The ultimate objective of the ruling class in this period is to channel
oppressed people's energy into the Democratic Party machinery. For over
four decades, the ruling circle has painted the Democratic Party as the
"progressive" political faction of the US political system. Its
existence is rooted in liberalism, which the US capitalist regime has
always aligned with the interests of profiteers. The American
“Revolution,” for example, was a war in defense of colonialist slavery
and conquest yet is seen by many as a war for liberal values such as
liberty and democracy. US capitalists and politicians have brandished
liberal values in all subsequent wars ever since in an effort to expand
and monopolize profits. The US invasion of Vietnam was framed as a
project in democracy when in reality the war was meant to brutally
counter the threat socialism and independence posed to US empire in the
region. When communism ceased being an immediate threat, Washington's
21st century offensive was reframed in a civilizing, colonial narrative
that posits that the world's people are incapable of achievement without
the Western world. This can be seen in both the so-called projects of
democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan circa 2001-2003 and the "humanitarian
intervention" in Libya in 2011.
-- Danny Haiphong, "Liberalism Still the Left Flank of Oppression in the Coming Post-Obama World" (Black Agenda Report).
Monday, July 13, 2015
A note to our readers
Hey --
Yet another Sunday.
First, we thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:
The Third Estate Sunday Review's Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen,
Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.
And what did we come up with?
Peace.
-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.
Yet another Sunday.
First, we thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:
The Third Estate Sunday Review's Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen,
Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.
And what did we come up with?
Peace.
-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.
Editorial: Do da
The Campptown ladies sing this song,
Doo-da, Doo-da
The Camptown ladies spin all day long
Oh, de doo-da day
You saw it last week when US President Barack Obama gave a speech.
The Camptown ladies rushed out to declare he said he wouldn't be sending more US troops into Iraq.
But was that what he actually said?
No.
Q As an Army reservist, I'm curious to know if you have any plans to send any more American troops overseas right now, any additional forces.
THE PRESIDENT: There are no current plans to do so. That's not something that we currently discussed. I've always said that I'm going to do what’s necessary to protect the homeland.
There is a world of distance between 'I will not be sending more troops into Iraq' and 'there are no current plans to do so.'
Leave it to the press to yet again mislead on Iraq.
TV: The Thursday bloodbath
It's a bloodbath.
We knew that would be the case.
Back in May, we offered "TV: Oh, no, they didn't" and, oh, yes, they did.
And refused to budge.
We're talking about the broadcast networks decision to turn Thursday night into the night of the week when all five nets and netlettes (CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox and The CW) offered new programming.
Some of the usual know-nothings from The Water Cooler Set have taken to offering 'analysis' and picking the winners and losers.
They should have just stuck to picking their noses -- something they could have succeeded at.
Take Rick Kissel, senior editor of the industry bible Variety, whose analysis only demonstrates why The Hollywood Reporter's thrived for so many decades.
Kissel's a pig rolling in his own slop, snorting away about how, for example, Beauty and the Beast isn't doing well.
Beauty and the Beast is actually one of the few Thursday night hits.
Kissel can't tell you that because all he can offer is, "This came in at number one for the night, this came in at number two . . ."
Repeating Nielsen rankings is not "analysis."
Hell, it doesn't even strike us as actual reporting.
Analysis, is noting that The CW is using Beauty and the Beast to up its summer presence.
And it's succeeded.
The ratings on Thursday night this summer season match what the series garnered spring 2013.
It's held its audience.
We'd argue it would have built its audience if one of two things had happened.
If it had been airing on another night, say Tuesday, it would have done better.
Instead, it's on bloodbath Thursday.
The second thing that would have helped it get even better ratings would have been pairing it with an hour long, scripted series similar in tone.
But there's no mistaking the fact that Beauty and the Beast has held its own and is drawing viewers, nearly a million an episode.
These viewers do not hang around for Dates -- as the ratings demonstrate.
But nearly a million people are tuning into The CW to watch Beauty and the Beast -- and that's about the number that tuned in for Jane The Virgin -- The CW's most heavily promoted show.
