An Open Letter to President Obama

Dear Mr. President,


Personally, I am really disappointed and disgusted. The wealthiest among us are the ones who have crippled this economy and brought America to her knees. The military Industrial complex has poorly prosecuted two wars (one of which was ILLEGAL) effectively "breaking the bank"; the Republican congress passed legislation handing the wealthy the largest transfer of wealth in our history, syphoning off the entirety of the surplus we created in the late 1990's; and the greedy bankers raped the poor and middle-class of any wealth they may possible accumulate by stealing the equity of their real-estate holdings, and many times the real estate itself.

Now I am supposed to sit back and suck it up while 1.) I have been served notice that my wage will be frozen at $14.85 per hour for the next 2 years, and 2.) instead of heading off to prison, these greedy bastards will be getting an extension of their $700 billion tax cut!?!!  No thankyou.

Mr. President, what? may I ask you is fair and equitable about that?? The only thing this tax deal accomplishes is to push the debate off until next year, when you will not have a congress controlled by your party, but by people who have already publically stated that they have no intention of working with you. So I ask again - WTF???

If you really look at the data - back when the Bush tax cuts were enacted - My salary was $23,000 per year, and this act increased my taxes $100 per month - YES! My taxes went UP!! Bush lied (surprise!). So my position is to let ALL of the act expire and make the Republicans come up with a reasonable plan to stabilize our economy.

And why do you suppose that we still have +9% unemployment??? It sure isn't because those wealthy people are creating jobs (the garbage touted by the GOP). No, because no matter how much you give them - they will always keep it all for themselves. GREEDY OLD PANZY-ASSES!!

So I respectfully ask you, Mr. President, to reconsider the deal and leave it on the table. Walk away and gather the Dems, create an equitable tax deal for middle-America and come out swinging. Make it be known that the GOP is standing in the way of progress - not YOUR OWN PARTY MEMBERS!!

Oh, and one more thing - STOP lecturing me on how to get along with an opposition party who by their very nature prides themselves on NOT GETTING ALONG!!

You said yourself "We took a schellacking" in the last election. Is this REALLY the lesson you took away from it? If so, we really need to spend some quality face time to bring you up to speed.

Sincerely,
Terri Sherron


(Note: I did not knock on doors six days per week for eight months to elect Barack Obama just to then have this insulting crap shoved in my face.)


"I will never be complacent again. Been there, done that, and we got Chimpy McFlightsuit (aka Bush 43)."
-Terri Sherron
sherron4truth.blogspot.com

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"I will never be complacent again. Been there, done that, and we got Chimpy McFlightsuit." -Terri Sherron sherron4truth.blogspot.com

Healthcare Reform is Socialism? Really?

Last Sunday culminated the past year of debate about health care reform in this country with the Democrats passing reform legislation without a single vote from the Republican side of the aisle.  The hysteria that ensued has been breath-taking.  Death threats, spitting on my Congressman, calling one member the "N" word, and another the "F" word.  Cutting gas lines to yet another member's brother's home. Civility be damned!

Now I realize that for some Americans, it is really scary that we have an African-American president. (though I've never heard him refer to himself in this way) And even scarier is the progress he campaigned on to win the election. And damn it!  Win he did, by a landslide.  So of course, elections have consequences, one of which is that you are in charge of trying to herd the cats.

But an honest look at this latest legislation just doesn't measure up to the hype by EITHER side of the health care debate.  Let me be clear - I am happy that the Democrats passed something on health reform.  But I also know its a big bunch of hype for them to strut around as if they just created a brand new health care system as if its akin to Medicare or something.

An honest read of the legislation shows it to be clearly just simple set of regulations to curb customer abuses by the health insurance industry.  I mean, really!  If you replaced the words 'health insurance' with any public utility company you will get a much more accurate impression of what this legislation really accomplishes.

And then there's those pesky Republicans.  The alarms they are sounding are absolute hysteria.  Its as if they didn't even read the legislation for themselves. They just believed all the hype the Democrats were dishing.  Why would they be so virulently against requiring that everyone buy a product from their benefactors??  And so violently against a perfectly benign piece of legislation. Really?

Now, in the beginning, I had high hopes for actual health care reform.  I allowed all the doomsday ranting from the right to convince me that we were going to finally get universal health care (a much different proposition than universal health insurance).  No? Oh well, then surely we'll get the public option (like medicare for all, if you choose to buy into the program).  Its a good place to start.  But noooooo! The public option didn't even make it into the final bill.

See, the trouble is, the insurance lobby has paid off so many of these legislators, in both houses of Congress, in BOTH parties, the best we could to after 14 months of debate is a set of watered down regulations.

