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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor

 

While watching “Women Who Make America” on PBS I was reminded of how conflicted my Grandmother was with the Women’s Movement of the 1970s. Outwardly, she was a traditionalist, but there were private moments when I’d catch her smiling at whatever a small advancement was making the news.

I’m not sure my Grandmother was prepared for my Father’s second Wife.

My Stepmother was her own woman. She and my Father were equal partners in their relationship. Even though the majority of her time was spent doing the endless job of running our home, my Stepmother was mindful to guide my Sister and me toward independence. I know that I have made my Stepmother happy, but her most proud accomplishment is the Woman that my Sister has become.

Three generations of women in my family with three different attitudes and expectations.

  • Teach your children to respect themselves and others.
  • Teach your daughters they can be anything.
  • Teach your sons that manhood is gained by rising above, not through oppression.

Remember this… The GOP’s TOP Priority, above the Budget, the Economy, and Jobs. Above Foreign Policy, National Debt, or getting ANYTHING done, Republicans have made it clear that their TOP PRIORITY is to ensure that President Obama is a One Term President. Please remember this as you head to the polls on November 6th.

keepcalmandbespooky: I’m about to get all sorts of political. If you don’t like it, this is not the blog you’re looking for. Move along. Four years ago, I voted for a man who promised to bring change to our country. This year, I am planning on making the exact same vote. Plenty of people have many negative things to say about Barack Obama. Out of everything that has been said throughout not just this election year, but throughout the last four years, there is one simple statement that I absolutely cannot stand… “Obama hasn’t done anything the entire time he’s been in office.” (well, that and the whole, “OBAMA IS A MUSLIM TERRORIST” because believe it or not, there are still some idiots out there that truly believe this…) Here I have for you, ladies and gentlemen, is a list of 108 things Obama has accomplishedduring his presidency so far.  1. Saved the collapse of the American automotive industry by making GM restructure before bailing them out, and putting incentive money to help the industry 2. Shifted the focus of the war from Iraq to Afghanistan, and putting the emphasis on reducing terrorism where it should have been all along 3. Relaxed Anti-American tensions throughout the world 4. Signed order to close the prisoner “torture camp” at Guantanamo Bay 5. Has made the environment a national priority, and a primary source for job creation 6. Has made education a national priority by putting emphasis and money behind new ideas like charter schools, but speaking directly to school children in telling them they have to do their part. 7. Won the Nobel Peace Prize 8. $789 billion economic stimulus plan 9. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court 10. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles 11. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans 12. Renewed dialogue with NATO and other allies and partners on strategic issues. 13. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force… this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc. 14. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops 15. “Cash for clunkers” program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales 16. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan 17. Closed offshore tax safe havens 18. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan 19. Ended media “blackout” on war casualties; reporting full information 20. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts 21. . Ended media blackout on war casualties and the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB. 22. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules 23. Ended previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings 24. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports 25. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created 2.1 million jobs (as of 12/31/09). 26. Ended previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions 27. Ended previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back 28. Ended previous policy on torture; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards 29. . Launched Recovery.gov to track spending from the Recovery Act, an unprecedented step to provide transparency and accountability through technology. 30. Ended previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices 31. Ended previous “stop-loss” policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date 32. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources 33. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient 34. Established a new cyber security office 35. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children 36. Expanding vaccination programs 37. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses 38. . Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America’s Veterans. 39. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research 40. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools 41. Responded with compassion and leadership to the earthquake in Haiti 42. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters 43. . Launched Business.gov – enabling conversation and online collaboration between small business owners, government representatives and industry experts in discussion forums relevant to starting and managing a business. Great for the economy. 44. Improved housing for military personnel 45. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals 46. Changed failing war strategy in Afghanistan. 47. Improving benefits for veterans 48. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) after years of neglect 49. Donated his $1.4 million Nobel Prize to nonprofits. 50. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program 51. Provided tax credits to first-time home buyers through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 to revitalize the U.S. housing market. 52. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel 53. Increasing student loans 54. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return “home” to visit loved ones 55. Cracked down on companies that deny sick pay, vacation and health insurance to workers by abusing the employee classification of independent contractor. Such companies also avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes for those workers. 56. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000 57. Limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House 58. Protected 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors through the Recovery Act that would have otherwise been lost. 59. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration 60. Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act on February 4, 2009, provides quality health care to 11 million kids – 4 million who were previously uninsured. 61. Lower drug costs for seniors 62. Making more loans available to small businesses 63. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration 64. . Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis 65. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans 66. Announced creation of a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record for members of the U.S. Armed Forces to improve quality of medical care. 67. New federal funding for science and research labs 68. New funds for school construction 69. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending 70. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices 71. . Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals. 72. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren’t even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan 73. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions 74. Provided tax credit to workers thus cutting taxes for 95% of America’s working families. 75. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic 76. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research 77. . Helped reverse a downward spiral of the stock market. On January 19, 2009, the last day of President Bush’s presidency, the Dow closed at 8,218.22. In February 2010, the Dow closed at 10,309.24 78. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel 79. Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols 80. Provided attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles. 81. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters 82. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy 83. Unveiled a program on Earth Day 2009 to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable, for the first time ever, the nation to tap into our ocean’s vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner. 84. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program 85. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards 86. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced 87. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job 88. The FDA is now regulating tobacco 89. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date. 90. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010 91. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying 92. The “secret detention” facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed 93. US financial and banking rescue plan 94. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast 95. . Signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in the defense procurement and contracting system. 96. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office 97. Improved relations with Iran 98. Improved U.S. policy on climate change 99. Set timetable for exiting Iraq (already started removing troops) 100. Improved relations with Russia 101. Improved relations with the Islamic World 102. Made progress towards greater cooperation on limiting nuclear proliferation 103. Economic stimulus plan has created jobs. (Unemployment rate decreasing) 104. Drastically slowed down the recession 105. Saved Wall Street 106. Passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act (equal work for equal pay)107. HEALTHCARE REFORM 108. Ordered the military operation that killed Osama Bin Laden On top of all of this, Barack Obama has just become the first president to endorse gay marriage.   Yup, here we have just described a man who has clearly done nothing but sit around the oval office and twiddle his thumbs the last four years. Obviously, voting for someone who is for universal equality and bettering not just this country, but the entire world, is the wrong way to go. -___- I am so sad that I cannot vote or else Obama would be getting my vote! Love, love, LOVE this Blog Post! It’s sad how many of these I forgot about. Well done.