Beauty and the Beast will be back for a fourth season.
That's not a prediction by us.
The CW made the decision to turn the series into a summer show and, when they announced that, they also announced it was renewed for season three and season four.
The CW is thrilled with the performance of Beauty and the Beast.
And should be.
On a heavily contested night, the series has held its own and retained the same numbers it had during the non-summer season.
That's a win.
Bloodbath Thursday.
We'd love to pretend we coined the term but it was first used the last week of June by a friend who's an ABC exec.
ABC can take comfort in the fact that Rookie Blue retains its audience.
That's a real Thursday night success.
Not to hear Variety Rick tell it.
To hear him pontificate, it's nothing but net for ABC or whatever sports metaphor the boys who never played on a team like to use.
Rick thinks 3 and a half million viewers for Mistresses is a good thing.
He can only compare it to the ratings for other shows on that night.
But when Alyssa Milano was in the cast of Mistresses, that show debuted in season one and season two to over four million viewers.
Not one of season three's five episodes aired so far have managed to reach four million viewers.
Mistresses is not a hit. It's a show struggling in the ratings.
It's a show being outperformed by its lead in, Astronaut Wives Club. In fact, that new show had nearly a million more viewers on Thursday night than Mistresses.
Astronaut Wives Club kicked off ABC's prime time schedule with over four million viewers and Rookie Blue ended ABC's prime time schedule with over four million viewers. It was only the show sandwiched in between, Mistresses, that couldn't pull in four million.
See, if you're doing analysis, that means Mistress is a dog, a dingo dog with fleas.
People tune in for ABC's first hour and then go elsewhere during the second hour only to return for the third.
That's not a hit.
That's a show that's driving viewers away.
As we noted in "TV: Brian Williams joins the cast of Mistresses," the show can't survive without Alyssa Milano.
We were speaking of quality, not ratings, in the earlier piece.
And in terms of quality, let's note Wayward Pines which has become the most interesting of the summer shows.
Usually, when a show loses actors of the caliber of Juliette Lewis and Terrance Howard, it can't recover. Both of those actors delivered inspired performances in the first episodes of the series only to be killed off. And the show not only goes on, it continues to deliver the goods.
Melissa Leo is especially to be applauded for her work and the levels she has brought to her character but the reality is, if Matt Dillon couldn't carry the show, it would fall apart.
Matt Dillon's looks have too often meant breathless exclamations of "He can act!" -- as if he hadn't demonstrated that repeatedly in everything including My Bodyguard, Rumble Fish, The Outsiders, Tex, There's Something About Mary, Drugstore Cowboy, To Die For, Crash, Wild Things, Mr. Wonderful and much more.
He's aided by a slow reveal plot that hooked viewers in before they knew what they were in store for.
Wayward Pines is the summer surprise.
And it's also a ratings hit.
The same can't be said for Under The Dome on CBS.
Unless you're Variety Rick who's rushing to insist the show is a hit and frequently battles with Wayward Pines for the top spot of scripted drama on Thursday nights.
While it does, indeed, do that, it does that with six or five million viewers.
That would be good for Wayward Pines which is in its first season.
That's lousy for Under The Dome.
In its first summer season, it posted numbers like 12 million.
In season two, it was more likely to have 7 million viewers.
Now, this summer, it's fallen to six or five million.
Analysis, pay attention Variety Rick, is noting viewer erosion.
Now maybe if CBS hadn't been stupid and moved Under The Dome to Thursday nights, maybe then the viewers wouldn't have continued to flee?
Regardless, they moved it.
And the show's ratings plummeted in season two and have again plummeted in season three.
CBS is seriously considering whether or not a season four is needed.
NBC came to a decision.
Aquarius is a strong show.
It's also one the network got wobbly on.
That's why they dumped it on Hulu, for example, all the episodes at once.
But despite that, it's delivered strong (for NBC) ratings.
It's done better than they hoped, much better.
But they paired it with Hannibal.
And the latter tanked.
