollars and countless lives. They’ll be jobs creating 21st century classrooms, libraries, and labs for millions of children across America. And they’ll be the jobs of firefighters, teachers, and police officers that would otherwise be eliminated if we do not provide states with some relief.

After many weeks of debate and discussion, the plan that ultimately emerges from Congress must be big enough and bold enough to meet the size of the economic challenge we face right now. It is a plan that is already supported by businesses representing almost every industry in America; by both the Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO. It contains input, ideas, and compromises from both Democrats and Republicans. It also contains an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability, so that every American will be able to go online and see where and how we’re spending every dime. What it does not contain, however, is a single pet project, and it has been stripped of the projects members of both parties found most objectionable.

Despite all of this, the plan is not perfect. No plan is. I can’t tell you for sure that everything in this plan will work exactly as we hope, but I can tell you with complete confidence that a failure to act will only deepen this crisis as well as the pain felt by millions of Americans. My administration inherited a deficit of over $1 trillion, but because we also inherited the most profound economic emergency since the Great Depression, doing too little or nothing at all will result in an even greater deficit of jobs, incomes; and confidence. That is a deficit that could turn a crisis into a catastrophe. And I refuse to let that happen. As long as I hold this office, I will do whatever it takes to put this country back to work.

I want to thank the members of Congress who’ve worked so hard to move this plan forward, but I also want to urge all members of Congress to act without delay in the coming week to resolve their differences and pass this plan.

We find ourselves in a rare moment where the citizens of our country and all countries are watching and waiting for us to lead. It is a responsibility that this generation did not ask for, but one that we must accept for the sake of our future and our children’s. The strongest democracies flourish from frequent and lively debate, but they endure when people of every background and belief find a way to set aside smaller differences in service of a greater purpose. That is the test facing the United States of America in this winter of our hardship, and it is our duty as leaders and citizens to stay true to that purpose in the weeks and months ahead. After a day of speaking with and listening to the fundamentally decent men and women who call this nation home, I have full faith and confidence that we can. And with that, I’ll take your questions.

Michelle Obama

Jill 4 Obama — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:48:57 EST

‘Mom in Chief’ Touches on Policy, and Tongues Wag Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times

Michelle Obama speaking Wednesday to employees of the Housing and Urban Affairs Department, part of her tour to get to know Washington.

By RACHEL L. SWARNS Published: February 7, 2009

WASHINGTON — The government workers greeted Michelle Obama like a Hollywood celebrity, whooping and cheering and oohing and aahing over her slate gray power suit. But when she took to the podium, the nation’s self-described mom in chief quickly turned policy wonk.

Related Times Topics: Michelle Obama Blog The Caucus

The latest on President Obama, the new administration and other news from Washington and around the nation. Join the discussion.

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Enlarge This Image Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times

Mrs. Obama met well-wishers last month after having lunch with Adrian M. Fenty, the mayor of Washington, and his wife.

The first lady pitched her husband’s economic stimulus package, including plans to create 15,000 affordable housing units, weatherize 2 million low-income homes and repair military housing. Such investments, Mrs. Obama told employees at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, would prevent “an increase in homelessness during these tough economic times.”

In her first weeks in the White House, Mrs. Obama has been the gracious hostess and loyal spouse, welcoming visitors to the Executive Mansion and accompanying President Obama to a prayer breakfast and to a charter school to read to second graders. But in a departure from her predecessor, Mrs. Obama has also begun promoting bills that support her husband’s policy priorities.

Last month, Mrs. Obama celebrated the enacting of a pay-equity law with a reception for women’s advocates at the White House. Last week, she supported the economic stimulus bill on her visit to the housing agency and another to the Department of Education.

Mrs. Obama plans to visit all the cabinet-level agencies on her tour to listen to and get to know Washington in the coming weeks, her aides say. They said she relished the chance to serve as one of the president’s chief surrogates on critical policy matters.

“One of the things she does really well is to highlight the benefits of pieces of legislation,” said Jackie Norris, Mrs. Obama’s chief of staff. “She’s really kind of laying out things that are important to the administration. I think she’ll play an active role in supporting the president’s agenda.”

