Deadline: MidnightThursday, January 8, 2009 10:51 AM
From: "Barack Obama" <democraticparty@...>To: "theresa J. Steed" <Quechick007@...>
theresa J. --

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.

Make a donation of $5 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:

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org.
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Democratic National Committee, 430 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC 20003

Contributions or gifts to the Democratic National Committee are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

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Americans Unite Rally
    Posted by: "Viktor Komodo" dans63@... dans63
    Date: Sat Jan 3, 2009 9:48 am ((PST))

Here is the challenge. Can we get enough people to take a couple of
hours out of their day to send a message to DC? The following press
release is being sent to most of the national media outlets. We are
hoping the various groups will also promote the idea to not only their
members, but to forward the press release to any media contacts they
have. We also encourage the leaders of each of the groups help promote
the rally in their respective congressional districts. There are
enough groups representing the workers, 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th
amendment rights, etc. Can we work together for one day to send the
message that needs to be sent? If all of us don't, who will?

Dan Kairis
Rally Coordinator
New Frontier Coaltion

AMERICANS UNITE RALLY SCHEDULED FOR INAUGURATION DAY JANUARY 20TH

New Frontier Coalition

P.O. Box 188 South Elgin, Il 60177-0188
phone 1-847-695-3195 fax 1.847-41-3327

Contact: Dan Kairis
Rally Coordinator NFC Illinois

Phone: 1-847-695-3195

Email: nomoreil@...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The New Frontier Coalition is calling for an "Americans Unite Rally"
scheduled for Inauguration Day-January 20th at noon according to Dan
Kairis, rally coordinator for the NFC. The national rally on
Inauguration Day is intended to bring the deteriorating conditions in
the country to the attention of federal officials.

"We want the newly elected Congress and President to acknowledge the
problems the country faces" declared Kairis. The policies of the
recent administrations are responsible for a; $10 trillion federal
debt, $250 billion annual trade deficit, 10 million unemployed, $750
billion bailout of unregulated corporations, imported poisoned; pet
food, pharmaceuticals, and dairy products, imported lead tainted toys,
a failed immigration policy, and the continued violations of our
Constitutional rights. all caused by Congress and the President.

Citizens can access details of the rally at http://rpil.org or email
the NFC at nomoreil@...

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Fw: Tell President-elect Obama the Pickens Plan is the answer!Saturday, December 27, 2008 5:52 PM
From: "Quechick Barnyard" <quechick007@...>To: "Quechick007" <Quechick007@...>

--- On Sat, 11/22/08, T. Boone Pickens <boone@...> wrote:

From: T. Boone Pickens <boone@...>
Subject: Tell President-elect Obama the Pickens Plan is the answer!

To: "Theresa J. Steed" <Quechick007@...>
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008, 1:12 PM

Having trouble reading this email? View it on our website. 
 
 
Boone here,
 
Please take a minute or two and click here to check out Barack Obama’s transition website. He’s asking people to tell him what they think. It’s a perfect opportunity for each one of us, including me, to tell him and his people about our plan and why we believe it’s important to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Two times during the campaign, President-elect Obama said, “for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as president: In 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East. We will do this. Washington has been talking about our oil addiction for the last 30 years."
He gets it! He knows what the problem is. Now we just have to make sure his people know that the Pickens Plan is the answer.
I’m headed to the ranch for Thanksgiving with my family -- and hopefully a couple days of rest. But when I get back, we’ll roll up our sleeves and get back to business.
In the meantime, have a great week and know that I’m grateful for all you’ve done, and that our country is going to be a better place because of the work we’re doing together.
-Boone
PS Click here to let me and the rest of the Army know what message you left for President-elect Obama on his transition website.

 
If you feel you have received this message in error, we apologize. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Privacy Policy
Remove yourself from all mailings from Pickens Plan.  