And NBC pulled the plug on the gore porn show they'd already aired for two (low rated) seasons.
As we noted back in May, the smart thing would have been for all five (CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox and The CW) to spread their offerings out over the week.
Instead, they wanted Bloodbath Thursday.
And they got it.
In the process, Wayward Pines proved to be a ratings hit, The CW used Beauty and the Beast to post summer ratings comparable to their fall and spring ratings (expect more scripted from The CW next summer) and Rookie Blue remained a ratings hit for ABC while Astronaut Wives Club became a new hit for the network.
And there the good news ended.
Under The Dome continued to bleed viewers, Hannibal had none and Mistresses went from ABC's successful summer staple to a show adrift. Worst of all, Aquarius is now seen as the show NBC should have had more faith in and various execs at the network wonder if the series might be posting even better numbers if they hadn't tried to burn it off online instead?
We knew that would be the case.
Back in May, we offered "TV: Oh, no, they didn't" and, oh, yes, they did.
And refused to budge.
We're talking about the broadcast networks decision to turn Thursday night into the night of the week when all five nets and netlettes (CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox and The CW) offered new programming.
Some of the usual know-nothings from The Water Cooler Set have taken to offering 'analysis' and picking the winners and losers.
They should have just stuck to picking their noses -- something they could have succeeded at.
Take Rick Kissel, senior editor of the industry bible Variety, whose analysis only demonstrates why The Hollywood Reporter's thrived for so many decades.
Kissel's a pig rolling in his own slop, snorting away about how, for example, Beauty and the Beast isn't doing well.
Beauty and the Beast is actually one of the few Thursday night hits.
Kissel can't tell you that because all he can offer is, "This came in at number one for the night, this came in at number two . . ."
Repeating Nielsen rankings is not "analysis."
Hell, it doesn't even strike us as actual reporting.
Analysis, is noting that The CW is using Beauty and the Beast to up its summer presence.
And it's succeeded.
The ratings on Thursday night this summer season match what the series garnered spring 2013.
It's held its audience.
We'd argue it would have built its audience if one of two things had happened.
If it had been airing on another night, say Tuesday, it would have done better.
Instead, it's on bloodbath Thursday.
The second thing that would have helped it get even better ratings would have been pairing it with an hour long, scripted series similar in tone.
But there's no mistaking the fact that Beauty and the Beast has held its own and is drawing viewers, nearly a million an episode.
These viewers do not hang around for Dates -- as the ratings demonstrate.
But nearly a million people are tuning into The CW to watch Beauty and the Beast -- and that's about the number that tuned in for Jane The Virgin -- The CW's most heavily promoted show.
Beauty and the Beast will be back for a fourth season.
That's not a prediction by us.
The CW made the decision to turn the series into a summer show and, when they announced that, they also announced it was renewed for season three and season four.
The CW is thrilled with the performance of Beauty and the Beast.
And should be.
On a heavily contested night, the series has held its own and retained the same numbers it had during the non-summer season.
That's a win.
Bloodbath Thursday.
We'd love to pretend we coined the term but it was first used the last week of June by a friend who's an ABC exec.
ABC can take comfort in the fact that Rookie Blue retains its audience.
That's a real Thursday night success.
Not to hear Variety Rick tell it.
To hear him pontificate, it's nothing but net for ABC or whatever sports metaphor the boys who never played on a team like to use.
Rick thinks 3 and a half million viewers for Mistresses is a good thing.
He can only compare it to the ratings for other shows on that night.
But when Alyssa Milano was in the cast of Mistresses, that show debuted in season one and season two to over four million viewers.
Not one of season three's five episodes aired so far have managed to reach four million viewers.
Mistresses is not a hit. It's a show struggling in the ratings.
It's a show being outperformed by its lead in, Astronaut Wives Club. In fact, that new show had nearly a million more viewers on Thursday night than Mistresses.
Astronaut Wives Club kicked off ABC's prime time schedule with over four million viewers and Rookie Blue ended ABC's prime time schedule with over four million viewers. It was only the show sandwiched in between, Mistresses, that couldn't pull in four million.
