Prime Time Women for Obama

Independents are swayed by healthcare, educational opportunities for those on foodstamps so they can get jobs too, building subways, electric cars, solar and wind energy, ending our dependence on foreign oil and related wars and jobs for the poor!

Lillene Ebanks — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:43:51 EST

As an independent the factors that move me are if more people can experience health, employment, go to college and get a home and car. The republicans are not inclusive people and do not even talk about how to change the future prospects for a growing group of people on food stams. 6ifty percent of children grow up on food stamps. Ninety percent of African American and thirty percent of caucasian children grow up on food stamps. I believe the country will be better off by taxing the one percent at the top because they avoid taxes by using overseas corporations and use labor in other countries especiaaly telephone and internet companies which can be regulated easily through legislation. However that is called protectionism but for USA unemployment we could resort to some protectionism and give up some cheap Chinese made products sold in Walmart and American not Philipinoes or Indians should be customer service agents for Chase bank, AIG and the telephone companiesM we bailed them out and they should have to hire Americans and cut their executive salaries. I will not vote for anyone against health care.

Thank You Sussane Sumers For Standing Up For People by Fighting The pharmacutical companies as Congress will not stand up for Alternative heath food cures and created laws to jail people who talk about cures! God Be With Us As We Fight to Live!

Lillene Ebanks — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:02:46 EDT

My friend cured her cancer with natural foods! Those doctors are hateful but they have bought off our legislatures so they can not even give us options that follow the Bible but just contute making money on our misery!

MESSAGE FROM MITCH

Debbie — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:12:20 EDT

Friend --

The cavalry is here -- and they're in white coats and scrubs: More than a half a million doctors and millions of nurses are joining forces to help pass real health reform.

Americans listen to their nurses and doctors when it comes to health reform -- and for good reason. If we can help them amplify their voices, it'll be a huge boost to our campaign for change.

So we're working on a new television ad featuring their voices explaining why doctors and nurses so strongly support President Obama's plan -- and asking Congress to pass it. We'll run the ad in key states and districts all around the country to show folks where health professionals stand, cut through the spin, and build even greater support for reform.

But to produce and air the new ad before the Senate starts debating a final bill, we'll need to raise $300,000 by Thursday. Can you donate $25 right away?

The American Medical Association, Doctors for America, and a dozen other physicians groups representing 500,000 doctors are endorsing reform. So are the American Nurses Association and other organizations representing millions of nurses.

They're speaking out because they see the shortcomings of our health care system firsthand, every day: patients denied the care they prescribe, families losing access to their doctors, and a system that forces them to spend more time with paperwork and less time with patients.

These voices need to be heard -- with so much deception out there clouding the debate, it's critical that medical professionals are able to focus the country on the simple fact that health reform is good medicine.

But the final congressional committee could vote on their reform bill as early as Wednesday -- and debate on final legislation could start by the end of the week. So if we're going to help make these doctors and nurses' voices heard, we'll need to do it right now. Can you chip in $25 or more to help get our ad on the air?

https://donate.barackobama.com/HealthAd

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Do You Speak Matriarch? 2 Films By Women about Women

Madama Ambi — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:47:29 EDT

Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Goldberg, film about the life and work of Gertrude Berg, who spoke Matriarch to a nation before the advent of I Love Lucy.
Pray the Devil Back to Hell, film about the women's peace movement in Liberia, led by Leymah Gbowee, who remembered her mother-tongue and used it.

This morning, during my usual twirl around the femisphere, I got news of Mark Dorlester's HuffingtonPost piece about the 31st article of the Iraqi Constitution. Says Dorlester, the George W. Bush administration hammered universal health care, single payer, into the Iraqi Constitution. Yes, he says, American government was assertive in placing universal single-payer health care into Iraq's new democracy, while here in the U.S.A. the idea of such a system has pushed the alarm buttons of right-wingers with rifles, young women comparing Obama to Hitler, older women wanting their country back, older people up in arms about death panels, and if you've tuned into the asylum only one time in the last month, you took the temperature of blowhards whipping up a firestorm. It's hard to put out a fire in a group brain if you don't have leaders with integrity.

On my way to the fact-check, I realized I had already entered matriarchal mode, fired up and fearless about calling out the bullshit. Somebody needs to do some 'splainin here! Tonight is the big deal speech President Obama is giving on his vision for health care reform and already I'm under-impressed. I'm not holding Barack Obama alone responsible for the lies and the bullshit and powerful people making themselves rich at the expense of nameless, faceless sick people like those Wendell Potter met at a "health fair" he stumbled upon. He got shocked into shame-with-his-name on it. Deserved shame. Shame. Shame. Good for Mr. Potter that he owned up and that he's speaking out. But what will the President do tonight? What can he do?

This is where he needs to call in Molly Goldberg to teach him to put his hands on his hips (maybe that's the problem? he ain't got none?) and stand his ground, aiming a double-beam taser gun of motherly "What the hell were you thinking? Were you thinking? Do you even have a thought process?" President Obama and Congress need to tag along behind General Leymah Gwobee, who led a women's peace movement in Liberia. They need to apprentice themselves to a woman drawing on ancient mother-right, down in the veins of necessity, down deep in the geo-sphere of universal human resources.

Why do we not see more women with hands on their wide hips, planted in the paths of tyrants, liars, thieves and war criminals? Go see Pray the Devil Back to Hell and you will understand why not. Women in too many parts of this world are running for cover every day, every day from out-of-control warlords and warlord-wanna-be's who have scorched the earth so massively a mother can't give her child the illusion of a meal. She has nothing. She cowers in her shack or her tent in terror of being raped or worse. And yes, there is worse in Liberia. No road is safe. No one is safe. Children are conscripted into war at young ages; the air is violent.

Why did Gertrude Berg (aka Molly Goldberg in her TV show), empress of a media empire, mother-figure to a nation, disappear from TV, film, and the American mantle of desperately loved stars keeping it together for everybody? When you watch Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Goldberg, you'll learn that it was the Lucy-wife who knocked the Molly-mother off the mantle. Unless you grew up in the 1950's watching I Love Lucy every day, you may not remember the scene (scenes?) of Ricky turning Lucy over his knee, administering a fatherly spanking. Lucy off the set was known to be a brilliant comedian, a tough negotiator and a creative genius, but Lucy in the show was uncorked, ungrounded, childish as well as childlike, impulsive, compulsive, and if she wasn't on the trail looking for trouble, was just too much the space-cadet to size up a stampede.

It's comedy, right? Somebody's got to play the fool, and that was Lucy's gift. Sure, sure, sure. Just go see Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Goldberg (it's in theatres now, and the New York Times gives it a star, so go!), and tell me if you can even imagine Mr. Goldberg turning Molly tush-side up and whacking her a few "bad girls" while Molly flutters her legs, bleating like a goat sold at market. Don't get me wrong--if consenting adults want to spank each other (do it in private, huh?...it's great that you're cool with your bondage thing, but I don't want to parade down Castro Street next to whole contingents of people getting spanked and whipped...I mean, you know, I didn't consent to that violence, so keep it to yourself...), I don't care as long as it's safe. NU?

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a powerful film, but I was disappointed not to see the one scene I was waiting for, the moment when Leymah (that's General Gwobee to you), can only convey the force of her outrage and her uncontainable fury by standing on the tracks to stop the train. We learn by her narration, after-the-fact, that she broke through the madness when she warned the soldiers and bureaucrats ringing her, that she was ready to take it on Liberia-style. She would show them the inversion of morality they'd caused. Leymah, herself, in her naked body, was ready to render visible the shame, the sorrow and the pity, created by war-crazed soldiers and insurgents.

In Liberia, it's a shaman's curse for a mother to remove her clothes in repudiation of men who deserve the lashing of her mother-scorn. She calls down a power that is understood and that holds up the earth. When she announces her intention to rip off her dress, warning them of the imminent, inevitable ripping she is powerless to prevent--by her own hand stripping off her dress, shoulders back, holding her brazen pelvis out for war-boys and war-men to behold--the curtain of shame drops. It's over. Nobody doubts that she will do it. Nobody doubts that a curse will ensue. Nobody shrugs off the meaning of mother-shame. Nobody misunderstands that tone of voice. Nobody can escape the flashback to complete dependence on his mother and the memory of owing her your life.

The appropriate use of shame, incarnated in the universal mother who gives life and protects life, began a women's peace movement, led by General Leymah Gwobee of Liberia. There was much more to the successful waging of peace--many other tactics, many other brave women. Without the standoff between the lost war-boys and the protectress of life, what was at stake could not have been made visible. General Leymah called on her mother-tongue.

Go see these two films and, if you can arrange it, see them back-to-back. You will see two very different, equally inspiring women, one rich, one poor, one Jewish-American, one Liberian, one white, one black. I see them side-by-side, glorious glints of a lost language.

Video: OBAMA RAISING THE BAR

Madama Ambi — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:47:55 EDT

Video: Obama Raising the Bar

I made this video during the campaign and I think it still has relevance, maybe even more so right now during our country's crisis of trust.

What do you think?

Jobs and your Credit score

Niecey — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:20:23 EDT

I moved from Las Vegas, Nv to Virginia. I was working 2 jobs in Las Vegas. Before I moved, I interviewed for a job in Virginia and got it yeah! I received an acceptance letter stating I will start on July 20th 2009 making $12.00 an hour and the training class that was starting was the only class scheduled and I had to come by the 20th or there would not be a job. However, on the acceptance letter it also states if after they check your background history and credit they can deny you the job. Most of the items on my credit report have been there a long time and I have already paid them off however, the credit agencies did not take them off. So, I found out 3 days before I was moving to Virginia I received a fed x envelope stating that I did not have the job due to the items on my credit report. Now, this was not fair. I have already given my 2 weeks notice on both jobs that I had in Las Vegas. I just think companies that are hiring you should not give you an acceptance letter and tell you that you have to come by a certain date until they have completed your background check. I also think they should have let me work for 2 weeks so I could at least find another job. Also, companies should change the criteria on the credit report since they know the economy is bad. Now, I don't have a job. I am seeking assistance for me and my Children through the welfare office in the State of Viginia and this could have been avoided. PRESIDENT OBAMA PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. PLEASE!

What I Wrote to Rachel Maddow

Madama Ambi — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:14:48 EDT

Dear Rachel--Please cover the bill reintroduced (originally put forward in 2007) in Ohio to give "fathers" the final authority over a woman's right to have an abortion. You have to read the bill to believe how invasive and repugnant the thinking is behind this latest maneuver to control women, women's sexuality, and women's rights.

You're it, Rachel. You are the only journalist who can unpack the full meaning of this legislation. Although I'm not sure I can trace the shortest line between these two dots, I'm betting that the zeitgeist operating here is linked to the reason Ohio is a "surrogate-friendly" state when other states have proscribed surrogacy either entirely or robustly. You have the staff and the smarts to get this story right, Rachel. Please cover it ad nauseum! We women need you to get the facts, smack the facts in the public's face, and then wind it all up with your signature "skewer with a smile."

Rachel!!!!! We need you!!!!

I should tell you that I'm not the pleading type. I'm the leading type and I started this group, Feminist Advisory Board for Obama. But lately I find that I'm writing to high-profile women practically begging them to speak for women because the mainstream media will only listen to a measly quota of notables from the female sex. On the boob tube, on primetime, on almost every night, you're it, Rachel. You're the only person with the chops, intelligence, historicity, fact-finding staff and nifty graphics get-up to do what needs to be done here.

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_252

Holding Her Fire--Sonia Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings

Madama Ambi — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:01:01 EDT

I've been watching the Sotomayor hearings and have found it painful to watch Judge Sotomayor eat so much crow and show so much deference to men who are behaving badly. Yesterday I wrote a rant about Lindsey Graham but hesitated to post it because I wasn't sure if I would respect myself in the morning. Funny, I do respect myself upon re-reading, but the rant seems already out-of-date, yesterday's news. Or maybe posting a rant feels completely disproportionate to the racism, sexism and pure condescension displayed by the Republicans. What I mean is that I have lived my life as an intelligent woman who has also had to suck it up when white men condescended to me. I just kept thinking about the contradiction between the characterization of her as a "bully on the bench" and this warm, gracious, generous, deferential, patient woman answering to a pack of assholes. I can only surmise, but there's got to be a connection here...and I'm guessing that when one comes from the projects and grows up Latina and has intelligence and ambition, that sucking it up becomes simply survival. After all, all of us live in a pecking order at some time in our lives. And so, with all of that stored up ducking and smiling when what she really wants to do is verbally eviscerate these smug senators, I can see how she would be unleashed on the bench and show her firepower. I want to see her firepower very much, and I hope that TV will be allowed into the Supreme Court. It will be an education for the whole country, and I don't mean just a course in jurisprudence. Women and men need to see, on a regular basis, a highly intelligent woman in a position of real power. They need to learn appropriate deference and respect for women in power.

LIVE COVERAGE OF Pres. ZELAYA'S RETURN

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:14:44 EDT

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/100-Noticias

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

updates from FAFC:

12:08 PT a Bolivaarn pilot is flying the President!

hundreds of thousands march toward Honduras - lost communication at

12:19 with the Councilor of Venezuela from Noticias cable 15

12:29

from radio globo - by order of Micheletti the plane of Zelaya was re-directed to El Salvador - all other planes operate normally with the help of Policia National and fearzas militarias - which control all the national airports

http://www.radioglobohonduras.com/

all stations are supposedy working - i hear catracho music mostly and this message above repeatedafter every three calls to stations

0100

radio globo is proceeding now with the speeches of various representaives defending their legitimity - vice councellore etc., someone named- it seems a pressmeeting

- 3 sources on twitter say the police is RECEDING (to second the line) in Tegucigalpa on the pressure of the pro-Zelayans

0103

Micheletti was aked a question and asked someone else to repond - they discussing OEA

0106 globo

Q: from what aouthority is the Councellor speaking?

A: of president

Q to Michelletii: why the plane was stopped

A by M> for sake of peace

Q preocupacion about mobilczation on the Nicaraguan border

A - mich. I have NOT left the country and we are going to continue - we are ordering the schools to proceede tomorrow - no more 4ta urna - will stay for 6 months, and will have elections on 26 of November

q: .......

0114

Q: how many troups are there at Nica brder?

A: Mich:

do not fear, small groups, dod not cross the border

Q: who is the pres. elect?

A: MICH

i am representant of the pueblo - if you do not like it... ok...i want to ask you - we are not going to negotiate with NOONE

A: for us who studied tyhe low - 13, 14, 15 - el titlar then was the king - that have the power - the state AM I - symbol of the absolute power - then came the revolution in France -lpease let me finish - here we have 7 million people - tehre are three pwers now (?) - Zelaya had to leave for violating law -

...

OK I am swicthinng to CNN

do so too

0125

FireIsBorn2Jesus, President Zelaya is on the ground in Honduras - in a car!!! in Tegus smiling! OMG OMG! he is there CNN go on! CNN, viva Hondurasless than 5 seconds ago from web

OD, do you see it?

<CORECTION: I WAS MISTAKEN - HE WAS IN A CAR SOMEWHERE ELSE - WILL ARIVE AT 4PM HONDURAN TIME)

.................

0129

here is speaking Micheletti

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/100-Noticias

I think this is the same conference I was reporting above from radio globo :

yes, yes, so channel 15 is behind

0131

globo is very excited!!!

Carlo Paz is speaking - negociating from the police - 500 police - we are close to Tocontin -

The crowd broke the police cordones!

(WHERE ARE OUR MEDIA, cnn)

lUIS oRTIS - IN THE AIRPORT - GRACIAS - CROWDS YELLING - AT TOCONTIN

THE ROAD IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE...

MANIFESTATION

THIS IS FROM RADIO GLOBO

0139

A WOMEN REPORTER: PEOPLE ARE CLIMBING THE WALLS - THE MANIFESTANTS - INCREDIBLE- HE IS WALKING...

OTRO - ANOTHER SECTOR - THE POLICE RETREATED AND THE MILITARY AS WELL!!!!

...

pOLICIA IS VERY PROFESSIONAL - 300,000 PEOPLE ARE HERE! - SO THERE IS no WAY THE POLICE CAN CONTAIN TEHM!!!

... THE COORDINATOR OF RADIO GLOBO ASKS FOR PROFESSIONALISM AND CALM OF REPORTERS...

COLONIA LA TORRES

r: WE CANNOT COUNT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE (THE REPORTERS ARE CRYING??)

1445 (HONDURASTIME)

...INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE, THERE ARE SHOTS BUT WE know THAT THE POLICE WILL AVOID ANY DEATH - DEATH CANNOT HAPPEN HERE TODAY...

1449

...IF THERE WILL BE A ONE DEATH HERE - THE SPANISH COURT WILL PROSECUTE US... INTER OF A LITTLE GROUP (GRUPITO)

LENIS: MANIFESTANTS ARE SINGING THE HYMN OF HONDURAS

PRESIDENTE ZELAYA...

ANOTHER REPORTER: THIS IS VERY EMOTIONAL SEEING THOSE STREET VENDORS - WE ARE MAKING HISTORY!

WE ARE DENOUNCING THE COUP...

WE ARE GOING TO CONDEMN THE CARDINAL VIA VATICAN TOMORROW!! CARDENAL RODRIGEZ...

1500

i cannot believ that half milion people arrived here to tegus, i counted on 200.000..

1505

from la ceiba (a port on the atlantic)

our victory is imminent!!

tegus

speculations 105 brigada of 4 bataliones: speaks the comandant

- what's going

colonel: los batalions are (not) demorilized - i am here with the oficials - we are for democracy and nation we are united - we are with the people

have you seen this manifestations in tegus? yes, but

zona north all calm..

naval forzes as well - we are united - for constitution - the public is confused -

what will happen next?

the colonel Estoza: no es golpe - we only want calm

....

1520 honduras time cont. radio globe

.... a former official, a lowyer, says this WAS a coup and the people in his own Liberal Party who had helped this coup must be expulsed from the Party.

NOW WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE TEGUS AIRPORT...

CARLOS PAZ:

GRACIAS

WE ARE IN THE INTERIOR PART OF TOCONTIN - MANY VEHICLES HERE WHICH ARE NOT MILITARY - PLANES OF BLUE COLOR - WHICH ARE MILITARY... DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE AIRWAY.

...

1530

THE PLANE OF ZELAYA IS CIRCLING OVER THE CAPITAL. WE ARE HERE TO DEFEND OUR PRESIDENT.

we carry a white bird with a sombrero to greet "Mel"...

1608

more here, myBO is slow today

http://twitter.com/

1845

WELL, THE REST WAS VERY DRAMATIC, TWO DEAD, BASICALLY THE THOUSANDS OF PROTESTORES OVERTOOK THE AIRPORT - ALMOST - AT FIRST. THE CROWDS WERE MASSIVE. THEN, THE MILITARY BECAME BRUTAL, AND AT THE END THE MARCHERS WERE EXPULSED FROM THE AIRPORT. BUT THE SUPPORT WAS HUGE FOR ZELAYA

WHO IS NOW I BELIEVE IN NICARAGUA.

PEOPLE OF HONDURAS WILL PREVAIL. i AM PROUD OF THEIR COURAGE.

MESSAGE FROM MITCH

Debbie — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:50:36 EDT

Friend --

Today we celebrate Earth Day and the hope of a clean energy economy for America.

With President Obama in the White House, we can begin to reverse the trends that have damaged our environment and weakened our economy. We'll end our dependence on foreign oil, tackle global warming, and create millions of new jobs to achieve those goals.

We'll need your support and involvement to bring the President's plan to life. That's why we're hosting a live online chat with prominent environmentalist Majora Carter today, April 22nd, to answer your questions about the President's plan and how you can make a difference in your own community.

Visit our blog at 1:00 p.m. Eastern today to make your voice heard by participating in this special Earth Day chat with Majora Carter.

Majora has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable communities and clean energy jobs in New York City for years -- she understands the severity of the energy challenges we face and knows how crucial it is for us to address them with a bold plan of action.

It won't be easy, but with your support and involvement, we can jump-start the kind of innovation and creativity we'll need if we're going to make America competitive in the 21st century global economy.

Join Majora today to learn more about President Obama's plan and how you can help make it a reality:

http://my.barackobama.com/EarthDay09

Thank you,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

P.S. -- We're still offering our limited edition, "New Energy" T-shirt through today, Earth Day. To show your support with this 100% organic cotton T-shirt, order yours now.

SHEILA SAYS...

Debbie — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:58:32 EDT

I strongly recommend these free instructional training's from DFA. This training will have our very own Jennifer Coken. Sign up! It's Free!! You can do it in your own house in your PJs!! It's Fun and you just might learn something brand new. Shelia

Shelia -

Everywhere I travel with DFA I hear amazing stories about small groups of DFA activists who are taking over their local Democratic Party.

Since 2005, thousands of DFA members from every state have gotten involved in their local party, giving it new direction, energy & ideas. It's on this grassroots base that our progressive victories in 2006 & 2008 were built.

Several progressive bloggers have dubbed this influx of new activists into the Democratic Party leadership as the "Silent Revolution." Next Wednesday, on April 22, DFA Night School returns to launch the 2009 season and help you keep this "Silent Revolution" going strong:

Building a Better County Party
Wednesday - April 22, 2009
8:30pm Eastern time

RSVP NOW: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/countyparty

One of the greatest victories the progressive movement has achieved in the last five years is taking back the Democratic Party from the forces of caution and capitulation of the previous decade.

The Obama campaign, like the Dean campaign before it, has brought in a whole new class of leaders and activists who will be able to outwork and outmaneuver an entrenched leadership class. Listen in to DFA Night School next Wednesday for a free online training to hear their stories and share your own.

Our guest trainer will be Jennifer Coken, the former Chair of the Denver County Democratic Party. We will spend the hour reviewing proven strategies and ideas you can use to make your local Democratic Party become more open, active and engaged in your community.

THE SILENT REVOLUTION CONTINUES -- SIGN UP TODAY!

-Matt

Matt Blizek, Training Director
Democracy For America

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

Share this email:
Tell-a-friend!

Tags: a, as, change!, continue, for, must, our, people, we, work

STAND BY ME

Debbie — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:22:40 EDT

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741
37 Worldwide Musicians Unite to Create One Unified Track!
Playing for change! Making a difference/connecting the world through music!

Watch it it's truly amazing...the guys are singing/playing the song together, from various locations...all over the world!

A message for peace and world unity! from www.playingforchange.com

Tags: a, as, change!, continue, for, must, our, people, we, work

CALL TO ACTION!

Debbie — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:12:17 EDT

Friend --

Just ten weeks into Barack Obama's presidency, partisan voices and leaders like Rush Limbaugh, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, and Indiana Congressman Mike Pence are already trying to turn the American people against him. "I hope the President fails," they're saying.

Trying to tear down the President in order to maintain the status quo is unacceptable -- especially when the need for change is more urgent than ever.

With far-right ideologues in Congress threatening to block or weaken the President's budget in the coming days, we'll need your help to set the record straight about President Obama's economic recovery plan. Show your support by Monday, April 13th -- before the budget fight ends.

Will you make a donation of $25 or more before the Monday deadline?

President Obama faced the same negativity during the election. But in record numbers, folks like you came out and built support in communities across the country. With your support and energy, you said no to the politics of the past.

Now, more than ever, we need your voice and your support again to ensure that the likes of Rush Limbaugh and partisan ideologues in Congress don't succeed.

Whether they're misleading the public about the President's proposals to lower taxes for working families, or bashing his budget without offering specifics of their own in return, these critics have never been interested in a serious debate about turning our economy around.

The federal budget is not just a laundry list of numbers or programs. It's about the lives, the families, and the dreams of every American. With our future at stake this week, we can't afford to get bogged down in petty partisanship.

Before the budget fight draws to a close, please keep this grassroots movement going with a donation of $25 or more:

https://donate.barackobama.com/fightattacks

Thank you for everything,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Debbie — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:01:48 EDT

Friend --

Thanks in no small part to your incredible work and dedication, we have taken another step towards creating jobs and rebuilding our struggling economy.

Last week, the budget I submitted to Congress passed both the House and the Senate and it embraces our most fundamental priorities: an energy plan that will end our dependence on foreign oil and spur a new clean energy economy; an education system that will give our children the tools to compete in the economy of the 21st century; and health care reform that finally confronts the back-breaking costs plaguing families, businesses and government alike.

Thousands of you signed pledges of support, knocked on doors, made phone calls, and talked to your friends and neighbors about this budget and the investments it makes in our long-term prosperity. You showed Washington that ordinary citizens are demanding change and are willing to work for it.

Our work on the budget isn't finished -- Congress still has to agree on a final version. But your efforts have sent a message that Washington can't ignore.

I'll be counting on you even more in the coming weeks and months. The budget Congress passes will be a critical blueprint for the changes we'll bring about. But that's when the real work begins -- the work that will bring health care to every American, transform our economy to run on clean energy, provide our children with the best education in the world, and bring about a new era of prosperity.

Thank you for everything you've done,

President Barack Obama

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

Debbie — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:41:10 EDT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/25/obama-flexes-political-mu_n_178801.html

In President Obama's words:
"Today I'm announcing my support for Scott Murphy, candidate for New York's 20th Congressional District," the email reads. "He's created jobs by building and growing small businesses while bringing people together to address difficult challenges. He supports the economic recovery plan we've put in place, and I know we can count on him as an ally for change.
"To restore our economy and build a foundation for lasting prosperity, I'll need Scott's help. This week, Scott needs yours. Sign up and pitch in to elect Scott Murphy to Congress."

The race is tight, and Scott Murphy is trailing the Republican candidate. Please pitch in and help get him elected on March 31.

http://www.scottmurphy09.com/

PRESIDENT OBAMA NEWS CONFERENCE TONIGHT!

Debbie — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:59:27 EDT

Obama Family,

President Obama is giving a second primetime news conference on Tuesday, March 24 at 8:00 PM EST. News reports suggest that he will use the event to talk up his budget proposal.

Thank you for your support,

Preston L. Harden,
Georgia's 7th Congressional
District Delegate
GO OBAMA!!!!! 2008
(404) 376-6833
You're invited to visit and join our movement
www.prestonlharden.com

You're invited to join our group Georgia Young Professionals for Change on My.BarackObama.com:

DALE LOCKWOOD'S CALL TO ACTION!

Debbie — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:45:52 EDT

> http://www.specialolympics.org/content.aspx?id=7384
>
>
> Here's a chance for Obama's support groups to do something "special"
> in his name. I have been donating a little bit to the SO for several
> years now because my wife's brother expressed how excited he was to
> participate. Out of generosity, not of shame for a minor gaffe, please
> send a few bucks to these folks. Turn a flub into something good.
> Thanks.

CALL TO ACTION FROM DAVID PLOUFFE

Debbie — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:17:12 EDT

Friend --

President Obama recorded a special message for you about the budget he's submitted to Congress and what you can do to help it pass.

Watch the video now and take action to make sure your representatives know you support this new direction:

The budget President Obama has proposed isn't the same old document Washington has come to expect year after year.

Right now, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to finally confront the systemic problems that have held America back for far too long in energy, health care, and education.

But it's up to you to get involved and make it happen. Join a canvass this weekend and talk with everyone you know about the President's plan to secure long-term prosperity for our families.

After watching the President's video, you can also look up your elected representatives and let them know you support this new foundation for economic growth:

http://my.barackobama.com/budgetaction

Thanks,

David Plouffe

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

This email was sent to: DFisSheana@aol.com

To unsubscribe, go to: http://my.barackobama.com/unsubscribe

A MESSAGE FROM DAVID PLOUFFE

Debbie — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:28:20 EDT

Friend--

The next few weeks will be some of the most important our movement for change has encountered yet.

Mitch wrote to you earlier this week about Organizing for America's Pledge Project -- an effort to identify and mobilize support across the country for the economic vision President Obama has outlined in his budget.

If you haven't yet done so, pledge your support now and ask your friends, family, and neighbors to do the same.

The budget that passes Congress has the potential to take our country in a truly new direction -- the kind of change we all worked so hard for. We didn't fight to shy away from the tough long-term decisions Washington has ducked for far too long.

President Obama knows, as you do, that our future strength and prosperity depends on Washington finally taking the hard and smart steps in energy, health care, and education that will make sure America and its families are strong for decades to come.

And while his budget reflects those important values and priorities, the President also understands the government has to cut spending like so many families and businesses are being forced to do now. He invests where we need to and cuts where we must.

In the next few weeks we'll be asking you to do some of the same things we asked of you during the campaign -- talking directly to people in your communities about the President's ideas for long-term prosperity. But first, start with your own pledge of support, and the support of your friends, family, and neighbors:

http://my.barackobama.com/pledgeproject

We know this fight won't be easy. But important battles never are. Together, we have the opportunity to shape our country's future. We believed in the power of people to win an improbable election victory. And we believe in the power of people to drown out the cynics and entrenched interests in Washington to bring lasting, meaningful change we can all be proud we played a role in.

Thanks,

David Plouffe

If it is good enough for Congressmen then it should be for All of us!

LuAnn in Indiana — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:12:41 EDT

It has been some time now since I have written in my blog. Since I last wrote, canidate Obama has become President Obama. I eagerly watched as he took the oath of office, surrounded by his beautiful wife Michelle and their two adorable girls. I am also very glad that he chose Joe Biden to be his Vice President.

Our country is so lucky to have these to men of such integrity and intelligence running our country. We have suffered greatly the last eight years and it is so refreshing to see people who will not only honor the Constitution but listen, ask questions and try to work with the people across the aisle.

I do not envy President Obama for the huge task that he has just taken on. Our country has so many problems to fix or change. Yet, if there is any one man who is up to the task, I would put my money on President Obama.

He has the perfect temperment and personality to enter into this arena, which some days looks like the the olden days of the Gladiators! They need someone with a cool head to oversee and meet with the different groups.

I know our financial system and economy are in shambles but I do believe that a change in our Nation's health care system might help everyone and save billions of dollars in the long run. Our Congressmen and women along with our Senators enjoy having health care coverage that is paid for and ran but our Government. For any of them to question or say it does not work is sheer hypocrisy.

If the Government insurance is good enough and works well enough for them then there is absolutely no reason that it would not work for everyone. Yes, it may cost us at first but considering how many people are without insurance or fear loosing their job and their insurance I feel we have no choice but to fix health care now.

Like President Obama said the other day on his newscast, "If not now, then when?" He pointed out that each of the past administraitons had always faced some crisis or some reason as to why to wait. The other side will always find some excuse to stop us from moving towards a coverage that will work for everyone.

No longer can we wait and I believe that if there was ever a President to lead us to a health care solution, the time is now and President Obama is the man.

As someone who has Federal Helath Care, I consider myself one of the "lucky ones" Of course I pay a high premium as an X spouse, but never the less, I have it. Each year they have open season and during that time I get the opportunity to view numerous plans and pick the one that I can afford and that I feel will meet my health needs.

I can't see why the government could not offer such a plan to everyone, which would bring everyon's premium down. I also think that there is something to be said about having some kind of an insurance for everyone that is similar to Medicare. It only makes sense to me that the more people who particiapte in a plan the cheaper the rpremiums will be for everyone.

I am asking for each of you to please sontact your own State representatives and ask them to work with President Obama and get something done. We can no longer afford to set idley by and watch more and more people slip into the uninsured abyss which in the long run is costing all of the taxpayers.

Please tell your Congressmen that if Government insurance is good enough and works for them that it is our right as citizens of this country to be given the same opportunity. I believe as part of their retirement they can keep their insurance, payed for by "We the People". I am tired of hearing one after another Republican get on television or radio and talk about socialized medicine when they themselves have it.

AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US!

Debbie — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:58:30 EST

Rabbi Steven E. Foster of Temple Emanuel has been not only an inspiration to me and my family, but the community. He leads by example as does President Obama and his family.

Rabbi Foster recently wrote an article in our Congregations Bulletin. It is entitled We Can Make a Difference. He speaks of current issues, about making a difference, about prayer and asking that we pray for G-d to give us personal strength to do the work needed. He speaks of not losing Hope and that we need to give President Obama and his administration a chance.

My favorite quote from the article is:

"What has created goodness in America is that we help others before we depend on others to help us." Rabbi Steven E. Foster

Thank you Rabbi, for your leadership.

Debbie Fischer

STIMULUS WATCH

Debbie — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:35:33 EST

Obama Family,

I hope all is well with you. Below, please find information regarding your state "potential" stimulus projects. The information provided below is an effort to keep everyone updated regarding the outcome of the approved stimulus package. As well, please remember 2010 is an election year in Georgia - currently today, Republicians hold a majority in the State Senate, House of Representative and Governor's office. We know from the past 2008 elections, we have registered Democratic voters but we need to keep them informed and get them out to the polls. Please feel free to share this information with others about the importance of getting back to the polls in 2010 - we need to regain seats in the State Senate, House of Representative and Governor's office.

If you feel Governor Sonny Perdue should accept all of the stimulus money allocated for Georgia, then please contact his office to make your voice heard. Georgia, this is our opportunity to make rebuild our economy.Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue
Office of the Governor
Georgia State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Fax:(404)657-5947
Tel:(404)656-1776
email: georgia.governor@gov.state.ga.us
web: http://gov.state.ga.us/contact.shtml

Job Watch Section:
If you know of candidates seeking employment opportunities for the following positions:
Sr. Credit Counselor - Miami Florida - $160,000 to $170,000 per yearCollector - Miami Florida - $60,000 to $65,000 per yearCost Account Manager - Allentown, Pa - $110,000 to $120,000Registered Nurses - $60,000 to $120,000 per year (all U.S. cities & Canada)Please email Deblynne McClinton at dpmcclinton@yahoo.com. There are no fees to apply or be referred to any of these positions.

Find how your state Representative are doing
You can put your address in here and find out whether your Representative voted in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Please thank him/her, or express your displeasure if you want to.
http://my.barackobama.com/recoveryvote Here is how your states' Senators voted on the act.GovTrack: Senate Vote On Passage: H.R. 1: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2009-61Information about some of the impact of the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act on your state is available on this map. Click on a blue arrow to view the benefits for that particular state. Click on a red bullseye to view a Republican targeted for opposing economic recovery. A quick view across the countryhttp://www.dccc.org/content/recoveryFind projects by state or territoryhttp://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_stateNOTE: These are projects that have been NOMINATED for Stimulus Bill funding. They HAVE NOT been selected to be funded.

Alaska (46 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/AK
Alabama (318 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/AL
Arkansas (199 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/AR
Arizona (743 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/AZ
California (1971 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/CA
Colorado (201 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/CO
Connecticut (449 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/CT
Washington, D.C. (8 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/DC
Delaware (7 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/DE
Florida (1752 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/FL
Georgia (266 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/GA
Hawaii (316 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/HI
Iowa (51 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/IA
Idaho (348 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/ID
Illinois (1031 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/IL
Indiana (713 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/IN
Kansas (139 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/KS
Kentucky (524 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/KY
Louisiana (433 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/LA
Massachusetts (266 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/MA
Maryland (54 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/MD
Maine (72 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/ME
Michigan (782 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/MI
Minnesota (335 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/MN
Missouri (403 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/MO
Mississippi (552 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/MS
Montana (57 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/MT
North Carolina (319 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/NC
North Dakota (61 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/ND
Nebraska (154 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/NE
New Jersey (261 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/NJ
New Mexico (215 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/NM
Nevada (163 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/NV
New York (289 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/NY
Ohio (847 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/OH
Oklahoma (223 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/OK
Oregon (159 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/OR
Pennsylvania (352 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/PA
Puerto Rico (340 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/PR
Rhode Island (116 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/RI
South Carolina (271 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/SC
South Dakota (30 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/SD
Tennessee (103 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/TN
Texas (1240 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/TX
Utah (298 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/UT
Virginia (400 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/VA
Vermont (61 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/VT
Washington (368 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/WA
Wisconsin (358 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/WI
West Virginia (1 projects) http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/WV
Wyoming (85 projects http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/WY

http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state

Thank you for your support,

Preston L. Harden,
Georgia's 7th Congressional
District Delegate
GO OBAMA!!!!! 2008
(404) 376-6833
You're invited to visit and join our movement
www.prestonlharden.com

You're invited to join our group Georgia Young Professionals for Change on My.BarackObama.com:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/YoungProfessionalsforChange

IMAGINE A PEACEFUL SOLUTION

Debbie — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:33:57 EST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0F_6plYyTM

YES, PRESIDENT OBAMA IS AWESOME!

Debbie — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:46:20 EST

Blue Star Families!During President Obama’s speech Friday at Camp LeJeune, he told the audience full of Marines preparing for deployment and the rest of the world, “We also know that service does not end with the person wearing the uniform. In her visits with military families across the country, my wife, Michelle, has learned firsthand about the unique burden that your families endure every day. But I want you to know this: Military families are a top priority for Michelle and me, and they will be a top priority for my administration.”He also commended service members by saying “You make up a fraction of the American population, but in an age when so many people and institutions have acted irresponsibly, so many of you did the opposite. You volunteered to bear the heaviest burden. .... You and your families have done your duty; now a grateful nation must do ours.” Blue Star Families is in a unique position serve as a key part of the bridge between military families and the shapers of policy affecting the military. We will serve as a conduit for the opinions of military families on all aspects of military life. We will use this knowledge base to inform the policy shapers and to support the families that have the honor to serve. Through outreach with national and local organizations, civilian communities and government entities, we seek to educate the nation in order to promote healthier families, aid in our military readiness, and contribute to our nation’s strength. During the President’s speech, Blue Star Families Co-Director for Development, Claire Woodward and a contingent of Blue Star Family members had the honor of being included in the audience. Check out her blog
http://bluestarfamilies.wordpress.com/2009/03/01/our-commander-in-chief-speaks-to-the-marines-at-camp-lejeune/ Also, the Jacksonville Daily News covered the speech: Military family reactions to the President’s visit.. http://www.jdnews.com/news/military_62666___article.html/families_family.html Active duty military reactions:http://www.jdnews.com/news/obama_62705___article.html/president_speech.html And, In case you missed it, here is a 10 minute clip up on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTdpycaYOpU

MESSAGE FROM DAVID PLOUFFE

Debbie — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:23:22 EST

Friend --

Yesterday, President Obama submitted his first budget to Congress.

As the President said, the budget isn't just numbers on a page. It establishes our plans and priorities as we confront some of the longest-standing challenges this country has ever faced.

Watch a short video of President Obama introducing his budget and share it with your friends:

With this budget, President Obama is asking Washington to do something it rarely does -- look beyond the next election and take the long-term steps to ensure America's future strength and prosperity.

It will involve sacrifices and difficult decisions. But it will also boldly invest in the three areas most critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education.

Investing in a clean energy future will put America at the forefront of industry in the 21st century and create the jobs that will form a new foundation for the middle class.

Confronting the mounting cost of health care will put America back on a solid foundation so businesses can thrive and families can prosper.

Reforming and strengthening our education system will ensure American innovation and competitiveness well into the next century.

Watch the brief video now:

http://my.barackobama.com/thebudget

This budget isn't just a reflection of President Obama's priorities. It's a reflection of yours.

This is the change you worked for and Americans demanded. But to make sure it succeeds, the President will need your help.

In the coming weeks, we'll be asking you to talk directly to people in your community, to build momentum and demonstrate the broad support President Obama has for this new direction.

Thank you for your continued commitment,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Debbie — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:10:04 EST

Friend --

Last night, I addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time.

To confront the serious economic challenges our nation faces, I called for a new era of responsibility and cooperation. We need to look beyond short term political calculations and make vital investments in health care, energy, and education that will make America stronger and more prosperous well into the future.

Watch a few highlights from my address and share it with your friends now:

A little more than a month into my administration, we've already taken bold steps to address our urgent economic problems.

Through the Recovery Act, the Stability Plan, and the Housing Plan, we're taking the immediate necessary measures to halt our economic downturn and provide much-needed assistance to working people and their families.

But to set our country on a new course of stability and prosperity, we must reject the old ways of doing business in Washington. We can no longer tolerate fiscal deficits and runaway spending while deferring the consequences to future generations.

That's why I pledged last night to cut our deficit in half by the end of my term. Achieving that goal will require making sacrifices and hard decisions, as well as an honest budgeting process that is straight with taxpayers about where their dollars are going.

Watch some key moments from my address now:

http://my.barackobama.com/presidentialaddress

Central to this plan will be a renewed commitment to honesty and transparency in government. Restoring our country's economic health will only happen when ordinary citizens are given the opportunity to hold their representatives fully accountable for the decisions they make.

I look forward to continuing to work with you as we bring about the change you made possible.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Poetry is the Consciousness of the Earth

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:11:31 EST

"And then,
we'll go wake our dead
with the life they bequeathed us
and we'll all sing together
while concerts of birds
repeat our message
through the length and breadth
of America"

from Gioconda Belli's poem Until We're Free

The US state department partially funded investigation to identify victims of past massacre...

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:25:00 EST

... which is encouraging. Good work! fib

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

DNA identifies Peruvian victims

By Dan Collyns
BBC News, Lima

Investigators in Peru say they have for the first time successfully used DNA to identify victims of the country's civil conflict in the 1980s and 1990s.

The technique identified 23 victims, who were buried in Peru's largest mass grave in 1984.

The director of the Peruvian forensic anthropology team, Jose Pablo Baraybar, said they expected to identify several more victims in the next few weeks.

Some 70,000 people died in the conflict between the military and Maoist rebels.

The 23 positively identified human remains are the single largest group of victims identified from the conflict in Peru.

These victims formed part of a larger group of more than 120 men, women and children killed in a single massacre by the Peruvian military.

Victims tricked

According to Peru's truth and reconciliation commission, dozens of internally displaced peasants came down from mountain hiding places when Peruvian soldiers offered them shelter in the village of Putis, in the southern Ayacucho region.

They were then tricked by the army into digging their own grave - which they were told would be a trout pond - before being killed.

After the massacre, the soldiers sold the villagers' cattle. Only a tiny portion of Peruvians estimated to have disappeared in the "dirty war" have ever been accounted for.

The commission found that nearly 70,000 people had been killed or had disappeared during the war between 1980 and 2000.

No-one has yet been convicted for the massacre at Putis.

The army has remained silent on the issue neither admitting nor denying responsibility.

However this year, five former army officers are expected to be charged with crimes related to this and other atrocities which took place in the 1980s.

The exhumation and DNA sampling was partially funded by the US state department.

Mr Baraybar, who led the exhumation in Putis last year, says he hopes the identification will increase pressure for a trial for those responsible and help the victims' relatives deal with their grief.

Amnesty International has called on the Guatemalan authorities to provide justice for thousands of victims of the country's civil war.

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:00:08 EST

Call for Guatemala war justice

Amnesty International has called on the Guatemalan authorities to do more to provide justice for thousands of victims of the country's civil war.

More than 200,000 people - most of them civilians - were killed or disappeared between 1960 and 1996.

The group said that tens of thousands of cases have yet to be heard by the commission established to probe cases.

They said that without justice, Guatemala would not be able to "move forward from its dark past".

Amnesty called on the Guatemalan government to approve a law for a National Search Commission for the Disappeared.

Legal duty

Kerrie Howard, of the group's America's programme, said this commission was "essential to implementing the recommendations made by the country's Historical Clarification Commission 10 years ago".

A 1999 report by that commission found evidence of widespread human rights abuses and 669 massacres, many in indigenous villages, said Amnesty.

Ms Howard said its recommendations had been a "massive landmark for human rights in Guatemala" but it was now time "for the government to deliver some justice".

Amnesty said no high-ranking officials or officers have yet been brought to justice over the atrocities and the few investigations which have taken place have been "deplorably slow and inadequate".

"The Guatemalan authorities have the legal and moral duty to ensure that the crimes committed during the country's internal armed conflict, many of which constitute crimes against humanity, are investigated and that those responsible are brought to justice," said Ms Howard.

"The best way for the Guatemalan authorities to remember and honour the victims of abuse committed during the armed conflict is by ensuring that those who committed, authorised or planned those crimes are not able to evade justice."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/7908859.stm

Published: 2009/02/25 05:43:26 GMT

© BBC MMIX

Great speech!!!!

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:29:58 EST

In pictures: Obama's speech

YOUR PICTURE GALLERY IS NOW LOADING...

US President Barack Obama has addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time, warning that the nation faces a "day of reckoning".

The president's speech lasted nearly an hour and came days before his first budget as US leader.

The speech brought the audience to its feet more than 30 times, but with its references to the $787bn economic stimulus bill the Republicans opposed it was not universally well-received.

It took more than five minutes for the president to reach the dais because of the crowd of well-wishers - and the crush was a similar size on the way out as members of the audience tried to get a handshake or a photo.

The speech made reference both to the healthcare and education reforms Mr Obama plans, and also the desire not to fritter away tax dollars.

The address looked and felt like the State of the Union speech which normally come at about this point in the political calendar.

"The time to take charge of our future is here," President Obama said. Polls on Monday show the popular support which brought Obama to the White House shows no sign of abating.

As America comes to terms with the depth of the economic recession, President Obama's speech struck an optimistic tone - America would bounce back.

Back 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next

AMAZING PICTURE

Debbie — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 08:52:13 EST

The resolution of this photo is amazing! If you were there, see if you can find yourself.

2009 Inauguration Photo - SUPER HI-DEF

This picture was taken with a Canon camera and weighs in at 1,474 megapixel. (295 times the standard 5 megapixel camera)

To open, click on the http line below. Zoom in by placing the hand cursor over the place you want to zoom in on.

Then double click your mouse to zoom and wait for focus.

Bonus points if you find Yo-Yo Ma.... Taking a picture with his camera.

http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?auth=033ef14483ee899496648c2b4b06233c

Jeff Hart

Colorado Obama Delegation

& Obama Neighborhood Team Leader

801 South Steele St.

Denver, CO 80209

(cell) 303-907-4664

jeffshart@comcast.net Rent our Great Breckenridge Condo!Go To http://rentalo.com/109032/nearskiinskiout.html or http://vrbo.com/47756

SIMPLE AS THAT!

Debbie — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:52:03 EST

Subject: Peace...

Then all that has divided us will merge. And then compassion will be wedded to power. And then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkind.
And then both men and women will be gentle. And then both women and men will be strong. And then no person will be subject to another's will. And then all will be rich and free and varied. And then the greed of some will give way to the needs of many. And then all will share equally in the earth's abundance. And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old.
And then all will nourish the young. And then all will cherish life's creatures. And then all will live in harmony with each other and with the earth. And everywhere will be called Eden, once again. What all men are really after is some form, or perhaps only some formula, of peace.
There has always been a longing in the human heart for a more just, free, loving and creative society. But it was never before possible to fulfill these aspirations, because we had neither the evolutionary drivers and global crises to force us to change, nor did we have the scientific and technological powers that can free us from the limitations of scarcity, poverty, disease, and ignorance. This is the time of awakening for the social potential movement.
Hope this sounds so cool to you and have a blessing days forever and ever, Amen..
In love and light...Awalbe strong. And then no person will be subject to another's will. And then all will be rich and free and varied. And then the greed of some will give way to the needs of many. And then all will share equally in the earth's abundance. And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old. And then all will nourish the young. And then all will cherish life's creatures. And then all will live in harmony with each other and with the earth. And everywhere will be called Eden, once again. What all men are really after is some form, or perhaps only some formula, of peace. There has always been a longing in the human heart for a more just, free, loving and creative society. But it was never before possible to fulfill these aspirations, because we had neither the evolutionary drivers and global crises to force us to change, nor did we have the scientific and technological powers that can free us from the limitations of scarcity, poverty, disease, and ignorance. This is the time of awakening for the social potential movement. Hope this sounds so cool to you and have a blessing days forever and ever, Amen.. In love and light...Awal

How progressive are you?

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:51:10 EST

Thank you for participating in Democrats.com, the largest independent community of Democratic Party activists, with over 500,000 members.

Democrats.com is the home of the Aggressive Progressives and we have led the fight against George W. Bush since he stole the White House in 2000.

"We rely on the generous contributions of members like you to stop George Bush and the radical right-wing Republicans. We gratefully accept contributions of any amount!

We encourage you to use our simple Web forms to tell your Senators and Representative how you feel on these questions:

We also invite you to sign our most recent petitions:

Finally, we encourage you to get involved in one of our important organizing efforts below.

For me Single Payer Insurence is of topmost importance... because I want my job conditions negotiations be free from the bondage to my health

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:22:24 EST

Update: Over 25,000 readers have urged their Representatives and Senators to support Single Payer Health Care. Won't you join them?
http://democrats.com/single-payer-petition

Tell Congress We Want Single Payer Health Care

We congratulate President Obama and Congressional Democrats for passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to start the difficult process of reviving our economy.

Sadly, Republicans are taking their marching orders from Rush Limbaugh, who declared "I hope [Obama] fails." Just three Republicans supported the recovery bill; the rest want big tax cuts for the rich.

It's time for Democrats to enact the big changes that Americans voted for, and ignore Republican obstructionism.

The first big change should be Single Payer Health Care .

The latest poll shows Americans prefer government health insurance to private insurance by 59%-32%. That's because private insurance has failed.

There are nearly 50 million US citizens with no health coverage at all, and at least 18,000 of them die unnecessarily each year as a result. Millions more have inadequate insurance coverage.

Rep. John Conyers is leading the fight for Single Payer Health Care with H.R. 676, the "Medicare For All" Bill . Democrats.com is joining the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care (LCGHC) to support H.R. 676.

Please urge your Representatives and Senators to support H.R. 676:
http://democrats.com/single-payer-petition

Thanks for all you do!

Bob Fertik

#####

Forward this message to everyone you know!

To subscribe, create a free Democrats.com account here:
http://www.democrats.com/user/register

To unsubscribe from Democrats.com Activist Alerts, click here:
http://archive.democrats.com/unsub.cfm?email=garinoco@sbcglobal.net&fieldname=L16

To unsubscribe from all Democrats.com email lists, click here:
http://archive.democrats.com/unsub.cfm?email=garinoco@sbcglobal.net&fieldname=L1

Message from President Obama

Debbie — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:11:10 EST

Friend --

Today, I signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law.

This is a historic step -- the first of many as we work together to climb out of this crisis -- and I want to thank you for your resolve and your support.

You organized thousands of house meetings. You shared your ideas and personal stories. And you informed your friends and neighbors about the need for immediate action. You continue to be a powerful voice for change throughout the country.

The recovery plan will create or save 3.5 million jobs, provide tax cuts for working and middle-class families, and invest in health care and clean energy.

It's a bold plan to address a huge problem, and it will require my vigilance and yours to make sure it's done right.

I've assigned a team of managers to oversee the implementation of the recovery act. We are committed to making sure no dollar is wasted. But accountability begins with you.

That's why my administration has created Recovery.gov, a new website where citizens can track every dollar spent and every job created. We'll invite you and your neighbors to weigh in with comments and questions.

Our progress will also be measured by the tens of thousands of personal stories submitted by people who are struggling to make ends meet. If you haven't already, you can read stories from families all across the country:

http://my.barackobama.com/yourstories

Your stories are the heart of this recovery plan, and that's what I'll focus on every day as President.

With your continued support, we'll emerge a stronger and more prosperous nation.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

"...to uphold treaties and honor Native ancestors"

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:45:41 EST

Crow Tribal Chairman Carl Venne Dies at Age 62

Posted: 16 Feb 2009 03:00 PM PST

HARDIN, Mont. (AP) -- Crow Tribal Chairman Carl Venne, praised by President Barack Obama as a leader who engaged in a ''fervent quest for a better life for his people,'' has died. He was 62.

Venne was found dead Sunday in his sister's home, according to the Big Horn County Sheriff's Office. He apparently died in his sleep of natural causes, the office said in a statement.

''I was honored to have worked with Chairman Venne, a strong tribal leader, who implored us to uphold treaties and honor Native ancestors,'' Obama said in a statement released by the White House.

Venne greeted Obama last summer during a campaign stop in Crow Agency. The Crow adopted Obama as a member of the Black Eagle family. Last month, Obama watched Venne lead Crow horsemen during the inaugural parade in Washington.

Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester of Montana issued statements praising Venne as a man dedicated to his people. Baucus said Venne was a progressive leader who ''always pushed the envelope when fighting for better health care and economic prosperity'' on the Crow reservation.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Venne was one of the great leaders of the Crow Nation.

Venne, a Vietnam veteran and former counselor at Little Big Horn Community College, became tribal chairman in 2002. The Crow Tribe has about 11,000 members.

Throughout his chairmanship, he supported programs against use of methamphetamine and encouraged a healthful way of life on the reservation. He was instrumental in the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee's selection of Crow Agency as the place for a 2007 hearing on Indian health care."

MoveOn At Its Best - see this video!

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:15:19 EST

MoveOn At Its Best

When Congress grilled Wall Street CEOs about their lavish bonuses last week, they gave voice to Americans' outrage...literally. And thanks to the populist pressure coming from MoveOn members and others, Congress added a key provision to the stimulus bill that puts real limits on executive compensation. This is just the beginning of our work to bring real accountability to Wall Street. But for now, we just want to say: Thanks, for all you do. Want to support our Wall Street accountability campaign? Chip in today:

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/bonusreportback.html?id=15599-9157063-eOFaEQx&t=3

What's wrong with the site today?

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:41:10 EST

What's wrong with the site today? Do you experience this as well?

I cannot add friends, send message or view a group blog! fib

Happy Valentine's Day to All Obama Bloggers!