 
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Fw: Rebuilding Infrastructure Rebuilds EconomySaturday, December 27, 2008 12:54 PM
From: "Quechick Barnyard" <quechick007@...>To: "Quechick007" <Quechick007@...>

--- On Thu, 11/20/08, AFL-CIO Now blog <aflcioblognews@...> wrote:

From: AFL-CIO Now blog <aflcioblognews@...>
Subject: Rebuilding Infrastructure Rebuilds Economy
To: "Theresa J. Steed" <Quechick007@...>
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 11:32 AM Nov. 20, 2008

In Georgia’s U.S. Senate runoff, working families are mobilizing to make Jim Martin the latest pro-worker winner.
 
The best way for the incoming Obama administration to revive the tumbling economy is by investing in the nation’s crumbling infrastructure and its people,
urged a group of economists, academics, union leaders and other experts at a conference in Washington, D.C., this week.
Got comments? Post them at www.aflcio.org/blog.
 
The Case for Spending to Save Our Economy

 
Georgia Working Families Revved Up for Senate Runoff

You Can Help Survivors of Southern California Wildfires

We Can’t Afford Not to Focus on Health Care

Nurses Rally to Support Marriage Equality in California

AFL-CIO Silvers Named by Congress to Panel Reporting on Bailout

Read more important news of the day on the issues working families care about on AFL-CIO Now.

Visit the Web address below to tell your friends about this.
Tell-a-friend!
 
If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Working Families e-Activist Network. 
If you would like to unsubscribe from the e-Activist Network, or update your account settings, please visit your subscription management page. 
 

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Fw: Urge Passage of the Fair Pay Restoration Act!Saturday, December 27, 2008 12:49 PM
From: "Quechick Barnyard" <quechick007@...>To: "Quechick007" <Quechick007@...>

--- On Thu, 11/20/08, Womens Funding Network <womenwithoutborders@...> wrote:

From: Womens Funding Network <womenwithoutborders@...>
Subject: Urge Passage of the Fair Pay Restoration Act!
To: "Theresa J. Steed" <Quechick007@...>
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 2:40 PM

Dear Theresa J.,

Currently women make about two thirds of what a man does for comparable work.
Without the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, it is harder for women to demand the right to fair pay and non-discrimination.
In the Supreme Court case Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., the Court gave employees who face pay discrimination only 180 days to file discrimination claims. Even if the employee is not aware of the discrimination the 180-day clock begins running at the first incident of unfair pay.
In 2007 the House of Representatives passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, which demands a return to the longstanding interpretation of the Fair Pay Act that treats every unequal paycheck as a new act of discrimination.
Join Women's Funding Network and the Feminist Majority as we urge the Senate to do the same.
Visit the Women's Funding Network Website for more information on the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act.

The Women's Funding Network and its 135 women's funds power women-led solutions around the globe. Take action at www.wfnet.org!
You can un-subscribe via the web or by sending an email. You can opt out of mailings completely via the web or by sending an email.

Women's Funding Network

1375 Sutter Street Suite 406 San Francisco, 94109

 
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End the influence gameSaturday, December 27, 2008 12:40 PM
From: "Quechick Barnyard" <quechick007@...>To: "Quechick007" <Quechick007@...>
--- On Wed, 11/19/08, John Sparks, Common Cause <CauseNet@...> wrote:
From: John Sparks, Common Cause <CauseNet@...>

Subject: End the influence game
To: "Theresa J Steed" <quechick007@...>
Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 10:24 AM

Dear Theresa J,

Whether you call it a stimulus package for the economy, or a bailout for unscrupulous corporations, the bottom line is that Wall Street is by far the biggest beneficiary of the trillions of taxpayer dollars the government is investing to stave off a major economic meltdown.

Who are the biggest beneficiaries of the bailout?

The same companies who were behind the push to loosen lending regulations in the first place.

Let's end the influence game -- so that government can work for all of us.
 
Why is that?

Since the beginning of President Bush's term in office, large donors from the financial, insurance and real estate sector have donated more than $1 billion to federal candidates. These companies have also spent $356 million -- just in 2008! -- lobbying the Administration and members of Congress on how to spend the bailout money.

Tell Congress to put American taxpayers before the big political donors.

The 20,000 homeowners who are facing foreclosure this week probably didn't find room in their budgets to attend -- much less host -- $1,000-a-plate fundraisers for their favorite congressional candidates this year.

But the lobbyists and executives from the banking industry did. The same companies who are now arguing for bailout money were behind the successful push to loosen regulations around mortgage lending over the last decade.

Until we break the ties between government officials and the wealthy special interests that fund their campaigns, we'll never get solutions that favor Main Street over Wall Street.

Tell Congress that it's time to put American taxpayers ahead of wealthy political donors.

Ask your Representative and Senators to step up now and commit to reforming the way Congress funds its campaigns.

Tell them to urge the leadership in the House and Senate to place real campaign finance reform on the early agenda for the 111th Congress -- so that in 2009, we can move towards a government that works for all of us.

Thanks for all you do,

John Sparks
and the rest of the team at Common Cause
Forward this email Give to Common Cause Visit the CommonBlog
Common Cause is a national nonpartisan organization with chapters in 38 states. Our mailing address is 1133 19th Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. Our phone number is (202) 833-1200.
Remove yourself from this mailing.
Modify your profile. 

 
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EPA rule making will set the climate for 2009Saturday, December 27, 2008 12:22 PM
From: "Quechick Barnyard" <quechick007@...>To: "Quechick007" <Quechick007@...>

--- On Wed, 11/19/08, Union of Concerned Scientists Action Network <action@...> wrote:

From: Union of Concerned Scientists Action Network <action@...>
Subject: EPA rule making will set the climate for 2009
To: quechick007@...
Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 3:46 PM

EPA Rule Making Will Set the Climate for 2009

Dear Theresa J.,

In 2007 the Supreme Court found that carbon dioxide—one of the main contributors to global warming—qualifies as a pollutant that can be regulated under the federal Clean Air Act. In response, staff scientists and policy experts at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drafted a preliminary plan to tackle this urgent issue. Unfortunately, in an attempt to further delay action to rein in global warming, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson undercut his own staff, bashing their laudable efforts in an added introduction.

Implementing this plan will ultimately be in the hands of the next administration, which makes this a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate public support for making climate change and protecting the work of government scientists a priority come January 2009. The deadline for public comment on the EPA’s plan is November 28—please send your comments today.

Sincerely,
 

Scott Nathanson
National Field Organizer
Clean Vehicles Program

Contact the EPA today

Dear EPA Staff,

I commend your efforts to follow the Supreme Court’s 2007 ruling that carbon dioxide is a pollutant covered by the Clean Air Act and thank you for using the best available science to construct a plan to regulate this pollution. The threat of global warming is an urgent issue that can and should be addressed by your agency.

There is still work to be done to strengthen the final plan to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. Both stationary and mobile sources of global warming pollution must be managed aggressively, and there needs to be coordination with state efforts to complement the final federal rule. A strong Low Carbon Fuel Standard is also required to ensure a scientifically-sound and level playing field to generate the greatest reduction of carbon dioxide pollution from our fuels.

I hope that when new EPA leadership is appointed next year and is charged with the completion of this plan, they will demonstrate more support for unbiased science and solid EPA staff analysis.

Thank you for your initial efforts, and I look forward to seeing a strong final rule.
    Take Action
Make a statement to the EPA that climate change and scientific integrity must be priorities come January.
 

Tell A Friend
You can help ensure this action has the greatest effect. Please pass this alert along to your friends and family.

Donate

The Union of Concerned Scientists relies on individuals like you to support our research and advocacy. Join us to promote practical, science-based environmental and security solutions. Become a member today.
 
If this message was forwarded to you, join the UCS Action Network today.
 
To ensure you continue to receive emails from UCS, be sure to add action@... to your address book.
 
If you have general questions, comments, or concerns send email to ucsaction@...