keepcalmandbespooky:

I’m about to get all sorts of political. If you don’t like it, this is not the blog you’re looking for. Move along.

Four years ago, I voted for a man who promised to bring change to our country. This year, I am planning on making the exact same vote. Plenty of people have many negative things to say about Barack Obama. Out of everything that has been said throughout not just this election year, but throughout the last four years, there is one simple statement that I absolutely cannot stand…

“Obama hasn’t done anything the entire time he’s been in office.”

(well, that and the whole, “OBAMA IS A MUSLIM TERRORIST” because believe it or not, there are still some idiots out there that truly believe this…)

Here I have for you, ladies and gentlemen, is a list of 108 things Obama has accomplishedduring his presidency so far. 

1. Saved the collapse of the American automotive industry by making GM restructure before bailing them out, and putting incentive money to help the industry

2. Shifted the focus of the war from Iraq to Afghanistan, and putting the emphasis on reducing terrorism where it should have been all along

3. Relaxed Anti-American tensions throughout the world

4. Signed order to close the prisoner “torture camp” at Guantanamo Bay

5. Has made the environment a national priority, and a primary source for job creation

6. Has made education a national priority by putting emphasis and money behind new ideas like charter schools, but speaking directly to school children in telling them they have to do their part.

7. Won the Nobel Peace Prize

8. $789 billion economic stimulus plan

9. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court

10. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles

11. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans

12. Renewed dialogue with NATO and other allies and partners on strategic issues.

13. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force… this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.

14. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops

15. “Cash for clunkers” program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales

16. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan

17. Closed offshore tax safe havens

18. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan

19. Ended media “blackout” on war casualties; reporting full information

20. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts

21. . Ended media blackout on war casualties and the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB.

22. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules

23. Ended previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings

24. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports

25. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created 2.1 million jobs (as of 12/31/09).

26. Ended previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions

27. Ended previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back

28. Ended previous policy on torture; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards

29. . Launched Recovery.gov to track spending from the Recovery Act, an unprecedented step to provide transparency and accountability through technology.

30. Ended previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices

31. Ended previous “stop-loss” policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date

32. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources

33. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient

34. Established a new cyber security office

35. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children

36. Expanding vaccination programs

37. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses

38. . Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America’s Veterans.

39. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research

40. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools

41. Responded with compassion and leadership to the earthquake in Haiti

42. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters

43. . Launched Business.gov – enabling conversation and online collaboration between small business owners, government representatives and industry experts in discussion forums relevant to starting and managing a business. Great for the economy.

44. Improved housing for military personnel

45. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals

46. Changed failing war strategy in Afghanistan.

47. Improving benefits for veterans

48. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) after years of neglect

49. Donated his $1.4 million Nobel Prize to nonprofits.

50. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program

51. Provided tax credits to first-time home buyers through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 to revitalize the U.S. housing market.

52. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel

53. Increasing student loans

54. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return “home” to visit loved ones

55. Cracked down on companies that deny sick pay, vacation and health insurance to workers by abusing the employee classification of independent contractor. Such companies also avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes for those workers.

56. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000

57. Limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House

58. Protected 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors through the Recovery Act that would have otherwise been lost.

59. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration

60. Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act on February 4, 2009, provides quality health care to 11 million kids – 4 million who were previously uninsured.

61. Lower drug costs for seniors

62. Making more loans available to small businesses

63. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration

64. . Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis

65. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans

66. Announced creation of a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record for members of the U.S. Armed Forces to improve quality of medical care.

67. New federal funding for science and research labs

68. New funds for school construction

69. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending

70. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices

71. . Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals.

72. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren’t even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan

73. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions

74. Provided tax credit to workers thus cutting taxes for 95% of America’s working families.

75. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic

76. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research

77. . Helped reverse a downward spiral of the stock market. On January 19, 2009, the last day of President Bush’s presidency, the Dow closed at 8,218.22. In February 2010, the Dow closed at 10,309.24

78. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel

79. Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols

80. Provided attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles.

81. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters

82. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy

83. Unveiled a program on Earth Day 2009 to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable, for the first time ever, the nation to tap into our ocean’s vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner.

84. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program

85. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards

86. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced

87. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job

88. The FDA is now regulating tobacco

89. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date.

90. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010

91. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying

92. The “secret detention” facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed

93. US financial and banking rescue plan

94. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast

95. . Signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in the defense procurement and contracting system.

96. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office

97. Improved relations with Iran

98. Improved U.S. policy on climate change

99. Set timetable for exiting Iraq (already started removing troops)

100. Improved relations with Russia

101. Improved relations with the Islamic World

102. Made progress towards greater cooperation on limiting nuclear proliferation

103. Economic stimulus plan has created jobs. (Unemployment rate decreasing)

104. Drastically slowed down the recession

105. Saved Wall Street

106. Passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act (equal work for equal pay)107. HEALTHCARE REFORM

108. Ordered the military operation that killed Osama Bin Laden

On top of all of this, Barack Obama has just become the first president to endorse gay marriage.  

Yup, here we have just described a man who has clearly done nothing but sit around the oval office and twiddle his thumbs the last four years. Obviously, voting for someone who is for universal equality and bettering not just this country, but the entire world, is the wrong way to go. -___-

I am so sad that I cannot vote or else Obama would be getting my vote!

Love, love, LOVE this Blog Post!

It’s sad how many of these I forgot about. Well done.

(Source: totescas)

President Barack Obama onThe Late Show with David Letterman

CBS - Tuesday September 18, 2012

President Barack Obama’s DNC Speech 2012

Bill Clinton’s DNC Speech

Bill Clinton Explains it all

FORWARD!

