Library Lion Fortitude says: Read!

Read Originally uploaded by Kate Anne

Love the Lions at the Fifth Avenue Main Library (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building). Besides the regal Fortitude, this photo shows how lovely the building looks following the restoration. (FYI, the southern lion is Patience.)

Contact Speaker John Boehner re JOBS

Write Speaker John Boehner a simple note reminding him to remember the Republican promise to create more jobs. Easy to do, use the Speaker.gov/contact form. And follow up with a phone call to his office: 202-225-0600

This is what I wrote, a simple straightforward message:

Dear Speaker Boehner,

Republicans promised jobs, ran on it in 2010, and still we allow companies tax breaks for shipping jobs out of the country while more and more of us US citizens remain jobless. We need more good paying US jobs, not just McDonalds or Walmart jobs. HELP, Please introduce legislation that will promote middle class good paying jobs HERE in the USA. Things are getting desperate for lots of people and we do NOT want any riots in our streets. Maybe it is time for a US jobs program. (Our infrastructure needs a serious face lift, too.) Please remember your promise and provide JOBS.

Please keep me apprised.

Thank you and regards.

And thank YOU, for joining me in this important action.

IMPORTANT PS -- You might want to add environmentally FRIENDLY jobs. Speaker Boehner wants to pass some drill baby drill bill that will limit the EPA in protecting our environment. It will create jobs that produce environmental destruction: NOT a trade-off. "NO to that, Speaker Boehner -- if we're dead because of a terrible environment jobs won't matter."

Thom Hartmann & Robert Reich: Ransom Paid...

Thom Hartmann elicits more insight from Robert Reich on President Obama and the GOP debt ceiling fiasco.

Robert Reich's Words of Wisdom and Insight

Found on Twitter, from Robert Reich - @RBReich, former US Secretary of Labor under Clinton:

I continue to debate radical conservatives on mainstream media because the media thinks the truth lies halfway between right and wrong.

and

The greatest threat to democracy is the silence of thoughtful citizens in the face of extremists who will stop at nothing to get their way.

and

If you respond to what's happened in DC with more cynicism and apathy, the radical right wins completely. Instead: Organize and mobilize!

and

Make no mistake: We are still held hostage by radical right. Paying ransom always leads to more extortion.

and some observations:

Behind Tea Party lie Koch bros, Rupert Murdoch, & other right-wing billionaires bent on destroying US economy and removing O from office.

All stock gains of 2011 wiped out because debt deal has made it almost impossible for govt to boost economy. Beware Friday's job numbers.

The radical right has won a huge tactical and strategic victory. Democrats have proven they have no tactics and no strategy.

Anyone who characterizes the debt-ceiling deal as a victory for the Am people over partisanship understands neither politics nor economics.

The Am public will not blame Rs for the coming double-dip jobs recession, because the deal over the debt ceiling implicates the Ds as well.

It is not the case that "both sides" gave up "sacred cows." Rs linked the debt ceiling to their demand for smaller govt. They've got it.

The heinous deal is preferable to economic catastrophe. The outrage and shame is it has come to this choice.

The hostage crisis may be over but the US economy will now suffer insufficient demand and a govt incapable of boosting it.

Ds can no longer campaign on R's desire to Medicare and Soc Security, now that O has agreed it . A tactical and strategic defeat for Ds.

Defining the problem is 95 percent of the battle in Washington. O and D's have let GOP define the problem as the nation's debt.

No tax increases on rich yet almost certain cuts in Med and Social Security, and deficit cuts when joblessness is soaring. An insane deal.

If we restore jobs and growth, the ratio of debt to GDP drops, and the so-called "debt crisis" improves. If we don't, the opposite occurs.

All this talk about shared sacrifice to balance budget diverts attention from biggest issue -- getting Ams back to work & restoring growth.

I could go on and on and on -- You must check out Robert Reich's Twitter channel and follow him.