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Nov. 28 World Puja Show - Conversations with Dr. Steven GreerSunday, December 28, 2008 2:19 AM
From: "Quechick Barnyard" <quechick007@...>To: "Quechick007" <Quechick007@...>

--- On Mon, 11/24/08, updates@... <updates@...> wrote:

From: updates@... <updates@...>
Subject: Nov. 28 World Puja Show - Conversations with Dr. Steven Greer
To: updates@...
Date: Monday, November 24, 2008, 3:52 PM

Change to November 28 Program Content

Dr. Greer is unexpectedly out of town, so Dr. Ted Loder will take his place. Dr. Loder and Linda Willitts have been on many trainings and CSETI expeditions with Dr. Greer. They will discuss the variety of ways that the ETs let themselves be known to the training/research group from “kick the tires” experiences to very subtle and spiritual experiences that can result in a raising of consciousness.
The web site to listen to the show - either live or archive: http://www.worldpuja.org/conversations.php
Disclosure Project web site: http://www.DisclosureProject.org
CSETI Web site: http://www.CSETI.org
A tentative training schedule for 2009 has been posted - click on the CSETI Trainings link.
Note: This email is being sent to an opt-in list. To unsubscribe, please reply to this email and put Unsubscribe in the subject line.

*****************************************

 WE DID IT!Tuesday, January 6, 2009 4:01 AM
From: "Tim Carpenter for PDA" <info@...>To: Quechick007@...

-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

PDA named “the most valuable political group” of 2008
by The Nation Magazine
 
Dear Theresa,
 
In 2007, The Nation Magazine named Tim Carpenter the most valuable progressive, and now Progressive Democrats of America has been named the most valuable political group of 2008! We’re doing something right!
 
And, in the January edition of The Progressive magazine you’ll find PDA mentioned again in an article by John Nichols entitled “How to push Obama:”
 
Perhaps most impressive are the moves made by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, Physicians for a National Health Program, and Progressive Democrats of America to ensure that the option of single-payer is not forgotten as Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi establish their domestic policy priorities.
 
If you plan to be in the DC area for the inauguration, please join us for the Annual Grassroots Leadership Conference, January 17 - 18. Learn the nuts and bolts of PDA’s successful organizing and meet new friends and old allies. For more details and to register, click here.
 
While in DC, help us honor King’s legacy of peace, hope and justice, while we celebrate our accomplishments…
 
Martin Luther King Day Pre-Inaugural Tribute
Monday, January 19, 2009 10 PM to Midnight
Busboys and Poets, Langston Hughes Room
2021 14th St NW Washington, DC 20009
 
Mix and mingle with PDA advisory board members and activists. Featuring Rep. Raul Grijalva, Rep. Jim McGovern, Medea Benjamin, Tom Hayden, Jodie Evans, John Nichols, Donna Smith and Thom Hartmann!
 
$225/per person—a $75 savings for our PDA activists! For more details and to RSVP, click here.

 
Thank you for your support—you’re making a big difference!
 
Peace and prosperity in the New Year,
 

Tim Carpenter
National Director
 
P.S. If you are unable to attend, please consider making a special contribution to ensure the success of this benefit. We would like to offer students and our hard-working activists in the D.C. area the chance to attend both the benefit and the conference! Click here to make a special donation—please enter “DC scholarship” in the special funds box at the bottom of the form.

Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots PAC that works both inside the Democratic Party and outside in movements for peace and justice. Our goal: work with and increase the progressive majority in Congress as we build on our 2008 electoral successes into 2009 and beyond.

PDA's advisory board includes seven members of Congress and activist leaders such as Tom Hayden, Medea Benjamin, Thom Hartmann, Jim Hightower, and Rev. Lennox Yearwood.

More info | Find Chapters | Find Local Events

Spread the Progressive Word--Shop PDAstore

NOTE: To unsubscribe use the link below.
Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy

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Y! Alert: Yahoo! News Search Results for Sen. Edward M. KennedyTuesday, January 6, 2009 6:30 PM
From: "Yahoo! Alerts" <alerts@...>To: quechick007@...
Yahoo! Alerts
My Alerts

The latest from Yahoo! News Search Results for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy

New Congress opens pledging to rescue economy (The Advocate)
Teddy Kennedy's Big Comeback to the Senate (US News & World Report)
Sen. Pell eulogized at rites in Newport (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)

New Congress opens pledging to rescue economy (The Advocate) Top
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., center, holds a bible as he stands with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, during the mock swearing-in ceremony for Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., right, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
  
Teddy Kennedy's Big Comeback to the Senate (US News & World Report) Top
During the Democratic National Convention, he pledged to fight brain cancer and return to Congress.
  
Sen. Pell eulogized at rites in Newport (Worcester Telegram & Gazette) Top
NEWPORT, R.I. - The late Sen. Claiborne Pell was remembered during his funeral service yesterday as a patrician statesman of enormous personal wealth who devoted his career to serving the less fortunate and enabled millions of American students to attend college.
  
You received this email because you subscribed to Yahoo! Alerts. Use this link to unsubscribe from this alert. To change your communications preferences for other Yahoo! business lines, please visit your Marketing Preferences. To learn more about Yahoo!'s use of personal information, including the use of web beacons in HTML-based email, please read our Privacy Policy. Yahoo! is located at 701 First Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089. 
 

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It would be so cool!Tuesday, January 6, 2009 10:31 AM
From: "Katie, MomsRising.org" <momsrising@...>To: Quechick007@...
Fair Pay could pass this week and be one of the first things on Barack Obama's desk when he takes office.

Tell your U.S. Representatives and Senator to pass Fair Pay today!

Take Action
 
Dear MomsRising.org member,

How cool would it be for Fair Pay to be one of the first things that that President-Elect Obama signs into law?  It could actually happen!

We just heard that the House is set to vote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act this week, and the Senate could vote as early as next week! Turns out that while the economic security package is tied up in negotiations, there is a rare window of unscheduled open time to pass long-needed bills.  Congress is thinking action…and thanks to the incredible advocacy of MomsRising members and our aligned partners over the past year, Congress is thinking fair pay!

Tell Congress to not to miss this open window to pass Fair Pay!

After you send your letter, forward this email to your friends so they can contact Congress too!  Especially during these tough economic times, women need equal pay for equal work to ensure self-sufficiency and dignity.

Background about this issue: The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act are important steps to making sure that women are paid what they are worth. These pieces of legislation would make it easier for women to recover lost wages from bosses who discriminate and by requiring the federal government to be more proactive in preventing and battling wage discrimination. 

The Paycheck Fairness Act would improve protections for workers under the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by allowing individuals to better fight pay discrimination, strengthening penalties for violation, compelling employers to explain wage gaps, and developing training for women and girls about salary negotiation.

Though they had strong support in the House, both of these bills were held up in the Senate.  But the tide is turning and Fair Pay is a priority in this economic crisis.  Together, we can pass these bills that will provide women the tools they need to gain equal pay for equal work.

Congress is meeting this week to vote on this bill, and the Senate could take it up as early as next week. And it's not a moment too soon--believe it or not, a recent study found that pay discrimination costs the average women $434,000 over a forty year period of time.1  Now, more than ever, women and families need the economic security brought by Fair Pay for equal work. 

Tell Congress to pass Fair Pay today! http://www.momsrisingaction.org/o/1768/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26382

Thank you for all you've done to fight for Fair Pay -- we're in the home stretch now.

 

--Katie, Kristin, Joan, and the MomsRising.org Team

P.S.  If you haven't seen the video of Batgirl fighting for Fair Pay yet, be sure to check it out at: http://www.OutOfTheWayOfFairPay.org

P.P.S.  Innovative win-win solutions to work and family issues are more accessible than most of us realize. This weekend the New York Times highlighted one such innovative opportunity: babies at work! http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/jobs/04babies.html?_r=1   

1.Lifetime Losses: The Career Wage Gap, http://www2.americanprogressaction.org/o/507/t/1371/content.jsp?content_KEY=2219

You have received this email because you are a supporter of MomsRising.org, if you would like to be removed from future mailings, click here to unsubscribe.