It is a notably different approach than the one embraced by the former first lady, Laura Bush, who like most others steered clear of discussing legislation. Some observers praised Mrs. Obama’s foray into the legislative debate, saying the new first lady, who is a Harvard-educated lawyer and a former hospital executive, was eminently qualified to promote the president’s policies.

Others expressed surprise, saying they had expected Mrs. Obama to focus on her daughters and on the traditional issues she had emphasized in the presidential campaign, like supporting military families and working parents. Her remarks, they said, carried echoes of former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, though Mrs. Obama has said she will not become involved in policymaking as Mrs. Clinton did.

“She went to some lengths to say she was going to be first mom in chief,” Myra Gutin, a scholar of first ladies at Rider University in New Jersey, said of Mrs. Obama. “I don’t think we ever really imagined her edging toward public policy like this. It’s not like she’s making public policy. But it’s a little less neutral than some of the other things she’s talked about focusing on.”

Marcia D. Greenberger, co-president of the National Women’s Law Center here, countered that Mrs. Obama was successfully balancing her ceremonial role as first lady, her role as a mother and her keen interest in public policy.

“It seems like a combination of responsibilities that fit very naturally with who she is,” said Ms. Greenberger, who attended the signing of the pay-equity law at the White House. “You don’t have a sense that being a mom and being human and being able to understand everybody’s daily struggles has to come at the expense of her intelligence, her expertise and her understanding of the issues.”

Mrs. Obama’s aides say she is still feeling her way as first lady. She is meeting regularly with her staff to plan events and hammer out her policy agenda even as she juggles play dates and goes over homework with her daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7. (And yes, Mrs. Obama, like her husband, is keeping her BlackBerry.)

When Mr. Obama stood alongside members of Congress in a White House ceremony to celebrate the signing of the pay-equity legislation, Mrs. Obama found a seat in the audience with the women’s advocates, not on stage with the lawmakers.

And in her speech at the Education Department last week, Mrs. Obama quickly corrected herself when she used the word “we” to describe the educational investments the president hoped to make. “I shouldn’t say ‘we,’ but the administration ‘we,’ ” she said.

Her speeches to government employees have been warm and rousing, something akin to pep rallies, first lady style, as she has thanked them for their work. “I’m visiting — trying to visit all the agencies here to say a few things — one, to say hello,” Mrs. Obama said as the crowd roared back, “Hello!”

Indeed, Mrs. Obama seems to savor her role as a bridge between the White House and the community. Last week, she took time to hug, shake hands with and speak to dozens of government employees — from administrative assistants to agency heads — some of whom said they came close to tears at the sight of her. (“I got a hug!” one woman shouted jubilantly. “I got a hug!”)

Mrs. Obama plans to continue honing her message, her aides say. But she is also eager to get out of the White House and into the city.

Last week, she took her staff to lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, where she had a cheeseburger, French fries and a Coke.

And when a little girl at the charter school visited by the Obamas announced that she dreamed of becoming first lady, Mrs. Obama flashed her self-deprecating wit. “It doesn’t pay much,” she advised.

Compromise

Jill 4 Obama — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:24:11 EST

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
Saturday, February 7th, 2009 at 5:00 am Compromise There was bad news and then there was good news.

Yesterday we learned that in January, the country suffered its largest one-month job loss in 34 years.

But last night, the Senate struck a compromise on the economic recovery plan and put us on our way to giving the economy the short-term jolt and long-term investments it needs.

"Americans across this country are struggling, and they are watching to see if we're equal to the task before us," the President says in this morning's Weekly Address. "Let's show them that we are."

Watch the President's address and read the full text below.

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privacy policy | download .mp4 | also available here

REMARKS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
WEEKLY ADDRESS
The White House
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Yesterday began with some devastating news with regard to our economic crisis. But I'm pleased to say it ended on a more positive note.

In the morning, we received yet another round of alarming employment figures – the worst in more than 30 years. Another 600,000 jobs were lost in January. We've now lost more than 3.6 million jobs since this recession began.

