Keep Fighting For Breonna

Make your voices heard here. Pre-written emails and letters can be found here to send to the relevant officials

More people have been arrested for protesting the murder of Breonna Taylor than for the actual murder of Breonna Taylor.

— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) July 16, 2020

I've been in Louisville for the past few months and have been following the protests here closely. People here have been out every single day since May 28 and they've told me that they will stay out until there is "justice for Breonna Taylor." https://t.co/4Ul6mrJb8U pic.twitter.com/toaXCw6QZx

— KK Rebecca Lai (@kkrebeccalai) July 16, 2020

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4 months later, and Louisville is still demanding justice for Breonna Taylor. pic.twitter.com/YnvEidyHyQ

— VICE News (@VICENews) July 16, 2020

Heads Up: President Obama at Bowling Green State University

1:05 (approx): President Obama delivers remarks at Bowling Green State University, Ohio

C-Span * CNN * CBS 1 * CBS 2

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Enthusiasm gap? 😆

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Later:

5:30: President Obama delivers remarks at Kent State University, Ohio

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Email from Jeremy Bird, National Field Director, Obama for America:

If you think your $5 isn’t enough to make a difference in this campaign, take a minute to read the letter below – it’s officially gone viral among campaign staff (with the sender’s permission).

The most powerful thing about making a donation is that you’re joining more than 3 million other Americans who believe ordinary people should decide this election.

It adds up. And it depends on each of us doing our part:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Sandy

Thanks, Jeremy

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Dear President Obama,

I’m writing to tell you about the $15 my family just donated to your 2012 campaign.

It was $15. That’s really all we could give.

My husband Steve is currently a student at Temple University. Since starting his degree, three years ago, we’ve been living considerably below the poverty level (I keep forgetting which percent … does it matter?). But we aren’t complaining. Two healthy daughters; dusty, well-travelled backpacks in the basement; a house full of memories — a future full of hope. We’re the lucky ones.

So — we’re currently “poor on money — rich in life” (as we like to say). It hasn’t always been like this. My husband spent most of his life doing what he loved — playing or coaching basketball. Born in SE Iowa, he was an Academic All-American and once-upon-two-good-knees-ago, the “local town hero” of his small town — after bringing home the State Championship during high school, followed by NJCAA National Championship years later as a coach. He’s a big a fan of yours by the way … as a player, father and president … not necessarily in that order.

But this really wasn’t supposed to be a letter about him.

It’s about this year’s campaign. It’s about wanting to say that $15 means something these days and deserves a moment of pause (and some words on paper) for this girl and her family of Obama fans.

— $15 is a special pizza dinner at our local pizza stop (Poppi’s in Wynnewood).
— It’s 1 1/2 tickets to see the newest film at the old-school cinema we walk our daughters to.
— It’s getting fresh fruit, instead of frozen; fresh veg, instead of canned.
— It’s tickets to the Franklin Institute in the heart of Philly. (We’ve never been.)

It’s all these things to a family like ours.

I’ve listened with curiosity, mostly frustration, as the nation debates Citizens’ United and the string of new laws that now allow the bellowing voices of private interest to drown out the sounds of tiny voices (like ours/mine). Our pebble-in-the-ocean support feels almost pointless. “Leave the campaigns to the rich,” I think to myself, “Get your daughters a pizza instead.”

But I refuse to allow new laws to stop us/me from being A PART of this campaign. After all, I will never be a “player” (in the political sense), but I still want to believe I can play a part.

Then, out of the blue, there you are — shooting a jumpshot on my (Facebook) wall — and asking for “players” to join you on your home court. I had to smile, and then I couldn’t resist. And so, I have relinquished those $15.

Please know that they count. To us. Please stay in Washington. Do, in this second term, what you were not assisted/supported to do during your first term. Get this country moving/working/hoping again.

Please continue being a champion for the middle class — I’m hoping the next pizza will be on you.

Wishes to your brave wife and beautiful daughters from another brave wife with two beautiful daughters.

All good things,

Sandy & Family, PA

(Thank you BWD)

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While you’re waiting….

Thanks Bob!

Pheeeeeeeew!

