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sheshe2
sheshe2's Journal
sheshe2's Journal
April 13, 2013
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2012/12/mele-kalikimaka-mr-president.html
Reposted from:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101788268
Thank you Mr. President!
Aloha, Mele Kalikimaka...
A Repost, because~
Its been a tough week for all of us - no one more so than our President. As I've watched him battle the tears over the loss of our babies only to have to switch gears to take on the lunatic fringe in Congress, I've been spending some time thinking about how grateful I am that he is willing to represent us by taking this all on. I can't imagine another human being I'd rather have in the White House at this moment in history.
SNIP
I'd like to once again repeat something Alice Walkerhttp://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2010/11/it-is-soul-that-must-be-preserved.html wrote to President Obama shortly after he was elected.
I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone...
Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.
SNIP
I'd like to once again repeat something Alice Walkerhttp://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2010/11/it-is-soul-that-must-be-preserved.html wrote to President Obama shortly after he was elected.
I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone...
Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2012/12/mele-kalikimaka-mr-president.html
Reposted from:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101788268
Thank you Mr. President!
Aloha, Mele Kalikimaka...
April 12, 2013
Out of the Mouth's of Babes.
Aamira Fetuga! 
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April 11, 2013
It was a Woman damn it! Thank you Lawrence O'Donnell
Watch It Here!
http://3chicspolitico.com/2013/04/11/video-the-last-word-democrats-the-history-of-social-security-frances-perkins/
Wiki: Frances Perkins (born Fannie Coralie Perkins; April 10, 1880[1][2] – May 14, 1965) was the U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, and the first woman appointed to the U.S. Cabinet. As a loyal supporter of her friend, Franklin D. Roosevelt, she helped pull the labor movement into the New Deal coalition. She and Interior Secretary Harold L. Ickes were the only original members of the Roosevelt cabinet to remain in office for his entire presidency.
During her term as Secretary of Labor, Perkins championed many aspects of the New Deal, including the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Public Works Administration and its successor the Federal Works Agency, and the labor portion of the National Industrial Recovery Act. With the Social Security Act she established unemployment benefits, pensions for the many uncovered elderly Americans, and welfare for the poorest Americans. She pushed to reduce workplace accidents and helped craft laws against child labor. Through the Fair Labor Standards Act, she established the first minimum wage and overtime laws for American workers, and defined the standard forty-hour work week. She formed governmental policy for working with labor unions and helped to alleviate strikes by way of the United States Conciliation Service, Perkins resisted having American women be drafted to serve the military in World War II so that they could enter the civilian workforce in greatly expanded numbers.[3]
April 11, 2013
Lady Problems, yes they do
It was clear in both the lead up to and the aftermath of the November 2012 election that Republican candidates are not faring well among women voters. From Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin to Mitt Romney's 11-point loss among women voters, it became painfully clear that the GOP has a lady problem. A new memo from a pair of liberal groups that pulls together some of the polling figures makes a strong case for paying more attention to this divide.
The memo, from Stephanie Schriock of EMILY’s List and Neera Tanden of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, notes that even the Republican National Committee's own post-election report found that, "[Women] represent more than half the voting population in the country, and our inability to win their votes is losing us elections." But while Republicans have made some effort to soften the party's positioning on issues like immigration and LGBT rights, the party has not moderated its stance on reproductive rights or other issues of interest to many women voters.
The memo points to the unprecedented attack on access to abortion underway in states like North Dakota and Arkansas, the 160 Republicans that voted against the Violence Against Women Act at the federal level, and the ongoing fights over both contraception coverage and cuts to the federal family planning budget.
NARAL Pro-Choice America's polling right after the election found that Romney's view on abortion was the top reason for voting against him that swing-voting women cited in their survey. Planned Parenthood also used this issue to attack anti-choice politicians. Planned Parenthood also used this issue to attack anti-choice politicians. Another post-election poll from Democracy Corps found that 33 percent of unmarried women listed the attacks on Planned Parenthood and women's preventative health services as a top reason for voting against Romney.
MORE:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/04/11/news-of-the-day-2/
The memo, from Stephanie Schriock of EMILY’s List and Neera Tanden of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, notes that even the Republican National Committee's own post-election report found that, "[Women] represent more than half the voting population in the country, and our inability to win their votes is losing us elections." But while Republicans have made some effort to soften the party's positioning on issues like immigration and LGBT rights, the party has not moderated its stance on reproductive rights or other issues of interest to many women voters.
The memo points to the unprecedented attack on access to abortion underway in states like North Dakota and Arkansas, the 160 Republicans that voted against the Violence Against Women Act at the federal level, and the ongoing fights over both contraception coverage and cuts to the federal family planning budget.