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:25:13 EST

Can’t see this email? View it as a web page »

February 2009

Dear ACLU Supporter,

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, it’s time to show some love. The kind of open hearted, open minded love that’s contagious. Love for the right to love and the right to marry.

The passage of Proposition 8 was both a disappointment and a huge wake up call. But here at ACLU-NC, we’re more committed than ever to full equality for every lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender Californian - marriage included. And each of us can play a role in getting there.

Studies show that what changes hearts and minds and generates new supporters of equality is having personal conversations to convey what it’s like to be LGBT, and why equality - particularly marriage equality - is so important.

What you can do right now is start talking about why marriage equality and full LGBT equality is important to you. Tell 3 people. Yep, it’s that simple. Whether you’re LGBT or straight, just start talking. Tell 3 people about what it means to be LGBT, or to care about someone who is. For tips on starting these conversations and more info visit http://www.tell-three.org/.

Talk to the people in your life who might not yet fully support marriage equality or understand the importance of LGBT rights. Tell 3. Then tell your friends to Tell 3 more. And visit http://www.tell-three.org/ o share your story.

We’re on the cusp of real change in California, and we need your help to make it a reality. So start talking!

For love and equality,

Elizabeth Gill
ACLU-NC Staff Attorney, LGBT Project

ACLU of Northern California | 39 Drumm Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
T (main): 415.621.2493 | T (civil liberties counselor): 415.621.2488 | F: 415.255.1478

View our privacy policy. If you received this message from a friend, sign up to ACLU email.
You may modify your email subscriptions at any time.

ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor New York, NY 10004

This is the Web site of the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation.
Learn more about the distinction between these two components of the ACLU

LOVE IS LOVE!

Debbie — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:15:05 EST

Hi,

Have you heard that Ken Starr -- and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund -- filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and attempting to forcibly divorce 18,000 same-sex couples that were married in California last year? The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, with a decision expected within 90 days.

The Courage Campaign has created a video called "Fidelity," with the permission of musician Regina Spektor, that puts a face to those 18,000 couples and all loving, committed couples seeking full equality under the law.

Please watch this heartbreaking video now. If you have the same reaction that I did, please help me spread the word by sharing it with your friends and family ASAP:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/Divorce

The more people who see this video, the more people will understand the pain caused by Prop 8 and Ken Starr's shameful legal proceeding.

After you watch the video, please join me and over 200,000 people who have signed a letter to the state Supreme Court, asking them to invalidate Prop 8 and reject Starr's case.

Thanks

MESSAGE FROM DAVID PLOUFFE

Debbie — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:55:56 EST

Friend --

Congress is preparing to vote on a final Economic Recovery bill.

President Obama is urging action in Washington because families across the country need help right now.

In the past week, thousands of you came together at house meetings to talk about how the economic crisis is affecting your communities. And thousands more shared your personal stories on our website.

Your voices were heard. Help is on the way.

Take a few minutes and read some of the stories your fellow Americans shared.

These stories are the face of the economic crisis, and they will be the focus of our recovery. Here are a few excerpts from the tens of thousands of stories people like you shared:

"As of a week ago, our family has joined the ranks of the unemployed and thus uninsured. We have two children, a 6 year old and a 10 month old. With my part time jobs and unemployment, we should be able to keep the roof over our heads, at least one car in the driveway and food in our stomachs for a few months. The state of our health insurance is what truly scares us."
Nichole H., Columbus, OH

"I live in a small rural community in central Minnesota and have run my own small business for 32 years here. These last 8 years have been a slow steady decline economically. This has caused me to continually find ways to tighten my budget. Our small towns are really struggling with infrastructure and loss of businesses to attract and hold workers in their communities."
Judy T., Motley, MN

"I am a teacher in Florida where we are 50th in the country in spending per student. I feel this generation of students is being cheated out of a quality education. I'm fortunate that I have a job. But our education system is failing our children. There are so many areas of education that are suffering because of massive budget cuts. The bottom line is: as the United States of America we can do better for our children."
Betty Jo A., Deltona, FL

Read more from Nichole, Judy, Betty Jo, and others who shared their economic crisis stories:

http://my.barackobama.com/yourstories

Ordinary people are telling the real story of the struggles and pressures families are facing right now. They drive home the importance of this recovery plan and the need to put it into action immediately.

The President's economic recovery plan is an important first step in getting our country back on track. But recovering from this downturn will require the faith, confidence, and hard work of all Americans.

Thank you for staying involved during this critical time for our country,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

Debbie — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:22:48 EST

The following is a quick summary of what happened over the weekend, what will be happening this week, and what we need to do next.

_________________________________________

The Senate is expected to vote tomorrow to pass their version of the stimulus plan. As you probably already know, the Senate "compromise" version cuts some of the most vital stimulus spending in favor of tax cuts that leading economists say won't create a single job.

Once the Senate passes the bill, it has to go back to something called a Conference Committee. The Committee will be made up of key House and Senate members from both sides of the isle who will negotiate the differences in the bill. Once the differences are resolved, it goes back to both the House and Senate for one more vote.

Here is where the rubber meets the road.

In a perfect world, the House would put back all the vital stimulus spending the Senate took out. But even though the new bill would pass the House easily, it would face a firewall of Republican opposition. And the three Republican Senators - Specter, Snowe and Collins - who are voting for the current Senate version of the bill, have publicly stated they would withdraw support if this happened.

This is a really big problem for us. Because of procedural issues I won't go into right now, the Senate must vote to approve by a 3/5 margin to approve the new bill.

Not to overcome a filibuster, but TO ACTUALLY PASS THE BILL.

This is important to know, because as much as I love the idea of forcing Mitch McConnell to stand in the Senate Chamber reading the phone book for 48 hours while wearing a pair of adult diapers, this won't happen.

We have to have those 60 votes.

So the goal here is to get as much of the stimulus spending back in the bill as possible without losing those "moderate" Senators in the process.

This is where we come in.

HERE'S THE ASK:

JOIN
WE ARE THE CHANGE: A facebook group dedicated to following the latest developments of the stimulus bill. In a week, we are up to over 1,600 members.http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=78990900184

CALL

Call your home state Senators, your House of Representative Members, the White House AND your Governor (even Republican Governors are supporting the bill -their states need the money)

Tell them you want the stimulus spending removed in the Senate restored. Don't be shy. Ask for EVERYTHING BACK. We need to create a groundswell of support to make sure Congress and the White know we mean business.

Last week the phone calls ran a 100 to 1 against. This week, with your help, they'll run a 100 to 1 IN FAVOR.

Here is a link to find your Senator's contact information. If you can't get through to them in Washington DC, call one of their offices in their home state. The impact will be the same:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

White House contact information:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

To find your congress member's contact information:
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

Don''t know who you congress member is? Go to this link, type in your address and find out:
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

To find contact information for your Governor:
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Governors.shtml

WRITE

Write to you local newspapers, call in to talk radio. Tell them the same thing.

MovON.org has a great tool to help you write a letter to your local medial outlets.You type in your zip code, and just follow the directions to send effective letters to all the major news outlets in you area.

http://pol.moveon.org/lte/

SPREAD THE WORD

Use all your social networks - facebook, family, friends, coworkers to spread the word to and educate. FOLKS WON\'T SUPPORT WHAT THEY DON\'T UNDERSTAND.

I've uploaded some very simple, very easy to read documents on the stimulus plan that explains the issues in layman\'s terms. The two-page analysis is a "cliff notes" version of an analysis of the House version of the plan by Mark Zandi, Chief Economist for Moody's and former economic campaign adviser for John McCain

Please download the docs and distribute them far and wide.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/11984879/ARRP-Analysis-and-Overview

Here are some other link to see why we need to fight:

http://d-day.blogspot.com/2009/02/senate-proud-to-sink-states.html

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/what-the-centrists-have-wrought/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/07/AR2009020701157.html

http://d-day.blogspot.com/2009/02/lowdown.html

______________________________________________

OBAMA WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 8PM EST TODAY

President Obama will be going on offensive to get his economic recovery package passed. The President will travel to Indiana, and, according to a White House press release:

"... will deliver remarks to residents of Elkhart, Indiana, describing his commitment to put aside politics as usual and implement a plan to create jobs, jumpstart growth and transform our economy for the 21st century."

After returning to Washington, President Obama will hold the first prime time news conference of his presidency. Scheduled for 8:00 (EST), the President will again be emphasizing the importance of getting the stimulus package passed.

PLEASE TUNE IN! And spread the word about the press conference. Our "Teacher-in-Chief" will be doing his thing.....

_________________________________________

ECONOMIC RECOVERY HOUSE PARTIES

This weekend, over 3,000 Economic Recovery house parties took place over the weekend. A lot of you reading this attended. How did it go? What were the questions? The consensus? Please go to the WE ARE THE CHANGE facebook group and report back to the group's wall.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=78990900184

Feedback is important.

In Los Angeles, the local FOX-TV station actually managed to do a decent story on one of the houseparty meetings I went to in the mid-Wilshire area. They reported on the consensus of the group - namely that we want $40 billion in state spending restored, since a huge chunk of that was coming to California.

Here\'s the link to the video, I apologize in advance for the Hustler ad you have to sit through to get to the story...... :-)

http://www.veniceforchange.com/2009/02/ofa-economic-recovery-get-some-face.html

Again, thank you all for what you do. With your energy and commitment, we will win this thing!

- Marta Evry
Community Organizer
WE ARE THE CHANGE
http://www.veniceforchange.com/

MESSAGE FROM MITCH

Debbie — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:36:38 EST

Friend --

Americans have organized Economic Recovery House Meetings in all 50 states -- including 382 in California, 255 in Florida, 115 in Ohio, 199 in New York, 105 in Washington, and 149 in Texas.

That's more than 3,587 meetings in 1,579 cities and 429 congressional districts.

This past weekend, meeting hosts and guests watched a video of Governor Tim Kaine answering your questions about the president's recovery plan. Then they shared their own stories about how the crisis has affected them.

Watch Governor Kaine's video and share your economic crisis story.

The media is filled with numbers about the economic crisis. But the numbers do not tell the full story.

The story of this crisis is in homes across the country -- homes where a family member has lost a job, where parents are struggling to pay a mortgage, and where college tuition has slipped out of reach.

That's also where the story of our recovery begins -- in communities where repairing roads and bridges, manufacturing green technologies, and rehabilitating our schools and hospitals will directly impact the lives of ordinary people and their families.

President Obama's recovery plan will help struggling families right now by saving or creating up to 4 million jobs. But it will also help strengthen our economy for the future by investing in crucial infrastructure projects in health care, education, and energy.

Share your story about how this economic crisis is affecting you and your family and join your fellow Americans in supporting bold action to speed our recovery:

http://my.barackobama.com/sharestories

Thank you for organizing so much support at this crucial moment for our country,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

President Obama speaks on his Economic Recovery Plan

Debbie — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:11:22 EST

Friend --

President Obama recorded a video to speak directly to you about his economic recovery plan.

America is facing an urgent and unprecedented challenge. The economic crisis requires bold and immediate action.

Watch President Obama's video and share it with your friends and family:

http://my.barackobama.com/recoveryvideo

Thank you,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Boiler Room Boys Beg Federal Investigation

Team Player — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:01:08 EST

Cleaning out "mybarackobama.com" blog, I came across this piece I wrote in October, decided to repost here. Considering Wall Street's Maddoff and others now being exposed, I am taking the President at his word: if compelling evidence comes forth, no one is above the law. Check this out-

There's something about the mortgage crisis that smells of organized crime. Credit swaps, phoney bank appraisals, unregulated new trading products (scams?) that defy comprehension bred like rabbits under a Republican porch, a Bush-McCain trickle-down fantasy. Consider this: Congressional deregulation plus lack of oversight (police) unleashed organized crime. Infiltrating a speculation-driven financial system, experts at the "con-fidence" game, the beauty of this opportunity would wet any criminal agenda. Conclusion: Congressional deregulation and the Bush policy gave all our money to criminals, on a silver platter. Hello...

The opportunity to steal trillions by simply presenting a business card and posting a website, launched hundreds of new mortgage companies, private lenders, and get rich quick infomercials. Bundling the banks and Wall Street with the bill, it seems to me, a real novice, that the entire financial system fit right into the 21st century criminal mind, an emerging global consideration. For example, this past June, I was able to search comparison appraisals specific to my home for the first time. What shocked me the most was learning that the bank appraisal on my 2007 mortgage was $100,000- $150,000 "officially" overvalued. Any criminal conspiracy would not work without bank cooperation, regulatory neglect, and international vulnerabilities.

When Congress returns in November, the best move would be to get both sides together and reach a bi-partisan agreement to fully fund and support the best special investigators, with a mission to untie the twisted shell companies, find the extortionists, co-conspirators, sophisticated, white collar criminals at the helm. A quality, international approach to stop "crime" could also recover the trillions that have been stolen if we are successful. Democrats need to take the lead here, get past the lobbyists and partisan dupes, the naive and uninformed, and identify the economic terrorists playing everyone for suckers.

Boiler Room Boys Beg Investigation By Team Player - Oct 12th, 2008 at 11:45 am EDT Also listed in: 10 groups Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content Tags: Bush, congress, crime, economy, McCain, oversight, Republicans

MUST SEE VIDEOS

Debbie — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:35:41 EST

DO NOT MISS WATCHING THIS SPEECH. IT IS KILLER!!!

>
> In case you missed it~ OUR President gave a speech tonight at the
> House Democrat's retreat... I haven't listened to it yet, but have
> read from others that it is his BEST speech thus far. And that is
> saying something'.
> http://www.c-span.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-A-15159
>
> I also read that it is US that he's really talking to.. so please if
> you haven't called your congress folks yet.. DO IT. Tell them WE have
> our President's back andthey need to get bold and get this thing
> pushed through. now.
>
> ***************************
>
> Also.. in case you missed it- Keith O had a special comment for Cheney
> and his fear BS that he's spreading against our new Administration. I
> for One want Dick Cheney to STFU~
> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#29043314
> enjoy

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague announced a preliminary analysis Tuesday into whether Israel committed war crimes during the recent Gaza war

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:36:43 EST

RIGHTS: ICC Investigating Israel War Crimes Charges

By Daniel Luban

NEW YORK, Feb 3 (IPS) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague announced a preliminary analysis Tuesday into whether Israel committed war crimes during the recent Gaza war, following the Palestinian National Authority's (PNA) move to recognise the ICC's authority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Whether the ICC has jurisdiction in Gaza is expected to be a highly contentious legal issue, and the ICC investigation comes at a time of heightened debate over the legality of Israel's Gaza campaign under international law.

This renewed debate has come about in large part due to statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday, in which he appeared to enshrine "disproportionate" response to provocations as official Israeli government policy.

On Tuesday, ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo made public a Jan. 21 letter from Palestinian Justice Minister Ali Khashan recognising the ICC's authority.

The ICC can only pursue investigations in states that have signed on to the Rome Statute creating the court, which Israel has not done. Khashan's letter was intended to give the ICC jurisdiction to launch an investigation in Gaza.

But the Palestinian move to recognise the court raises a set of murky legal issues, the foremost of which is whether the PNA can be considered a state. The PNA has argued that it can be considered the de facto sovereign authority in the Gaza Strip due to Israel's withdrawal from the territory in 2005.

If so, then Israel's non-recognition of the court would not prevent a war crimes investigation, since the only relevant factor is whether the alleged violations occurred in the territory of a signatory. If not, then the Gaza Strip would be considered Israeli territory and the ICC would have no jurisdiction to investigate.(...)"

CHANGE OFTEN BEGINS WITH WOMEN! SUPPORT "MADRE" (it means "Mother").

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:23:33 EST

Show your love with a gift from MADRE. Choose from dozens of beautiful, hand-crafted items from around the world.

Shop your beliefs at MADRE's Webstore.

Let us send your friends and loved ones a Valentine's Day card that was hand-made from natural materials by women in Colombia.

Make a donation to MADRE in their honor.

Guantánamo Bay must shut down as soon as possible - spread the truth, not fear

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:34:18 EST

Rush Limbaugh, Fox News and others want to derail President Obama’s efforts to close Guantánamo.

Help get the truth out. Write a letter to the editor.

Dear ACLU Supporter,

We expected this to happen. President Obama’s bold first moves on Guantánamo Bay and military commissions have been met by brazen campaigns of misinformation from those who want to retain disastrous Bush administration policies.

Fox News is raising the specter of terrorists living in people’s “backyards.” Senators are saying that bringing detainees to the U.S. “will endanger American lives.” Rush Limbaugh is spreading the totally unsupported claim that 61 already-released detainees have “returned to the battlefield.” And, naysayers continue to make claims that our criminal justice system is incapable of prosecuting terrorism suspects.

They want to derail President Obama’s efforts to put an end to indefensible Bush administration practices and policies. That’s why we must get the truth out. How can you help?

Write a letter to the editor to get the facts out there and to make it clear that people all across America support President Obama’s actions to restore our nation’s commitment to justice and the rule of law.

We can’t let Gitmo apologists have the last word. By acting today, you can help counter their dangerous rhetoric.

President Obama’s executive orders were the crucial first steps. But, there is still much that needs to be done before the United States is once again a nation we can be proud of. Instead of backing down the way Rush Limbaugh and others are trying to force him to do, we need the President to follow through all the way.

That means insisting that Guantánamo Bay is shut down as soon as possible. It means making sure that the policies of the Obama administration do not allow for any form of indefinite detention. And, it means rejecting calls for a new system for prosecuting detainees. Our justice system and time-tested federal courts are fully capable of handling sensitive national security cases without compromising fundamental rights.

Help get the facts out there by writing a letter to the editor. Or, learn the facts and post on your favorite blogs or news sites .

Finally, America is headed in the right direction. We can’t afford to let irresponsible voices dominate the ongoing debate over Guantánamo Bay and detention issues.

Let’s make our voices heard until Guantánamo Bay is finally closed and every element of the Bush system of injustice is totally dismantled. Thanks for standing with us.