Like what we're doing? Donate: We're a bootstrap, low overhead, mom run organization. Your donations make the work of MomsRising.org possible--and we deeply appreciate your support. Every little bit counts. Donate today on our new, secure website.

On Facebook? Join the MomsRising Facebook Cause. Follow us on Twitter. 

************************************
Note:  It is nice to know that the DemocraticGrassRoots are making a difference.Que*****
 

Thanks to you, two big wins for the oceanWednesday, January 7, 2009 4:13 PM
From: "Josh Reichert, Pew Environment Group" <PEGweb@...>To: "Theresa J Steed" <Quechick007@...>
 

Dear Theresa J,

As we close the door on 2008, I am pleased to report two big recent wins for the ocean that you helped make happen.

On January 6, President Bush designated three new marine national monuments. One of the monuments that the Pew Environment Group proposed, the Mariana Trench, was among the sites designated. This pristine ocean treasure is now protected, thanks to the comments of support you sent in a few months ago. Congratulations! You can learn more about the new marine monuments by going to Pew's Global Ocean Legacy Web site.

Just before the end of 2008 on December 19, the Bush administration withdrew its proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NEPA rule would have given more control over environmental reviews to the fishing industry, while limiting the public's ability to participate in key decisions impacting the oceans. We have you to thank for sending public comments that helped keep the pressure on the administration to withdraw this flawed rule. Learn more about this win by going to Pew's End Overfishing Web site.

Looking ahead to a new year, a new administration and a new Congress, we have a lot of work to do on behalf of the environment. I'm optimistic about the future, knowing that we have people like you on our side.

Again, thank you for all you have done to make these recent wins possible. This would truly not have been possible without your active involvement.

We will be in touch soon with more ways you can help protect our oceans.

Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year,

 

Josh Reichert
Managing Director, Pew Environment Group

P.S. Forward this message to a friend and ask them to join you in helping to protect the ocean.

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
 Tell-a-friend!

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Pew Environment Group.

This message was sent to Quechick007@.... Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop receiving Marine Conservation, click to unsubscribe. To stop ALL email from Pew Environment Group, click to remove yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line).
 

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Putting Intelligence Law Back Into The Law http://tinyurl.com/6lckq5
Posted by: "Zee Source" CherokeeScholar@...
Wed Jan 7, 2009 1:31 am (PST)
http://www.thenatio n.com/doc/ 20080818/ greider Bailing Out the Bad
Guys: What Congress and Bush Cheney Neocons Do Best http://www.gocomics .com/tomtoles/
Putting The Law Back Into Intelligence

For scholarly rview: "Yesterday, press reports indicated that
President-elect Obama had decided on his choices to lead the
intelligence community, choosing President Clinton's former White
House chief of staff Leon Panetta as CIA Director and retired admiral
Dennis Blair as Director of National Intelligence. Obama is also
expected to choose Indiana law professor Dawn Johnsen as Assistant
Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel(OLC) . After eight
years of lawlessness and ever-expanding executive power that have
tarnished the intelligence community, these picks are indicative of
Obama's intent to work within the rule of law in fighting terrorism,
sending "an unequivocal message that controversial administration
policies approving harsh interrogations, waterboarding and
extraordinary renditions.. .and warrantless wiretapping are over."
Salon's Glenn Greenwald remarked that Johnsen is a "true expert on
executive power and, specifically, the role and obligation of the OLC
in restricting presidential decisions to their lawful scope."
Similarly, neither Panetta nor Blair is "tainted by associations with
Bush administration policies, in large part because they both come
from outside the intelligence world," noted the Associated Press.