NARAL Pro-Choice America's polling right after the election found that Romney's view on abortion was the top reason for voting against him that swing-voting women cited in their survey. Planned Parenthood also used this issue to attack anti-choice politicians. Planned Parenthood also used this issue to attack anti-choice politicians. Another post-election poll from Democracy Corps found that 33 percent of unmarried women listed the attacks on Planned Parenthood and women's preventative health services as a top reason for voting against Romney.
MORE:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/04/11/news-of-the-day-2/
April 11, 2013
SNIP:
More here
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/04/mass-shootings-rampages-rising-data
New Research Confirms Gun Rampages Are Rising—and Armed Civilians Don't Stop Them
By the time the nation confronted the unthinkable school massacre in Connecticut last December, Mother Jones' groundbreaking investigation of mass shootings, launched the prior summer, had shown that mass gun violence in America was on the rise. The trend appeared to be no coincidence in light of the proliferation of guns and looser gun laws nationwide. One leading criminologist took issue with our criteria, arguing that mass shootings had not become more common. But now, research from an expert on criminal justice at Texas State University further shows that gun rampages in the United States have escalated.
The research, to be published in a book in July, confirms that:
Public shooting rampages have spiked in particular over the last few years
Many of the attackers were heavily armed
None of the shootings was stopped by an ordinary citizen using a gun
The research, to be published in a book in July, confirms that:
Public shooting rampages have spiked in particular over the last few years
Many of the attackers were heavily armed
None of the shootings was stopped by an ordinary citizen using a gun
SNIP:
Blair found that at least 41 percent of the attackers carried multiple weapons. We found that a majority of mass shooters carried multiple weapons, and that more than half of them used assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Moreover, our investigation made clear that so-called "good guys with guns" do not stop public shooting rampages. Likewise, Blair's data couldn't be any clearer when it comes to the National Rifle Association's favorite myth: He found just 3 cases out of 84 in which an armed individual who had been on the scene used a firearm to stop the shooter. And none of the three were ordinary citizens. According to Blair, in two instances those who intervened were off-duty police officers: one in a case in upstate New York in 2010, and another in a case in Philadelphia in 2005. The third case took place in Winnemucca, Nevada, in 2008; the man there who intervened and shot the rampaging gunman, as I've reported previously, was a US Marine.
Moreover, our investigation made clear that so-called "good guys with guns" do not stop public shooting rampages. Likewise, Blair's data couldn't be any clearer when it comes to the National Rifle Association's favorite myth: He found just 3 cases out of 84 in which an armed individual who had been on the scene used a firearm to stop the shooter. And none of the three were ordinary citizens. According to Blair, in two instances those who intervened were off-duty police officers: one in a case in upstate New York in 2010, and another in a case in Philadelphia in 2005. The third case took place in Winnemucca, Nevada, in 2008; the man there who intervened and shot the rampaging gunman, as I've reported previously, was a US Marine.
More here
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/04/mass-shootings-rampages-rising-data
April 10, 2013
Deal Reached on Background Checks
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-PA) signaled they have "reached a deal in principle on expanding background checks to include more gun sales, in what was widely seen as the major sticking point on the biggest gun control legislation to reach the floor since 1994," Roll Call reports.
They will hold a news conference at 11 am Wednesday
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/04/09/deal_reached_on_background_checks.html
Link found at the Obama Diary!
Yes we can!
Thank you Mr President, and VP Biden!
April 8, 2013
Itty Bitty Hissyfit Committee
Next time the poutragers get your blood pressure spiking, just remember that this is all that's going on.
[url=http://postimage.org/][img]
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http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/ 
April 8, 2013
Dame Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn at the War and Peace Show, in July 2009
Background information
Birth name Vera Margaret Welch
Born 20 March 1917 (age 96)
East Ham, London, England
Genres Traditional pop
Years active 1935–present
Labels UK Decca/London, HMV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Lynn
As time Goes By~
In 2009 she became the oldest living artist to make it to No. 1 on the British album chart, at the age of 92.[ She has devoted much time and energy to charity work connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children and breast cancer. She is still held in great affection by veterans of the Second World War and in 2000 was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the twentieth century.
Dame Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn at the War and Peace Show, in July 2009
Background information
Birth name Vera Margaret Welch
Born 20 March 1917 (age 96)
East Ham, London, England
Genres Traditional pop
Years active 1935–present
Labels UK Decca/London, HMV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Lynn
April 7, 2013
http://grist.org/politics/could-chuck-hagel-likely-defense-secretary-nominee-turn-out-to-be-a-climate-hawk/
SNIP:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/the-man-who-could-put-climate-change-on-the-agenda-20130404
SNIP:
More at the link.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/
This is Good News for Climate Change
President Obama's climate change team - not what you'd expectWhen analyzing an administration's capacity for tackling an issue like climate change, it is tempting to look at cabinet positions like Director of EPA or Secretary of Energy. And those are all important positions.