—————————————

The Definitive List…

  1. 4.2 Million Jobs Saved
  2. Cut Taxes for 160 Million Americans
  3. Wall Street Reform Passed
  4. 18 Tax Cuts for Small Businesses
  5. Unfair Credit Card Fees Eliminated
  6. 466,000 New Manufacturing Jobs
  7. $1 Trillion in Spending Cuts
  8. Protected Reproductive Rights
  9. Stem Cell Research Funded
  10. Fuel Efficiency Standards Doubling
  11. U.S. Oil Production at 8 Year High
  12. Natural Gas Production at All-Time High
  13. Renewable Energy Production Up 27%
  14. First Latina Supreme Court Justice Appointed
  15. $100 Billion Invested in Science and Research
  16. Iraq War Ended
  17. Libya Liberated
  18. Osama Bin Laden Dead
  19. Incentives to Hire Unemployed Veterans
  20. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Ended
  21. Unemployment Benefits Extended
  22. Equal Pay for Women Protected
  23. Health Care Reform Passed
  24. Senior’s Drug Costs Lowered
  25. College Pell Grants Doubled
  26. Guaranteed Coverage for Contraception
  27. Medicare and Social Security Protected
  28. Auto Industry Saved

Still don’t think we’re better off than four years ago?

Robert Reich: Jobs, Not Cuts

“We can’t “Cut” our way out of a recession!”

Here is a concise explanation of why we need to pass President Obama’s Jobs Bill.


Who Is The Real Mitt Romney?

  • “I’m Not Concerned With The Very Poor.” - Mitt Romney

Before Mittens takes aim at President Obama’s statement that “the Private Sector is doing fine”, he should remember his own gaffe.

Let’s be clear on something. Compared with the Public Sector, the Private sector is doing fine. The Public Sector, which includes Cities and municipalities, are cutting their Police, Fire Fighter and Teacher jobs. The Unemployment Rate is being buoyed by Public Sector employees who are losing their jobs as part of the Republican’s Slash and Burn budget plans.

When the economy suffers, why do we always cut the three most important positions?

  • We need Law Enforcement. When the economy suffers, crime goes up. Without employment, people turn to desperate measures to feed and shelter their family. It’s cause and effect.
  • We need teachers. Education is the most important asset of the United States. Without education, we cannot move forward.
  • And do I really need to explain why we need Fire Fighters??

Why aren’t our “Elected Officials” taking a pay cut?

If our Elected Officials truly care about the budget, and “What’s Good For The Country”, why don’t they trim their own salaries?

It’s not like they’re not making extra cash on the side from lobbyists.

I’m confused about something…

I hear a lot of GOP members talk of Ronald Reagan as if he was the second coming of the deity. They call themselves Reagan Conservatives as if it was something of which to be proud.

But I remember Reaganomics: The idea that you give tax breaks to the very wealthy and subsidies to corporations in order that they will create employment. They called it “Trickle-Down Economics”. It sounds like a reasonable concept, until reality sets in, and you see that the only jobs created are low-wage positions with little or no benefits.

Many families, including my own, had to rely on both parents earning an income in order to survive.

Whoopi Goldberg compared Trickle Down economics to the wealthy relieving themselves on the working class. (I’m paraphrasing, of course.)

The thing that confuses me most though, is this idea that Reagan somehow fixed our economy. If Ronald Reagan did such wonderful things for our economy, why were we chanting, “It’s the economy, Stupid” by the end of George Bush Sr’s first term? Theoretically, if Ronald Reagan set the United States of America on the path to economic recovery, Bush Sr. should have enjoyed a second term in office. Bush Sr. would have been able to shrug off any question about the economy.

But he didn’t.

America was still feeling economic pains. “It’s The Economy, Stupid” was Bush Sr’s downfall. Then after William Jefferson Clinton became the 42nd President, the United States had a surplus economy, for the first time in over two decades.

So please don’t lie to me and the rest of America with fantasies of how great Ronald Reagan was for this country’s economy. It’s not the reality that I lived.