See, if you're doing analysis, that means Mistress is a dog, a dingo dog with fleas.
People tune in for ABC's first hour and then go elsewhere during the second hour only to return for the third.
That's not a hit.
That's a show that's driving viewers away.
As we noted in "TV: Brian Williams joins the cast of Mistresses," the show can't survive without Alyssa Milano.
We were speaking of quality, not ratings, in the earlier piece.
And in terms of quality, let's note Wayward Pines which has become the most interesting of the summer shows.
Usually, when a show loses actors of the caliber of Juliette Lewis and Terrance Howard, it can't recover. Both of those actors delivered inspired performances in the first episodes of the series only to be killed off. And the show not only goes on, it continues to deliver the goods.
Melissa Leo is especially to be applauded for her work and the levels she has brought to her character but the reality is, if Matt Dillon couldn't carry the show, it would fall apart.
Matt Dillon's looks have too often meant breathless exclamations of "He can act!" -- as if he hadn't demonstrated that repeatedly in everything including My Bodyguard, Rumble Fish, The Outsiders, Tex, There's Something About Mary, Drugstore Cowboy, To Die For, Crash, Wild Things, Mr. Wonderful and much more.
He's aided by a slow reveal plot that hooked viewers in before they knew what they were in store for.
Wayward Pines is the summer surprise.
And it's also a ratings hit.
The same can't be said for Under The Dome on CBS.
Unless you're Variety Rick who's rushing to insist the show is a hit and frequently battles with Wayward Pines for the top spot of scripted drama on Thursday nights.
While it does, indeed, do that, it does that with six or five million viewers.
That would be good for Wayward Pines which is in its first season.
That's lousy for Under The Dome.
In its first summer season, it posted numbers like 12 million.
In season two, it was more likely to have 7 million viewers.
Now, this summer, it's fallen to six or five million.
Analysis, pay attention Variety Rick, is noting viewer erosion.
Now maybe if CBS hadn't been stupid and moved Under The Dome to Thursday nights, maybe then the viewers wouldn't have continued to flee?
Regardless, they moved it.
And the show's ratings plummeted in season two and have again plummeted in season three.
CBS is seriously considering whether or not a season four is needed.
NBC came to a decision.
Aquarius is a strong show.
It's also one the network got wobbly on.
That's why they dumped it on Hulu, for example, all the episodes at once.
But despite that, it's delivered strong (for NBC) ratings.
It's done better than they hoped, much better.
But they paired it with Hannibal.
And the latter tanked.
And NBC pulled the plug on the gore porn show they'd already aired for two (low rated) seasons.
As we noted back in May, the smart thing would have been for all five (CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox and The CW) to spread their offerings out over the week.
Instead, they wanted Bloodbath Thursday.
And they got it.
In the process, Wayward Pines proved to be a ratings hit, The CW used Beauty and the Beast to post summer ratings comparable to their fall and spring ratings (expect more scripted from The CW next summer) and Rookie Blue remained a ratings hit for ABC while Astronaut Wives Club became a new hit for the network.
And there the good news ended.
Under The Dome continued to bleed viewers, Hannibal had none and Mistresses went from ABC's successful summer staple to a show adrift. Worst of all, Aquarius is now seen as the show NBC should have had more faith in and various execs at the network wonder if the series might be posting even better numbers if they hadn't tried to burn it off online instead?
10 actors we'd be just fine never seeing in another film
1) George Clooney
2) Mia Farrow
3) Jeff Goldblum
4) Orlando Bloom
5) Sarah Jessica Parker
6) Christopher Walken
7) Hayden Christensen
8) Oliver Platt
9) Gwyneth Paltrow
10) Cary Elwes
The shortest discussion of all time
 | ||
Last week, the State Dept's Brett McGurk met with Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
According to the press release issued by the prime minister's office, the two discussed his "successes."
This must have made for the shortest conversation of all time.
This edition's playlist
1) Tori Amos's Unrepentant Geraldines.