Sincerely,

Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director
ACLU

Special Prosecutor for Bush War Crimes: sign a petition!

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:04:14 EST

Special Prosecutor for Bush War Crimes

Target: Attorney General Eric Holder

Sponsored by: Democrats.com

Now is our time to pursue truth and justice. Please join us in calling on President Obama's administration to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute any and all government officials who have participated in torture and other war crimes.

In the final days of their administration, President Bush and Vice President Cheney admitted they authorized "enhanced interrogation" of prisoners, specifically including waterboarding. But "enhanced interrogation" is simply a euphemism for torture, which was so severe that it caused the deaths of at least 70 prisoners.

As Major Gen. Antonio Taguba, the Army general who led the investigation into prisoner abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison stated:

"After years of disclosures by government investigations, media accounts and reports from human rights organizations, there is no longer any doubt as to whether the current administration has committed war crimes. The only question that remains to be answered is whether those who ordered the use of torture will be held to account."

The United States is a representative democracy. The actions of our government officials are done in the name of its citizens. We are outraged that torture been committed in our name. We urge Attorney General Holder to appoint a Special Prosecutor to prosecute those responsible for torture to the fullest extent of the law.

MESSAGE FROM DAVID PLOUFFE

Debbie — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:37:03 EST

Friend --

Last night, President Obama recorded a series of national network and cable news interviews about the urgent need for an economic recovery plan.

Watch the video and share it with your friends and family:

President Obama discussed why we need an immediate effort to create millions of jobs while investing in long-term challenges like energy and health care.

He called for swift investment in job creation while continuing to assist those who are out of work, without health insurance, or in danger of losing their homes.

The Economic Recovery plan passed the House of Representatives, and the Senate is preparing to vote on it very soon. The final version can and will be improved. But the President's core plan will positively affect families and communities all across the country.

You can help make sure the American people have all the facts so they can support this crucial effort to boost our struggling economy.

The President is leading. Help is on the way.

Lend your voice by sharing this video with everyone you know. Then sign up to join thousands of people across the country who are organizing Economic Recovery House Meetings this weekend:

http://my.barackobama.com/recoveryplan

Thank you for staying involved,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Tell Republicans that children's health is a priority everywhere. Including the USA!

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:36:35 EST

Join the Children's Health Virtual March

By joining the United Nations Foundation Virtual March, you'll be helping us fight polio, measles and malaria--diseases that your kids don't have to worry about but that kill millions of kids throughout the developing world.

Join our virtual march for children's health and support the UN Foundation's work to save children's lives around the world.

"Corporate Greed Behind Opposition to Employee Free Choice." Sign the petition!

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:09:24 EST

Don't Let Corporate Lobbyists Get Their Way in 2009!

Hi,

President Obama helped lead the fight for the Employee Free Choice Act in the Senate, and he's promised to sign the bill as president. But he faces strong opposition from corporate giants like the McDonald's Corp. and Home Depot.

President-Elect Obama needs to know that we the people value workers' rights! Speak up in support the Employee Free Choice Act >>

The Employee Free Choice Act would make it easier for workers to unite on the job, imposing stiff penalties for corporations who fire or intimidate workers who try to form unions and giving workers a seat at the table so they can negotiate their contracts just like CEOs do.

Tulia Connell from the ACLU had this to say about the link between the corporate opposition to the Act and the state of our economy today, "Understanding this simple premise - the corporate search for cheap labor - helps explain a lot of what's going on right now. In our fight for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act... we're facing a likely $200 million campaign to kill it."*

But when we join our voices together, we are stronger than any corporate lobbyist! Our leaders need to see the broad public support for this much-needed change. Take action >>

Thank you for making a difference by speaking up today.

Truly,
Robyn E.
Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team

P.S. Everyone knows that the economy needs immediate attention. And 60 percent of Americans feel that passing the Employee Free Choice Act will bridge the gap of wage inequality and move us in the right direction. Please sign the petition >>

* "Corporate Greed Behind Opposition to Employee Free Choice." January 12, 2009.

Arrest quotas on the border - what is your opinion?

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:09:34 EST

Border agents say they now have arrest quotas

Amy Taxin, Associated Press

Monday, February 2, 2009

(02-02) 04:00 PST Santa Ana --

"- U.S. Border Patrol agents working about 100 miles north of the Mexico border say they have been given arrest quotas at odds with agency practices and threatened with punishment if they fail to meet the number.

Agents stationed in Riverside reported being ordered to arrest at least 150 suspected illegal immigrants in January and that two such arrests must lead to prosecutions, said Lombardo Amaya, president of Local 2554 of the National Border Patrol Council.

"They were told if you don't produce this, we will have to change your weekends off," Amaya said, adding that he will discuss the matter today with the sector chief who oversees the station. "Sometimes, like in politics, this agency is about looking good."

The alleged quotas, which involve only the Border Patrol's Riverside station, run counter to agency practice, which does not set a minimum number of arrests that must be made, said Lloyd Easterling, an agency spokesman in Washington.

"If we had quotas to fill and met those quotas, then would that mean we would be able to stop doing our job? No. Our job is to secure the border and detect, deter and apprehend anyone who is involved in illegal activity between the ports of entry," Easterling said.

Jeffrey Calhoon, chief patrol agent for El Centro (Imperial County) sector, said he was not aware of any quotas and did not order them.

"We would never structure our work environment to create quotas," Calhoon said. "We have a union we have to negotiate with."

The agents' allegations come just weeks after one of their colleagues at the Riverside station was fired over a dispute with local management.

The union has filed a grievance appealing the termination of Tony Platell, who says he was dismissed for disobeying an order to remain at a desert freeway checkpoint where six suspected illegal immigrants were picked up. Platell said he wanted to take them to the station quickly because they looked dehydrated.

Arturo Alcaraz, the lead union representative at the Riverside station, said the 150-arrest mandate last month was a jump from targets set at the end of last year to make 100 arrests in both November and December.

Alcaraz said supervisors also told agents last October they could return to the station once they had arrested eight suspected illegal immigrants on a given day - even if it only took them 20 minutes.

"The quality of the apprehensions no longer counts," Alcaraz said.

T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council - which represents close to 15,000 Border Patrol agents - said quotas are unwise and unfair to agents because encounters with suspected illegal immigrants vary from day to day.

"You don't want to encourage agents to go out and look for something that isn't there because that is when you start to get into trouble," Bonner said.

Border Patrol officials declined to provide arrest statistics for the Riverside station, which has been in operation since 1967."

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/02/BASB15LA2D.DTL

This article appeared on page B - 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Real timeline for the stimulus - you can write back to CNN's Jeffrey, too..

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:57:41 EST

On CNN, Jeffrey falsely claimed CBO said that "64 percent" of stimulus bill "isn't going to be spent until after September of next year"

Summary: On CNN's State of the Union, Terry Jeffrey falsely claimed, unchallenged, that in its cost estimate of the recovery bill, the Congressional Budget Office said that "64 percent of this money isn't going to be spent until after September of next year." In fact, including both outlays and tax cuts, CBO has estimated that about 64 percent of the bill would be paid out before the end of September 2010.

"On the February 1 edition of CNN's State of the Union, CNSNews.com editor-in-chief Terry Jeffrey falsely claimed that in its cost estimate of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said that "64 percent of this money isn't going to be spent until after September of next year." Host John King did not challenge Jeffrey's false assertion. In fact, CBO's estimate is the opposite of what Jeffery claimed; as Media Matters for America has noted, according to the CBO, including both outlays and tax cuts, CBO has estimated that about 64 percent of the bill would be paid out before the end of September 2010.

In its analysis of the bill as passed by the House, CBO estimated that $169.6 billion would be paid out before the end of September 2009 and an additional $356.1 billion before the end of September 2010, meaning that $525.7 billion would be paid out before the end of September 2010. It also estimated that a total of $819.5 billion would be paid out between 2009 and 2019, meaning that CBO estimates that more than 64 percent of the $819.5 billion will be paid out before the end of September 2010.

Jeffrey joins other media figures who have misrepresented CBO's analysis of the stimulus package on CNN."

"Rush Limbaugh Doesn't Speak for Me"

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:45:33 EST

Get your "Rush Limbaugh Doesn't Speak for Me" Bumper Sticker

When you make a $10 contribution to Media Matters for America, we'll send you a "Rush Limbaugh Doesn't Speak for Me" bumper sticker. We'll use your contribution to fight against Rush Limbaugh and other conservative smear merchants.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
OK, you are like me and don't have a car. Then you can gift the sticker to your taxi driver. She/He's gonna like it. Wanna bet?! I distributed my Obama 2008 stickers among "my" taxi drivers, and they asked for more. I saw "my" stickers on their bumpers (what a thrill). It worked, didn't it? fib

"Welfare programs" do stimulate the economy, Mika! (they also help the poor)

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:27:18 EST

Echoing her previous claim, (Mika) Brzezinski said that food stamps

don't stimulate economy, but economists disagree

"Summary: MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski echoed her disputed claim that funding for "welfare programs" included in the recovery bill, such as "food stamps and helping low income people pay for college," would not stimulate the economy. In fact, economists have said that programs that provide aid to state governments and individuals would, in the words of Congressional Budget Office director Douglas W. Elmendorf, "have a significant impact on GDP.""

"During the February 2 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, co-host Mika Brzezinski echoed her disputed claim that funding for "welfare programs" included in the economic stimulus bill would not stimulate the economy. Brzezinski said that Republicans have a "fair point here to maybe remove some of the social spending here" because "it doesn't add up to the definition of stimulus." She later added: "[D]oes this plan add up to the definition of stimulus? I don't think it does. And I don't question the value of food stamps and helping low income people pay for college. It just shouldn't be in this bill." When Time magazine's senior political analyst Mark Halperin replied, "Well, of course that will help stimulate the economy," Brzezinski insisted: "No, it won't, not right now." However, economists, including Congressional Budget Office (CBO) director Douglas W. Elmendorf and Mark Zandi, chief economist and co-founder of Moody's Economy.com, disagree with Brzezinski's claim that "social spending" in the form of food stamps does not have a stimulative impact on the economy, stating that such spending would, in Elmendorf's words, "have a significant impact on GDP.""

Undocumented immigrants are not helped by the stimulus package. True or False? Check with "Media Matters"

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:16:58 EST

Mon, Feb 2, 2009 12:40pm ET

Wash. Times echoes recovery bill falsehoods on undocumented immigrants, ACORN

Summary: The Washington Times falsely claimed that the House-passed economic recovery bill "allows payment of checks to undocumented immigrants," and repeated the falsehood that "much" of the $4.19 billion allocated for a Neighborhood Stabilization Program in the bill "might go to ACORN." In fact, under the bill, undocumented immigrants without Social Security numbers are not eligible for tax credits, and the bill does not mention ACORN or otherwise single it out for funding.
"In a February 2 editorial titled, "The stimulus bill that isn't," The Washington Times falsely claimed that the House-passed economic recovery bill "allows payment of checks to undocumented immigrants filing tax returns using an alternative number to the normal Social Security number." In fact, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act specifically precludes from eligibility for the Making Work Pay tax credit of $500 per individual and $1,000 per family "any individual unless the requirements of section 32(c)(1)(E) are met with respect to such individual." Those requirements include "a social security number issued to an individual by the Social Security Administration." Additionally, echoing a press release from the office of House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), the Times falsely claimed that the bill allocated "$4.19 billion for a Neighborhood Stabilization Program (much of which might go to ACORN [the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now], the discredited activist organization that the FBI is investigating for vote fraud)." In fact, the recovery bill does not mention ACORN or otherwise single it out for funding, and ACORN has denied that they are either eligible for these funds or plan to apply for them. "

CALL TO ACTION FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA

Debbie — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:01:55 EST

Friend --

The economic crisis is growing more serious every day, and the time for action has come.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will jumpstart our economy and put more than 3 million people back to work.

I hope to sign the recovery plan into law in the next few weeks. But I need your help to spread the word and build support.

It's not enough for this bill to simply pass Congress. Americans need to know how it will affect their lives -- they need to know that help is on the way and that this administration is investing in economic growth and stability.

Governor Tim Kaine has agreed to record a video outlining the recovery plan and answering questions about what it means for your community. You can submit your questions online and then invite your friends, family, and neighbors to watch the video with you at an Economic Recovery House Meeting.

Join thousands of people across the country by hosting or attending an Economic Recovery House Meeting this weekend.

The stakes are too high to allow partisan politics to get in the way.

That's why I've consulted with Republicans as well as Democrats to put together a plan that will address the crisis we face.

I've also taken steps to ensure an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Once it's passed, you will be able to see how every penny in this plan is being spent.

You can help restore confidence in our economy by making sure your friends, family, and neighbors understand how the recovery plan will impact your community.

Sign up to host or attend an Economic Recovery House Meeting and submit your question for the video now:

http://my.barackobama.com/recovery

Our ability to come together as a nation in difficult times has never been more important.

I know I can rely on your spirit and resolve as we lead our country to recovery.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

P.S. -- If you can't host or attend an Economic Recovery House Meeting, you can still submit your questions for Governor Kaine and then share the video with your friends and family this weekend. Learn more here:

http://my.barackobama.com/recovery

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

MY FELLOW ORGANIZERS

Debbie — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:34:00 EST

Hi Everyone,

We are so excited to begin editing the "My Fellow Organizers" Barack Obama Documentary. We will have a final release by June 2009. Although my team is just beginning to put the film together, here is a promo clip below. This footage has not been color corrected, mixed, or had any "move magic" done to it so it is not feature quality yet. However I still want to show it and see what people have to say.

I know that your feedback will be helpful.

MY FELLOW ORGANIZERS VIDEO LINK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbLpOPaUvY4

I did show a snippet of this promo at the President Obama's We the People Inauguration Ball in DC . I spoke on the need to continue the work of President Barack Obama by organizing and aiding your local community. Read the links below and learn about our university and community youth media tour of the film that will begin Fall 2009.

Here are some press links on the film:

http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local_wlfi_lafayette_productioncrewget...

http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/winter2009/obama.php

http://www.mmdnewswire.com/obama-documentary-4497.html

Google News Link:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&um=1&tab=wn&nolr=1&am...
and
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&um=1&tab=wn&nolr=1&am...

I know that as word spreads about this project and I start my next film and TV series it is going to be a long and wonderful travel filled year :).

Thanks for your support!

Best,

Jenn Shaw

Jnine Media, CEO

Sign petition to President Obama from a women organization

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:14:28 EST

Demand that US Arms Sales to Israel Stop

Although the invasion of Gaza is currently halted, the damage that has been done to the civilian population is extensive. The US remains Israel's most valuable military supplier. Join us in telling President Obama to stop the supply of weapons to Israel.

Featured Organization: MADRE: "Let's write a powerful message to President Obama"

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:08:59 EST

What's Your Agenda for Women's Human Rights?

Let's write a powerful message to President Obama and participate in the process of getting the US to engage with the world, not just occupy it. Add your ideas to ours and help us build a new women's human rights agenda for the Obama administration.

"Today, local conditions are so heavily impacted by global trends, that community-based activists must be equipped to understand and impact developments in the international arena. Without this link to "macro" policies, local work remains a limited, and ultimately exhausting venture. MADRE human rights trainings aim, therefore, to build the capacity of local organizations to situate their struggles in a global context and to influence national and international policies.

MADRE also contends that international work that is not rooted in community priorities risks becoming abstract and irrelevant to most women. That's why MADRE brings community-based women into international processes where human rights and legal standards are created and monitored. MADRE has worked within human rights processes and in the global women's movement to insist that resources-such as translation, per diem stipends and popular versions of legal texts-are allocated to guarantee that the international arena is accessible to community-based women organizers.

Ultimately, policies at the local, national and international levels must function together to protect women's human rights."

Natasha on the new constitution in Bolivia

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:19:07 EST

"The Colonial State Ends Here"

posted by: Natasha G. 2 days ago

"On January 25, a new Bolivian constitution was approved by voters that grants more power to the indigenous majority.

"Brothers and sisters, the colonial State ends here...Now Bolivia is being refounded," declared President Evo Morales to a crowd gathered at the presidential palace.

President Morales, an Aymara, became Bolivia's first indigenous president in 2005. Though indigenous groups including Quechuas, Aymaras and Guarani constitute the majority of the country, they were only granted the right to vote in 1952.

Key points to the new constitution include an entire chapter dedicated to indigenous rights, equal status between indigenous systems of justice and the state system, and the possibility for President Morales to run for re-election in December 2009. In addition, the constitution gives the state control of key economic sectors such as natural gas, and places new limits on the size of land for private ownership.

Although the constitution passed with 60 percent of the vote, there is a strong opposition held by mostly the wealthier (and whiter) provinces of the country, expressing alarm at Morales' socialist policies and his alliance with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. Such opposition has led to provinces declaring autonomy from Bolivia, as well as a violent outburst in September when 20 Morales supporters were killed.

Benjamin Dangl and April Howard, journalists and editors of online news magazine UpsideDownWorld.org, interviewed a number of citizens on Election Day in the capital city of La Paz. The supporters and opponents of the new constitution revealed deep divisions of class and ethnicity, but it isn't as clear cut as one may assume..."

Check out their observations, interviews and photos of Election Day in La Paz.

"Organizing for America" Means Fighting for Human Rights Worldwide

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:49:09 EST

by Yifat Susskind, MADRE Communications Director

"...And the Top Reason for Optimism in 2009...

The number one reason to be optimistic about advancing human rights under President Obama has little to do with what the president wants or who he appoints to his cabinet. That's because the most important thing about the 2008 election was not Barack Obama's victory. It was the emergence of millions of newly-engaged and re-engaged people in communities across the US. The possibility of those people staying engaged is our number one reason for optimism.

It's time now for all of us who put Barack Obama in the White House to evolve from serving in his "Army" to building a pro-democracy movement; one that can transform free-floating calls for "change" into the concrete policies we need. Progressives in Latin America are way ahead of us on this and can offer some useful lessons on what to do when your candidate actually wins.