THE BUSH TOUCH: Initially, reports indicated that Obama would pick
former CIA official John Brennan to head the agency. But Brennan
withdrew his name from consideration after several progressive
bloggers raised concerns that he had supported Bush's interrogation
policies while at the CIA. Brennan had also supportedimmunity for
telecommunications companies involved in Bush's illegal spying
program. After the progressive backlash over Brennan, the Wall Street
Journal reported that Obama was "moving more slowly on his
intelligence picks in an attempt to find experienced officials who
aren't associated with the Bush administration’ s controversial
interrogation policies." Then, last month, the press hinted that Obama
"might ask CIA Director Mike Hayden to stay on for a while." Keeping
with Bush administration policy, Hayden has refused to condemn
waterboarding as torture and has dismissed "torture" as a "legal
term." "We cloud the debate when, when we throw the word torture out
there, I think, in a far too casual way," he said in March 2008. In
2007, after CIA Inspector General John Helgerson warned that some
C.I.A.-approved interrogations seemed to "constitute cruel, inhuman
and degrading treatment," Hayden ordered an inquiry into Helgerson's
office, focusing on complaints that Helgerson was on "a crusade
against those who have participated in controversial detention
programs."

A CLEAN BREAK: Panetta represents a stark departure from the Bush
administration' s intelligence professionals who were involved or
closely associated with Bush's torture policies. Elisa Massimino,
executive director of Human Rights First, said it is important that
the new CIA director be someone "who recognizes that torture is
illegal, immoral, dangerous and counterproductive. " Indeed, Panetta
has frequently criticized the administration' s torture record.
"Torture is illegal, immoral, dangerous and counterproductive. And
yet, the president is using fear to trump the law," he said in March
2008, offering support of legislation compelling the CIA to comply
with the Army Field Manual's interrogation practices. Answering
critics who say they would rather have a more seasoned "intelligence
professional" at the CIA's helm," former 9/11 Commissioner Tim Roemer
remarked, "I think he does bring a knowledge of the CIA and good
national security experience from both his time on the Hill and the
Iraq Study Group...and as chief of staff to the president where you're
immersed in it on an hourly basis."

INTELLIGENCE WITHIN THE LAW: One of the most consequential -- but
generally unheard of -- offices in the federal government is the
Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. Under Bush, the
reputation of the OLC has been stained by "torture memos" written by
Jay Bybee and John Yoo. After clashing with Vice President Cheney's
office on torture, former OLC head Jack Goldsmith said the memos had
"no foundation" in any "source of law". Recently, President Bush tried
to install torture apologist Steven Bradbury as OLC head. As a legal
scholar, Johnsen has excoriated Bush's legal policies justifying
torture. Discussing a Yoo-sanctioned memo justifying the use of
torture by American troops, Johnsen called the memo "shockingly
flawed," decrying "the deficient processes that led to its issuance
[and] the horrific acts it encouraged." Johnsen's pick is also a win
for those seeking transparency at the DOJ. "I'm afraid we are growing
immune to just how outrageous and destructive it is, in a democracy,
for the President to violate federal statutes in secret," she said in
March 2008, criticizing the administration' s "utter and indefensible
failure to be transparent regarding the legal advice that informs its
sometimes-ludicrous positions."
http://www.american progress. org/issues/ 2009/01/closingg uantanamo101. html

(Critiques?) STEELE HITS SALTSMAN: 'MAGIC NEGRO' STUNT 'REINFORCES
NEGATIVE STEREOTYPE' OF GOP: The Hill reported last monththat current
Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman candidate Saltsman sent
out a Christmas greeting that contained a CD with the song "Barack the
Magic Negro" on it, which sparked criticism from several of Saltsman's
opponents. "I am shocked and appalled," current RNC chair Mike Duncan
said. Michigan GOP Chair Saul Anuzis, another RNC chair aspirant,
called the move "in bad taste." However, Michael Steele and Ken
Blackwell -- the two African-American candidates for RNC chair -- had
"been the easiest on Saltsman." Yesterday, during a debate, all of the
candidates agreed that the GOP needs to bring in more minorities. In
an interview with The Progress Report after the event, Steele finally
strongly criticized Saltsman's "Magic Negro" stunt and said he is
harming the effort to make the party more inclusive. "Oh it doesn't
help at all. Absolutely, it reinforces a negative stereotype of the
party," Steele said. "This is not representative of the party as a
whole, this is not a direction that we want to go in or a system that
we believe."