And yet, my facebook page is filled with posts from people screaming about how overnight we have been turned into a socialist country. (Believe me brothers and sisters, it will not be that noticeable and you'll be too busy ranting about whatever they want you to rant about to even see it coming).  The news shows are filled with vitriolic threats from those whose team lost in the last election.  They look at us as if we stole it or something!

So now, as I wind up my own rant, I leave you with a few digs at Sarah Palin (my favorite punching bag - just because with Sarah ignorance is bliss), John Bonior and Rush Limbaugh.

One day, it will be morning in America again: we will have universal health care, access to a doctor of our choice, the abortion rate will have fallen dramatically (because anyone who actually comprehends what they read will tell you that statistics don't lie - fully funded family planning reduces unwanted pregnancies), we won't be a socialist country, but a fully democratic one, legislators that lie to the people to incite violence will be promptly voted out, and Turd Limbaugh will live in Costa Rica as he promised (if they will have him) downing his pills and spouting his hate speech from far, far away.

Thanks for reading.


"I will never be complacent again. Been there, done that, and we got Chimpy McFlightsuit (aka GWB)."
-Terri Sherron
sherron4truth.blogspot.com

Obama vs. Veteran's Healthcare - the New Big Lie

She's at it again. The unnamed "army wife", so distraught at the "inhumane treatment" of her husband by the President, has another email circulating spreading falsehoods - no, correct that - she is LYING about what President Obama had to say regarding the Veteran's healthcare system and his proposals for improving it.

This particular email begins "I don't care what your political views are ... you must read this ... Another look at our president, unbelieveable!!!!" (note the flare for the dramatic complete with four exclamations)  It goes on to seemingly quote the president demanding that those unpatriotic veterans pony up to pay for their own healthcare. (Point of fact: a trial balloon was tested by the Whitehouse briefly in March 2009 and was quickly withdrawn - not a serious proposal)

After a simple google search I discovered that the speech the email is "quoting" is actually a satirical piece authored by the imfamous conservative humorist John Semmens. He had originally posted this piece in the online publication The Arizona Conservative on March 21, 2009.

But of course, "Sunshine Sue" didn't do her homework.  Or she deliberatley set out to deceive those that can be easily swayed by all things anti-Obama.  That the original post was published nearly a year ago barely registers on the minds of those so willing to believe in the "Obama is a cult" theory.  Or, yeah, I'll say it - they're just plain racist!!!! (Note my four exclamation points).

For many years now, the Republican party has subscribed to the Lee Atwater school of dirty politics: a handbook complete  with smear campaign tactics, underground disinformation papers and lies that turn the truth on its head (see 'Clean Water Act', 'No Child Left Behaind', 'the Patriot Act'... the list goes on, but you get the idea?)

In the modern age of the 'internet nation' the right wingnuts have become proficient at viral email (spreads through forwarding) of the ilk that we are talking about here.  It makes no difference to the author as to the truth or validity of the quotes or subject matter.  The real point is to appeal to the 'fear of the .....' (insert the wingnut fear of the day).  This particular email, and the Obama hate speech in general seems to blatently point to 'fear of the black man'. Sick isn't it? And kind of sad, really.

The Washington Post published the full text of the president's speech to the Veterans outlining his firm proposals.  You can read his real speech here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/09/AR2009040902581.html

If you care to check the facts for yourself, here are a couple more fact check sites I trust - even when they don't support my thoughts or theories:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/veteranshealth.asp
or
http://www.factcheck.org/2009/05/would-obama-have-soldiers-pay-for-own-war-injuries/


Oh, and just for grins, here is the press release from the Department of Defense on the actual Veterans Healthcare legislation signed by the president  on October 22, 2009.
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=56357

Its called 'The Veterans Healthcare Reform and Transparency Act'.  Though it won't mean much to his detractors, it means a great deal to me to know our president has kept his promise to respect and care for our nations heroes.

Its amazing that fully five months later the lies and distortions are still going strong. It really is true what they say: "You really can fool some of the people all of the time".

Thanks for reading.


"I will never be complacent again. Been there, done that, and we got Chimpy McFlightsuit (aka/GWB)."
-Terri Sherron
sherron4truth.blogspot.com

A Statement Worth Repeating

One of my favorite opinion writers, Pulitzer Prize winning author Eugene Robinson wrote an opinion piece on March 9th, outlining the spurious public statements by Liz Cheney against DOJ lawyers whom she called the "Al-Qaida 7". As usual, Ms. Cheney has shown herself to be the antithises of the patriotism she attempts to claim by hiding behind an organization ironicly names "Keep America Safe." Ha! And as usual, lucky for us, Mr. Robinson has so eloquently laid the argument against despicable behavior right at her feet. Please, read on...and enjoy.

'Al-Qaeda 7' Smear Campaign is an Assault on American Values
By Eugene
Robinson
The Washington PostTuesday, March 9, 2010; A19

The word "McCarthyism" is overused, but in this case it's mild. Liz
Cheney, the former vice president's ambitious daughter, has in her hand a list of Justice Department lawyers whose "values" she has the gall to question. She ought to spend the time examining her own principles, if she can find them.

A group that Liz Cheney co-chairs, called Keep America Safe, has spent the past two weeks scurrilously attacking the Justice Department officials because they "represented or advocated for terrorist detainees" before joining the administration. In other words, they did what lawyers are supposed to do in this country: ensure that even the most unpopular defendants have adequate legal representation and that the government obeys the law.

Liz Cheney is not ignorant, and neither are the other co-chairs of her
group, advocate Debra Burlingame and pundit William Kristol, who writes a monthly column for The Post. Presumably they know that "the American tradition of zealous representation of unpopular clients is at least as old as John Adams' representation of the British soldiers charged in the Boston Massacre" -- in other words, older than the nation itself. "

That quote is from a letter by a group of conservative lawyers --
including several former high-ranking officials of the Bush-Cheney
administration, legal scholars who have supported draconian detention and interrogation policies, and even Kenneth W. Starr -- that blasts the "shameful series of attacks" in which Liz Cheney has been the principal mouthpiece. Among the signers are Larry Thompson, who was deputy attorney general under John Ashcroft; Peter Keisler, who was acting attorney general for a time during George W. Bush's second term; and Bradford Berenson, who was an associate White House counsel during Bush's first term.

"To suggest that the Justice Department should not employ talented
lawyers who have advocated on behalf of detainees maligns the patriotism of people who have taken honorable positions on contested questions," the letter states.

But maligning is apparently the whole point of the exercise. The smear
campaign by Cheney, et al., has nothing to do with keeping America safe. It can only be an attempt to inflict political damage on the Obama administration by portraying the Justice Department as somehow "soft" on terrorism. Even by Washington's low standards, this is unbelievably dishonest and dishonorable.

"Whose values do they share?" a video on the group's Web site ominously
asks. The answer is obvious: the values enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
The most prominent of the nine Justice officials, Principal Deputy Solicitor
General Neal Katyal, represented Osama bin Laden's driver, Salim Hamdan, in a case that went to the Supreme Court. In a 5-to-3 decision, the court sided with Hamdan and ruled that the Bush administration's military tribunals were unconstitutional. Are Liz Cheney and her pals angry that Katyal was right? Or do they also question the "values" and patriotism of the five justices who voted with the majority?

The letter from the conservative lawyers points out that "in terrorism
detentions and trials alike, defense lawyers are playing, and will continue to play, a key role." It notes that whether terrorism suspects are tried in
civilian or military courts, they will have access to counsel -- and that
Guantanamo inmates, even if they do not face formal charges, have a right to habeas corpus review of their detention. It is the federal courts -- not defense lawyers -- that have made all of this crystal clear. If Cheney and her group object, they should prepare a blanket denunciation of the federal judiciary. Or maybe what they really don't like is that pesky old Constitution, with all its checks, balances and guarantees of due process. How inconvenient to live in a country that respects the rule of law.
But there I go again, taking the whole thing seriously. This is really part of a death-by-a-thousand-cuts strategy to wound President Obama politically. The charge of softness on terrorism -- or terrorist suspects -- is absurd; Obama has brought far more resources and focus to the war against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan than the Bush-Cheney administration cared to summon. Since Obama's opponents can't attack him on substance, they resort to atmospherics. They distort. They insinuate. They sully. They blow smoke.

This time, obviously, they went too far. But the next Big Lie is
probably already in the works. Scorched-earth groups like Keep America Safe may just be pretending not to understand our most firmly established and cherished legal principles, but there is one thing they genuinely don't grasp: the concept of shame.


(Read more articles by Eugene Robinson at http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/articles/eugene+robinson/ )

Barack Obama: What He's Done for Me

I just watched the most amazing video of people stating why they are voting for Barack Obama. People from all walks of life, centered around one common theme - a belief that if we all join together, we can solve our country's greatest problems.

Senator Obama has inspired me in his ability to bring people together, to help us to believe in ourselves again, to think bigger and outside the box. I have always believed that he is a great leader whose goals for America are for her common purpose, and whose strength is uniting us around those goals.

Then I watched this video. And I realized the most important thing Senator Obama has done for me: he has restored my faith in the American people. Because of his campaign, and the honor in which he has waged it, I now know that I share a common goal with many more people, in America and around the world, than I could ever have realized on my own. So many people are coming together around a simple idea. We can fix our country, but it's going to take all of us - together.



My heart is very full. I am a very proud American.

"I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington ... I'm asking you to believe in yours."
-Senator Barack Obama
www.barackobama.com

WASU (and a few other observations)

WASU (Women Against Sarah Unite)
The other night while I was watching an MSNBC program on Sen. Obama's biography, they pre-empted their show to join live coverage of Gov. Sarah Palin's homecoming to Alaska to "cram" for her first public interview with Charlie Gibson. All's fair, I thought to myself at the time and switched the channel. But soon discovered that nearly all of the cable news stations had done the same. (See CNN, MSNBC, FOX) Later, I found a video from CBS reporting that "about a thousand jubilant supporters" had crammed into the airplane hanger to welcome her home. Okay, I thought, pretty good crowd considering how large the state is and people are so spread out.

But you know what the MSM didn't show you? Nearly 1500 people gathered to rally against Gov. Palin after she had finished her little speech. I was stunned to say the least, but not really surprised. Stunned that more people came out to stand up against her than showed up to support her. Not surprised in the least that the "news" failed to cover them, because after all, the WASU group doesn't really fit into the BS narrative that they are trying to sell you. (No fairness doctrine, remember?)

So here is an article , written by a blogger that attended both events, including video and pictures. I am inspired by this in more ways than I can cover in this space, so I will just say that the organizers came up with an idea to stand up while talking around the kitchen table and put the plan into action. People all across this country can do the same thing. Also, I must admit that while the scenic pictures of Alaska are beautiful, and Northern Exposure was a great television show, my unfavorable opinion of Alaska was limited to "the bridge to nowhere" Sen. Stevens (indicted, now on trial for corruption). I was very pleased to see that not all women in Alaska are like Sarah Palin, in fact, we are very similar. This video and the comments were very inspiring to me. I hope they will be to you as well.

News They Won't Use
By the way, this is the second instance in the past three weeks that the main stream media has refused to cover a story that points to any fracture in the Republican party. "What else?", you might ask. Were you aware that Rep. Ron Paul (Republican presidential primary candidate this year) staged an alternative convention, in the same city, at the same time as the Republican National Convention was being held in St. Paul, MN?? So what, you might say. Well, 12,000 people showed up for Ron Paul. And after weeks upon weeks of MSM covering the "split in the Democrat Party" ad nauseam, and the PUMA protesters (all 80 of them) isn't it more than just a little hypocritical to NOT cover the Ron Paul convention?

Lipstick on a Pig (Unfair to Pigs!)
Much ado has been made of Sen. Obama's "lipstick on a pig" remark complete with the McCain campaign saying that it was an insulting to Gov. Palin. Never mind that Obama was talking about McCain trying to paint himself as "the change agent in this election", what does it say about the honor and integrity of the "war hero" who would take an expression he often uses and turn it into "Obama called Palin a pig"?



"I won't be complacent this time. Been there, done that, and we got Chimpy McFlightsuit."
-Terri Sherron
sherron4truth.blogspot.com

McNasty and the Pitbull

Okay Democrats, time for a little pep talk from the organizer. Yes, the McCain campaign is getting really ugly. But we always knew it would. Out today comes the revelation that Karl "Turdblossom" Rove is actually advising the campaign, so ugliness, lies and deceit should be no surprise. Look at the speech he wrote for Sarah Palin!

But we have a surprise of our own - 11 million new democratic voters! People who are counting on each other to actually change the direction of this country. Together we have talked to hundreds of Republicans and Independents that are standing with us this time because we all know that together we can change the direction of this country, and then the world. The Rethuglians have NO solutions to the grave issues facing our nation. The only thing they have is fear - the only way they win is to scare you. Remember what our hero, FDR, said, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Please don't grovel, whine or fret - instead, put that nervous energy into the campaign. Each of us is a foot-soldier in this war to save America - and make no mistake - it IS a war! So get up and get out there. Talk to your neighbors, call your friends and family, make sure everyone you know is registered to vote - then make sure they actually DO VOTE!!

Here is a great video that is a pretty accurate depiction of the kinds of people I am working with everyday. Please join us and we can change the world.