But by the evening, Democrats and Republicans came together in the Senate and responded appropriately to the urgency this moment demands.

In the midst of our greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, the American people were hoping that Congress would begin to confront the great challenges we face. That was, after all, what last November's election was all about.

Legislation of such magnitude deserves the scrutiny that it's received over the last month, and it will receive more in the days to come. But we can't afford to make perfect the enemy of the absolutely necessary. The scale and scope of this plan is right. And the time for action is now.

Because if we don't move swiftly to put this plan in motion, our economic crisis could become a national catastrophe. Millions of Americans will lose their jobs, their homes, and their health care. Millions more will have to put their dreams on hold.

Let's be clear: We can't expect relief from the tired old theories that, in eight short years, doubled the national debt, threw our economy into a tailspin, and led us into this mess in the first place. We can't rely on a losing formula that offers only tax cuts as the answer to all our problems while ignoring our fundamental economic challenges – the crushing cost of health care or the inadequate state of so many schools; our addiction to foreign oil or our crumbling roads, bridges, and levees.

The American people know that our challenges are great. They don't expect Democratic solutions or Republican solutions – they expect American solutions.

From the beginning, this recovery plan has had at its core a simple idea: Let's put Americans to work doing the work America needs done. It will save or create more than 3 million jobs over the next two years, all across the country – 16,000 in Maine, nearly 80,000 in Indiana – almost all of them in the private sector, and all of them jobs that help us recover today, and prosper tomorrow.

Jobs that upgrade classrooms and laboratories in 10,000 schools nationwide – at least 485 in Florida alone – and train an army of teachers in math and science.

Jobs that modernize our health care system, not only saving us billions of dollars, but countless lives.

Jobs that construct a smart electric grid, connect every corner of the country to the information superhighway, double our capacity to generate renewable energy, and grow the economy of tomorrow.

Jobs that rebuild our crumbling roads, bridges and levees and dams, so that the tragedies of New Orleans and Minneapolis never happen again.

It includes immediate tax relief for our struggling middle class in places like Ohio, where 4.5 million workers will receive a tax cut of up to $1,000. It protects health insurance and provides unemployment insurance for those who've lost their jobs. And it helps our states and communities avoid painful tax hikes or layoffs for our teachers, nurses, and first responders.

That's what is at stake with this plan: putting Americans back to work, creating transformative economic change, and making a down payment on the American Dream that serves our children and our children's children for generations to come.

Americans across this country are struggling, and they are watching to see if we're equal to the task before us. Let's show them that we are. And let's do whatever it takes to keep the promise of America alive in our time.

Thank you.

Investing in Our Country's Infrastructure

Jill 4 Obama — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:26:30 EST

THE BRIEFING ROOM
Thursday, February 5th, 2009 at 12:00 am Vice President Biden: "400,000 Jobs to Be Created Nationwide by Investing in our Country's Infrastructure" THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 5, 2009

Vice President Biden: "400,000 Jobs to Be Created Nationwide by Investing in our Country’s Infrastructure"

Washington, DC – After touring the Laurel, Maryland MARC Train Station, one of the thousands of rail and commuter stations all across the country in dire need of improvements, Vice President Joe Biden discussed why we must invest in our nation’s infrastructure in order to build a 21st century economy. He was joined by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The Vice President said that 400,000 jobs will be created over the next two years nationwide if we invest in improving and upgrading our nation’s infrastructure, including mass transit systems, highways, bridges and ports. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan includes the largest investment increase – at least $100 billion – in our nation’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges and mass transit systems, since the creation of the national highway system in the 1950s.

The White House released the following report to illustrate, using Maryland as a case study example, the impact investing in infrastructure will have on our nation. Please find this report included below.

###

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan
Creating Good Jobs by Modernizing Our Infrastructure

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is a nationwide effort to create jobs, jumpstart growth and transform our economy for the 21st century. Across the country, this plan will help businesses create jobs and families afford their bills while laying a foundation for future economic growth in key areas like health care, clean energy, education and a 21st century infrastructure.