The challenge is to move effectively between participation and protest. If 2009 is to be a truly transformational year, it will depend on whether progressives can jump on the opportunity not seen in our lifetimes to advance our vision of a world where human rights are a reality for all people."

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE:

MADRE Condemns the Assassination of Indigenous Activist in Colombia

Fire Ants For Change - Che! Che! Che!... — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:25:24 EST

MADRE Condemns the Assassination of Indigenous Activist in Colombia

Posted on: Thursday, January 15, 2009

Keywords: Colombia, Indigenous Peoples

On December 16, 2008, Edwin Legarda was killed by Colombian army personnel when they fired 17 shots into the vehicle he was driving. He was the husband of Indigenous human rights defender Aida Quilcue, who had recently returned from testifying before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva about the violence against Indigenous Peoples in Colombia.

Many have speculated that the attack was meant for his wife, Chief Counsel of the Consejo Regional Indígena de Colombia - CRIC (The Indigenous Regional Council of Cauca), as a means to silence her activism and to spread terror. While the military has labeled this incident an accident, this killing represents a larger trend of politically-motivated assassinations in Colombia.

In 2006, MADRE activated the Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund in order to secure a shelter for Aida Quilcue and her daughter, when death threats made them fear for their safety. Despite the threats against her life and the lives of her family, Aida has nevertheless continued her work to protect Indigenous Peoples’ rights, particularly the right to land.

MADRE condemns this assassination and joins Colombian Indigenous Peoples’ rights activists in calling for a full investigation. To read a Statement by the National Indigenous Organizations of Colombia (ONIC), click here. MADRE also recalls that—even as international attention may be drawn to urgent crises around the globe—activists worldwide continue to face harassment and threats as they persevere in their work to advance human rights.

Reflections on Inuaguration

Bettie in NJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:32:34 EST

I was there!!! It was great witnessing the Inauguration of our 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama. I was a part of the “crowd.” A wonderful place to be. When I arrived, greeters were there to welcome me an all of the millions of others who were gathering in the Mall for this occasion. After we found our spot by one of the jumbotrons (a new word I learned) – the crowd was warm, friendly and fun to be around. After the opening prayer by Rev. Warren, the crowd became solemn and very quiet. At that moment, I felt that I was not there for myself, but rather, I was there representing my parents, friends and relatives, who were not able to make the trip to Washington. I was reflecting on that as I was watching the ceremony and all of a sudden, I felt that I was also representing all of those who had died and had not lived to see this event. I was now standing there for them and the generations long gone. All of a sudden, my being there took on a another dimension – I was there for my forebearers who had been slaves, farmers, factory workers, day workers and so on. I was there for the family I did not know in Africa – the antecedents on my family tree. I was there for those who I met during the civil rights marches and demonstrations. I was there for the families who had no place to send their families to school in in Prince Edwards County because the town closed the schools rather than to integrate and refused to accept the Supreme Court decision of Brown vs Board of Education. I was there for todays youth, especially those who need direction. I was there for my future generations, yet unborn.

As the pictures flashed in my mind of all of those I represented – tears started flowing freely. As I looked around the crowd, of all races and all ages – I saw that they,too, had tears. I knew that everyone around me fully understood the historical significance of this day, January 20, 2009. This was the day that this great nation showed to itself and to the world, that it was not the same nation that was founded in 1776 and built on the backs of free or indentured labor – and ruled through much divison - instead it was now a nation in which enough people said, we will vote for a person because of the content of his character and not the color of his skin. This was a nation poised and ready to improve the lives of all Americans and this was a nation which was ready to work with everyone to make a difference. This was a nation who believed in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. This was a stronger America. This was a nation that was now ready to work with those tough issues that cuases divisons.

The 2nd Chorus and 3rd Verse of “Lift Every Vice and Sing” was running through my mind. It goes as follows:

2nd Chorus

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

Out from the gloomy past, 'til now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

3rd Verse

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,

Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who has by Thy might, Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

As I was leaving, the process was exceedingly slow because of the number of us. There was no pushing, shoving or angry tones – everyone was patient, making sure that no one tripped or stumbled. Everyone was looking out for each other. It was as if everyone knew that so much had been sacrificed to make this day possible so that all actions had to be honorable, otherwise, it would have been disrespectful of all of those who had gone before us.

As we were slowly exiting, someone started singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and all who knew it started singing it with much gusto and those that didn't know it, hummed along with the same spirit.

Yes, a great day and even though we are in tough economic times, with issues that still divide us – I left there knowing that we will overcome all of those things and that our nation will emerge even stronger and more positive in days and years ahead. How, do I know this – I know it because I will use my energy to work along with others to make the impossible, possible.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DAVID PLOUFFE

Debbie — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:04:15 EST

Friend --

When Barack Obama was declared our 44th President, you didn't just revel in that victory -- you started asking what's next for this movement.

How is this unprecedented group of volunteers, grassroots leaders, and dedicated supporters going to help make change a reality?

More than half a million people shared their thoughts and ideas about moving forward, and we listened carefully. Last week, President Obama announced the creation of Organizing for America -- a group that will work alongside the President to support the agenda you fought so hard for.

You can be part of its first steps.

Watch a short video message I recorded with Mitch Stewart, Executive Director of Organizing for America, and learn more about this new organization you helped build.

http://my.barackobama.com/neworganization

You've already invested in the future of this country -- whether you voted, donated money, helped organize your local community, or got involved in countless other ways.

But right now, your participation in the political process is more important than ever. We'll soon be asking you to give whatever time or talent you can to support the President. With your help, we can bring change to Washington and the entire nation.

I look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead.

Thank you,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Questions or feedback? Contact Organizing for America at 1-877-922-4264.

Paid for by Obama for America

THOUGHTS FROM DC

Debbie — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:16:58 EST

This was the experience of a lifetime. The energy in DC was electric. The attendance and diversity of the masses of people were beyond belief. It was great to see the excitement of the youth and their passion in being a part of history. Many stayed in the hotel we were at. We met many on the Metro. All with incredible stories to share.

We were the face of Obama. People were patient, courteous, helpful and excited to be at the Inauguration. Considering the influx of people into DC, I believe overall the events leading up to and through the Inauguration went well. We did hear a few stories of people who were taken advantage of by Cab drivers and missed events, or got stuck in tunnels who had tickets to this moment in history. However, considering the fact that millions of people descended on Washington DC, we felt safe and always had volunteers, Police, Military, or Metro staff greeting us with a smile and guiding us in the right direction.

We have succeeded in electing the right person at the right time. Now, let's continue our work at a grassroots level to meet our new Administration Calls to Action. Let's continue our work in neighborhoods and schools, places of worship, public gatherings to feed, and clothe the hungry, make sure our homeless have shelter and opportunities in education, rehabilitation programs, counseling, to begin the process so they may self sustain. Let us make sure all people have affordable access to healthcare. That no child goes to school hungry. You have all heard it. We need to work together in our communities, look out after each other, help a neighbor in need when able. A small deed to you and I could be HUGE to the recipient. Also, it just plain feels good.

Let's continue to try and understand views that are not our own, and put ourselves in others shoes. I believe we will join hands as a society with the guidance of our great leaders to repair our nation, the world and our planet.

If you see someone in the Military, Police, Fire Dept, or Emergency Response, take a moment to thank them for their service.

YES WE WILL CONTINUE OUR WORK AS A PEOPLE FOR CHANGE!

Debbie Fischer, Colorado Community Activist

MESSAGE FROM MARLA

Debbie — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:21:12 EST

Regarding citizen participation in Obama's presidency, this paragraph from the White House.gov website is groundbreaking and phenomenal:

"President Obama started his career as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he saw firsthand what people can do when they come together for a common cause. Citizen participation will be a priority for the Administration, and the internet will play an important role in that. One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it."

Just think about that for a sec. Change has come to America. Marla

Of the People, By the People, For the People

Karen Who Loves the Way Obama Loves All Americans — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:12:48 EST

"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

--From Inaugural Address, President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009

For Jan. 20, 2009

Mildred — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:46:51 EST

On January 9th, 2008, at a fundraiser in NYC, I bashfully said to Barack Obama that I had a quote for him...and then recited William Wordsworth's famous line at the onset of the French Revolution, so inspired by the ideals of the Enlightenment:

Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive,

But to be young was very heaven.

The quote was apt then, it is doubly apt now.

DIGG IT

Debbie — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:46:06 EST

Today's Obama-Related Posts

All The Sunday Talking Heads http://tinyurl.com/7382f5
Barack Observed: The Best Story Won http://tinyurl.com/7knbbx
Mr. Obama Goes To Washington http://tinyurl.com/ax28z2
Obama Movement's Future -- Barack's Video http://tinyurl.com/93hcdz
Recovery Myopia: What Barack May Not See http://tinyurl.com/9p59uq
Barack's High-Tech Glass Shield http://tinyurl.com/7v6ov5
Discussing Bank of America Bailout http://tinyurl.com/7lox2z
Barack Visits The Supremes http://tinyurl.com/8rdz24
Kerry: Afghanistan Equals Vietnam http://tinyurl.com/a8wnxv
Key Inauguration Events http://tinyurl.com/a6eajd
Is The NYTimes Becoming the National Review? http://tinyurl.com/7q8snc
Tim Kaine's Q and A DNC Video http://tinyurl.com/6tlkp3
DC Looks Like It's Prepping for War http://tinyurl.com/8a64a2
Blah, Blah, Barack Will Stand Up to Everyone http://tinyurl.com/7ksex3
Barack Wins: Senate Passes TARP 2 http://tinyurl.com/93hn9b
Barack's Social Security, Medicare Focus http://tinyurl.com/7crlkh
YouTube slant on Osama Warning to Obama http://tinyurl.com/8vogm3
The Crash That Wasn''t http://tinyurl.com/96e5eo
Amend That! Sweat-Shops Are OK http://tinyurl.com/9453e5
Obama's Bailout 2 Would Help Home Owners http://tinyurl.com/7vrrnl
Now Wingnuts Are Sliming Pelosi http://tinyurl.com/8sdvyn
"Obama Recovery" Needs Work http://tinyurl.com/83zayw
Gentrification Rampant in Pakistan http://tinyurl.com/9vkdvx
3 Quarks Plays the Hitchens-Hillary Card http://tinyurl.com/79orpc
One in Eight in Military Has a Criminal Record http://tinyurl.com/8n29o6

ALL POSTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com
RSS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/feed/
RSS COMMENTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/comments/feed/

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER http://twitter.com/stephencrose

MESSAGE FROM DAVID PLOUFFE

Debbie — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:09:02 EST

Friend --

In your neighborhood and in thousands of communities across the country, Americans are answering President-elect Obama's call to service.

Tomorrow, January 19th, our nation will come together in a shared spirit of community. And I wanted to make sure you know how to participate.

Monday is not only the eve of an inauguration that brings all of us so much hope, it's also Martin Luther King Jr. Day -- when we recognize the power of one man to bring about change by serving his country.

Help kick off an ongoing commitment to serve our communities by taking part in this extraordinary day of service.

Sign up to attend or host an event in your community and help rebuild America one neighborhood at a time.

The grassroots movement you helped build was always about more than an election. It's about bringing much needed change to Washington and our communities.

Barack is calling on us to help rebuild our country. He knows what can happen when ordinary people turn their hopes into real action.

Take the first step this Monday, January 19th, by joining a service event near you. Sign up now:

http://www.USAservice.org/content/home

Thanks,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

DIGG IT

Debbie — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:32:05 EST

Today's Obama-Related Posts

Barack Wins: Senate Passes TARP 2 http://tinyurl.com/93hn9b
Barack's Social Security, Medicare Focus http://tinyurl.com/7crlkh
YouTube slant on Osama Warning to Obama http://tinyurl.com/8vogm3
The Crash That Wasn''t http://tinyurl.com/96e5eo
Amend That! Sweat-Shops Are OK http://tinyurl.com/9453e5
Obama's Bailout 2 Would Help Home Owners http://tinyurl.com/7vrrnl
Now Wingnuts Are Sliming Pelosi http://tinyurl.com/8sdvyn
"Obama Recovery" Needs Work http://tinyurl.com/83zayw
Gentrification Rampant in Pakistan http://tinyurl.com/9vkdvx
3 Quarks Plays the Hitchens-Hillary Card http://tinyurl.com/79orpc
One in Eight in Military Has a Criminal Record http://tinyurl.com/8n29o6
On Craigslist: Scalping Inauguration Tix http://tinyurl.com/9bhzju
Obama Counters Geithner Media Spin http://tinyurl.com/9wazkf
Odds on Torture Prosecutions Rise http://tinyurl.com/8v468f
Just Another Day in Killadelphia http://tinyurl.com/9a2rj5
Cells in Cars a Danger, Held or Not http://tinyurl.com/9m4rse
Barack's Big Conservative Supper http://tinyurl.com/726h62
Hillary Hearing Live All Over http://tinyurl.com/99j3gg
No Quick Afghanistan Moves for Obama http://tinyurl.com/8cu8th
David Axelrod's Special WH Painting http://tinyurl.com/8a95bt
Obama Call To Service -- The Video http://tinyurl.com/8elmkj
Is Obama Recovery Too Car-Centric? http://tinyurl.com/79rde2
Hillary Grilling Today http://tinyurl.com/7g49v5
Barack Confronts Chill on Capitol Hill http://tinyurl.com/7ywems
Barack's Chili Bowl Saga -- The Video http://tinyurl.com/92koop
Should We Redefine The Presidency? http://tinyurl.com/7x58os

ALL POSTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com
RSS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/feed/
RSS COMMENTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/comments/feed/

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER http://twitter.com/stephencrose

Huffington Post Bio/Menu http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-c-rose

KENDRICK MEET FOR FLORIDA

Debbie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:48:00 EST

Bill invited you to join the Facebook group "KENDRICK MEEK FOR FLORIDA".

Bill says, "I met Congressman Meek in 2006 when I was running and he was very supportive when many others were not. He will always have my unqualified support!".

To see more details and confirm this group invitation, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=55318607473

Thanks,
KENDRICK MEEK FOR FLORIDA

MOVIN' ON UP!

Debbie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:31:23 EST

http://americancomedynetwork.com/video.html?bit_id=35016

DIGG IT

Debbie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:12:14 EST

Today's Obama-Related Posts

Obama Counters Geithner Media Spin http://tinyurl.com/9wazkf
Odds on Torture Prosecutions Rise http://tinyurl.com/8v468f
Just Another Day in Killadelphia http://tinyurl.com/9a2rj5
Cells in Cars a Danger, Held or Not http://tinyurl.com/9m4rse
Barack's Big Conservative Supper http://tinyurl.com/726h62
Hillary Hearing Live All Over http://tinyurl.com/99j3gg
No Quick Afghanistan Moves for Obama http://tinyurl.com/8cu8th
David Axelrod's Special WH Painting http://tinyurl.com/8a95bt
Obama Call To Service -- The Video http://tinyurl.com/8elmkj
Is Obama Recovery Too Car-Centric? http://tinyurl.com/79rde2
Hillary Grilling Today http://tinyurl.com/7g49v5
Barack Confronts Chill on Capitol Hill http://tinyurl.com/7ywems
Barack's Chili Bowl Saga -- The Video http://tinyurl.com/92koop
Should We Redefine The Presidency? http://tinyurl.com/7x58os
Barack Will Order Gitmo Closed http://tinyurl.com/7tf46b
Gallup Makes Obama Folk Happy http://tinyurl.com/8d7822
Barack: Don't Shunt if It Means Shredding http://tinyurl.com/8smh5o
Turn TARP Two to an Obama Trumph http://tinyurl.com/8gcn85
Moyers on the Unreported Dead http://tinyurl.com/9643c6
Joe The Bummer: The Apotheosis http://tinyurl.com/7mzokd
Who Says Barack Can't Deal With Egos? http://tinyurl.com/9xnccg
Barack Superhero, Sci-Fi and The Tao http://tinyurl.com/7fk6f9
IKEA Rips Off Obama Designs http://tinyurl.com/76hovj
Obama's Guam Operation -- Seriously http://tinyurl.com/9tpfj7
Obama's Elusive Dream: Bulldozing America http://tinyurl.com/7hwxmq
The Black Snob on Sharpton & Hannity http://tinyurl.com/8c8nvm

ALL POSTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com
RSS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/feed/
RSS COMMENTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/comments/feed/
My Interview with The Pakistani Spectator http://tinyurl.com/8ex4mx
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER http://twitter.com/stephencrose

Huffington Post Bio/Menu http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-c-rose

Message from Barack

Debbie — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:06:45 EST

Friend --

In just six days, we will begin the next chapter in our shared American story.

We've put together an inaugural full of great events. I want you to be a part of the celebration -- whether you're traveling to Washington, D.C., or staying at home in your community.

I've recorded a short video about all the ways that you can get involved in the upcoming events. Watch the video and sign up to bring the Inauguration to your community.

This inauguration isn't about me. It's about all of us.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee is hard at work organizing the most open and accessible inauguration in our nation's history. We want every American to share in the celebration of change.

There are a number of ways for you to get involved in your community, from taking part in the national day of service on January 19th, to hosting a house party on January 20th -- your own Inaugural Ball.

Watch the video, and sign up today to celebrate the Inauguration in your community:

http://www.pic2009.org/yourinauguration

Thank you,

Barack

P.S. -- If you are going to be in Washington, D.C., text OPEN to 56333 on your mobile phone to make sure you get up-to-the-minute updates about inaugural events.

CHECK OUT THIS WEB SITE

Debbie — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:34:55 EST

I just spent most of this morning creating the coolest cards you will ever see. I sent a couple birthday cards, and then with a smirk on my face sent out some Political ones as well.

I took some of my campaign pictures and personalized cards to several friends and family members.