2) Diana Ross & The Supremes' Reflections.
3) Jefferson Airplane's Volunteers.
4) The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
5) Carly Simon's Anticipation.
6) Aretha Franklin's Aretha Sings The Great Diva Classics.
7) The Beatles' Let It Be.
8) The Mamas & The Papas' Deliver
9) Jackie DeShannon's Laurel Canyon.
10) The Mamas & The Papas' The Papas and The Mamas.
Sen. Murray Fights to Protect Services for Homeless Veterans
Senator Patty Murray never stops fighting for veterans. Her office notes:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Murray Press Office
Thursday, July 9, 2015 (202) 224-2834
Sen. Murray Fights to Protect Services for Homeless Veterans
Bill prevents changes to VA policy that would cut off thousands of veterans from accessing housing services
MURRAY: We have a duty to care for veterans, not to create more barriers to care
(Washington, D.C.) –
Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate
Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced The Homeless Veterans Services
Protection Act with cosponsor Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), which would
prevent thousands of homeless veterans from
losing access to housing services. VA’s proposed changes to the
decades-old policy for homeless services would bar access for veterans
who served less that than two years continuously, or who had an other
than honorable discharge. This bill would ensure that
those changes can never take place. Last week, Sen. Murray toured the
Randall Apartments in Tacoma, a 35-unit complex that serves homeless
veterans. She also met with representatives from
the
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, local housing
authorities, and community groups to discuss her new legislation.
“Our veterans made great sacrifices while serving our country and our commitment to them is especially important,”
said Senator Murray. “This
bill makes it clear that our country takes care of those who’ve served,
and we don’t allow bureaucracy to dictate who gets a roof over their
head and who doesn’t.…
If we ever hope to end veteran
homelessness, we must do everything we can to reach this goal, and I
want to make sure that the VA’s policies are moving us in that
direction.”
“As
we work towards ending veterans homelessness, it is imperative that we
use federal resources to help our servicemembers and their families in
need,”
said Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
"Many of our vulnerable
veterans saw combat and are fighting PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
Instead of leaving these veterans out in the cold, we must ensure access
to stable housing and other necessary services. This bill would codify
VA practices
that have proven to be effective in getting veterans off the street and
into housing. I commend Senator Murray on her leadership and am proud
to work with her on this important issue.”
The problem arose last year when a
legal review concluded that veterans who served fewer than two years or
had an other than honorable discharge may not be eligible for benefits
such as housing services. As a result, when the VA instituted
the policy last year, homeless shelters and providers who receive
funding through the VA’s Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program were told to
turn away new homeless veterans who didn’t meet the length of service or
discharge requirements. Had this policy been fully
carried out, this could have resulted in 15 percent of the homeless
veterans population being turned away, and in certain urban areas could
have been up to 30 percent. Sen. Murray
introduced emergency legislation to reverse it, causing the VA to temporarily rescind the policy change.
The
Homeless Veterans Services Protection Act being introduced today will
ensure that in the future, veterans cannot be turned away from
organizations because they don’t meet certain length of service or
discharge requirements and that
our country is fulfilling our promise to care for servicemembers and
veterans.
Excerpts from Senator Murray’s remarks for the record are below:
“The
Administration set the difficult but commendable goal of eliminating
veteran homelessness. Through tremendous efforts at every level of
government, and with the help of community groups, non-profits and the
private sector, we
have made major progress toward achieving that goal.”
“But
last year, after a legal review of its policies, VA was forced to
prepare for a change that would have cut off services to veterans who
did not meet certain length of service or discharge requirements,
changing policies that
homeless service providers had followed for decades. That would be a
heartless, bureaucratic move that could have put thousands of veterans
on the streets—practically overnight.”
“As
a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the
daughter of a World War II veteran, I’m proud that the bill I have
introduced today would permanently protect homeless veterans’ access to
housing and services.
This bill makes it clear that our country takes care of those who’ve
served, and we don’t allow bureaucracy to dictate who gets a roof over
their head and who doesn’t.”