But take a look at this line-up:
Secretary of State John Kerry - We all know about Kerry's commitment to dealing with climate change. And in his first speech as Secretary of State, he came out swinging.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/kerry-climate-change.htm
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/284017-kerry-comes-out-swinging-on-climate-change
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel - Many environmentalists were worried about Hagel's nomination. It turns out, their concerns were unwarranted.
But take a look at this line-up:
Secretary of State John Kerry - We all know about Kerry's commitment to dealing with climate change. And in his first speech as Secretary of State, he came out swinging.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/kerry-climate-change.htm
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/284017-kerry-comes-out-swinging-on-climate-change
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel - Many environmentalists were worried about Hagel's nomination. It turns out, their concerns were unwarranted.
http://grist.org/politics/could-chuck-hagel-likely-defense-secretary-nominee-turn-out-to-be-a-climate-hawk/
On the other hand, Hagel has long cited climate change as a threat to national security and an important issue in terms of international relations. Here’s how Charlyne Berens explains it in her 2006 book Chuck Hagel: Moving Forward:
The science behind the assertions of global warming may not have convinced him to act, but his internationalist position seems to have done the trick. The senator said a global response to climate change is “a big deal to our allies, and it’s time we reconnect with them.” The issue deserves attention not only on the merits but also because America’s record on the environment has become one of many image problems for the United States, Hagel said: “Here’s the U.S., the biggest polluter, the wealthiest nation, pushing everybody around unilaterally.” He believes that needs to change.
The science behind the assertions of global warming may not have convinced him to act, but his internationalist position seems to have done the trick. The senator said a global response to climate change is “a big deal to our allies, and it’s time we reconnect with them.” The issue deserves attention not only on the merits but also because America’s record on the environment has become one of many image problems for the United States, Hagel said: “Here’s the U.S., the biggest polluter, the wealthiest nation, pushing everybody around unilaterally.” He believes that needs to change.
SNIP:
That is important partly because it means that the recent efforts of DOD (the largest energy consumer on the planet) to go green will continue. But its way more than that.
...the military has advantages that no other institution can match. It can focus on long-term strategy and take on the large upfront costs of renewable energy. It can single-handedly create a market and drive innovation, as it’s doing with advanced biofuels. And as virtually the only institution left that Americans trust, it can serve as an unmatched champion of the virtues of smart energy. There is nothing happening in the U.S. right now that has anything near the potential impact of this.
Chief of Staff Denis McDonough - Apparently even in his former position as part of the White House National Security Council, McDonough played a key role on climate change issues.
...the military has advantages that no other institution can match. It can focus on long-term strategy and take on the large upfront costs of renewable energy. It can single-handedly create a market and drive innovation, as it’s doing with advanced biofuels. And as virtually the only institution left that Americans trust, it can serve as an unmatched champion of the virtues of smart energy. There is nothing happening in the U.S. right now that has anything near the potential impact of this.
Chief of Staff Denis McDonough - Apparently even in his former position as part of the White House National Security Council, McDonough played a key role on climate change issues.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/the-man-who-could-put-climate-change-on-the-agenda-20130404
SNIP:
Because of these people, I believe that movement on the issue of climate change over the next 4 years will come predominantly in the national security arena. From diplomacy to defense, we are poised to see significant developments in the next few years...if we know where to look.
More at the link.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/
April 7, 2013
Time's President Obama: The Road to the White House is my favorite commemorative book about Barack Obama. It combines photographs with essays about Obama that were published in Time over the past several years. The combination provides a striking look at how Obama won the Presidency in 2008. President Obama: The Road to the White House is well organized, beautifully written (by several authors) and a keepsake for any admirer of the 44th President of the United States.
The American Journey of Barack Obama is a collection of photographs and essays by a variety of people, compiled by the editors of Life magazine. Unlike other commemorative photo books about Obama, this book focuses less on his run for President in 2008 and more on his family and personal history. I love that The American Journey of Barack Obama contains class photos from elementary school and more wedding photos than other books on Obama. I like seeing those kind of things. If you do too, you'll like this book.
http://bestsellers.about.com/od/readingrecommendations/tp/obama_photo_books_list.htm
Posted for my fellow BOG'ers
My President
Time's President Obama: The Road to the White House is my favorite commemorative book about Barack Obama. It combines photographs with essays about Obama that were published in Time over the past several years. The combination provides a striking look at how Obama won the Presidency in 2008. President Obama: The Road to the White House is well organized, beautifully written (by several authors) and a keepsake for any admirer of the 44th President of the United States.
The American Journey of Barack Obama is a collection of photographs and essays by a variety of people, compiled by the editors of Life magazine. Unlike other commemorative photo books about Obama, this book focuses less on his run for President in 2008 and more on his family and personal history. I love that The American Journey of Barack Obama contains class photos from elementary school and more wedding photos than other books on Obama. I like seeing those kind of things. If you do too, you'll like this book.
http://bestsellers.about.com/od/readingrecommendations/tp/obama_photo_books_list.htm
Posted for my fellow BOG'ers
Profile Information
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