Please check out this site:)

www.sendoutcards.com/marla

Deb Fischer

THANK YOU JON STEWART

Debbie — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:43:50 EST

Dear Stacey,

Just a few days after the bombing of Gaza started, my rabbi, Rabbi Brant Rosen here in Evanston, Illinois had the courage to write something on his blog* that may forever change his life, and the lives of those around him. As I read it, I could literally feel the earth shift beneath my feet. He said,

Send a note to Jon Stewart. Tell everyone you know to watch the segment.

http://www.thankyoujonstewart.com/

We good liberal Jews are ready to protest oppression and human-rights abuse anywhere in the world, but are all too willing to give Israel a pass. It's a fascinating double-standard, and one I understand all too well. I understand it because I've been just as responsible as anyone else for perpetrating it.

So no more rationalizations. What Israel has been doing to the people of Gaza is an outrage. It has has brought neither safety nor security to the people of Israel and it has wrought nothing but misery and tragedy upon the people of Gaza.

The earth is shifting on this issue when the people to whom we look for guidance about right and wrong, people like Rabbi Brant, finally speak the truth- that killing will not bring peace. Not for the Israelis, not for the Palestinians, not for anyone. Many people from my own congregation, including my own daughter, wrote him to say "Thank you, thank you for finally saying these words out loud."

I felt something similar when I saw Jon Stewart on The Daily Show on Monday night. While almost all of the mainstream news in the United States has reported the story without any context whatsoever, repeating the lie that this is a simple case of Israel defending its people against irrational attacks, it was Jon Stewart, the main source of news for an entire generation of Americans, who got it right**.

He talked about the "soul-crushing" siege of Gaza, the occupation that has forced Palestinians to go through checkpoints to do anything at all, the perverse logic of trying to "get a war in" just before Obama's inauguration. When I watched this segment, I knew the earth was shifting. And I knew I had to thank Jon, and to make sure everyone I know watches his segment.

We all know that if every Jew in America said no to Israel's occupation of the Palestinians, it would still happen, because it has is seen as serving the interests of our country's foreign interests. And it is supported by Christian fundamentalists who believe it is one step closer to the end times. That's why we all need to work together- every single one of us.

So thank Jon by going here. And then tell everyone you know to watch this video. Tell your friends that if it seems like what is happening now is wrong, that's because it is.

By the way, the last haunting words of Rabbi Brant's post were these: "There, I've said it. Now what do I do?"

At Jewish Voice for Peace, it's our mandate to answer that question. We're planning a broad-based response that we know will make a difference, and the heart of that response will be every single one of you. We'll ask you to have those conversations with everyone you know, to educate yourselves, to let the world know peace with justice is possible.

Stay tuned,

Lynn Pollack
Jewish Voice for Peace

* Rabbi Brant's blog

** Israel losing the PR war (print headline)/In U.S., war of words over Gaza, San Francisco Chronicle

See Israeli war crimes in Gaza that was not shown to us by biased lobbyists' controlled media.

Moses — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:48:39 EST

Israeli war crimes in Gaza

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsm_czPF7C0&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynWjYHP91gA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kiyyp9cZdY0

Ron Paul on the conflict

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghj8l_3ew7U&NR=1

Alison Weir: American Fact Finder Journalist Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOvlYQvRYFE&feature=related

Alison Weir Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzQAp9daJGc&feature=related

Alison Weir Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfjJ9CfxYrE&feature=related

DIGG IT

Debbie — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:26:56 EST

DIGG ITAdmin Options

Today's Obama-Related Posts

Nothing But Iran http://tinyurl.com/9ajgg2
Barack's Mom-in-Law to White House http://tinyurl.com/8gv32k
Barack: Politician In Chief http://tinyurl.com/884o9r
Will Barack Honor PSTD Victims? http://tinyurl.com/7jwg6x
Russia, The End of Oil and Us http://tinyurl.com/7ohvyx
Run Up To The Inauguration -- Key Urls http://tinyurl.com/7sp5d2
3 Quarks Nails It on Gaza http://tinyurl.com/6u6t36
Barack's Proposed DTV Delay http://tinyurl.com/88yxr4
Barack -- A Very Different President http://tinyurl.com/8z9oe7
Voters Give Barack High Marks, But... http://tinyurl.com/88ms77
Will Barack Get Afghanistan Right? http://tinyurl.com/7d44um
Today's Obama Economic Speech http://tinyurl.com/9qu528
Barack Barricades Blackberry http://tinyurl.com/7p8had
Feinstein, Panetta Laugh Together http://tinyurl.com/9mkvbj
Inaugural Security Perimeter Expands http://tinyurl.com/9e4xqr
Barack's Trillion Deficit Works -- Here's Why http://tinyurl.com/9zcem5
Barack v. Entitlements. Calm Down, Folks. http://tinyurl.com/75zvxj
Barack Joins Burris Mega-Waffle http://tinyurl.com/9wzqut
Obama Competes With Camera Clicks http://tinyurl.com/7zpqco
WaPo Joins The Wingnuts on Intel Pick http://tinyurl.com/8vfy4l
Sabathia and Obama -- High Hopes http://tinyurl.com/9gzkc5
Obama Must Address School Dropout Crisis http://tinyurl.com/9uce2d
Obama Gupta Choice a Health Reform Coup http://tinyurl.com/7z2795
Today's Big White House Presidential Lunch http://tinyurl.com/7je62w
Barack on Pro Publica No News is Good News http://tinyurl.com/8al5em
Wall Street Journal Risk Hokum http://tinyurl.com/8xulqr
Keith Hits On All Eights http://tinyurl.com/8l6f3r

ALL POSTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com
RSS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/feed/
RSS COMMENTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/comments/feed/
My Interview with The Pakistani Spectator http://tinyurl.com/8ex4mx
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER http://twitter.com/stephencrose

Huffington Post Bio/Menu http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-c-rose

5.000 SEATS ON SALE TODAY!

Debbie — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:02:51 EST

Obama Family,

I hope all is well with you. I wanted to make you aware - public tickets for the Inaugural Parade will be on sale today at 1:00pmEST. Please see the information below for details.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: PIC Communications Office
January 9, 2009 202-203-1700

Public Tickets Available for Inaugural Parade

5,000 Bleacher Seats Lining Parade Route to Go On Sale

Washington, D.C. -- The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced today that 5,000 tickets for the 56th Inaugural Parade will go on sale to the public at 1:00 PM EST today for $25 each. Tickets will allow spectators access to bleachers along the historic parade route from the Capitol to the White House. Tickets will be available for sale at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 202-397-SEAT(7328), 410-547-SEAT(7328) or 703-573-SEAT(7328). Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.
"We are very pleased to make these tickets available to the public as part of our commitment to holding the most open and accessible Inauguration in history," said Presidential Inaugural Committee Executive Director Emmett S. Beliveau. "The Inaugural Parade is a celebration of America, and we are working to make sure that as many citizens as possible can take part in this historic tradition."
Thousands of spectators will line the 1.7 mile parade route as the new President and Vice President are escorted from the Capitol to the White House by over 13,000 parade participants. Over 90 music, cultural and community groups will join representatives from our Armed Forces in the historic parade, which concludes at the presidential reviewing stand, where the President and Vice President will watch the processional with their families.
Tickets are limited to four per person for purchase. Tickets are not required to view the parade, but the purchase of tickets will guarantee spectators a seated spot along the parade route. Ticket holders must be in their seats no later than 1:00 PM EST on January 20th. Standing room will be available along Pennsylvania Avenue on a first come, first serve basis.
Earlier this month the PIC announced that hundreds of free parade tickets were being made available to Washington, DC students and their families. DC residents can visit www.pic2009.org/page/s/dcstudentessay for more information on how to obtain those tickets.
For the latest information on the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, please visit www.pic2009.org.

###

Thank you for your support,

Preston L. Harden,
Georgia's 7th Congressional
District Delegate
GO OBAMA!!!!! 2008
(404) 376-6833

You're invited to join our group Georgia Young Professionals for Change on My.BarackObama.com:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/YoungProfessionalsforChange

CALL TO ACTION FROM BARACK

Debbie — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:35:46 EST

Friend --

On January 20th, our journey to bring change will officially begin.

We're organizing the most open and accessible Inauguration in our nation's history. And we're doing it without contributions from Washington lobbyists or big corporations.

Just like we did on the campaign, we're relying entirely on supporters like you -- ordinary people giving whatever they can afford to make this an event for all Americans.

I know we've asked a lot of you. But changing the way business is done in Washington will take a commitment from all of us. Right now, you can help give this administration a strong start.

And if you make a donation of any amount before midnight tonight, you could be selected to come to Washington, D.C., and be part of the welcome ceremony, the swearing in, the Inaugural Parade, and the Inaugural Community Ball.

Will you make a donation of $25 or more and be part of the historic moment you made possible?

We have a long road ahead of us, and we're going to face some major challenges as soon as we start. But I know I can count on you every step of the way.

Thank you for everything you've done and happy New Year,

Barack

P.S. -- You could be there for this historic moment even if you cannot make a donation. You can show your support by sharing what this Inauguration means to you. Learn more here:

https://donate.pic2009.org/tickettohistory

Paid for by Obama for America

DIGG IT

Debbie — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:08:02 EST

Obama Family,

Senate Democrats plan to accept Roland Burris for Obama's vacant seat, AP report

WASHINGTON - The Associated Press has learned Senate Democrats plan to accept Roland Burris for President-elect Barack Obama's vacant seat. NBC news reports Burris is meeting with the Senate leadership now as Senate Democrats look for ways to defuse the standoff that has denied Burris a Senate seat.

Burris' paperwork was rejected at the opening of the 111th Congress, with Democratic leaders loath to accept any Senate nominee sent by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But Burris is scheduled to meet Wednesday with the Senate's top two Democrats -- Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and assistant leader Dick Durbin of Illinois.

Knowledgeable Senate officials in both parties said the saga was widely expected to end with Burris being seated. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly for Senate members. The likelihood that Burris, a Democrat, will eventually prevail increased Tuesday after a key chairwoman got behind the former Illinois attorney general, driving a crack in what had been a united front by Senate Democrats against a Blagojevich appointee. Three weeks after Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges in what federal prosecutors said was a scheme to sell or trade Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder, the governor shocked Democratic leaders by appointing Burris to finish the final two years of the president-elect's six-year term. Blagojevich denies the accusations and has yet to be indicted. There has been no indication that Burris was involved in the alleged scheme, and he has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Democrats have repeatedly said the issue is Blagojevich, not Burris' qualifications.

Feinstein urges a settlement
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee, told reporters Tuesday evening that Burris should be seated. "If you don't seat Mr. Burris, it has ramifications for gubernatorial appointments all over America," the California Democrat said. "Mr. Burris is a senior, experienced politician. He has been attorney general, he has been controller, and he is very well-respected. I am hopeful that this will be settled."

In a piece of political theater, Burris, 71, tried and failed Tuesday to take Obama's seat.

He marched into the Capitol, declaring himself "the junior senator from the state of Illinois," and asked Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson to accept a certification of his appointment signed by Blagojevich. Erickson refused, saying it lacked Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's signature and the state seal.

In Chicago, Burris' attorneys asked the Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday to expedite a hearing on their petition for a court order directing White to certify his appointment.

Burris also was considering a federal lawsuit to force Senate Democrats to seat him. "Our credentials were rejected by the secretary of the Senate," said Timothy W. Wright III, an attorney for Burris. "We were not allowed to be placed in the record book. We were not allowed to proceed to the floor for purposes of taking oath. All of which we think was improperly done and is against the law of this land."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Thank you for your support,

Preston L. Harden,
Georgia's 7th Congressional
District Delegate
GO OBAMA!!!!! 2008
(404) 376-6833

You're invited to join our group Georgia Young Professionals for Change on My.BarackObama.com:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/YoungProfessionalsforChange

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows LiveTM: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows LiveTM Hotmail®: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail. See how it works.

See a clear Constitutional Violation to what occupying Israeli army is doing to the Palestinian towns using American weapons in mass killing of civilians.

Moses — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:32:19 EST

The Truth as Perceived by Brazilian Media

WUFYS

Carlos Latuff's statement:

I'd like to beg all viewers to spread this image anywhere, as a way to expose Israeli war crimes against Palestinians. Use it on t-shirts, posters, banners. Reproduce it in zines, papers, magazines, and make it visible everywhere. Here is the high-resolution version for printing purposes: [link]

Thank you in the name of every suffering Palestinian.

Stop The Barbaric Israeli State Terror in GAZA.

Moses — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:39:59 EST

Free Palestine Occupation is a Crime

We understand that the reason the coward fascist Israeli occupying army retreated from GAZA in 2005 was due to the strong blows they kept receiving from of the brave Palestinian Resistance. Not for their love of freedom for the Palestinians in GAZA. GAZA knows what freed her before and how to stay free and defeat the coward occupiers. History tells us that freedom fighters are always victorious. We demand that all Palestinians and freedom fighters throughout the world would unite and focus to stop the barbaric attack of the fascist Zionist occupiers on the besieged Palestinian women and children in GAZA. Stop the illegal bombardment of the schools, colleges, buildings full of sleeping civilians and hospitals using the American made planes. Israel has turned off the electricity in GAZA. Hospitals are choosing between life support and maternity ward.

COMPUTER VIRUS ALERT!

Debbie — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:09:33 EST

Bad new computer bug -- confirmed on Snopes

I was just alerted that:

There is a new computer bug going around that claims to be Barack Obama's acceptance speech. It was started by a bunch of criminals in the Ukraine All it will do is send them all your pertinent information. If you receive an E-mail claiming to be Barack Obama's acceptance speech DO NOT OPEN IT. DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY! Spread this around to everyone you know. It is true and has been validated on the Snopes Web Site.

Snopes -- they say it's real. See : http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/obamaspeech.asp

MESSAGE FROM MARLA

Debbie — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:02:03 EST

Attend the Zanzibar party on the 19th and party with the Obamas on the 20th!

The Presidential Inaugural Committee released this statement today: "In keeping with his commitment to make this inaugural celebration open and accessible to all Americans, President-elect Barack Obama will host the first-ever 'Neighborhood Inaugural Ball' during this year's inaugural celebration."

"It is the first official inaugural ball of its kind to be held during a presidential inauguration," the statement adds.

There have been rumors for weeks that Mr. Obama would hold a so-called people's ball; the announcement confirms that it will be the first event of inauguration evening on Jan. 20 and will take place at the Washington Convention Center, where several balls are being held.

Tickets will be free or at "an affordable price," and some of the tickets will be set aside for residents of the District of Columbia.

"This is an inauguration for all Americans," Mr. Obama said in the statement. "I wanted to make sure that we had an event that would be open to our new neighborhood here in Washington, D.C., and also neighborhoods across the country. Michelle and I look forward to joining our fellow Americans across the country during this very special event."

In a symbol of the importance of the Web, both to Mr. Obama's election and presumably to how he will run the government, this ball will be interactive, with webcasting and text messaging, "to link neighborhoods across the country with the new president and this premier event."

Details coming soon, both on the distribution of tickets and on how people at neighborhood balls across the country can link up, virtually, of course, to this one.

This is just one of 10 official balls that the Obamas will be attending that night. Five others are at the convention center (cutting down on the need for a motorcade). The other four are at the National Building Museum, the Hilton Hotel, Union Station and the D.C. Armory.

Marla

Visit The Works at Nations For Change at: http://n4cworks.ning.com

DIGG IT

Debbie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:24:28 EST

Monday Obama-Related Posts

What Obama's Kaine-DNC Pick May Mean http://tinyurl.com/9qxbdl
Obama-Related Year-End Whoppers http://tinyurl.com/89wppd
Why Barack's Privatization Will Work http://tinyurl.com/97nnrn
Barack and The Vatican. What Gives? http://tinyurl.com/7g4g9s
Jeffrey Klein Misreads Obama on Economy http://tinyurl.com/9x32x2

Recent Obama Related Posts

Barack Inaugural Must Address Violence http://tinyurl.com/8yjh9q
Barack Could Name 2 Plus to High Court http://tinyurl.com/8wfpo8
Barack Should Back Burris Seating http://tinyurl.com/7sh3k5
Chris Hedges Visited Slain Gaza Leader http://tinyurl.com/899dva
Barack's Cocoon of Normalcy http://tinyurl.com/8t3fst
Peggy Noonan Goes Myopic http://tinyurl.com/9ny2qj
Fly Right or Back to Searchlight, Dawg http://tinyurl.com/787xj7
And They Want A Comment form Barack? http://tinyurl.com/9tvvcw
Barack, Race and Double Meanings http://tinyurl.com/9tfr5r
Miami Shoes, Iraq Shoes, DUH http://tinyurl.com/8s3h7h
Chris Hedges Should Read What Barack Says http://tinyurl.com/7bdbas

ALL POSTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com
RSS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/feed/
RSS COMMENTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/comments/feed/

Huffington Post Bio/Menu http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-c-rose

MINNESOTA NEWS

Debbie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:34:23 EST

Congratualtions to Senator Al Franken

ACCOUNT ABILITY pays off:)

MESSAGE FROM DR. BOB

Debbie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:27:18 EST

Hello Volunteers,

It looks like there really will be campaigns and elections after Obama '08 after all.

Darn, and I was hoping that we wouldn't need any more since all of our problems would now be solved, :).
Oh well.

In that light I thought I would pass on the message in the Utube link below:
YouTube - Michael Bennet's special message to Barack Obama supporters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm8_kMkKTis

The process of Democracy never sleeps I suppose. (But could it at least take nap for the next 14 days and wait until I get a chance to experience the like most exciting day in my lifetime since the birth of all children I know and hold dear?!! Guess not, but it is a wonderful thing after all).

Thinking of you all on BARACK OBAMA'S INAUGURATION DAY!!

Dr. Bob

BE A PART OF HISTORY

Debbie — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:52:59 EST

Friend --

Thanks to you, President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden will take their oaths of office in just 17 days.

You helped shape history, and now you can be a part of it.

Ten supporters and their guests will be selected to come to Washington, D.C. for several days of inaugural events. You could be chosen to fly to Washington, attend the welcome ceremony, the Inaugural parade, the swearing-in, and an official Inaugural ball.