“If we ever hope to end veteran
homelessness we must do everything we can to reach this goal, and I want
to make sure that VA’s policies are moving us in that direction. I
don’t just believe that the United States can do better; I
believe we must do better for those who’ve sacrificed so much for our
country.”
Senator Murray’s remarks for the record are below:
“Mr. President, today I am
introducing the Homeless Veterans Services Protection Act of 2015. This
legislation would ensure continued access to homeless services for some
of our country’s most vulnerable veterans who are currently
at risk of losing these critical services.
“The Administration set the
difficult but commendable goal of eliminating veteran homelessness.
Through tremendous efforts at every level of government, and with the
help of community groups, non-profits and the private sector, we
have made major progress toward achieving that goal. But we know we
have a lot of work to do. Veterans are at greater risk of becoming
homeless than non-veterans and on any given night as many as 50,000
veterans are homeless across the United States.
“This is unacceptable. Our
veterans made great sacrifices while serving our country and our
commitment to them is especially important. This commitment includes
providing benefits, medical care, support, and assistance to prevent
homelessness.
“Two
of our greatest tools are the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Grant and
Per Diem program and the Supportive Services for Veteran Families
program through partnerships with homeless service providers around the
country. These
important and successful programs assist very low-income veterans and
their families who either live in permanent housing or are transitioning
from homelessness. The programs help our veterans with rent, utilities,
moving costs, outreach, case management,
and obtaining benefits.
“But last year, after a legal
review of its policies, VA was forced to prepare for a change that would
have cut off services to veterans who did not meet certain length of
service or discharge requirements, changing policies that
homeless service providers had followed for decades.
“That
would be a heartless, bureaucratic move that could have put thousands
of veterans on the streets—practically overnight. According to some of
our leading veterans and homeless groups – including The American
Legion, the National
Alliance to End Homelessness, the National Low Income Housing
Coalition, and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans – had the
policy been enacted, VA would have had to stop serving about 15 percent
of the homeless veteran population, and in certain urban
areas up to 30 percent of homeless veterans would have been turned
away.
“The
veterans community alerted me to this possible change-- and while I’m
proud that we prevented these changes in the short-term—it’s very
concerning that a legal opinion could be issued at any time to undo all
of that. There is
good reason to reverse this policy for good. A report from VA’s
Inspector General, issued just last week, shows how VA’s unclear or
outdated guidance hurts veterans, and how VA’s proposed policy changes
work against efforts to help homeless veterans.
“As
a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the
daughter of a World War II veteran, I’m proud that the bill I have
introduced today would permanently protect homeless veterans’ access to
housing and services.
This bill makes it clear that our country takes care of those who’ve
served, and we don’t allow bureaucracy to dictate who gets a roof over
their head and who doesn’t.
“Many
veterans struggle with mental illness, substance abuse, or simply
finding a steady job-all factors that can lead to homelessness. And
veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are increasingly becoming
homeless – numbers
that will continue to increase in the coming years unless help is
available for them.
“The
idea that any of these veterans returning from service could become
homeless because of these policies is unacceptable. If we ever hope to
end veteran homelessness we must do everything we can to reach this
goal, and I want to
make sure that VA’s policies are moving us in that direction. I don’t
just believe that the United States can do better; I believe we must do
better for those who’ve sacrificed so much for our country.
“Finally,
I’d like to thank Senator Hirono for cosponsoring this bill and being a
champion of the men and women who have served our country. Thank you.”
###
Leah Kennebeck
Deputy Press Secretary
Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
202-224-2834
Senator Alan Grayson?