WordPress: Since this (email notification for comments) feature went live we’ve had a bunch of feedback and it looks like following comments by default is not a good fit for a lot of bloggers (and their readers) after all.

We looked at a few different options, but for now we’ve just changed things back to how they were before. To follow a conversation, make sure you check the box when you post a comment.

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So, I’ve restored the option under comments (which I disabled to stop the flood of emails you were all receiving) – if you want email notification of replies to your comments, just click the box (see below).

about your inbox….

A million apologies to anyone who has been flooded with ‘comment notification’ emails today from the blog.

For some spectacularly stupid reason – although it might be a bug – WordPress has changed the default setting so that people receive these notifications unless they uncheck the option below the comment form (see the red arrow above).

There’s a discussion about the problem at the WordPress support forum today – here

I’m hoping they’ll fix this very soon, but for now just make sure you uncheck that box when you’re commenting.

Sorry again everyone, it’s been infuriating for you all.

PS And a million more sorries for not replying yet to people who contacted me about it, it’s been another one of those days.

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Saturday

10:35: PBO and Michelle Obama depart the White House

12:00: Arrive in Columbus, Ohio

1:20: PBO and Michelle Obama deliver remarks at a campaign event at Ohio State University

2:55 Depart Columbus en route Richmond, Virginia

4:35 PBO and Michelle Obama deliver remarks at a campaign event at the Virginia Commonwealth University

5:55: Depart Richmond

6:50: Arrive at the White House

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You know, I’m kind of looking forward to tomorrow 😉

afternoon all

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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie looks at his email while First Lady Michelle Obama speaks during a meeting of the National Governors Association

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer snacks on an apple while Vice President Joe Biden addresses a meeting of the National Governors Association

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More here

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USA Today: Auto sales are growing so fast that Detroit can barely keep up.

Three years after the U.S. auto industry nearly collapsed, sales of cars and trucks are surging. Sales could exceed 14 million this year, above last year’s 12.8 million.

The result: Carmakers are adding shifts and hiring thousands of workers around the country. Carmakers and parts companies added more than 38,000 jobs last year, reaching a total of 717,000. And automakers have announced plans to add another 13,000 this year, mostly on night shifts.

…. the surge in hiring bolsters the argument of those who supported the federal bailout of General Motors and Chrysler in 2008…..

More here

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Don’t miss Liberal Librarian at The People’s View

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SmartyPants

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The Week

a test vote

TPM: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will tee up a Friday test vote on a piece of President Obama’s jobs bill that would provide states money to retain or rehire teachers and emergency first responders.

“We are going to make sure there is a vote on our bill this week,” Reid told a crowd of fire fighters and teachers at a rally on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

The $35 billion legislation would be paid for with a 0.5 percent surtax on income over $1 million a year – a tiny new marginal bump that Republicans unanimously oppose. Some analyses suggest the legislation would save or create 400,000 jobs.

“The Republicans who work in the Senate suit up every day and come down and play their game in the Senate by following the lead of their leader – and that is, whatever they do, to make sure they do everything they can to make Barack Obama lose,” Reid said.

He’ll face some resistance from his own caucus as well. Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) bucked Reid last week and opposed debate on Obama’s entire jobs bill and have signaled they’ll do the same this time around.

They may be joined by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) who took to Twitter during Reid’s speech to oppose the legislation:

…. remember, this is a test vote about whether to debate the jobs bill – not a vote to end debate, or to pass the legislation itself.

Full post here

Thanks Chiara

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Jon Tester: Twitter – Email

Ben Nelson: Twitter – Email

Joe Lieberman – Twitter – Email

the gop plan: suffocate the economy

Friend –

The U.S. Senate is supposed to vote on the American Jobs Act as early as tonight. It’s a bill that will put people to work immediately, and it contains proposals that members of both parties have said in the past that they’d support.

But Senate Republicans want to block it. Not because they have a plan that creates jobs right now – not one Republican, in Congress or in the presidential race, does. They only have a political plan.

Their strategy is to suffocate the economy for the sake of what they think will be a political victory. They think that the more folks see Washington taking no action to create jobs, the better their chances in the next election. So they’re doing everything in their power to make sure nothing gets done.

There’s still time for principled Republican senators to declare their independence from this kamikaze political strategy.

Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, needs to hear what Americans like you think.

You can reach his office at (202) 224-2541. Tell him not to let politics get in the way of creating jobs.

Will you take three minutes and call now? Then click here to let us know how it went.

If Sen. McConnell’s office says he won’t support the American Jobs Act, ask which parts he doesn’t support:

— Making sure that those who served our country can get good jobs at home by providing incentives for businesses to hire unemployed veterans?
— Preventing layoffs of teachers, cops, and firefighters, while supporting the hiring of tens of thousands more?
— Rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, railways, and airports with a bipartisan, public-private infrastructure bank?
— Modernizing at least 35,000 public schools in rural and urban areas?
— Providing job training for the unemployed, especially young people who have been hit especially hard?

The President has been forceful and clear: Action on jobs is desperately needed, and Congress should pass this bill right away. And he has specifically asked those of us who agree to make sure Republican lawmakers know it.

This bill – and the simple idea that every American who works hard and plays by the rules has a fundamental right to economic security – is a big part of what we stand for as a campaign and as a movement.

There’s no good reason for Congress to delay any more – and if they do, you deserve to know why.

Call Sen. McConnell’s office. Tell him you’re watching, and you expect Republicans in the Senate to do the right thing and move forward on this bill today.

Then let us know how it went here.

Thanks,

Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

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a word from donna dem

Donna Dem:

Well TOD family, today is a big Day of Action. I have set up an event on Facebook to contact Boehner’s office en mass starting from 9-6 EST.

In 24 houses over 450 people are ready to respond to the President’s Call To Action.

Please join us in flooding his phone lines, fax lines, email box and twitter account with requests to pass the President’s American Jobs Act.

Let’s keep his office busy answering our calls:

202-225-6205 (Office)

202- 225-0704 (Fax)

Email Boehner

Twitter: @SpeakerBoehner

‘call to action’

You all know what brilliant work Linda has been doing at her What Is Working blog- she just left this message in the comments here:

Here is my CALL TO ACTION

1. Contact your elected officials and tell them you support the bill. Each day that goes by, it is easier to forget our focus, they expected calls Friday, they don’t expect them today. Tell Dems you expect their support, and tell Republicans it’s time to stop protecting the rich and help middle class families.

When you make a call or send an email, let us know here at the blog, just add it to the discussion so we can all be encouraged.

Contact details for members of Congress here

This will be a long fight, just like the election in 2012 is a long fight, we need to practice keeping our focus and doing the same things over and over.

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I’ve added a link (just click that pic of the phone!) in the right sidebar to Linda’s contact info for members of Congress at What Is Working – you’re a gem Linda 😉

oh no…..

JonHuntsman.com

Oh dear. According to Steve Benen, Huntsman’s people forgot to register JonHuntsman.com – so when you visit the site the image above greets you, ie that glowing letter Hunstman wrote the President when he accepted the position of Ambassador to China.

And …..

ABC: Every detail of Jon Huntsman’s long-awaited campaign launch was meticulously planned, except of course for one minor detail: the misspelling of the candidate’s name. Members of the media were handed a press pass that read “John Huntsman for President” – adding an unnecessary H in the candidate’s first name. Huntsman’s staffers promptly scrambled to remove the passes from reporters before they caught the snafu.

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Steve Benen: …. worse, visitors to Huntsman’s online donation page this morning saw this message alongside the contribution form:

If you prefer you can contact us by mail or by telephone.
Jon Huntsman for President
123 Main Street
Charlotte, NC 12345
(123) 456-7890

All of this is wrong, and was obviously just put in as placeholder text the campaign forgot to replace. As Jamison Foser noted, “So far today, Huntsman campaign has gotten his name, phone number & address wrong. That’s a rough day in first grade.”

That’s not all. The Huntsman campaign picked a location for the kick-off speech where the Statue of Liberty would be in the background, but put the television cameras in such a place where the Statue of Liberty wasn’t seen by viewers at home. Some pundits knocked the new candidate for a “bland, uninspiring speech,” and the cable networks didn’t stick with his remarks very long.

Well, at least Huntsman had a good crowd for the campaign launch, right? Wrong. Only “about a hundred” people showed up, and roughly 60 of them were political reporters…..

More here