Who in public service are you sending Valentine greetings to this year?

[bobbolink]

First, I'm sending Valentines to my local librarians, because they are doing an exemplary job, and I also so much appreciate their stand on the %(_!@#$*%%*&@!! Patriot Act. :loveya:

Next, I want to send a Valentine to Maxine Waters for her spine on domestic issues. :loveya:

Then I want to send a Valentine to Jim Wallis, for his efforts on behalf of all us poor folk, and for being a general thorn-in-the-side to the status quo of this nation. :loveya:

Very locally, I want to send a Valentine to DU's own Sapphire Blue, for her faithfulness in alerting us all to important actions concerning poverty! :loveya:


So, who's on your valentine list this year?

Perspiring minds want to know..... :hi:

[OregonBlue]

1. Mike Gravel. After today's speech he deserves them!. What a guy.

[bobbolink]

2. You're right! He took me by surprise!

I hadn't heard of him before... had you?

Wish I had recorded it.

[OregonBlue]

6. Yah, but today he was wonderful. Said it all.

[Cabcere]

3. I'd like to send one to...

Jim Webb. :loveya: I am loving his style, and I couldn't be prouder of my state for electing him to the Senate. :)

[bobbolink]

4. Good idea! He is impressive, and it's always good to send appreciation!

We always have to remember that they also get lots of hate mail, and need to know they have our support!!

[Cabcere]

7. I sent him a thank-you note

after his SOTU response, telling him that I thought he did a great job and that I was very proud to have him as my Senator. :loveya: (It's a bit embarrassing how much I'm gushing over this guy, lol...but honestly, after George Allen, it is SO refreshing to have an honest man like Jim Webb representing us!) :)

[bobbolink]

9. They deserve the gush!! Their jobs are difficult, and pats on the back are welcome, I'm sure.

I was strongly reminded of this when speaking on the phone to a staffer, who was having a very hard day because of hate mail and even death threats. Since then, I've really been aware of just how much they need to hear our support! Staff, also. As a matter of fact, if you're thinking you're "gushing" too much, maybe the valentine can go to his staff--without them, he wouldn't be able to do so much. :hi:

[Cabcere]

11. Good idea

I can't even imagine what it would be like to work for a politician - all the hate mail, criticism, and other nastiness can't be easy to deal with, even if your boss treats you well. (And I've heard from people who campaigned for Webb that he's really great about that - took the time to personally thank everyone who helped him in his race for the Senate, and I imagine he treats his current staff with the same courtesy.) :hi:

[AwakeAtLast]

31. You took my answer!

Great minds think alike!

:hi:

[Cabcere]

32. Great minds indeed.

:hi: I'm sure he and his staff won't mind if they get more than one Valentine, though. ;) :loveya:

[nam78_two]

5. Senator Leahy!

:bounce: Was just watching him RIP Gonzales apart on CSPAN...He seems so sincerely disgusted by what this administration has done to the constitution(as per usual). This is a few days old (or possibly a week old) but I just caught it.

:hi: .

[bobbolink]

8. Go for it!! He certainly deserves a Valentine!

I'm really looking forward to "words" from both him and Waxman (another one deserving of a Valentine!) This could get exciting!

As I said above, they need to hear our appreciation. :loveya:

As do you. :pals: :)

[Cleita]

10. Dennis Kucinich for being the only member of Congress

who has had a consistent anti-war stand from the beginning. And, I want to tell him that I am supporting him for his run for president.

[Cabcere]

12. Good call

Kucinich seems like a decent and honorable man - not to mention smart. :) Is he officially running for president? If not, I think he should...I'd like to see more of him. :hi:

[bobbolink]

13. YEs, one of the first to announce.

[Cabcere]

14. How'd I miss that?

:shrug: I guess I really must've been asleep at the switch. :crazy: Thanks. :)

[bobbolink]

16. It's not like the media played trumpets.

[bobbolink]

15. I'm glad you will be recognizing him. As you probably know, I'm disappointed with him,

and will no longer support his candidacy because he dropped poverty from his priorities.

I HAVE to go with MY priorities, and not just the war!

[Cleita]

17. I don't blame you, but quite honestly none of the other candidates

are either. I think if Dennis runs, it will be up to us to bring this issue back up to the forefront with him. However, ending all wars is a priority because as long as we have this international problem, no one will be able to concentrate on domestic problems.

[bobbolink]

25. I beg to differ!! Edwards has been tireless, and quite insistent!

That's the reason I changed my own support.

One of the things that really did it for me was when he went to campaign for Lamont, and Lamont got on stage and the first thing he did was to apologize for having NOT given poverty a strong priority in his campaign, and giving the credit to this recognition to EDWARDS! IN other words, it's EDWARDS, not Kucinich, who is pushing candidates to lead in behalf of us poor folk!