US House Rep Alan Grayson is running for a seat in the US Senate:
I announced today that I'm running for the Senate.If you read these e-mails, then there's a good chance that you and I think alike. We are kindred spirits. We see things the same way. So in a way, it's sort of like you're running for the Senate. I'm just doing it for you. Think about it. You and I have a lot of shared beliefs, a lot of shared values. You and I see what needs to be done, and how to do it. If I make it to the Senate, there's a good chance that I'll do that job just as you would. And one thing is for sure: You deserve your support. As the Jewish scholar Hillel asked, "If I will not be for myself, who will be for me?" The same goes for me: I deserve your support. Because if I'm elected, then I will do that job the way you would. I will be a champion for justice, equality, compassion and peace. I think that you should support your candidacy with a modest contribution. You can join thousands and thousands of others who contribute $20.16 each month. Or a lump sum of $20, $50, $100 or $500. Every dollar counts, because every person counts. Let's be realistic. You may not make it to the Senate next year. But there is a great chance that I will - if you help. And that's almost as good, isn't it? I need your help, today, so that I can be a Senator that you will be proud of. Just as if you had the job. Courage, Rep. Alan Grayson Candidate for the U.S. Senate | |||
|
Michigan Greens Endorse MILegalize Marijuana Initiative Petition
The Green Party of Michigan notes the following:
Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice
Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence
Green Party of Michigan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.MIGreenParty.org
** News Release **
** ------------ **
July 5, 2015
For More Information, Contact:
-----------------------------
Chris Silva, GPMI Chair
silvachr@gmail.com
(313) 815-2025
John Anthony La Pietra, GPMI Media Committee
jalp5dai@att.net
Michigan Greens Endorse MILegalize
Marijuana Initiative Petition
=============================
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) has endorsed MILegalize, the
more grassroots of two officially approved initiative petitions on
legalizing marijuana in Michigan.
GPMI chair Chris Silva of East Lansing is personally working with
MILegalize's sponsors, officially known as the Comprehensive Cannabis
Law Reform Initiative Committee, to put the measure on the November 8,
2016 ballot. He has described the petition's proposal as a "craft beer"
model of growing and production, in contrast with the "industrialized"
approach taken in some other states and by a competing petition.
GPMI Elections Co-ordinator John Anthony La Pietra of Marshall
notes that MILegalize would let adults grow up to 12 marijuana plants;
allow cultivation, possession, and processing of hemp and hemp products;
give local governments power to regulate the "time, place, manner, type,
and number" of marijuana establishments; and let local voters petition
to allow or prohibit those establishments if their government doesn't
make the decision promptly. "That approach is in line with three of the
Ten Key Values of Greens nationwide -- Grassroots Democracy,
Community-Based Economics, and Decentralization."
Ferndale attorney Sherry A. Wells points out that marijuana
legalization is also consistent with the Green value of Social Justice.
"During my third year of law school, in the 1970s, many students were
scurrying to get their single criminal offense -- one for marijuana --
erased from their records so they could pass the Bar character and
fitness procedure. A parent of a recent law school grad told me his son
did the same. However, one issue is the inequality, in which young
black males are incarcerated for this offense (those white boys were
not), and generally do not have the wherewithal to get that offense so
easily erased."
MILegalize would allow civil infractions for violations of the law,
but remove remove criminal penalties for possessing, growing, or
distributing marijuana -- except for sale to minors -- and protect
consumers from search, seizure, and investigation by law enforcement for
marijuana-related offenses. It would also put an excise tax of at most
10% on all marijuana products sold to consumers for purposes other than
medical marijuana. 40% of the money brought in would support the state
transportation fund, 40% would go to the school-aid fund, and the local
government where the sale took place would get the other 20%.
La Pietra says that registered Michigan voters may legally sign
different petitions once each for proposals on the same subject. But if
two or more conflicting proposals get on the ballot, and pass, the state
Constitution says the proposal that gets the most "yes" votes will be
the one that takes effect. "We urge the people to vote for MILegalize
over all competing proposals."