"I won't be complacent this time. Been there, done that, and we got Chimpy McFlightsuit."
-Terri Sherron
sherron4truth.blogspot.com

AN OBAMA SUPPORTER REVIEWS HIS VOTING RECORD

This "little list" was sent to me by a dear friend from the Missouri Ozarks. Never let anyone repeat the lie that Senator Obama "hasn't accomplished much".


AN OBAMA SUPPORTER REVIEWS HIS VOTING RECORD

"It has really been bothering me - the charges that Obama is all talk and no action. Those of us who support him and have reviewed his record know there is no basis to this charge, but just to make sure, I went to the Congressional Record (www.thomas.gov) and did a search for bills sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Obama in his three short years in the US Senate. I searched the 109th and 110th Congresses which cover the years 2005-2007.

In a nut shell I found:

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.

Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.

His record is in fact quite impressive for a junior Senator from Illinois.

Below I summarize Senator Obama's legislative record in the US Senate.

First I list the bills he sponsored that have become law.

Next I summarize the bills that he has sponsored or cosponsored since he became a US Senator in 2005.

I have only included major pieces of legislation and have not summarized continuing resolutions or naming post offices, for example.

His record suggests several priorities and the bills he supports address many of our most pressing problems.

Most of his legislative effort has been in the area of Energy Efficiency and Climate Change (25 bills), health care (21 bills) and public health (20 bills), consumer protection/labor (14 bills), the needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces (13 bills), Congressional Ethics and Accountability (12 bills), Foreign Policy (10 bills) Voting and Elections (9 bills), Education (7 bills), Hurricane Katrina Relief (6), the Environment (5 bills), Homeland Security (4 bills), and discrimination (4 bills).

Of the 15 bills Senator Obama sponsored or co-sponsored in 2005-7 that became law:

Two addressed foreign policy:
Promote relief, security and democracy in the Congo (2125)
Develop democratic institutions in areas under Palestinian control (2370).

Three addressed public health:
Improve mine safety (2803)
Increased breast cancer funding (597)
Reduce preterm delivery and complications, reduce infant mortality (707).

Two addressed openness and accountability in government:
Strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (2488)
Full disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds (2590)

Two addressed national security
Extend Terrorist Risk Insurance (467)
Amend the Patriot Act (2167)

One addressed the needs of the Armed Forces
Wave passport fees to visit graves, attend memorials/funerals of veterans abroad (1184).

Of the 570 bills Senator Obama introduced into the Senate during the 109th and 110th Congress (Senate Bill numbers are in parentheses), they can be summarized as follows:

25 addressed Energy Efficiency and Climate Change
Suspend royalty relief for oil and gas (115)
Reduce dependence on oil; use of alternative energy sources (133)
Increase fuel economy standards for cars (767, 768)
Auto industry incentives for fuel efficient vehicles (1151)
Reduce green house gas emissions (1324)
Establish at NSF a climate change education program (1389)
Increase renewable content of gasoline (2202)
Energy emergency relief for small businesses and farms (269)
Strategic gasoline and fuel reserves (1794)
Alternative diesel standards (3554)
Coal to liquid fuel promotion (3623)
Renewable diesel standards (1920)
Reducing global warming pollution from vehicles (2555)
Fuel security and consumer choice (1994, 2025)
Alternative energy refueling system (2614)
Climate change education (1389)
Low income energy assistance (2405)
Oil savings targets (339)
Fuel economy reform (3694)
Plug-in electric drive vehicles (1617)
Nuclear release notice (2348)
Passenger rail investment (294)
Energy relief for low income families (2405)

21 addressed Health Care
Drug re-importation (334)
Health information technology (1262, 1418)
Discount drug prices (2347)
Health care associated infections (2278)
Hospital quality report cards (692, 1824)
Medical error disclosure and compensation (1784)
Emergency medical care and response (1873)
Stem cell research (5)
Medical Malpractice insurance (1525)
Health centers renewal (901, 3771)
Children’s health insurance (401)
Home health care (2061)
Medicare independent living (2103)
Microbicides for HIV/AIDS (823)
Ovarian cancer biomarker research (2569)
Gynological cancers (1172)
Access to personalized medicine through use of human genome (976)
Paralysis research and care (1183)

20 addressed Public Health:
Violence against women (1197)
Biodefense and pandemic preparedness and response (1821, 1880)
Viral influenza control (969)
End homelessness (1518)
Reduce STDs/unintended pregnancy (1790)
Smoking prevention and tobacco control (625)
Minority health improvement and disparity elimination (4024)
Nutrition and physical education in schools (2066)
Health impact assessments (1067, 2506)
Healthy communities (1068)
Combat methamphetamines (2071)
Paid sick leave (910)
Prohibit mercury sales (833, 1818)
Prohibit sale of lead products (1306, 2132)
Lead exposure in children (1811, 2132)

14 address Consumer Protection/Labor
Stop unfair labor practices (842)
Fair minimum wage (2, 1062, 2725, 3829)
Internet freedom (2917)
Credit card safety (2411)
Media ownership (2332)
Protecting taxpayer privacy (2484)
Working family child assistance (218)
Habeus Corpus Restoration (185)
Bankruptcy protection for employees and retirees (2092)
FAA fair labor management dispute resolution (2201)
Working families flexibility (2419).

13 addressed the Needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces:
Improve Benefits (117)
Suicide prevention (479)
Needs of homeless veterans (1180)
Homes for veterans (1084)
GI Bill enhancement (43)
Military job protection
Dignity in care for wounded vets (713)
Housing assistance for low income veterans (1084)
Military children in public schools (2151)
Military eye injury research and care (1999)
Research physical/mental health needs from Iraq War (1271)
Proper administration of discharge for personality disorder (1817, 1885)
Security of personal data of veterans (3592)

12 addressed Congressional Ethics and Accountability
Lobbying and ethics reform (230)
Stop fraud (2280)
Legislative transparency and accountability (525)
Open government (2180, 2488)
Restoring fiscal discipline (10)
Transparency and integrity in earmarks (2261)
Accountability of conference committee deliberations and reports (2179)
Federal funding accountability and transparency (2590)
Accountability and oversight for private security functions under Federal
contract (674)
Accountability for contractors and personnel under federal contracts
(2147) Resctrictions awarding government contracts (2519)

10 addressed Foreign Policy:
Iraq war de-escalation (313)
US policy for Iraq (433),
Divestiture from Iran (1430)
Sudan divestment authorization (831)
Millennium Development Goals (2433)
Multilateral debt relief (1320)
Development bank reform (1129)
Nuclear nonproliferation (3131,977,2224).

9 address Voting/Elections
Prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections (453)
Voter access to polls and services in Federal elections (737)
Voter intimidation and deceptive practices (1975)
Senate campaign disclosure parity (185)
Require reporting for bundled campaign contributions (2030)
Election jamming prevention (4102)
Campaign disclosure parity (223)
Presidential funding (2412)
Integrity of electronic voting systems (1487)

11 addressed Education
Increase access of low income African Americans to higher education (1513)
Establish teaching residency programs (1574)
Increase early intervention services (2111)
Middle school curriculum improvements (2227)
Public database of scholarships, fellowships and financial aid (2428)
Summer learning programs (116)
TANF financial education promotion (924)
Higher education (1642)
Build capacity at community colleges (379)
Campus law enforcement in emergencies (1228)
Support for teachers (2060).

6 addressed Hurrican Katrina
Hurricane Katrina recovery (2319)
Emergency relief (1637)
Bankruptcy relief and community protection (1647)
Working family tax relief (2257)
Fair wages for recovery workers (1749)
Gulf coast infrastructure redevelopment (1836)

5 addressed the Environment
Drinking water security (218, 1426)
Water resources development (728)
Waste water treatment (1995)
Combat illegal logging (1930)
Spent nuclear fuel tracking and Acountability (1194)
Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act (Introduced in Senate)[S.726.IS ]

4 addressed Discrimination
Claims for civil class action based on discrimination (1989)
Domestic partnership benefits (2521)
Unresolved civil rights crimes (535)
Equality or two parent families (2286)

4 addressed Homeland Security
Judicial review of FISA orders (2369)
National emergency family locator (1630)
Amend US Patriot Act (2167)
Chemical security and safety (2486)

Next time someone asks you "where's the beef" in Senator Obama's Senate record, please feel free to send the link to this diary."

Thanks to Helenann and Caroline for sharing.

Pssst...pass it on!

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"I won't be complacent this time. Been there, done that, and we got Chimpy McFlightsuit."
-Terri Sherron
sherron4truth.blogspot.com

Open letter to former President Bill Clinton

Dear Mr. President,

I apologize, for I should have remembered: that every time you have been counted out you have come back even stronger; that every time you have been accused of being a fence-sitter you have voiced your opinion with strong clarity; that even in the face of a crushing loss you have proven to be the true patriot I always believed you to be; and tonight, after days of rumors about 'his feelings are hurt' you have spoken loudly and unequivocally about your love for our nation and united our Democratic Party.

I know this was difficult for you and for Hillary. But I should never have doubted that the two of you would put your party and especially your country first. So my apology to you is for my own creeping doubt. I simply failed to remember.

Tonight you gave a stunning indictment of John McCain and the Bush administration, laying it open for all the world to see. There can be no denial of what this election is really about. If America doesn't take your advice this time, and elect Barack Obama, I fear for our nation and the world.

Thank you Mr. President, for a wonderful endorsement speech. Once again, you hit it out of the park.

Sincerely,
Terri Sherron
(Clinton delegate '92)






"I won't be complacent this time. Been there, done that, and we got Chimpy McFlightsuit."
-Terri Sherron
sherron4truth.blogspot.com

Six to One

Today while mopping my kitchen floor I started to cry. Call it stress fatigue, war fatigue, Bush fatigue - whatever.

I had just taken a break from my housework and opened the Friday edition of the Huffington Post to an article about troop donations to the presidential candidates. While reading this article my heart swelled with pride and my eyes teared up. I clicked the link to look at the actual chart provided by the Center for Responsive Politics. It does show Senator Obama has received the most donations of $200 or more. (Read the chart posted at opensecrets.org and decide what it means to you.)

Then I read some of the comments posted below the chart. Now, reason tells me that these nasty posters are trying to earn their McCain frequent poster points - but still! Some of these people are so nasty, and think NOTHING of disparaging these troops because they dare to have a different political opinion from the narrow-minded view they post.

The best argument posted for the troop donations in Obama's favor:

"It is true that FEC records can be misleading. In this case, however, they may actually be skewed in McCain's favor, if anything. After all, they don't even include the contributions of about $25 apiece that have fueled the Obama fund raising machine here at home

As far as the logic of active duty military supporting Obama, why not? Obama votes with the troops. McCain votes against them. That's why the DAV gives Obama a 92% rating and McCain gets only 28%. Likewise, the Vietnam Vets of America also give Obama 92% while their fellow Vietnam Vet, McCain gets a mere 37%. And, the Iraq and Afghanistan Vets of America give McCain a "D" and Obama a "B".

The active duty troops giving $$ to Obama must be paying attention to the facts about McShame and his wretched voting record...instead of watching Fox Noose."

I researched these claims, too. Both the DAV and IAVA have given the senators the rating quoted by the poster. I was unable to verify the Vietnam Veterans of America rating.

I started mopping the kitchen while thinking over all that I had just read. And the tears started rolling. The realization that these people are putting their lives on the line for us while voting for change. Scraping together whatever they can, just like the rest of us, and sending it to a candidate for president because they believe the policy must change.

While I mopped, my mind whirled through our history from our national disgrace at how horribly we treated the Vietnam veterans upon their return home to what these nasty posters' were writing today. Both acts are equally loathsome, and both do irreparable damage to our soldiers and to our national psyche. I am not saying this because the story is about soldiers for Senator Obama. When I read posts from soldiers and vets who support this policy I pause to ask myself questions, like "what does he/she know that I don't know?" I certainly don't blatantly disrespect them for having an opposing political opinion.

In my view, its our duty to support the troops, and they have done a whole lot more than what has been asked of them. But it is equally our duty to support them with sound policies, well-planned missions, the equipment they will require to be successful, and the best medical care when they return home. It sickens me to read that we cannot get a bill passed to fund mental health services for these soldiers but the greedy corporate military contractors are raping our treasury of those same funds.

So if some of the men and women in uniform support Senator Obama it should be no surprise. That the donations indicate a 6-1 ratio is, to repeat the word used by CRP “shocking.”

That’s my 2 cents. Thanks for reading.

Here is a fun video - enjoy.

Drill, Drill, Drill (or Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire)

First let me say that I am not a fan of Big Oil. In fact, anyone will tell you that I am on fire about the scurrilous price gouging the American people are feeling from the oil companies. Never the less, one of my cyber buddies relayed an interesting story about an oil field region covering North Dakota and Montana called the "Bakken Formation". Have you heard about it? Neither had I, so of course I did some internet research.

After reading two articles about the Bakken Formation, and searching the corporate pages of the oil companies who hold the leases, my head is about to explode. I must confess I have more questions than the original message raised.

The first article I read at Energy and Capital says that the USGS estimated that this Bakken Formation holds more than 500 billion barrels of oil. Did your jaw just hit the floor? That was no typo - 500 BILLION barrels! If you are a skeptic, as I am, you probably think it couldn’t possibly be true. But my search provided another article from anelnexus.com that confirmed the USGS report. (In the spirit of full disclosure, I have been receiving their email newsletter since last January. The odd thing is if I had actually read the email in May 2008, I would have had at least some inkling about this last spring!)

