Analyzing 2014's Republican Gains

Democrats and Democratic candidates need to focus on what we wish to see EXPAND in the world: Compassion and Peace and Fairness and Healing. People want to vote FOR something, not against something. There is much more ENERGY in being POSITIVE. The Dems who ran on Democratic values like Senator Al Franken did just fine. Colorado's Senator Mark Udall stuck to one issue and people couldn't concentrate on the good things Democrats have stood for. In the meantime, Obama is once again considering the outrageous and not-really "GRAND BARGAIN" which will hurt "We the People" who have lost way too much ground already to add to the coffers of the 1%. ENOUGH. Let's build UP the 99%, the infrastructure, American jobs, the environment, life-giving things -- not life-destroying things!!!!

Venting re Republican (In)action

Thom Hartmann has been venting this week on the deliberate and harmful Republican obstructionism in Congress and I reposted on Facebook a Jimmy Carter quote, "If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't." I followed up by venting in a reply comment and it needs more airing. So I re-vent here:

The Republican politicians have created havoc in Congress -- nothing is being done to help ordinary people or our environment. But the polls show only 49 percent of the people know they are in charge of the House and probably fewer know they are obstructing the Senate. The GOP expect the Dems will be blamed by voters for most of our country's problems and sadly they are probably correct. Meanwhile our citizens see their jobs shipped overseas while companies continue to get tax breaks for this. The Dems tried to reverse this and the GOPS stopped it. They are playing politics and people are starving and our environment is being decimated. Scary times. Not Christian and not ethical.

Aereo.com

Thanks to Consumer Reports
magazine, I have discovered Aereo.com which provides me the missing arial for my aged TV whose converter box which had provided broadcast channels bit the dust. I mostly watch online but it is great to be able to catch an awards show or other special, plus it records and it plays on Roku, my computer AND my phone. There is a Utah case going to the Supreme Court because the other companies want to squelch competition. Nonsense. Broadcast TV on the public air waves is my right whatever device or company assists me. Good luck, AREO. 

President Obama: Just say NO to Keystone XL

I hope that President Barack Obama sees this tweet from @PoppaWillie, thinks about it hard and fast, THEN says NO to the Keystone XL Pipeline.

John Boehner has at least 100k Investment in KXL. pic.twitter.com/qBKKSGL8kD
— Poppa/Willie (@PoppaWillie) February 19, 2014

First Ladies for Presidents' Day Weekend

TO WATCH AND ENJOY AND LEARN: Thanks to the recommendation of my dear cousin, Jean Keegan, I've been enjoying the C-Span's First Lady series presented on the web with a huge amount of additional historical material. Great way to spend some time over PRESIDENTS' DAY Weekend:http://firstladies.c-span.org/Default.aspx 

My thanks to Susan Swain for emceeing this great program. Follow her on twitter: https://twitter.com/cspanSusan 

Congress Moves to Fast Track TPP, Threatening Human Health and Environment

More info on Fast Track and the TPP -- very undemocratic legislation and as for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal it is NOT a good deal for most Americans. We will bleed more jobs and flush our trade deficit deeper down the toilet. WHY is Barack Obama supporting it?!!?? Call 202-456-1111 to complain -- and call your Congressmembers. As Ed Schultz of @WeGotEd said, "Not a single trade deal in the last 40 years has benefitted US workers."

Read this: Congress Moves to Fast Track TPP, Threatening Human Health and Environment