To read the official language on the MILegalize petition or a
summary description of what the proposal will do, and to find out more
about activities in your area, visit the initiative's Website:
http://www.milegalize.com/
For more information about GPMI, its values, and its platform, visit
http://www.MIGreenParty.org/
You can also “like” the Green Party of Michigan US Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/migreens
and follow GPMI's Twitter feed @MIGreenParty
https://twitter.com/migreenparty
# # #
created/distributed using donated labor
Green Party of Michigan
PO Box 504
Warren, MI 48090-0504
313-815-2025
www.MIGreenParty.org
GPMI was formed in 1987 to address environmental
issues in Michigan politics. Greens are organized
in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each
state Green Party sets its own goals and creates its
own structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:
Ecological Wisdom
Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice
Non-Violence
Community Economics
Decentralization
Feminism
Respect for Diversity
Personal/Global Responsibility
Future Focus/Sustainability
Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice
Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence
Green Party of Michigan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.MIGreenParty.org
** News Release **
** ------------ **
July 5, 2015
For More Information, Contact:
-----------------------------
Chris Silva, GPMI Chair
silvachr@gmail.com
(313) 815-2025
John Anthony La Pietra, GPMI Media Committee
jalp5dai@att.net
Michigan Greens Endorse MILegalize
Marijuana Initiative Petition
=============================
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) has endorsed MILegalize, the
more grassroots of two officially approved initiative petitions on
legalizing marijuana in Michigan.
GPMI chair Chris Silva of East Lansing is personally working with
MILegalize's sponsors, officially known as the Comprehensive Cannabis
Law Reform Initiative Committee, to put the measure on the November 8,
2016 ballot. He has described the petition's proposal as a "craft beer"
model of growing and production, in contrast with the "industrialized"
approach taken in some other states and by a competing petition.
GPMI Elections Co-ordinator John Anthony La Pietra of Marshall
notes that MILegalize would let adults grow up to 12 marijuana plants;
allow cultivation, possession, and processing of hemp and hemp products;
give local governments power to regulate the "time, place, manner, type,
and number" of marijuana establishments; and let local voters petition
to allow or prohibit those establishments if their government doesn't
make the decision promptly. "That approach is in line with three of the
Ten Key Values of Greens nationwide -- Grassroots Democracy,
Community-Based Economics, and Decentralization."
Ferndale attorney Sherry A. Wells points out that marijuana
legalization is also consistent with the Green value of Social Justice.
"During my third year of law school, in the 1970s, many students were
scurrying to get their single criminal offense -- one for marijuana --
erased from their records so they could pass the Bar character and
fitness procedure. A parent of a recent law school grad told me his son
did the same. However, one issue is the inequality, in which young
black males are incarcerated for this offense (those white boys were
not), and generally do not have the wherewithal to get that offense so
easily erased."
MILegalize would allow civil infractions for violations of the law,
but remove remove criminal penalties for possessing, growing, or
distributing marijuana -- except for sale to minors -- and protect
consumers from search, seizure, and investigation by law enforcement for
marijuana-related offenses. It would also put an excise tax of at most
10% on all marijuana products sold to consumers for purposes other than
medical marijuana. 40% of the money brought in would support the state
transportation fund, 40% would go to the school-aid fund, and the local
government where the sale took place would get the other 20%.
La Pietra says that registered Michigan voters may legally sign
different petitions once each for proposals on the same subject. But if
two or more conflicting proposals get on the ballot, and pass, the state
Constitution says the proposal that gets the most "yes" votes will be
the one that takes effect. "We urge the people to vote for MILegalize
over all competing proposals."
To read the official language on the MILegalize petition or a
summary description of what the proposal will do, and to find out more
about activities in your area, visit the initiative's Website:
http://www.milegalize.com/
For more information about GPMI, its values, and its platform, visit
http://www.MIGreenParty.org/
You can also “like” the Green Party of Michigan US Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/migreens
and follow GPMI's Twitter feed @MIGreenParty
https://twitter.com/migreenparty
# # #
created/distributed using donated labor
Green Party of Michigan
PO Box 504
Warren, MI 48090-0504
313-815-2025
www.MIGreenParty.org
GPMI was formed in 1987 to address environmental
issues in Michigan politics. Greens are organized
in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each
state Green Party sets its own goals and creates its
own structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:
Ecological Wisdom
Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice
Non-Violence
Community Economics
Decentralization
Feminism
Respect for Diversity
Personal/Global Responsibility
Future Focus/Sustainability
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