My next stop was the Department of Energy; Bakken was confirmed on the government site, the National Energy Technology Laboratory report and the funding opportunity. One last reference was rigzone.com from April 2008 noting the minimum from Bakken would be 4.36 billion barrels (published before the computer estimate included the new top secret drilling technology).

So, you have to ask yourself what in the world is going on? Why isn’t Lou Dobbs all over this? (smile) Is it another of this dark administration’s secrets? Its bad enough that neither of the presidential campaigns are saying that Big Oil isn’t even drilling on the 68 million acres they already lease – why isn’t someone screaming from the rafters about the Bakken Formation?

This can’t be good news for Republicans. If the Bakken Formation became well publicized, it would blow their agenda of opening up ANWAR for drilling. And I believe that is the true agenda. Thus all the wringing of hands about how we need to open up the drilling here at home. All the while sitting on an oil field that is several times larger than Saudi Arabia?

Its not good news for Democrats, either. The movement to fast track green technology has become the mantra, stoked by global warming and high gas prices. The Bakken Formation could weaken the growing resolve to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels.

The extent to which our government and the energy companies will conspire against the people is mind-boggling. They are letting the American people lose their homes, they are gouging the people at the gas pumps, and while trampling our Constitution they are making records profits every quarter.

So what do we do? Letter campaign? My Congressman gets an email from me at least once per week urging him to sign on to the Articles of Impeachment. He can take his pick – George W. Bush or Richard B. Cheney. I get the exact same response every single time, which tell me he has closed his mind to the process – and his duty. (sigh)

So what do we do? How do we get the word out? I think I’ll send this information to Keith Olbermann…and maybe Lou Dobbs.

Happy Birthday, Barack Obama

Hi folks-

Today is the 47th birthday of Senator Barack Obama. Please join me in celebrating with our future president by making a $47 donation to our presidential campaign. Please go to my fundraising page: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/sherronthetruth.


This is the most crucial election of our lifetime. The stakes have never been higher. The next President will have his plate full with the problems our nation faces today - a war against terrorists in Afganistan, an occupation in Iraq, gas at $4+ a gallon (yesterday it cost me $45 to fill up my little Chevy Cavalier), the jobless rate going up, up,up!

Many of us are hurting financially, and I know it may be difficult to donate the full amount. So if you can't make a donation of $47, please consider making a small donation of $8.04. http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/sherronthetruth

Thanks for reading.

Obama 08

Is Obama a Pinata? (Or, The Silence is Deafening)

This is my first blog post so let me say at the outset that I am doing everything I am able to do to help elect Senator Obama. This includes canvassing, phonebanks, well you get it - the tried and true volunteer jobs. I have been working the field in a republican district for the democratic candidate there and have been joyously surprised at the warm response to Obama I have heard. Now some may say that "warm" is kind of cold, but this is actually a republican district I am talking about. We are fleshing out the independent voters and they seem to be at least 'open' to Obama. In my view, this is a good thing, and its possible to increase the numbers for the dems. Now, on to the subject of this post.

Many of you have probably seen Steve Behen's article on the Huffington post labeling McCain's campaign "Pinata Politics". If not, its a good read and made me question why there is no rebuttal from our camp for the list of offensive swipes McCain has taken. Where is the DNC for example? Axelrod? etc? Then I realized that rather than ask these questions to my fellow canvassers, I needed to be asking these questions of the campaign itself.

So here it is - just my opinion:
As a seasoned politico (snark) I remember the most important rule learned in the 1992 campaign 'silly season' was "Hit back, Hit harder, Return to the issues". The last two presidential elections have woefully ignored this rule, and heartbreakingly lost to the most corrupt regime in our nation's history (but that subject is for another blog). It's simple, really. Out here in the heartland, people want to vote for someone who will stand up for them. So they assume that if a candidate doesn't stand up for him(her)self, then a) the accusation must be true, or b) if (s)he won't stand up to fight this lie, (s)he won't stand up for me.

It will be no surprise to many of you that most people don't pay attention to the politics of America the way we do. Not many will hear the quote from McCain advisor Rick Davis that "McCain doesn't speak for the campaign" - but most will certainly hear the "Paris" ad through free media supplied to McCain by the MSM.

So the following is what I want to see for our campaign response:
Steve Behen has graciously written the script for us should we choose to accept it. I want to see McCain blind-folded wildy swinging a bat at the pinata while the baritone voice reads the list. I want the MSM to salivate over the "hit" on McCain. I want the 24/7 free media to analize the ad adnauseum. Politics ain't beanbag, folks.

Hit back, Hit harder, Return to the issues. Until then, the silence is deafening.

Thanks for reading.

Obama 08