Will you donate $25 or more now? You could be part of the historic events you made possible.

This inauguration will be open to hundreds of thousands of people. To do that, it takes unprecedented resources.

In the past, inaugurations have been funded by lobbyists and corporations making six-figure contributions. Like our campaign, this inauguration is going to be different. But that means, once again, Barack and Joe need to ask you for your help.

Supporters like you made this possible, and with your help Barack and Joe will run their administration without the influence of big money from Washington lobbyists or special interests. Funding the Inauguration this way is another example of the change you helped bring to Washington.

It's up to you, at this crucial moment, to make the Inauguration a success and give change a strong start.

Will you make a donation of $25 or more now for the opportunity to join Barack and Joe at the beginning of this historic journey to change our country?

https://donate.pic2009.org/tickettohistory

Thank you for your extraordinary efforts throughout the campaign.

Happy New Year,

Obama for America

P.S. -- You can participate without donating. We recognize this day is as important as it is historic, and we want to hear in your words what this inauguration means to you.

Paid for by Obama for America

Free besieged Gaza Occupation is a Crime

Moses — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 12:06:21 EST

Free Palestine Occupation is a Crime

DIGG IT

Debbie — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 08:40:28 EST

Kathleen Reardon
Professor, USC Marshall School Of Business

Posted January 2, 2009 | 02:05 PM (EST)

BIO Become a Fan

Get Email Alerts Bloggers' Index

What to Expect from an Intelligent President
stumble digg reddit del.ico.us news trust mixx.com

Read More: Barack Obama, Bridging Differences, Cognitive Complexity, Frank Rich, President-Elect Barack Obama, Presidential Decision-Making, Presidential Politics, Rick Warren, Politics News

Brace yourself. It's going get rocky soon. We are about to have a very bright man as our president. And we've been away from that territory for a very long time.

Barack Obama is what social scientists describe as "cognitively complex." He can accommodate within his views and values what others see as contradictions. He inhabits an abstract rather than concrete world. For the cognitively complex among us, the gray area is broad.

That's why he doesn't rush to a microphone to explain actions that generate controversy. He operates on this rule: "They won't remember you got it to them late so much as that you got it to them wrong."

He is more considered than cautious. If he were cautious, he wouldn't have invited Rick Warren to do the inauguration prayer. That decision likely came from a lengthy sorting out of the pros and cons. The same could be said of some of his cabinet appointments. He may have discredited experience during the election, but he has high regard for it now.

For a man intent on change, he relies heavily on the way he has made decisions for many years. He lines up the ducks. He looks past the obvious. He prioritizes. He contradicts in one sense in order to be consistent in another. That doesn't preclude change, it merely means the President-elect's avenue to it will not be newly paved.

He takes time to identify options likely to succeed in the long run or ones that serve his higher order goals. By necessity, therefore, some people are going to be disappointed early on in his presidency.

Even those people willing and able to entertain complexity on a host of issues are often unwilling and unable to do so regarding their passions. In other words, as Frank Rich has implied, Barack Obama may overestimate at times his ability to bridge differences, especially among people passionate about particular causes. They are likely to be very impatient if their issues are among the ones President Obama puts on the back burner.

As delighted as so many of us are to have Barack Obama's presidency right around the corner, we'll need to keep in mind the type of thinker he is. He may have begun his race for the presidency with the single concept of hope, but he will begin his presidency with considerably greater complexity. He may have captured us with his heart, but he will lead us largely with his mind.

We should brace ourselves for him to make decisions that seem at times contradictory to what he said during his campaign - not because he lied, but because he never got very specific. As the complex among us do, he left doors slightly open on major issues knowing he might need to slip through them to focus on more pressing ones.

We elected a complex man. If anyone expected he'd agree with any particular interest group on all issues, he or she wasn't paying attention. But if President-elect Obama thinks he can train all of us to think at his level, with openness and understanding, that we'll come around to his thinking even if he breaks our hearts, he may not have been paying attention either.

Only time will tell, but it's good to go into the New Year knowing our future president's preferred decision-making style. He grasps passion and has exuded it often, but he will be a thinking person's president. That is at once a terrain on which we'll stumble having not traversed it in some time and a welcome breath of fresh air.

Dr. Reardon also blogs at bardscove.

Humaniterian Crisis in Gaza.

Moses — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:18:17 EST

They are actually picking up the phone and answering - here's the
number:

202-540-3000 press 2 to speak to staff member

******

Some talking points (submitted by ADC) plus a letter by a concerned
citizen, Jules Rabin, submitted to her local paper, with great talking
points

1) The Israeli strikes, which started on December 27th, come after
several weeks of a tight Israeli blockade which left many of Gaza's
1.5-million inhabitants without sufficient food, water, fuel, or
medicine.

2) As of December 30th, the United Nations indicates that the
Israeli air strikes over the past three days have killed 375 people,
including 63 civilians, in Gaza and have left over 1,650 more injured,
almost 300 of which are in critical condition. The UN estimates that
5% of those killed are children under the age of 18.

3) The population of Gaza is 2/3 refugee and more than half are
under the age of 16. The UN has listed Gaza as the most densely
populated area in the world with a population density that is higher
than that of Manhattan in New York City.

4) Israel has a responsibility as the occupying force under
international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, and
the laws of war to avoid harm of civilians in Gaza.

5) Israel's actions with the tight blockade on the 1.5-million
people in Gaza is a violation of those laws.

6) Israeli's attacks on Gaza, thus far resulting in the death of
over 375 people, including over 62 women and children, and injuries to
1,650 more people, calls for an immediate investigation by the United
Nations and objective review by the International Committee of the Red
Cross.

7) The timing of the strikes calls into question Israel's political
motivation as this comes in the final days of a lame-duck US
Administration and one-month before a hotly-contested Israeli election
in which the challenger is attacking the incumbent for being "soft" on
security.

8) It is time for the US to take its proper role as an honest broker
in the conflict and to live up to its promise as a champion of
freedom, liberty, and justice.

9) An immediate cessation of hostilities on all sides and a complete
end to the blockade is the only way to reinstate a cease-fire
agreement that will ensure the security of both Israelis and
Palestinians.

10) The mainstream media in the US has thus far miserably failed in
its news coverage of the humanitarian tragedy taking place in Gaza.
Media outlets should recall the disproportion, context of occupation,
and siege when mentioning the indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas
on southern Israel.

Situation before the strikes:

Cease-Fire from June to December: During the cease-fire brokered by
Egypt in June 2008, rocket attacks by Hamas extremists had greatly
diminished. The blockade of Gaza was relaxed slightly by Israel;
however, it never ended completely.

November: Israel escalated the situation in early November by killing
4 Palestinians in Gaza; claiming they were involved in weapons
smuggling, in the bloodiest violation of the cease-fire during the
Egyptian-brokered agreement. This resulted in renewed rocket attacks
by Hamas thus resulting in the crippling tight blockade by Israel on
the 1.5-million people in Gaza.

December: The siege of Gaza continued to suffocate the population with
renewed Hamas rocket attacks against southern Israel.

Impact of these strikes on the security of Israel:

The disproportionate nature of the Israeli strikes furthers the
humanitarian disaster, and represents a collective punishment of the
population of Gaza, which will not likely lead to security for
Israelis. Multiple studies indicate that similar attacks in the past
have failed to make Israeli citizens any safer and resulted in
increased support of Hamas extremists.

Final Thought:

Throughout the history of Arab-Israeli peace negotiations only
cease-fires and agreements have brought peace and security for both
Arabs and Israelis.

*****

*GAZA ON MY MIND*

When a certain Rabbi Perin said, in a funeral eulogy for an American-
born
Israeli who had been beaten to death by a Palestinian mob, "A million
Arabs
are not worth one Jewish fingernail," the world was shocked and the
Israeli
Prime Minister himself denounced the statement. The murdered Israeli was
Baruch Goldstein, who on February 28, 1994, had stepped into a mosque
carrying an assault rifle, and killed 29 Palestinian men and boys
before his
gun jammed. He was then beaten to death by surviving worshipers.

Now in Gaza, a more modest version of the stunning ratio suggested by
Rabbi
Perin, the million and the one, is being enacted. The tally so far in
the
mutual killing taking place in and around Gaza is 380 Palestinians
dead and
6 Israelis dead. The dead Palestinians include 5 sisters of one
family, ages
4 to 17, and two sisters of another family, ages 5 and 12.

The 6 Israelis were victims of the crude home-made rockets with
notoriously
wild aim that this week have been fired every day from Gaza into nearby
Israeli communities: to teach Israel a lesson for its misdeeds. Such
indiscriminate attacks on civilian communities are prohibited by
international law (Article 33, Fourth Geneva Convention).

Israel's retaliatory bombing of Gaza, one of the most crowded places on
earth, has produced fatalities 65 times greater, including children and
non-combatants, and was likewise intended "to teach a lesson." Such
bombing
attacks are also a violation of Article 33 of the Geneva Convention,
notwithstanding Israel's claim that it targets only "the bad guys."

When the Hamas government of Gaza declared on December 24 that it would
withdraw from the cease fire it had agreed to, it could cite two
justifications. The first was the continuation of Israel's iron
blockade of
already impoverished Gaza, which deprived it of even the minimum of
supplies
necessary for health and survival. Israel had, secondly, itself broken
the
mutual cease fire on November 4, fifty days before Hamas formally
declared
an end to its observation of it, when Israeli troops broke into Gaza,
killing six Palestinians and carting off six others.

The continuing blockade of Gaza, which is itself a grave violation of
the
rules of war concerning collective punishment, has had devastating
consequences for the 1 ½ million people who live there - most of them
refugees from the '67 war and their descendants. The shortages of food,
medical supplies, and fuel for electricity (for, among other things,
providing water and pumping away sewage), has produced incalculable
suffering. 75% of Gazans are currently malnourished. The children of
Gaza,
who number 58% of the population, have been the greatest sufferers
under the
blockade: 46% suffer from acute anemia, 45% have an iron deficiency,
and 18%
have been stunted in their growth. .

Under the blockade, the people of Gaza were reduced to destitution.
Under
the heavy bombardments of this week, terror from the sky has been
added to
the months-long physical privation they have been enduring.

So will the people of Gaza and the Hamas government that they elected
now
"learn the lesson" that Israel seeks to teach them?

So far, not. Neither side wants to understand the "lesson" the other
side is
teaching.

Gaza, locked down, sealed in, half-starved, terrified, and overpowered
as it
is now, is acquiring an eery resemblance to the Warsaw Ghetto of the
1940's:
a resemblance still faint, but developing.

Titus North, an American professor of political science, wrote just the
other day, in connection with the current bombing of Gaza, "A state
founded
by Holocaust survivors should be a beacon of morality, not a black
hole for
it."

The terrible loop that history has taken - descendants of the historic
victims of the Holocaust now wearing the jackboots of the dominant
warrior -
is a painful thing to contemplate.

Jules Rabin
Marshfield, CT

DIGG IT

Debbie — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:49:02 EST

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28433263#28433263

War only begets war. We must examine our moral consequences in what is
happening, not to mention the serious political consequences.

It is true that we have not been active in the Peace process over the past
8 years, no matter what has happened in the past history of this area.

Brzezinski is an intelligent and knowledgeable person... it is true, we
have not done anything as a nation in the past 8 years to help the
situation.

I agree the host has superficial knowledge... he's a reporter who reads
the newspapers and doesn't have anywhere the amount of knowledge DOCTOR
Brzezinski possesses. He was very disrespectful in my opinion... but I am
not surprised, because many reporters think they are know it alls.

DIGG IT

Debbie — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:32:30 EST

New Years Day Posts -- HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

Obama Should Resolve Blago Mess http://tinyurl.com/72vma8

Wednesday Obama-Related Posts

Obama Health Care Signal: Not This Time http://tinyurl.com/8urdyh
Is Barack a Neocon? http://tinyurl.com/86rxrs
Could Saltsman & Limbaugh Destroy GOP? http://tinyurl.com/88uamz
Barack's Food Agenda: Organic, Regional http://tinyurl.com/8pvx3t

Tuesday Obama-Related Posts

Barack Folk: Denounce Rush Now! http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/barack-folk-denounce-r...
Obama Must Confront Brutality Period http://tinyurl.com/7ofaw8
US Senate Should Confirm Burris http://tinyurl.com/7gvagg
Obama Brand The Rage in Hawaii http://tinyurl.com/9qwnkz
Will Barack Give Hamas Equal Time? http://tinyurl.com/7g9gqm
Barack & Cicero: The Oratorical Tie http://tinyurl.com/7awehg

RSS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/feed/
RSS COMMENTS: http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/comments/feed/

Huffington Post Bio/Menu http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-c-rose

MESSAGE FROM MARLA

Debbie — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:59:56 EST

Hello Everyone and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Today is the last day to get tickets to the Obama For Change inaugural celebration at the discounted price. Jnine Media is the host and Obama Music, Arts, and Entertainment and Nations For Change are promotional partners. Jenn Shaw, CEO of Jnine Media had the honor of filming the Philadelphia Obama for America Staff documentary. Join us as we celebrate with other Obama campaign staffers and volunteers. This is going to be an amazing party and it won't interfere with your other plans while you're in DC. :-)

Marla

http://obamainaugurationparty.eventbee.com/ Obama Event Website

Obama for Change Inauguration Party

Celebrate with the Obama Organizers Past and Present

Dear Obama Staffers, Volunteers, and/or Supporters

You are invited to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama with your colleagues and friends at the Obama for Change Inauguration Party. This is the event you should attend to finally meet those Obama peers you've been working with these past many months.

Obama Music, Arts, and Entertainment and Nations For Change are proud promotional sponsors of this event.

On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama will be sworn in as President of the United States. YOU MADE IT POSSIBLE. YOU INSPIRED THIS COUNTRY TO VOTE FOR CHANGE!

Stuff you want to know:

Location: Zanzibar, 700 Water St. SW Washington, DC
Zanzibar is a top DC venue plus it is only 10 blocks away from the Obama Inauguration viewing Mall.

Time: 9 pm - 5 am

Ticket Price: $75 if purchased by January 1st, 2009, $85 thereafter.

Dress: Semi-formal. No jeans, hats, chains, sneakers, or t-shirts.

Refreshments: Drinks and cocktails will be provided. Zanzibar has a restaurant for those who want to purchase food.

Live Music Provided by: Lady D and MI$$ION
(winners of the Obama Music Arts & Entertainment Obama song competition).

Master of Ceremonies: Mark Sutton of Liberal Arts Radio

DJ- Spinning all night from 10pm to until

Photographer- Special pictures of Obama present and former Staff, vols, and supporters

Awards- If you are a member of an Obama organization that was active in campaign efforts, we have a recognition award for you! Email info@barackdocumentary.com to let us know who you are and make sure to tell us who the designated representative is who will pick up the award that evening. DEADLINE: Jan 1, 2009

Speakers: Mark Alexander - Senior Legal Advisor to President-Elect Barack Obama (and possibly a few other surprises)

Housing Help: We have developed a Google group so you can connect with others for advice and help. Please go to:
http://groups.google.com/group/obamainaugurationhousing

Ticket sales are going fast! Act now to get yours at the discounted rate!!!!

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

(USE DISCOUNT CODE: GROUPS until Jan 1, 2009)

Hope to see you there!!!!!

Sincerely,

Jenn Shaw Marla Turner
Jnine Media CEO Executive Director
Obama Documentary Director Nations For Change
Obama Music Arts & Entertainment

About Us
Jnine Media is an entertainment production company formed to produce feature films, television projects, and online media content. Headed by director and executive producer Jenn Shaw, our company strives to develop and foster unique projects including documentary, narrative features, music videos, and advertising content. As our client list builds, we have two films scheduled for 2009. In addition to video production, Jnine Media includes Music Video 2.0 LLC, a global music video network. Music Video 2.0 is a global music video network that is specifically devoted to posting, streaming, and counting down music videos and music content from unsigned, independent, and major music artists.

DIGGS FROM DOUG

Debbie — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:02:31 EST

Hi, friends. What a sorry time for an international crisis to form; there's a need that goes beyond politics in it, the need to know, especially if the information is from outside the US, where fuller stories tend to be published. A friend of mine on MyBO conjured up this list of articles and links to inform our need to know. A future email will give some links to actions that might help the people on the ground in both countries, for, one thing is sure: there are humanitarian needs to be met on this new killing field. Thanks for your attention. We can change the world, right from here. Doug Evans

The work putting the list together was done by Fire is Born VOB.

Learn More About the Current Crisis in Gaza

BLOGS & NEWS ARTICLES:

We Have No Words Left
by Ali Abunimah, COMMONDREAMS, December 29, 2008
The Assault on Gaza Will Not Stop Rockets, but Could Influence The Israeli Elections
by Justin Alexander, COMMONDREAMS, December 29, 2008
Trying to 'teach Hamas a lesson' is fundamentally wrong
by Tom Segev, December 29, 2008
Israel's Shock & Awe Planned 6 Months,
The Palestine Chronicle, December 28, 2008
Most Gaza casualties were non-combatants, civilians
Press release, Al Mezan, 28 December 2008
Bombing severely reduces Oxfam's aid programme in Gaza as humanitarian crisis looms
OXFAM, 28 December 2008
Gaza today: 'This is only the beginning'
Guest article from Ewa Jasiewicz in Gaza, Sunday, December 28, 2008
www.a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com
A diary of a Palestinian mother
VIDEOS:

PALESTINIAN Family killed in GAZA
WEBSITES:

http://english.aljazeera.net/
BBC Middle East Coverage
http://www.FreeGaza.org
http://flashpoints.net/
http://qumsiyeh.org/
International Middle East Media Center
http://jewishpeacenews.blogspot.com
http://electronicintifada.net/
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/
http://www.endtheoccupation.org

http://codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=4596

--
Doug Evans Betanco, free in the current that pushes the rivers to mingle. Check out my blogs at