ADMINISTRATION -- BUSH 'SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING' PARDON OF IRAQ WAR VET
WHO KILLED UNARMED IRAQI CIVILIAN: In February 2008, a military judge
convicted U.S. Army sniper Sgt. Evan Vela of killing an Iraqi
civilian "who wandered into the hiding place where six soldiers were
sleeping." Vela, who received 10 years in prison and a dishonorable
discharge, was found guilty ofplanting an AK-47 on the dead Iraqi
man's body and lying to military investigators about the shooting.
According to a letter sent by the White House to Vela's family, a
request to pardon Vela is being "seriously considered" by President
Bush. The soldier's father, Curtis Carnahan, said that the letter he
received "also noted there are other ways for his son to be released,"
including being granted clemency. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Rep. Mike
Simpson (R-ID) have written letters to Bush on behalf of Vela, urging
that the president grant him clemency. They argued that Vela "was
simply following the orders of his superiors."

ADMINISTRATION -- BUSH CITES FAILED SOCIAL SECURITY PRIVATIZATION PUSH
AS HIS BIGGEST DOMESTIC POLICY ACHIEVEMENT: Yesterday, the Weekly
Standard's Fred Barnes reported that he and fellow conservative Bill
Kristol met with President Bush last Friday for a lunch in the
president's "private dining room adjacent to the Oval Office." Barnes
reported that the President cited his push to privatize Social
Security as his biggest domestic policy accomplishment. "Bush said his
effort showed it's politically safe to campaign on changing Social
Security and then actually seek to change it," wrote Barnes. Though it
seems odd that Bush cited an unsuccessful effort as his biggest
domestic policy achievement, it is understandable given that he
doesn't have much else to include on a list of successes. But not only
was Bush's drive to privatize Social Security an utter failure, the
concept is also widely unpopular with the American public, and if
enacted, would have had disastrous consequences for Americans'
retirement funds. A recent Center for American Progress Action
Fundreport found that if a worker had retired on Oct. 1, 2008, after
35 years of contributions to private retirement accounts, that retiree
would have lost nearly $30,000 in retirement funds because of the
downturn in the stock market over the last two years.

January 6, 2009
by Faiz Shakir, Amanda Terkel, Satyam Khanna, Matt Corley, Benjamin
Armbruster, Ali Frick, and Ryan Powers

Yesterday, the Secretary of the Senate rejected Roland Burris's
appointmentto the legislative body "because his certificate of
appointment was missing the signature of Illinois Secretary of State
Jesse White." White has refused to sign the certificate, siding with
Senate leadership in believing that Burris should not be seated.
Burris, nevertheless, is heading to Washington and insisting that his
appointment is legal. http://pr.thinkprog ress.org/ http://www.commondr eams.org/ headline/ 2009/01/06- 3
http://www.thenatio n.com/doc/ 20080818/ greider

excerpts for scholarly review Economic Free Fall?

http://www.informat ionclearinghouse .info/article204 06.htm

By William Greider

The nation, meanwhile, is flirting with historic catastrophe. Nobody
yet knows how bad it is, but the peril is vastly larger than previous
episodes, like the savings and loan bailout of the late 1980s. The
dangers are compounded by the fact that the United States is now
utterly dependent on foreign creditors--Japan and China lead the list--
who have been propping us up with their lending.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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88 Ways to Support Women in 2009Thursday, January 8, 2009 2:13 PM
From: "Womens Funding Network" <womenwithoutborders@...>To: "Theresa J. Steed" <Quechick007@...>
   
  
Dear Theresa J.,

Join the Women's Funding Network, HER Fund and Mama Cash for the 88 Days Campaign.

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