NATIONAL Impact of Infrastructure Investments

A key driver of job creation in the Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is the largest investment in America’s crumbling roads, bridges and transit lines since the creation of the national highway system. The infrastructure investments in the plan are designed to fund ready-to-go projects that can get money out into the economy quickly, while addressing longstanding infrastructure backlogs that are creating security risks for our citizens and a drag on economic growth.

· At least $100 billion to improve and upgrade our nation’s infrastructure, including mass transit systems, our highways, bridges and ports. [Source: White House Estimate]

· Create or save 400,000 jobs over the next two years. Jobs will be created by improving our mass transit systems, rebuilding roads, bridges, waterways, ports and more. [Source: White House Estimate based on Romer and Bernstein, "The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." January 9, 2009.]

MARYLAND Impact of Infrastructure Investments
This historic infrastructure investment will provide direct, immediate support to Maryland, including:

· At least $400 million to improve Maryland’s highways, $100 million to upgrade and expand transit systems in Maryland and $150 million to invest in water and sewer projects in the state. [Source: White House Estimate]

· Funding sufficient to modernize at least 138 schools in Maryland so our children have the labs, classrooms and libraries they need to compete in the 21st century economy. [Source: White House Estimate]

NATIONAL OVERALL IMPACT OF THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT PLAN

The recovery plan will create and save jobs in the near future while addressing long-term needs that are critical to laying the foundation for a strong economic future. Specifically it will:

· Create or save 3 to 4 million jobs over the next two years. Independent analyses by Macroeconomic Advisers and Moody’s have confirmed that the recovery plan will meet this jobs goal.[1] Jobs created will be in a range of industries from clean energy to health care, with over 90% in the private sector.[2]

· Spend out at least 75% of the package in the first 18 months after passage. By including major fast-spending provisions like tax cuts for middle class families, measures to avoid state health care cuts, and temporary expansions of unemployment insurance, food stamps and health care for unemployed workers, the package will spend out at least 75% of its total commitment within the first 18 months after passage. The Administration will work with Congress to refine this package to ensure that it meets this 75% goal.

· Double renewable energy generating capacity over three years, creating enough renewable energy to power 6 million American homes.

· Computerize every American’s health record in five years, reducing medical errors and saving billions of dollars in health care costs.

· Launch the most ambitious school modernization program on record, sufficient to upgrade 10,000 schools.

· Enact the largest investment increase in our nation’s roads, bridges and mass transit systems since the creation of the national highway system in the 1950.

Maryland Overall Impact OF THE RECOVERY PLAN:
The national economic crisis has devastated states across the country, and Maryland is no exception. Unemployment in Maryland is at a 15 year high, up 60 percent over the past year. In just the last four months, the state has lost more than 30,000 jobs. The recovery and reinvestment plan is urgently needed to help stem this downturn and jumpstart job creation across the state. Overall, the plan will:

· Create or save 70,000 jobs over the next two years. Jobs created will be in a range of industries from clean energy to health care, with over 90% in the private sector. [Source: White House Estimate based on Romer and Bernstein, "The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." January 9, 2009.]

· Jobs created or saved include about 9,500 in Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Laurel.

· Provide a Making Work Pay tax cut of up to $1,000 for 2,210,000 Maryland workers and their families. The plan will make a down payment on the President’s Making Work Pay tax cut for 95% of workers and their families, designed to pay out immediately into workers’ paychecks. [Source: White House Estimate based on IRS Statistics of Income]

[1 Macroeconomic Advisers, "Fiscal Stimulus to the Rescue?" January 15, 2009; Zandi, Mark. "The Economic Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," Moody’s Economy.com, January 21, 2009. Available at: http://www.economy.com/mark-zandi/documents/Economic_Stimulus_House_Plan_012109.pdf. ] [2 Romer, Christina and Jared Bernstein. "The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." January 9, 2009. Available at: http://otrans.3cdn.net/45593e8ecbd339d074_l3m6bt1te.pdf. ]