I was so besotted with Dennis, and when he dropped poverty from his priorities in the 2004 campaign, I couldn't believe it, but was too dumbstruck to give up. It became clear, however, that not only Dennis, but then, of course, all his supporters stopped all talk of poverty. COMPLETELY CUT IT ALL OUT!!

Never again will I give my time and energy against my own best interests.

I would like to suggest that, as a supporter, you keep pushing Dennis to give his attention back to poverty. Saying that will happen after the war is concluded is... well, that's a slap to all poor folk, many of whom will die from poverty before that day ever comes.

To not even speak about it just really hurts. I'm so very disappointed in him. :(

I do appreciate your cordiality towards me, however, in our disagreement of this. We're both good people who see it from a different angle. I hope you will consider voicing this to Dennis. He needs to hear it from more than one person.

In the meantime, my heart is with Edwards! :loveya:

[antigop]

20. Kucinich also co-sponsored HR 676 -- Medicare for ALL

He wants healthcare for everyone and has supported single-payer universal healthcare for a long time.

[Cleita]

23. This is what originally sent me his way, however, there is so

much more to like.

[antigop]

29. Oh, I agree n/t

[EFerrari]

18. I'm glad you're dragging me out of my personal crap and giving me a reason

to look forward to Feb 14! Thank you, my friend.

Hmmm.

I want to send one to Henry Waxman because he is kicking @ss now and mostly, because the whole time he was in the minority, he never, ever, ever gave up. I love him, definitely! :loveya:

Maxine Waters, definitely.

Medea Benjamin is on my list because she helped me to think globally and get more involved locally -- she really did. I met her at a funky little bar just a couple of days before she was off to D.C. to start a fast. And she was dancing. She was there in support a local candidate -- one of our true public servants -- and she was dancing. :) The more I think about it, local is the way to go, baby. :loveya:

I want to send one to our local Coalition for the Homeless. Because in the years I've talked with them, they have never gone negative -- never, no matter what ended up on their plate. I don't know how they do it, really, with a Mayor that is invested in denial and a homicidal Federal government and Arnie twirling his pasties to a different drummer. :eyes:

When my family was in D.C., a street vendor of The Street Spirit sold me a paper and he made me think how small this country really is in so many ways and how connected we really all are. I don't know what kind of valentine is appropriate but have to think on it. They are the great hearts of this city. :loveya:

And one more. There is a woman here in town that I first met by accident when we'd invite her org to register progressive voters at our events. And the more I get to know her, the more I realize how engaged she is -- in so many threads that are important to me -- voting, CodePink, the battle for San Francisco (for San Franciscans not corporations), and more. She probably doesn't know it but she's one of my role models lately because she's real, lol. :loveya:

What a list!

I'll have to think about how to make this graphic.

What a great idea, bobbolink. :loveya:

[bobbolink]

27. YEs, that was a big part of my reason, also. ^_^

:pals:

I think gratitude is the greatest emotion there is... :hi:

You have a great list, there! I hope others will offer theirs.. yours gives me some other ideas. I may have to use up all my paper doilies making valentines! :rofl:

[EFerrari]

30. Let's go for broke!

:rofl:

:hug:

:pals:

There is some turbulence in the Election forum tonight but, I'm very interested in coming up with a good graphic.

:toast:

[EFerrari]

19. Kick

[Solly Mack]

21. SB certainly deserves several Valentines

Helen Thomas...and Valentines of remembrance to Molly Ivins.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

22. K&R for a great idea!

I've not sent valentine cards in ages, this really is a good idea. Okay, I'm getting a box of cards to send out to:
Jim Webb
Robert Byrd
Boxer
Waxmans Staff
Waxman
Stupak, Stabenow, Levin ~ my locals
Feingolds staff
Obey WI
to start.

come on people, k&r this thread to the greatest page.

[bobbolink]

24. Thanks especially for remembering their staff!!

Most of them are very dedicated, and work diligently.

They also take a lot of crap from "the other side", so remembering them would be welcome!

:loveya:

[bobbolink]

26. Thanks.... I hope others will see it's an idea worth some thought...

In a republic, it's good to remember those who speak for us!

[bobbolink]

28. Any others in public service, beside politicians?

Share some lists!

[EFerrari]

33. Kick for a great idea.

[WA98296]

34. Keith Olbermann for having the guts to JUST SAY IT! Love You Keith!!!

[WA98296]

35. Ok, he's not a officially a public servant, just doing a public service. Ok?

[bobbolink]

36. 'S OK by me!

As you may have noticed, not all my valentine recipients are "public servants" in the strictest sense.

It was just a phrase I used because I couldn't think of any other. :)

I'm sure Keith gets his share of hate mail, so it's always good to send him some appreciation.

Especially for his Special Comments! :thumbsup: