Washington State Elections Initiatives

Boyce Recently, a Tea Party activist got permission from the California Secretary of State to gather signatures on a ballot initiative that would, if approved by the voters, make life much harder for immigrants, and for many other Latino's and Latinas in California.

Supporters of the initiative must gather 433,971 signatures on petitions by no later than April 21, 2011. If they fail to gather that many valid signatures by that date the initiative would not get on the ballot.

If the initiative did qualify for the ballot, and was approved by the voters, it would create a law that does the following things:

- Require all highway patrol, police, sheriffs and other sworn officers to investigate immigration status when they are reasonably suspicious that a person stopped is in the country illegally.

- Authorize legal residents to sue any official or agency that adopts or implements policies that limit immigration enforcement, and specifies a $5,000 per day fine and attorneys' fees for violations. Undoubtably some anti-immigrant zealots would start suing police departments they think are not abiding by the law. (Note: That will push police departments to be more zealous in order to stay out of trouble. Inevitably that means that Latino citizens, and documented US residents, will suffer from a law that, in theory, is not directed at them.)

- Would allow any state or local agency to check the immigration status of any person before providing any public benefit, service or license. This could mean that children would be refused entry to public schools in the state, or adults on limited income might be refused public defenders when charged with a crime, even If it turns out they are innocent. Immigrants could end up being refused services by public hospitals. For example, it seems possible that a woman in labor might be refused admittance to a public hospital while the hospital checks on her immigration status.

-Would create a state law banning the knowing, or negligent, hiring of undocumented immigrants. It would also make it a state crime for an undocumented immigrant to seek work without disclosing his or her immigration status.

It would be hypocritical for Californians to put this on the ballot or to approve it in an election.

Why do I say that? Clearly, California's economy depends heavily on the work of undocumented immigrants. For example, The California Employment Development Department (EDD) estimates that 251,000 people are employed as farm workers and laborers in our state. The US Department of Labor estimates that 53% of farm workers, nationally, are undocumented immigrants. But the figure is higher in California (57%) according to the California Labor Force Overview (page viii of the report).

And those workers receive among the lowest wages of any occupation in the state. For example, according to EDD, Farm Workers and Laborers in California have a median income of just $8.99 per hour and a median annual income of just $18,680. By contrast the median hourly wage of all workers in California is more than twice that, $18.12 per hour.

If all the undocumented immigrant farm workers were forced out of the state, and the farming industry had to replace them with US born people, they would have to pay much higher wages to get these workers to do this back breaking work. That would drastically increase the cost of putting food on your table.

Some say that undocumented immigrants come to this country, not to find work, but just to get the public benefits such as welfare, etc. But the facts contradict this assertion. For example, according to a report from the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), 96% of undocumented men

living in the U.S. are employed. This exceeds the labor force participation rate of legal

immigrants and U.S. citizens by 15%. As George Bush once famously said, "It's the jobs magnet that draws undocumented immigrants into the country".

Some say undocumented immigrants don't pay taxes. In fact all undocumented immigrants pay sales taxes whenever they go to the store. Most have income taxes and social security taxes withheld from their pay. And, in a report cited by NCLR, it is estimated that each undocumented immigrant pays $80,000 per person more in taxes than they use in government services over their lifetime.

We should not be punishing undocumented immigrants in the ways that the proposed initiative would. Please do not sign the petitions to put it on the ballot.

You can see the full text of the initiative, The EDD report on wage levels, the NCLR report and the California Labor Force Overview by clicking on the following link and then clicking on the links at the bottom of the web based version of this article.

Here is the link to get you started:

Please Don't Sign Anti-Immigrant Initiative

Boyce Hinman

California Communities United Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
Death with Dignity, Assisted Suicide ?
So, I live in Washington state and this coming November, we get to vote on whether or not to provide terminally-ill patients the medications to choose death. I'm looking over the included links below to make my own analysis, but I'd like to know what other people think about the issue. Its a controversial one...Oregon is the only other state that I know of to pass such an initiative...so any oregon folks, I'd be interested in your takes especially.

Thanks!
The Ballotpedia summary:
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Washington_Initiative_1000_%282008%29

And the Pdf of the initiative in full:
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/text/i1000.pdf
I'm specifically looking for measures that people think need to be included to ensure the initiative supports the patient...and not euthinasia.
- ANSWER:
  No one but God knows the date of our death. Weather we do it ourselves or it is by his hand.
  We all start dying the minute we're born.
  If I am going to die from a incurable disease, Ain't No One, going to stop me from going out on My time, pills or pistol, no difference.
  Oregonian now living in Washington state.
  
  That should be our Greatest Right.
QUESTION:
Government Test Help?
1. Which of the following is not an external source for the ideas embodied in the U.S. Constitution?
legal traditions of England

experiences of the American Revolution

Bill of Rights

political philosophy of separate powers

4. How many U.S. Senators does the state of Washington have?
(Points : 2)
two

three

four

nine

5. Which of the following branches of government has the power to interpret laws and determine if they have been broken?
(Points : 2)
legislative branch

executive branch

judicial branch

all three branches of government

6. Which of the following is not true about Article Four of the U.S. Constitution?
(Points : 2)
x It places limits on the powers of the states.

It allows all states to print their own money.

It requires all states to form a representative form of government.

It establishes the process for new states to join the Union.

7. Which of the following is not an example of a constitutional power the federal government has over the states?
(Points : 2)
the power to send in troops to keep the peace

the power to treat states unequally

the power to require representative state governments

the power to admit a new state

8. What is the role of the state legislature?
(Points : 2)
to enforce laws

to interpret laws

x to make laws

to determine if laws have been broken

9. Who presides over the Washington State Senate?
(Points : 2)
lieutenant governor

speaker of the house

secretary of state

attorney general

10. What is the combined total of state lawmakers (members of the state House of Representatives and the state Senate) for each legislative district in Washington?
(Points : 2)
four

two

three

five

11. How do changes in population affect legislative districts in Washington State?
(Points : 2)
Population changes require that legislative districts be redrawn every 10 years.

Population changes affect how many lawmakers each district will send to the state legislature.

Population changes affect how many people may vote in elections in each legislative district.

Population changes do not affect legislative districts.

12. Which of the following is not a step through which a bill must pass in order to become a law?
(Points : 2)
It must pass through a legislative committee.

It must pass a vote in the House of Representatives.

It must pass a vote in the Senate.

It must pass a vote in the Washington State Supreme Court.

13. Which of the following is an example of direct legislation?
(Points : 2)
2009 state budget

Initiative 695

any bill that makes it through the rules committee

any bill that passes over a governor's veto

14. Who is the chief executive officer of the state?
(Points : 2)
lieutenant governor

speaker of the house

secretary of state

governor

15. Which member of the executive branch is charged with keeping track of the state's finances?
(Points : 2)
lieutenant governor

governor

state auditor

secretary of state

16. Which member of the executive branch is charged with receiving and disbursing all state money?
(Points : 2)
state treasurer

state auditor

secretary of state

governor

17. Which member of the executive branch is a nonpartisan official?
(Points : 2)
superintendent of public instruction

insurance commissioner

commissioner of public lands

state treasurer

18. Which member of the executive branch offers legal advice to other government officials?
(Points : 2)
governor

secretary of state

lieutenant governor

attorney general

19. Which of the following is not part of the state judicial system?
(Points : 2)
superior courts

U.S. District Court

courts of appeals

supreme court

20. Which of the following courts has the final say on Washington legal matters?
(Points : 2)
state court of appeals

municipal courts

state superior court

Washington State Supreme Court

21. Which of the following in not a common county official?
(Points : 2)
secretary of state

commissioner

treasurer

clerk

22. Which of the following determines the forms of government that Washington can establish?
(Points : 2)
state legislature

Washington State Constitution

executive branch

Washington State Supreme Court

I've found the answers to the rest. It's pretty much general Government questions.
Thanks for helping! I'll write the answers d
- ANSWER:
  1 (guessing) experiences of the American Revolution
  4 Every State has 2 U.S. Senators
  5 Legislative branch establishes law, Executive branch enforces law, Judicial branch interpret laws
  6 No state can print it's own currency. If they could, none of them would be in the financial trouble they are in
  7 Common sense should tell you they have to govern the states equally
  8 See answer 5
  9 This is a guess. But the Vice President presides over the U.S. Senate. So I would guess since Lieutenant Gov is equal to VP, it would be the Lt Gov
  10 Not familiar with Washington State Government. Most states would have 1 state House Rep, and . 1 state Senate member per district
  11. Again, not familiar with Washington. But federally, and in most states, the district lines are redrawn every 10 years.
  12 The Supreme Court is the Judicial Branch see answer 5
  13 An Initiative
  14 Gov
  15 Auditor
  16 Treasurer
  18 Common sense. I would go to an attorney for legal advice
  19 Common sense. So you really think any U.S. Court is part of a states court system?
  20 Again, common sense. Supreme means the ultimate
  21 secretary of state is a state office
  22 Constitutions are always an outline of the government
QUESTION:
Did you see this great Washington Times article by Victor Davis Hanson?
Imagine that last fall before being elected, Barack Obama had outlined the positions he has embraced since being inaugurated as president. An honest campaign speech could have gone something like this —

”As we approach Election Day, the American people should not waste the crisis we find ourselves in.

“Consequently, if elected, I promise to get us over the Bush financial meltdown with a stimulus program that will borrow 7 billion - which, of course, will add to the already sizable budget deficit (nearly 0 billion) projected in the Bush administration's last budget.

“By March of next year, my new .6 trillion budget will include a spending bill with more than 8,500 budget earmarks to target in-need constituents.

“In addition to the stimulus/borrowing plan, I intend to devote 4 billion to fund a new supplementary national health-care system. But that is not all. Unfortunately, the initial Bush bank bailout of some 0 billion also may well have to be augmented by an additional 0 billion.

“Although my new spending proposals may raise the federal deficit in my first year to .75 trillion, I promise the American people that by the end of my first term, I will halve the federal deficit - albeit adding another trillion to trillion to the national debt.

”Those savings can be accomplished by upping the federal income tax to about 40 percent on those rich 5 percent of Americans who currently pay only 60 percent of our aggregate income taxes - as well as lifting Social Security caps on their payroll taxes and cutting out many of their tax deductions.

”With state income taxes, federal income tax, Social Security and payroll taxes, along with new cutbacks in deductions, some of these rich will pay over 60 percent of their incomes in taxes. That is not an unreasonable rate in comparison with past levels - or the fact that well over 40 percent of Americans do not make enough to pay any federal income taxes.

“I expect that Wall Street may react negatively to these proposals. We may see the Dow fall an additional 2,000 to 3,000 points after I'm elected. It may descend to under 7,000 during my first weeks of office. And this may be the moment when the economy continues to cool and unemployment rises.

”But to deal with this reaction of entrenched interests, I promise a fresh team of hard-nosed American professionals - understanding that it is impossible to appoint some without past insider connections and occasional tax problems.

”From the former Clinton administration, I will select Rahm Emanuel to run my staff. To oversee revenue, Timothy Geithner will assemble a large team at Treasury. Sen. Clinton herself will run state, and I will anchor my Cabinet with pros like Tom Daschle, Eric Holder, Bill Richardson and Hilda Solis.

”On matters of protecting civil liberties, I assure the American people that I have examined the Patriot Act, the FISA accords and renditions - and I have discovered that they, in fact, do not shred our Constitution. I will, however, shut down Guantanamo Bay - but must keep it open another year and appoint a task force to study the issue.

“Our new direction in energy policy will center on cap-and-trade initiatives that promote wind and solar power. While we won't rule out oil, gas, coal and nuclear development, problems with greenhouse gas emissions and nuclear waste mean that these ossified 20th-century industries - including new offshore drilling development - must be discouraged and further taxed or regulated to subsidize our green future.

“Abroad, I promise to give America a new image. My first television interview will be with al Arabiya. Due both to new initiatives and my unique background, I can reassure them that no longer will the United States alienate the Muslim world. Our aim is to return to stable and friendly relations with the Middle East characteristic of 20 to 30 years ago.

“Indeed, on matters in the Middle East, I will bring back my suspended adviser Samantha Power. I look forward to her input, along with that of Charles Freeman, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia and critic of Israel, as head of the National Intelligence Council, to craft new directions in the region

“We expect to open new dialogues with Bashar al-Assad of Syria and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran without preconditions. And to further the cause of peace in the Middle East, the United States will pledge almost billion to help rebuild the Gaza strip that is governed by Hamas.”

Now all that would have been hope and change that we could have voted on.
I have no expectations that libs will be able to concentrate long enough to read this.
- ANSWER:
  Accurate, but sadly, I think his sheep would have dutifully nodded their heads, while muttering"It's all bush's fault", and voted the usurper in any way...
QUESTION:
Is it any wonder why government keeps expanding?
Could it be because the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is number 2 on the heavy hitters list of political donors since 1989?

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is made up of 3,500 local unions representing 1.4 million members who work in public service and health care. In Washington, AFSCME works on everything from improving unemployment benefits to strengthening job security. Among its biggest priorities are raising the minimum wage, battling efforts to privatize public sector jobs and fighting efforts to substitute vacation time for overtime pay for millions of workers. AFSCME strongly supported Democratic nominee John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, and has actively opposed several of President Bush's second-term initiatives, especially partial privatization of Social Security.
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/index.php
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000061
- ANSWER:
  And the largest organization hiring during this recession is the Federal Government.
QUESTION:
US History Homework Questions?
1. Which of these statements was NOT true of the United States by the year 1900?
A. The rise of industry had led to rapid urbanization.
B. Mature industries such as steel making were in a decline.
C. Industrial production had risen rapidly due to mechanization.
D. Over half of the nation's industrial labor force was foreign born.

2. Which of these statements BEST describes New York's Lower East Side in 1900?
A. a densely populated neighborhood with an inadequate infrastructure
B. an industrial area that employed hundreds of thousands of immigrants
C. a middle-class neighborhood with indoor plumbing and running water
D. an abandoned area after a fire consumed most of the wooden structures

3. What was the purpose of the Pendleton Act?
A. to require the use of secret ballots
B. to institute the federal income tax
C. to reform the civil service system
D. to allow the direct election of senators

4. Which of these inspired many Americans to work for progressive reforms?
A. the theories of social Darwinism
B. the teachings of the Social Gospel movement
C. the religious revivals of the Second Great Awakening
D. the speeches of famed educator George Washington Carver

8. Which of these progressive reforms was designed to give voters more power to choose candidates for public office?
A. direct primary
B. political convention
C. recall election
D. secret ballot

9. Which progressive reform allows citizens of a state to propose and pass a law without involving their state legislature?
A. initiative
B. recall election
C. referendum
D. secret ballot

10. Which of the following was NOT a goal of the NAACP during the Progressive Era?
A. to secure the passage of antilynching laws
B. to use the legal system to fight segregation
C. to ensure equal rights for all African Americans
D. to urge accommodation among African Americans

11. Which of the following progressive reforms was enacted by a consitutional amendment?
A. women's suffrage
B. consumer protection
C. regulation of monopolies
D. conservation of the environment

13. How did Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson work to protect the environment?
A. by setting aside land for national parks
B. by creating a federal agency to monitor pollution
C. by requiring factories to clean up their toxic wastes
D. by protection wilderness lands from develpment

14. Why did President Wilson establish the Federal Reserve System?
A. to help the federal government keep the budget balanced
B. to give trusts more opportunities to expand their businesses
C. to create banks that could collect the new federal income tax
D. to regulate the money suppoly and prevent future economic panics
- ANSWER:
  1.)A
  2.) ?
  3.)C
  4.)C
  8.)A
  9.)?
  10.)C or D
  11.)A
  13.)A or D
  14.)D
QUESTION:
Do you support the States exercising their 10th amendment rights by refusing the National Health Plan?
Some state lawmakers, in preemptive mode, are considering ballot initiatives for the 2010 election which would allow them to opt out of Obama care, if the voters so choose.

The states of Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming are all proposing some sort of legislation to unshackle themselves from what some describe as a trampling of state’s rights by the federal government’s passage of the healthcare reform package.

Arizona has already passed legislation entitled the Health Care Freedom Act that allows the ballot initiation to appear in 2010. FoxNews reports comments by one legislator on the subject: "Our health care freedoms are very much at risk by health care reforms proposed in Washington, D.C.," said Arizona state Rep. Nancy Barto, the Republican legislator who sponsored the measure. "We needed to act as a state to protect our citizens and ensure that they will always be able to buy their own health care and not be forced into a plan they don't want."

http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/election/1317
In addition to standing up against this violation of the 10th Amendment, States will also sue the Federal Government because the bill gives the Health Secretary immunity from "Judicial Review" - a clear violation of the separation of powers.

The Supreme Court, which has never had a case before them claiming that Healthcare legislation violates the 10th amendment, will rule in favor of the States.
-------------------------------------
Page 124
24 (f) LIMITATIONS ON REVIEW.—There shall be no ad-
25 ministrative or judicial review of a payment rate or meth-

Page 125
1 odology established under this section or under section
2 224.
--------------------------------------

This gives judicial immunity to the following aspects of this Health Bill:

Sec. 223. Payment rates for items and services.
Sec. 224. Modernized payment initiatives and delivery system reform.

Read the Text of the Bill Here:
http://docs.house.gov/edlabor/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf
- ANSWER:
  The states have my complete support. I would even go so far as to say that I would support states who want to secede from the union if the courts would somehow see fit to rule in favor of the federal government when it comes to the 10th Amendment.
QUESTION:
Did u c this: "Voters send a message to Washington, and get an ugly response" do u agree with this?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204908604574334623330098540.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

"We have entered uncharted territory in the fight over national health care. There’s a new tone in the debate, and it’s ugly. At the moment the Democrats are looking like something they haven’t looked like in years, and that is: desperate.

They must know at this point they should not have pushed a national health-care plan. A Democratic operative the other day called it “Hillary’s revenge.” When Mrs. Clinton started losing to Barack Obama in the primaries 18 months ago, she began to give new and sharper emphasis to her health-care plan. Mr. Obama responded by talking about his health-care vision. He won. Now he would push what he had been forced to highlight: Health care would be a priority initiative. The net result is falling support for his leadership on the issue, falling personal polls, and the angry town-hall meetings that have electrified YouTube.

...And so the shock on the faces of Congressmen who’ve faced the grillings back home. And really, their shock is the first thing you see in the videos. They had no idea how people were feeling. Their 2008 win left them thinking an election that had been shaped by anti-Bush, anti-Republican, and pro-change feeling was really a mandate without context; they thought that in the middle of a historic recession featuring horrific deficits, they could assume support for the invention of a huge new entitlement carrying huge new costs.

The passions of the protesters, on the other hand, are not a surprise. They hired a man to represent them in Washington. They give him a big office, a huge staff and the power to tell people what to do. They give him a car and a driver, sometimes a security detail, and a special pin showing he’s a congressman. And all they ask in return is that he see to their interests and not terrify them too much. Really, that’s all people ask. Expectations are very low. What the protesters are saying is, “You are terrifying us.”

More Peggy Noonan
Read Peggy Noonan’s previous columns.

And click here to order her new book, Patriotic Grace.
.What has been most unsettling is not the congressmen’s surprise but a hard new tone that emerged this week. The leftosphere and the liberal commentariat charged that the town hall meetings weren’t authentic, the crowds were ginned up by insurance companies, lobbyists and the Republican National Committee. But you can’t get people to leave their homes and go to a meeting with a congressman (of all people) unless they are engaged to the point of passion. And what tends to agitate people most is the idea of loss—loss of money hard earned, loss of autonomy, loss of the few things that work in a great sweeping away of those that don’t.

People are not automatons. They show up only if they care.

What the town-hall meetings represent is a feeling of rebellion, an uprising against change they do not believe in. And the Democratic response has been stunningly crude and aggressive. It has been to attack. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, accused the people at the meetings of “carrying swastikas and symbols like that.” (Apparently one protester held a hand-lettered sign with a “no” slash over a swastika.) But they are not Nazis, they’re Americans. Some of them looked like they’d actually spent some time fighting Nazis.

Then came the Democratic Party charge that the people at the meetings were suspiciously well-dressed, in jackets and ties from Brooks Brothers. They must be Republican rent-a-mobs. Sen. Barbara Boxer said on MSNBC’s “Hardball” that people are “storming these town hall meetings,” that they were “well dressed”, that “this is all organized,” “all planned,” to “hurt our president.” Here she was projecting. For normal people, it’s not all about Barack Obama.

View Full Image

Associated Press
.The Democratic National Committee chimed in with an incendiary Web video whose script reads, “The right wing extremist Republican base is back.” DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse issued a statement that said the Republicans “are inciting angry mobs of . . . right wing extremists” who are “not reflective of where the American people are.”

But most damagingly to political civility, and even our political tradition, was the new White House email address to which citizens are asked to report instances of “disinformation” in the health-care debate: If you receive an email or see something on the Web about health-care reform that seems “fishy,” you can send it to flag@whitehouse.gov. The White House said it was merely trying to fight “intentionally misleading” information.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas on Wednesday wrote to the president saying he feared that citizens’ engagement could be “chilled” by the effort. He’s right, it could. He also accused the White House of compiling an “enemies list.” If so, they’re being awfully public about it, but
...Absent that, and let’s assume that won’t happen, the health-care protesters have to make sure they don’t get too hot, or get out of hand. They haven’t so far, they’ve been burly and full of debate, with plenty of booing. This is democracy’s great barbaric yawp. But every day the meetings seem just a little angrier, and people who are afraid—who have been made afraid, and left to be afraid—can get swept up. As this column is written, there comes word that John Sweeney of the AFL-CIO has announced he’ll be sending in union members to the meetings to counter health care’s critics.

Somehow that doesn’t sound like a peace initiative.

It’s going to be a long August, isn’t it? Let’s hope the uncharted territory we’re in doesn’t turn dark.
What do you think of all of this?
Noah H, if it is going to be so great, why is it going to be mandatory?
- ANSWER:
  What do I think of this? I think it's very sad actually. I fully agree with that article in that we, those who are showing up to the tea parties, the town hall meetings, etc., and so on, are doing so because we see what is happening to this country and we are trying to bring the control back to the PEOPLE where it belongs. Obama wants what he wants and couldn't care less how he gets it. He got the financial institution, he got 2/3 of the car industry and now he's after another 1/7 of the US economy. The "silent majority" has begun to wake up and guess what? It's scaring the he ll out of the far left.
  
  This is a good thing. It means that they're afraid. Afraid of losing what they've attempted to gain, but fact is, do they know WHAT they've gained? The sheeple have no idea what we all stand to lose by allowing an out of control government to get control of so much of our country. Obama, Reid and Pelousy are all trying their best to make the PATRIOTS out to be these horrible nasty "well dressed" paid "astroturfers", forgetting that we all know that the ACORN protesters are exactly that, with the exception of the well dressed part. They're not fooling anyone.
  
  Now that the far left has begun their Alinsky style smear campaign, start watching for the violence and problems to start. They won't be started by us, they WILL be started by those in the far left who are plants in the town hall meetings, protests, etc., sent there to start the trouble that we have been working very hard to avoid.
  
  Remember this. “Accuse others of what you do.” - Attributed to Vladimir Lenin and Karl Marx Sound familiar? That's exactly what this administration and their followers are doing. Don't let the bastards get you down.
QUESTION:
Is there a simple way to hold Congress & Senate accountable for a straight 'up or down' vote ?
Is there a simple way to hold Congress & Senate accountable for a straight 'up or down' vote instead of political wrangling?

Democrats playing trump card more often
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer Sun Jul 8, 12:40 PM ET
WASHINGTON - It is the closest thing that Senate leaders have to a trump card, the only way to wrestle the famously balky institution into predictable action.
ADVERTISEMENT

Lately, though, the nearly century-old tool known as "cloture" has become more of a routine way to score political points. Once, it was a carefully wielded ace used to push a difficult bill past a parliamentary hurdle and into law.
That is because cloture — a way of cutting off debate and setting a final vote in the otherwise ungovernable Senate — has lost much of its potency as a legislative tactic.
Cloture votes were conceived to free the Senate, in exceptional cases, from the whims of a tiny minority. Such votes now serve to showcase the majority party's agenda and the lengths to which the opposing party will stand in the way.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is on track to shatter the record for cloture motions filed. He highlighted that statistic recently to illustrate what he called "Republican obstructionism."
The strategy mirrors the one Republicans used against then-minority Democrats three years ago in a closely divided Senate. Many believe the GOP's portrayal of then-Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., as an obstructionist cost him his seat.
Reid has turned to cloture early and often — 42 times since January. He says it is out of necessity because Republicans — sometimes just a small band of conservatives — have sought to block not only Democrats' priorities but also some initiatives that enjoy bipartisan support.
He used it repeatedly, with disappointing results, on the immigration measure that just collapsed amid bipartisan opposition.
Reid, however, also has used cloture votes to put Republicans on the record on hot-button issues. They include opposing President Bush's Iraq policy, expressing "no confidence" in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and backing a bill that would unionize workplaces without secret ballot elections.
"We have spent a lot of time on the Republicans delaying what the American people want us to do, and that is legislate," Reid said in a testy exchange with Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader.
McConnell said Reid's use of cloture votes was "a power grab."
"The Senate isn't a factory. We don't push things down the line," McConnell said. "There is a saying about courtship: Shoot for two, end up with zero. So far, this would be a fitting epitaph for a Congress that has sought to do much but has accomplished little."
Cloture emerged in 1917 as a way to limit filibusters, the tactic by which senators use their rights of unlimited debate to delay or block legislation.
President Woodrow Wilson, frustrated by a 23-day filibuster that stalled his proposal to arm merchant ships in World War I, called a special session to consider a cloture proposal.
The Senate, he said, is "the only legislative body in the world which cannot act when its majority is ready for action. A little group of willful men, representing no opinion but their own, have rendered the great government of the United States helpless and contemptible."
The resulting rule held that if two-thirds of the Senate's 100 members agreed, debate on a measure could end and a vote on passing or rejecting the proposal could take place after each senator had an opportunity to speak for another hour.
The high bar for cloture meant it was seldom used and almost never successful. Senate historians say cloture was invoked in only five cases over the next 46 years.
Cloture rules have been revised a number of times, most significantly in 1975. That is when the threshold for ending debate was lowered from two-thirds of the Senate, or 67 senators, to three-fifths, or 60. In 1986, the cap for debate after cloture was shortened, from 100 hours to 30 hours.
Robert B. Dove, the Senate's parliamentary referee between 1965 and 2001, said cloture lost some of its power as political divisions in the Senate became more prominent.
"There used to be a difference between how you voted for cloture and how you felt about the underlying bill. That has all gone by the boards. With the Senate in an incredibly partisan position now and the margins so tight, cloture is really not a great tool," Dove said.
Former Sen. George J. Mitchell, D-Maine, was majority leader in the early 1990s. He said he became accustomed to seeking cloture on matters large and small when he realized that Republicans would object to virtually any action he tried. Both parties are equally guilty of that practice, he added.
"It was more or less in anticipation — and probably based on some specific threat — of filibuster," Mitchell said. "It's common on both sides now that people use it when they think it will advance their political goals and to block legislation that they don't support."
During Mitchell's last two years as majority leader, cloture was sought 80 times, just short of the record of 82 set during the next Congress under Republican Sens. Robert K. Dole of Kansas and Trent Lott of Mississippi.
Some Republicans suggest that Reid's pace toward eclipsing that record might be intended to portray GOP lawmakers in the 2008 election as blocking the nation's business.
"You artificially run up the number of cloture votes and then set out on a search- and-destroy mission to tarnish incumbent Republicans as obstructionists," said Eric Ueland, who served as chief of staff to former Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.
Still, with Republican objections coming fast and furious, cloture may be among Democrats' only options. GOP lawmakers spent the last few hours of Senate business before the Fourth of July break blocking final negotiations on broadly supported lobbying overhaul and anti-terrorism legislation.
"It's the only way to manage the floor," said Reid's spokesman, Jim Manley. "The alternative is to do nothing, and that's absolutely unacceptable."
Besides, Mitchell said, campaigning on a theme as obscure as a slew of failed cloture votes would be a tough feat.
"The public's view is, 'You're in charge — you produce,' " he said. "If you don't produce, it's your fault — even if it's the other guys who prevented you."
___
On the Net:
Senate background on cloture: http://tinyurl.com/333udm
- ANSWER:
  I tend to watch a lot of the senate proceedings.. I get some news from fox and some from cnn.. Try to balance things out a little bit..Cloture may seem like a real obstruction to passing legislation but as you know it is to prevent a tiny majority from passing legislation.. I think it is absolutely necessary to the law making process.. It results in a system where no bill is ultra liberal or ultra conservative. It kind of forces both sides to make compromises so they can get to the 60 votes to give the bill an up or down vote. However, it becomes a problem when neither side is willing to make those compromises..I dont even know if I really answered your question, but I think a good start would be to reconfigure the business lobbying practice
QUESTION:
Is Obama planning war on Iran?
Could the 'change' mantra end up being the biggest propaganda scam ever devised?

See this:

Obama advisers discuss preparations for war on Iran
By Peter Symonds
6 November 2008

On the eve of the US elections, the New York Times cautiously pointed on Monday to the emergence of a bipartisan consensus in Washington for an aggressive new strategy towards Iran. While virtually nothing was said in the course of the election campaign, behind-the-scenes top advisers from the Obama and McCain camps have been discussing the rapid escalation of diplomatic pressure and punitive sanctions against Iran, backed by preparations for military strikes.

The article entitled “New Beltway Debate: What to do about Iran” noted with a degree of alarm: “It is a frightening notion, but it not just the trigger-happy Bush administration discussing—if only theoretically—the possibility of military action to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons program… [R]easonable people from both parties are examining the so-called military option, along with new diplomatic initiatives.”

Behind the backs of American voters, top advisers for President-elect Barack Obama have been setting the stage for a dramatic escalation of confrontation with Iran as soon as the new administration takes office. A report released in September from the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington-based think tank, argued that a nuclear weapons capable Iran was “strategically untenable” and detailed a robust approach, “incorporating new diplomatic, economic and military tools in an integrated fashion”.

A key member of the Center’s task force was Obama’s top Middle East adviser, Dennis Ross, who is well known for his hawkish views. He backed the US invasion of Iraq and is closely associated with neo-cons such as Paul Wolfowitz. Ross worked under Wolfowitz in the Carter and Reagan administrations before becoming the chief Middle East envoy under presidents Bush senior and Clinton. After leaving the State Department in 2000, he joined the right-wing, pro-Israel think tank—the Washington Institute for Near East Policy—and signed up as a foreign policy analyst for Fox News.

The Bipartisan Policy Center report insisted that time was short, declaring: “Tehran’s progress means that the next administration might have little time and fewer options to deal with this threat.” It rejected out-of-hand both Tehran’s claims that its nuclear programs were for peaceful purposes, and the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate by US intelligence agencies which found that Iran had ended any nuclear weapons program in 2003.

The report was critical of the Bush administration’s failure to stop Iran’s nuclear programs, but its strategy is essentially the same—limited inducements backed by harsher economic sanctions and the threat of war. Its plan for consolidating international support is likewise premised on preemptive military action against Iran. Russia, China and the European powers are all to be warned that their failure to accede to tough sanctions, including a provocative blockade on Iranian oil exports, will only increase the likelihood of war.

To underscore these warnings, the report proposed that the US would need to immediately boost its military presence in the Persian Gulf. “This should commence the first day the new president enters office, especially as the Islamic Republic and its proxies might seek to test the new administration. It would involve pre-positioning US and allied forces, deploying additional aircraft carrier battle groups and minesweepers, [and] emplacing other war materiel in the region,” it stated.

In language that closely parallels Bush’s insistence that “all options remain on the table”, the report declared: “We believe a military strike is a feasible option and must remain a last resort to retard Iran’s nuclear program.” Such a military strike “would have to target not only Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, but also its conventional military infrastructure in order to suppress an Iranian response.”

Significantly, the report was drafted by Michael Rubin, from the neo-conservative American Enterprise Institute, which was heavily involved in promoting the 2003 invasion of Iraq. A number of Obama’s senior Democratic advisers “unanimously approved” the document, including Dennis Ross, former senator Charles Robb, who co-chaired the task force, and Ashton Carter, who served as assistant secretary for defense under Clinton.

Carter and Ross also participated in writing a report for the bipartisan Center for a New American Security, published in September, which concluded that military action against Iran had to be “an element of any true option”. While Ross examined the diplomatic options in detail, Carter laid out the “military elements” that had to underpin them, including a cost/benefit analysis of a US aerial bombardment of Iran.

Other senior Obama foreign policy and defense advisers have been closely involved in these discussions. A statement e
- ANSWER:
  There will be no changes in D.C.
  
  War is the health of the State. As long as we have centrally powerful governments, we will have war.
QUESTION:
What does it say about THE GREAT ONE, Barack Hussein Obama, when even the MSM is making fun of HIM?
Mm, mmm, mm!?
Holy S**t?
or
Someting inside is now verking?

Capital Crunch: Obama Confronts Waning Political Capital

October 05, 2009 8:15 AM

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports:

Think the White House may want to work on its vote-counting operation before the health care bill makes it to the Senate floor?

Think the CBO might be just as brutal as the IOC -- with scoring that counts just as much?

Think the public debate over Afghanistan strategy gets any easier as events shape perceptions?

Nobody will much remember a 24-hour trip to Denmark in early fall if, by the start of winter, there's a health care bill in place and a Afghanistan policy everyone in the administration can agree to.

But whether President Obama's focus turns abroad again or stays at home for a stretch, the president is confronting the limits of his political capital -- from an Olympic loss, to the near-certain loss of a public option in a health care bill, and the end of streamlined decision-making on Afghanistan.

This is a time where the president needs to be spending his capital -- in the halls of Congress, and on the world stage. But when he talks, who is listening? (And does the president lose options himself the longer he chooses to keep listening?)

Testing time: "A number of factors have combined to strip him of the camouflage that he once enjoyed when it comes to health-care policy,"David Broder writes in his Sunday Washington Post column. "His main leverage point is the realization among nearly all Democrats that nothing would be as costly to them, in their individual 2010 races, as the failure of this Congress, with its heavy Democratic majorities, to pass a substantive health-reform bill. That may be enough in the end for Obama to succeed. But the task of getting there will really test him -- and expose his core values."

Thirteen months before the mid-term elections: "Obama is trying to prod Congress into passing legislation on health care overhaul, climate change, and financial services regulation by early next year, before election-year political pressures make it harder to persuade wary lawmakers to vote for the dramatic change Obama promised in his campaign," Susan Milligan reports in The Boston Globe. "He must also make difficult decisions on whether to increase troop strength and commit America to a larger, longer mission in Afghanistan. And the economy, while apparently on the road to recovery, is still not producing new jobs and continues to generate anxiety around the country."

Rep. Chris Van Hollen: "I do believe that if we are not successful in passing health care reform, it will make it much more difficult to enact other major initiatives," said Van Hollen, D-Md., the DCCC chairman.

(Ya think?)

The White House is using its Monday to re-set the focus of the debate on health care -- again.

At 11:10 am ET in the Rose Garden, "the President will welcome doctors from across the country to an event in the Rose Garden, where he will deliver remarks on the need for health insurance reform this year." (They're coming from every state, which means plenty of local-media pick-up.)

(And Organizing for America wants letters from doctors -- and others -- to make the case: "You don't have to be a doctor or an expert to write an effective letter -- you just have to have an opinion or a personal story to share. And these letters are short, usually just a paragraph or two, but they can have a huge impact because it shows your representatives and the media what local folks are thinking in the most public way possible.")

Yet even inside the Finance Committee -- a still-uncertain fate? Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., remain on the fence -- along with Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.

"At least two Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee have refused to pledge support for the health-care reform bill scheduled for a vote this week, underscoring the hard work ahead for President Obama as he tries to enact the most ambitious domestic policy legislation in more than a generation," Ceci Connolly reports in The Washington Post."Committee defeat of the bill is an unlikely scenario, but one that highlights the power every Senate Democrat -- and perhaps a few Republicans -- holds going forward in a process that could stretch beyond Thanksgiving."

Might the public option live? "Senior administration officials have been holding private meetings almost daily at the Capitol with senior Democratic staff to discuss ways to include a version of the public plan in the healthcare bill that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to bring to the Senate floor this month, according to senior Democratic congressional aides," the Los Angeles Times' Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook report.

"It … marks a crucial test of Obama's command of the inside game in Washington in which deals are struck behind closed doors and wavering lawmakers are cajoled a
- ANSWER:
  it says "here come the d-bag trolls, who would rather have an on-his-deathbed mccain and who love to use obama's middle name as some kind of insult, ranting about stuff of which they have very little true understanding".
  
  looks will only get you so far....
QUESTION:
Is this a look into the future after Obama?
In Obama's first One Hundred Days, the Congress passed his initiatives, and he signed them into law as he said he would.

He repealed the Bush tax cuts, and increased capital gains taxes.

He enacted a windfall profits tax, and instituted price controls on gasoline and diesel fuel.

He passed universal health care, which added an additional 10 percent tax increase on all working Americans.

He signed the Immigrant Amnesty bill which created 12 million new citizens instantly, each with entitlements.

He closed the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, and summarily released all the detainees.

He repealed the Patriot Act, and cut funding for espionage, and eliminated all terrorist listening and wiretaps.

Most important, he began the complete and immediate withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq.

He ignored the advice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who wanted to retain bases in Kuwait and Qatar. Instead, he went with the recommendation of Secretary of Defense Dennis Kucinich, and ordered all troops back to U.S. soil.

Viola! In One Hundred Days, by May of 2009, it was all done, and the vision was complete. He did exactly what he said he would do.

And so it was in the summer of 2009 that things began to unravel for Obama.

Of course, the economy needed a tax cut, not an increase, and unemployment quickly rose to 12 percent. Even attorneys and economists were put in the bread lines. Hard times.

Price controls on gasoline immediately led to shortages and gas lines.

The global cooling trend we have seen for the past 25 years first became obvious in 2009, exposing the CO2 global warming fraud. People were justifiably angry.

Federal deficits increased massively because thousands of baby boomers, facing job loss and much higher taxes, simply gave up and took social security.

Although the superb U.S. health care system was thrown into disarray, the bright spot was the creation of the Federal Department of Health care, and the immediate hiring of 250,000 administrators, inspectors and auditors, the only job growth in any economic sector in2009.

By February 2010, the U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq was complete. It was a very expensive undertaking.

And then in March, the gradual Shiite insurgencies from Iran turned into a true Iraqi civil war. In May, Iranian tanks crossed the border and quickly took Baghdad. Although the exact number is not known, at least 230,000 Sunni Iraqis died as we stood by.

Iran also quickly moved into undefended Kuwait.

President Obama did exactly what he said he would. He sent Secretary of State Maria Cantwell to Tehran to meet with Iranian President Ahmadinejad.

After two weeks of high level talks, the United States agreed to allow Iran to retain Iraq and Kuwait to create stability in the Middle East, with the understanding that Israel would not be disturbed.

Cantwell returned to Washington, and explained the agreement in her famous speech, in which she proudly noted that the Obama administration had finally achieved "peace in our time" in the Middle East.

So there was some surprise at the rocket attacks on Tel Aviv on August 14th.

President Obama said, "This is not the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad I knew."

The Obama administration decided it would be de-stabilizing to take sides in the conflict, and approximately 29,000 Israeli civilians died during the summer and fall.

American Jews were appalled at the inaction. Yes, in 2010 most American Jews were Democrats, but because of 2010, they are solid Republicans today.

As awkward as it was, everything might have turned out all right for the Obama administration going into the fall mid-term elections of 2010, if it hadn't been for the dirty bomb in the Port of Long Beach.

The administration had cut funding for the inspection of containers, because they felt it showed a "lack of trust" in the international trading community.

It wasn't really a very big bomb, and thank goodness, not a real nuclear device, but nonetheless it contaminated some expensive real estate- Newport Beach, Palos Verdes Estates- and ultimately caused the death of 14,000 Americans. People were especially annoyed that Disneyland had to be closed for decontamination.

And so, in the midterm elections, Republicans regained control of both the House and Senate, and the rest is history.

The impeachment proceedings against President Obama for "failure to protect and defend" were swift and nearly unanimous. Vice President Sibelius resigned. Newly-elected Speaker of the House, J.C. Watts, became the 45th President of the United States.
- ANSWER:
  You have a future as a science fiction writer, but NOT as a political analyst....
QUESTION:
what's your opinion on the article Doer’s drive to clean the air ?
Doer’s drive to clean the air
NDP leader wants to model California’s crackdown on vehicle emissions

By Mia Rabson
MANITOBANS could have more than just sunny skies in common with California if Gary Doer is sent back to the premier’s office next month. Doer marked Earth Day Sunday with a series of campaign promises to protect the environment, including forcing all cars on Manitoba roads to spew out fewer greenhouse gases. “We want to work using the California method on vehicle emissions,” Doer said in the backyard of a private residence in Wolseley. California set tailpipe emissions standards 41 years ago, and has long been the North American leader on the subject, including recent plans by the state to cut by 10 per cent the carbon content of gasoline sold in the state.
Cars sold or imported in California must meet that state’s emissions standards or they aren’t allowed on the road, and Doer wants to set the same standards here.
He said he believes the federal government should set a national standard for tailpipe emissions to ensure car manufacturers are forced to act.
“Having said that, just like California is not going to sit back and wait for Washington, we’re not going to wait for anybody else,” he said.
Doer said the tailpipe restrictions will not just be for new cars sold in Manitoba, but also include incentives for people with older cars to cut back on emissions. “We believe carrots are the best in this regard,” said Doer.
Doer repeated his pre-election pledge to pass a law requiring Manitoba to meet its greenhouse gas reductions targets under the Kyoto Protocol by 2012. But, for the first time, he said he’d like to meet that goal with actual reductions, not by buying credits from other jurisdictions that have fewer emissions or have

Top

cut back more.
Manitoba’s Kyoto target requires a cut of 2.3 megatonnes of greenhouse gases. The province currently emits about 20 megatonnes a year, more than one third of which come from vehicles.
Other promises in his environment platform include building renewable energy sources for the communities in Manitoba that don’t have access to hydroelectricity, and requiring all landfills to capture emissions.
Curtis Hull, project manager of the Manitoba-based environment crusader group Climate Change Connection, said overall the Doer environment platform “looks promising.”
But he said he’d like to see more initiatives to get people out of their cars in the first place, including investments in public transit, particularly in rural Manitoba, and higher gas taxes, though he acknowledged that is a hard sell.
“Increased gas prices won’t be popular, especially at election time, but when it comes to getting people out of their cars, that’s the big one,” said Hull.
Doer was joined at the microphone by Lloyd Axworthy, who was once the senior federal Liberal in Manitoba and is now the president of the University of Winnipeg. Though Axworthy’s presence implied he was endorsing Doer’s campaign, he said that’s not true.
But he did laud Doer for showing leadership on climate change in Canada.
“I’m not here in a partisan way, I’m here because as a citizen of this province I think it’s important we continue to build on what’s been accomplished,” said Axworthy.
Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard, who also made environment announcements Sunday but didn’t get the boost of Axworthy’s presence, sniped that he thought it was funny that Doer felt the only way he’d get credibility for his environment announcement was by having a Liberal present.

■
- ANSWER:
  Hydrogen fuel...its here, it works, its perfectly clean, can even use it in all our cars and trucks..oh..one problem...government and big business won't let it happen..
QUESTION:
If illegal aliens are not receiving welfare, why ask for reform?
Advocates on here claim illegals are not soaking up welfare and our gov. services. If they are not, Why would activist ask for welfare to end for illegal alien lawbreakers?
_______________________________________________
Activists Seek End to 0M Calif. Welfare Program for Illegals

Monday, July 13, 2009 11:53 AM

By: Dave Eberhart

Activists in California are pushing for a ballot initiative that would end public benefits for illegal immigrants and terminate welfare payments for their children, according to a report in The Los Angeles Times.

Organizers have kicked-off a drive to gather the 488,000 voter signatures required to qualify the measure for the June 2010 election. It has been a slow start, however, with only 0,000 in the war chest. Typically, statewide initiatives consume about million at the signature-collecting phase.

Supporters of the initiative further want to challenge the citizenship of children born in the United States to parents who are here illegally, San Diego political activist Ted Hilton told the Times.

Hilton argued that the 14th Amendment states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside.”

Since illegal residents are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States, their offspring should not be citizens, he maintained.

Hilton pointed to estimates that California’s 2.7 million illegal residents account for billion to billion (mostly schools, prison space, and emergency healthcare) of the state’s 5-billion budget.

“Are we going to continue asking taxpayers to pay for these services when the state is completely out of money?” he asked.

The measure would end state welfare to an estimated 48,000 households and 100,000 children -- aid that now costs the state 0 million a year.

Hilton has been beating the drum against illegal immigration for two decades. With regard to the new initiative, his organization, Taxpayer Revolution, has gotten the seal of approval from Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, the American Legion California chapter, NumbersUSA, Save Our State, and the California Coalition for Immigration Reform.

The California initiative follows similar measures in Oklahoma, Colorado Virginia, Arizona and Georgia, according to the Times report.

Meanwhile, proponents for the rights of illegal immigrants argue that illegal residents pay taxes -- sales taxes on what they buy, gasoline taxes when they fuel their cars, property taxes if they own homes. The Social Security Administration estimates that in 2007, illegal residents nationwide contributed a net of 12 billion dollars to the system.

Peter Schey, a Los Angeles attorney who successfully challenged Proposition 187, a similar measure, said courts would most likely sink the initiative.

“This proposal . . . has no chance of surviving a constitutional challenge,” he told the Times. “It is plainly driven by racism and a desire to whip up xenophobia during difficult economic times for U.S. citizens.”

Proposition 187 was halted in its tracks when a federal judge ruled that the measure unconstitutionally usurped federal jurisdiction over immigration.

Mike Hethmon, an attorney with the Washington-based Immigration Reform Law Institute, told the Times that the latest measure passes muster under federal authority delegated to the states to restrict access to benefits and verify applicants’ eligibility.

Unlike Proposition 187, the new measure does not attempt to curtail access to education – keeping it square with the 1982 Supreme Court ruling that states could not bar illegal immigrant children from schools.

Some features of the initiative:

Would cut off CalWorks payments to the children of citizens or legal residents who fail to meet eligibility requirements for state aid because they are unwilling to work, addicted to drugs or absent.

Would require that applicants for birth certificates verify their legal status.

Would require that those applicant for birth certificate unable to verify their legal status produce official identification from a foreign government, a record of any publicly funded costs for delivering the child, and other information before receiving their child’s birth certificate, which would be marked with the notation “foreign parent.”

http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/california_welfare_end/2009/07/13/234879.html
grease - read the question, it is about reforming the welfare system, not giving illegal lawbreakers reform, wow. you read one word and went off in your own little world. Answer the question about illegal lawbreakers getting welfare!!
REFORM the welfare system and deny illegal aliens benefits???
sagey - READ the ARTICLE!! They want reform so illegal aliens do not receive any more welfare, why do illegal advocates have problems reading the whole article and answering the questions asked????
- ANSWER:
  Illegal aliens do take advantage of welfare programs in the US. Influx of illegals also contributes to lower wages for the unskilled in the US.
  
  My question is, how can most people I hear talking about this topic get so passionate about poor people illegally immigrating from Mexico and stealing welfare, not get at least as angry about rich cats in their own government who steal much, much more?
QUESTION:
what's your opinion on this article Doer’s drive to clean the air?
Doer’s drive to clean the air
NDP leader wants to model California’s crackdown on vehicle emissions

By Mia Rabson
MANITOBANS could have more than just sunny skies in common with California if Gary Doer is sent back to the premier’s office next month. Doer marked Earth Day Sunday with a series of campaign promises to protect the environment, including forcing all cars on Manitoba roads to spew out fewer greenhouse gases. “We want to work using the California method on vehicle emissions,” Doer said in the backyard of a private residence in Wolseley. California set tailpipe emissions standards 41 years ago, and has long been the North American leader on the subject, including recent plans by the state to cut by 10 per cent the carbon content of gasoline sold in the state.
Cars sold or imported in California must meet that state’s emissions standards or they aren’t allowed on the road, and Doer wants to set the same standards here.
He said he believes the federal government should set a national standard for tailpipe emissions to ensure car manufacturers are forced to act.
“Having said that, just like California is not going to sit back and wait for Washington, we’re not going to wait for anybody else,” he said.
Doer said the tailpipe restrictions will not just be for new cars sold in Manitoba, but also include incentives for people with older cars to cut back on emissions. “We believe carrots are the best in this regard,” said Doer.
Doer repeated his pre-election pledge to pass a law requiring Manitoba to meet its greenhouse gas reductions targets under the Kyoto Protocol by 2012. But, for the first time, he said he’d like to meet that goal with actual reductions, not by buying credits from other jurisdictions that have fewer emissions or have

Top

cut back more.
Manitoba’s Kyoto target requires a cut of 2.3 megatonnes of greenhouse gases. The province currently emits about 20 megatonnes a year, more than one third of which come from vehicles.
Other promises in his environment platform include building renewable energy sources for the communities in Manitoba that don’t have access to hydroelectricity, and requiring all landfills to capture emissions.
Curtis Hull, project manager of the Manitoba-based environment crusader group Climate Change Connection, said overall the Doer environment platform “looks promising.”
But he said he’d like to see more initiatives to get people out of their cars in the first place, including investments in public transit, particularly in rural Manitoba, and higher gas taxes, though he acknowledged that is a hard sell.
“Increased gas prices won’t be popular, especially at election time, but when it comes to getting people out of their cars, that’s the big one,” said Hull.
Doer was joined at the microphone by Lloyd Axworthy, who was once the senior federal Liberal in Manitoba and is now the president of the University of Winnipeg. Though Axworthy’s presence implied he was endorsing Doer’s campaign, he said that’s not true.
But he did laud Doer for showing leadership on climate change in Canada.
“I’m not here in a partisan way, I’m here because as a citizen of this province I think it’s important we continue to build on what’s been accomplished,” said Axworthy.
Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard, who also made environment announcements Sunday but didn’t get the boost of Axworthy’s presence, sniped that he thought it was funny that Doer felt the only way he’d get credibility for his environment announcement was by having a Liberal present.
- ANSWER:
  I feel that this is a great article with a lot of details regarding Doers plans. He seems to have very concrete goals for improving the environment. Of all the countries in North America, I believe that Canada & its citizens have demonstrated the drive and environmental commitment that it takes to acheive great things.
  I would support any politician in the USA who would make similar plans for improving the environment.
QUESTION:
Help! CIVICS HELP !!!!?
I'm doing a practice quiz for civics, it's not worth anything,
but I thought that if I had the answers, it would help me study for the exam. Could someone give me the answers to these questions? I seem to have left my book at school, the internet isn't giving me sufficient answers ):
Three officials in county government are the
A) sheriff, auditor, and mayor.
B) constable, mayor, and treasurer.
C) sheriff, clerk, and treasurer.
D) auditor, governor, and clerk.

Today, most well-traveled roads are built and maintained by
A) local governments.
B) the federal government.
C) state governments.
D) the Department of the Interior.

It is difficult for a person to run for national office
A) without the support of both parties.(obviously not)
B) without the support of a political party. (maybe, I think)
C) without having made substantial donations to a political party. (using money for power? eh!)
D) if he or she has had any disagreements with a political party. (if you're part of a certain party, wouldn't you HAVE to disagree with at least one?)

All local governments in a state are established by the
A) House of Representatives.
B) state legislature.
C) city mayor.
D) state governor

A referendum
A) refers potential laws directly to the people, who then vote on them.
B) refers initiatives directly to the governor for signature or veto.
C) is a hearing for a new bill in the House of Representatives.
D) is a bill passed by one house, then referred to the other for approval.

A peaceful protest in a downtown area turns into a riot. The mayor of the city asks the governor for help from the
A) Department of Public Safety.
B) National Guard.
C) army.
D) Department of the Interior.

The town form of government began in
A) Washington, D.C.
B) the New England colonies.
C) the western states.
D) the southern colonies.

To lessen the possibility of corruption, the U.S. Congress
A) passed the Federal Election Campaign Act.
B) prohibited the use of soft money.
C) established the Independent Party.
D) runs background checks on all political donors.

To register to vote, you must
A) show your high school diploma.
B) pay a small processing fee.
C) give your name, address, and date of birth.
D) prove that you can read and write.

Each political party's candidates for president and vice president are formally chosen at the
A) general election.
B) party caucus.
C) runoff election.
D) national nominating convention.

All of the following are general areas of qualification for governor in most states EXCEPT
A) citizenship.
B) age.
C) education.
D) residency.

Several children become sick after swimming in a public swimming pool. An investigation would most likely be conducted by the
A) Department of Human Services.
B) Public Water Commission.
C) State Board of Health.
D) Department of Public Safety.

I know this seems a lot like cheating but I got home and realized I forgot my book and I had the paper in my purse. These are the few I didn't complete while I was in class. The test is tomorrow, I still have time! Please help me out!
THANK YOU !
- ANSWER:
  C
  D
  B
  B
  A
  B
  B
  A
  And i think thats enough for one question
QUESTION:
Would someone plz post an Accomplishments BIO of OBama as I am of Hillary?
This is only a short list of the good she has done, starting back in her early life.
You can pull it up by bringing her history BIO up online. There is much much more.

Early life
Raised in a politically conservative household,[11] at age thirteen she helped canvass South Side Chicago following the very close 1960 U.S. presidential election, finding evidence of electoral fraud against Republican candidate Richard Nixon,[12] and volunteered for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater in the U.S. presidential election of 1964.[13] Her early political development was shaped most strongly by her energizing high school history teacher, who got her to read Goldwater's classic The Conscience of a Conservative[14] and who was, like her father, a fervent anti-communist, and by her Methodist youth minister, like her mother concerned with issues of social justice; with the minister she saw and met civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. in Chicago in 1962.

Rodham attended the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami, where she decided to leave the Republican Party for good; she was upset over how Richard Nixon's campaign had portrayed Rockefeller and what Rodham perceived as the "veiled" racist messages of the convention

That summer, she worked her way across Alaska, washing dishes in Mount McKinley National Park and sliming salmon in a fish processing cannery in Valdez (which fired her and shut down overnight when she complained about unhealthy conditions).

Law school

During her second year, she worked at the Yale Child Study Center,[34] learning about new research on early childhood brain development and working as a research assistant on the seminal work, Beyond the Best Interests of the Child (1973).[35][36] She also took on cases of child abuse at Yale-New Haven Hospital,[35] and volunteered at New Haven Legal Services to provide free advice for the poor.[

and volunteered at New Haven Legal Services to provide free advice for the poor.[34] In the summer of 1970, she was awarded a grant to work at Marian Wright Edelman's Washington Research Project, where she was assigned to Senator Walter Mondale's Subcommittee on Migratory Labor, researching migrant workers' problems in housing, sanitation, health and education;[37][38] Edelman would become a significant mentor to her.[38]

In the late spring of 1971, she began dating Bill Clinton, who was also a law student at Yale.

Early Arkansas years

Rodham co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a state-level alliance with the Children's Defense Fund, in 1977.

For much of that time[81] she served as the chair of that board, the first woman to do so.[82] During her time as chair, funding for the Corporation was expanded from million to 0 million,[70] and she successfully battled against President Ronald Reagan's initial attempts to reduce the funding and change the nature of the organization.

Clinton appointed her chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee the same year,[83] where she successfully obtained federal funds to expand medical facilities in Arkansas' poorest areas without affecting doctors' fees.

In one of the most important initiatives of the entire Clinton governorship,[92] she fought a prolonged but ultimately successful battle against the Arkansas Education Association[92] to put mandatory teacher testing as well as state standards for curriculum and classroom size in place.[92] She introduced Arkansas' Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth in 1985, a program that helps parents work with their children in preschool preparedness and literacy.[94] She was named Arkansas Woman of the Year in 1983 and Arkansas Mother of the Year in 1984.

First Lady of the United States

When Bill Clinton took office as president in January 1993, Hillary Rodham Clinton became the First Lady of the United States, and announced that she would be using that form of her name.[116] She was the first First Lady to hold a post-graduate degree[117] and to have her own professional career up to the time of entering the White House.[118] She was also the first to take up an office in the West Wing of the White House:[48] the First Lady usually stays in the East Wing. She is regarded as the most openly empowered presidential wife in American history, save for Eleanor Roosevelt.[119]

Along with Senator Ted Kennedy, she was the major force behind the State Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997, a federal effort that provided state support for children whose parents were unable to provide them with health coverage.

She promoted nationwide immunization against childhood illnesses and encouraged older women to seek a mammogram to detect breast cancer, with coverage provided by Medicare.[140] She successfully sought to increase research funding for prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institutes of Health.

The First Lady worked to investigate reports of an illness that affected veterans of the Gulf War, which became known as the Gulf War syndrome.[48] Together with Attorney General Janet Reno, Clinton helped create the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice.

In 1997, she initiated and shepherded the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which she regarded as her greatest accomplishment as First Lady.[48] As First Lady, Clinton hosted numerous White House Conferences, including ones on Child Care (1997),[141] Early Childhood Development and Learning (1997),[142] and Children and Adolescents (2000),[143] and the first-ever White House Conferences on Teenagers (2000)[144] and Philanthropy (1999).

Hillary Clinton traveled to 79 countries during this time,[146] breaking the mark for most-travelled First Lady held by Pat Nixon.[147] In a September 1995 speech before the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, Clinton argued very forcefully against practices that abused women around the world and in China itself,[148] declaring "that it is no longer acceptable to discuss women's rights as separate from human rights"[148] and resisting Chinese pressure to soften her remarks.[146] She was one of the most prominent international figures at the time to speak out against the treatment of Afghan women by the Islamist fundamentalist Taliban that had seized control of Afghanistan.[149][150] She helped create Vital Voices, an international initiative sponsored by the United States to promote the participation of women in the political processes of their countries.

Traditional duties

Clinton initiated and was Founding Chair of the Save America's Treasures program, a national effort that matched federal funds to private donations for the purpose of preserving and restoring historic items and sites,[184] including the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner and the First Ladies Historic Site in Canton, Ohio.[48] She was head of the White House Millennium Council,[185] and initiated the Millennium Project with monthly lectures that discuss futures studies, one of which became the first live simultaneous webcast from the White House. Clinton also created the first Sculpture Garden there, which displayed large contemporary American works of art loaned from museums in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden.[186]

Senate election of 2000
Clinton has served on five Senate committees: Committee on Budget (2001–2002),[203] Committee on Armed Services (since 2003),[204] Committee on Environment and Public Works (since 2001),[203] Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (since 2001)[203] and Special Committee on Aging.[205] She is also a Commissioner of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe[206] (since 2001).[207]

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Clinton sought to obtain funding for the recovery efforts in New York City and security improvements in her state. Working with New York's senior senator, Charles Schumer, she was instrumental in quickly securing billion in funding for the World Trade Center site's redevelopment. She subsequently took a leading role in investigating the health issues faced by 9/11 first responders.[211] Clinton voted for the USA Patriot Act in October 2001, as did all but one senator. In 2005, when the act was up for renewal, she worked to address some of the civil liberties concerns with it,[212] before voting in favor of a compromise renewed act in March 2006 that gained large majority support.[213]

As a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Clinton strongly supported military action in Afghanistan, saying it was a chance to combat terrorism while improving the lives of Afghan women who suffered under the Taliban government.

TAKE NOTE: "should such action be required"
Now those who go on about her vote can eat crow!!....

Clinton voted in favor of the October 2002 Iraq War Resolution, which authorized United States President George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq, should such action be required to enforce a United Nations Security Council Resolution after pursuing with diplomatic efforts.

In late 2005, Clinton said that while immediate withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistake, Bush's pledge to stay "until the job is done" is also misguided, as it gives Iraqis "an open-ended invitation not to take care of themselves.

Clinton voted in 2005 against the confirmation of John Roberts as Chief Justice of the United States,[220] and in 2006 against the nomination of Samuel Alito to the United States Supreme Court;[221] both were confirmed. In 2005, Clinton called for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how hidden sex scenes showed up in the controversial video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.[222] Along with Senators Joe Lieberman and Evan Bayh, she introduced the Family Entertainment Protection Act, intended to protect children from inappropriate content found in video games.

In March 2007 she voted in favor of a war spending bill that required President Bush to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq within a certain deadline; it passed almost completely along party lines[234] but was subsequently vetoed by President Bush.

In May 2007 a compromise war funding bill that removed withdrawal deadlines but tied funding to progress benchmarks for the Iraqi government passed the Senate by a vote of 80-14 and would be signed by Bush; Clinton was one of those who voted against it.

Clinton has enjoyed high approval ratings for her job as senator within New York, reaching an all-time high of 72 to 74 percent approving (including half of Republicans).
- ANSWER:
  Gee, I could copy and paste Wikipedia as well.
  What does that mean?
  
  I've done my own research on both candidates for the past year.
  I've been reading about Clinton "doings" in the news for years.
  
  I will never be swayed by "opinion" over my own research.
  I also don't expect to change anyone's mind because I say so.
  
  You want facts on Obama, do your own research.
  Try his website or some of the websites that lists all the candidates
  
  Just a couple of sites I've visited.
QUESTION:
Democrats expand government programs, government workers donate mostly to democrats, is there a connection?
In fact they donate almost 99% to democrats.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is made up of 3,500 local unions representing 1.4 million members who work in public service and health care. In Washington, AFSCME works on everything from improving unemployment benefits to strengthening job security. Among its biggest priorities are raising the minimum wage, battling efforts to privatize public sector jobs and fighting efforts to substitute vacation time for overtime pay for millions of workers. AFSCME strongly supported Democratic nominee John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, and has actively opposed several of President Bush's second-term initiatives, especially partial privatization of Social Security.
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000061

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is also number two on the top 10 donors list since 1989.
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/index.php

The government also is the largest employer.
http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs041.htm
- ANSWER:
  Yes it's a kick back scheme in reality, the party gets you the jobs you pay the party
QUESTION:
Does it surprise you that government employees donate the most to those who expand government the most?
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is made up of 3,500 local unions representing 1.4 million members who work in public service and health care. In Washington, AFSCME works on everything from improving unemployment benefits to strengthening job security. Among its biggest priorities are raising the minimum wage, battling efforts to privatize public sector jobs and fighting efforts to substitute vacation time for overtime pay for millions of workers. AFSCME strongly supported Democratic nominee John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, and has actively opposed several of President Bush's second-term initiatives, especially partial privatization of Social Security.

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000061
Searcher 4.0-- Most federal employees are unconstitutional.
- ANSWER:
  I almost said yes but then when I read to "unions" I was no longer surprised.
QUESTION:
Are blacks being hoodwinked by the Democrats?
You decide. Blacks tend to vote over 90% Democrat in elections, despite some interesting facts:

Social programs like welfare have failed America, but specifically the black community. It has helped tear apart families, and takes away initiative needed to get out of the cycle of poverty. Dems seem to be okay with keeping them on the government dole.

Dems support women's "choice." Margaret Sanger, founder of planned parenthood, was racist and abortion was about getting rid of the "unwanted." Where are the abortion clinics around you, the poor black areas or where the white folk live? Hmmm.....

Republican Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves. Southern Democrats, meanwhile, were opposed to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.

City % of people below poverty level Democrat or Republican Mayors
Detroit, MI......32.5.......Elected Democratic Mayors since 1961
Buffalo, NY......29.9.......Elected Democratic Mayors since 1954
Cincinnati, OH...27.8.......Elected Democratic Mayors since 1984
Cleveland, OH....27.0.......Elected Democratic Mayors since 1989
Miami, FL........26.9.......Has never elected a Republican Mayor

Skeptics might note that the top four cities listed are located in the “Rust Belt,” and the change of our economy is causing the poverty. But that does not entirely explain it when you have a city like Cincinnati, whose metropolitan area is currently home to ten Fortune 500 companies, ranking 6th in the U.S.
But to be fair, let’s look at the cities (pop. 500,000 or more) with the highest crime rate in the U.S. (Detroit happens to be #1 on both lists). The crime rankings factor in six different crimes as reported by the cities: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.
City Democrat or Republican Mayor
Detroit, MI..........Elected Democratic Mayors since 1961
Baltimore, MD........Elected Democratic Mayors since 1967
Memphis, TN..........Elected Democrat Mayors for past 100 years
Washington, D.C......Elected Democratic Mayors since 1975
Philadelphia, PA.....Elected Democratic Mayors since 1952

Can you guess the demographics of these cities? Each city has a much higher percentage of blacks than the state they reside in. Buffalo, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia are the only cities that are under 50% black. Detroit is 80% black. Miami is 88% black and latino. Tell me again what Democrats are doing for minorities?
Now I can’t claim that these cities are full of crime and poverty because they vote Democrat. Because if it were all Republicans running these cities for all these years with absolutely no progress, I’d be asking the same questions. Why are people doing the same thing over and over again? Wouldn’t you try something new, just to see? Wouldn’t you demand change? It’s about accountability.
The people of these cities have made it known. We will vote Democrat. It doesn’t matter what you do. It doesn’t matter if you’re a crook, it doesn’t matter if you’re busted smoking a crack pipe, we will continue to vote Democrat.

What say the people?
Nope, I'm very aware how the mayor of a city can be corrupt and use city money meant to help people or the infrastructure and continue to scam the people. I'm from Detroit. I know.
Deb M, you poor soul. Stop watching MSNBC and do some research for yourself.
Almost universally, economists say minimum wage laws are bad for economy and have especially hurt the black community.
Corporations? You don't believe democrats are in the pocket of corporations too? You are blind.
Against health care? Nice spin. Against government run health care that puts us further in debt, yeah, I'm against it.
Against education? Unions are pro-Democrat, so once again you're wrong.

You should try to think for yourself. It does wonders.
Great response, Byron. No facts of your own, of course. Yes, distorting facts. Dems hate facts, because they ruin the perception that dems are "for the people."
- ANSWER:
  Yes, the Black citizens are being Kept by these programs and policies by the democrats to keep them under the thumb of democrats, by brain-washing blacks into thinking they can not do well and must be taken care of by democrats. The black community only is hurting itself by not getting educated and striving to do well in school and hard work to climb out of the illussion of poverty. When the test scores are lowered and exceptions made for the black students to pass in school they accept defeat and when government will pay for you not to work, what will most people do? Not work or progress to be productive citizens. Yes the democratic party are all for keeping the black population in line under government hand-outs, when you have to depend on government you sell your soul.
QUESTION:
What are my chances of getting into Princeton?
Clubs:
-National Honor Society (11,12)
-Parliamentarian (11)
-Interact (10,11,12)
-Executive Committeeman (11,12)
-Quiz Bowl (9,10,11,12)
-Teenage Republicans (11,12)
-Founder and de facto Chairman (11)
-District Chairman (12)
-Future Business Leaders of America (10, 11)
-President (11)
-Distributive Education Clubs of America (9,11)
-Environmental Club (12)
-Debate Club (10)
-Political Club (12)
-Senior Advisors (12)
-Freshman Year Experience (12)
-School Paper (10,11)
-News Editor (10)
-Opinions Editor (11)
-Student Council (10,11,12)
-Class President (11)
-Student Body President (12)
-Superintendent’s Advisory Council (11,12)
-Local Board of Education
-Student Representative (11,12)
-Intern for McCain for President

Academics:
-2nd in my class
-SAT Score:2070 (am retaking it and am confident of breaking 2200)
-Scored a five on my AP English Language exam and a five on my AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam
-Scored a 700 on my SAT Subject Test in U.S. History

Awards:
-Senior Hall of Fame
-Most Likely to Cure Cancer
-School’s Elected Nominee for the DAR Good Citizen Award
-Won a local scholarship to attend the Future World Leaders’ Summit in Washington, DC
-Was selected as one only two students in my state (104 throughout the nation) to serve as a delegate to the 2009 United States Senate Youth Program
-Selected to serve for a week as a page in the North Carolina House of Representatives
-Transylvania County Scholar
-Junior Marshall
-Nominee for the Morehead Scholarship
-1st place in the state for the Public Speaking I category of the Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference
-Qualified twice to go to state for Distributive Education Clubs of America

Sports:
-Tennis (9, 10, 11)
-All-Conference Player (10)

Jobs:
-Phone Bank Operator for Charles Taylor for Congress (September – November 2006)
-Called-up local citizens to inform them about early voting and other election procedures
-Rocky’s Soda Shop General Employee (July – August 2009)
-Prepared ice-cream desserts
-Took orders
-Ran orders
-Swept
-Washed dishes
-Restocked food

AP Courses:
-AP English Language
-AP English Literature
-AP Government and Politics
-AP U.S. History
-AP Macroeconomics
-AP Microeconomics
-AP Biology
-AP European History

Leadership Conferences:
-Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (Summer of 2007)
-United States Senate Youth Program (11)
-Presidential Classroom (11)
-Student Council Leadership Conference at Clemson (10)
-Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference (10)
-Local Student Council Leadership Conference (11)

Volunteering:
-Rang bells for the Salvation Army
-Tutored students at Brevard Elementary School
-Tutored a student at Brevard High School
-Volunteered at Brevard Elementary School’s Fall Fun Day
-Participated in Rent-A-Student (adults rented students and the proceeds went to providing heat for needy families during the winter months)
-Volunteer at the Brian Center (local nursing home)
-Helped organize the Senior Citizens Prom (brought senior citizens from across the county together for a night of fun, food, and dancing)
-Volunteer at SAFE’s Attic

Initiative:
-Stood-up to the School Board when many students and parents grew concerned over the dismissal of several good teachers from the high school
-Founded my local branch of the Teenage Republicans

In The Works:
-Founded a local Youth Court
-Founded a local STAND (anti-genocide) club
-Organized the Night of 1000 dinners to raise money for the victims of land mines
-Founded the Inter-Club Council to help facilitate greater communication between the various clubs in our school
My weighted GPA was 4.56 last time I checked. Also, what should I focus on in the coming months to enhance any areas of weakness in my credentials?
- ANSWER:
  And your unweighted GPA is... ?
QUESTION:
Need some help checking work. This is my final grade so it is very important I do good. ?
Multiple Choice:

1. Who founded the Niagara Movement of 1905?
a. Booker T. Washington b. William E.B. DuBois
c. Susan B. Anthony MY CHOICE: B.

2. The 17th Amendment provided for the direct popular election of
a. the president of the US b. U.S. Senators
c. Supree Court Justices MY CHOICE: B.

3. What act exempted unions from anti-trust provisions?
a. the Clayton Antitrust Act b. the Adamson Act
c. the Federal Reserve Act. MY CHOICE: B

4. In World War I, Great Britain, Italy, France and Russia were...
a. Allied Powers b. Central Poweres c. neutral
MY CHOICE: A

5. When World War I broke out, the US
a. supported the allies b. supported the central powers
c. was neutral MY CHOICE: C

6. One of the reasons Herbert Hoover defeated Alfred E. Smith in the President election of 1928 was the Smith was
A. Protestant B. Roman Catholic C. Jewish
MY CHOICE: B

7. What industry did not prosper in the 1920's?
a. construction b. transportation c. farming
MY CHOICE: C

8. What amendment repealed prohibitation?
a. the 17th b. the 18th c. the 21st
MY CHOICE: C

9. The first person to make a solo flight across the Atlantic was?
a. Charles Lindbergh b. Gertrude Ederle C. Amelia Earhart
MY CHOICE: A

10. What African-American musician helped make jazz popular in 1920's? a. Louis Armstrong b. Benny Goodman c. George Gershwin

TRUE OR FALSE

1. The US purchased Alaska from Canada. False
2. The US used the "open door" policy to keep trade in China open to all nations, True
3. George Washington Carver was an African-American scientist whose experiments led to the development of many agricultural products. True
4. Muckrakers were writers and other individuals who wanted to expose publicly the terrible conditions in factories and elsewhere. True
5. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand led to the outbreak of World War I. True
6. In World War I, Austria-Hungary was part of the Central Powers. True
7. The US entered World War I after a German submarine sank the Lusitania. True
8. The Treaty of Versailles included all of President Wilson's 14 Points. False
9. The census of 1920 showed tha tmore Americans lived in towns and cities than in rural areas. True
10. A direct primary allows voters to electg each party's candidates for office. True
11. A secret ballot allows citizens to vote in private and so avoid being pressured to vote a certain way. True
12. An initiative allows voters to approve laws or amendments proposed by their state's legislatures. False
13. A referendum allows citizens to sign petitions proposing laws to be considered by their states' legislatures. True
14. A recall allows voters to vote an official out of office. False

Questions I couldn't find:

1 Alfred Thuyer Mehan believe the key to a great nation's power was
it's:
a. army b. navy c. air force

2. President Theodore Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Price for his help in negotiating the treaty that ended.
a. spanish-americna war
b. the Russo-Japanese War
c. World War I

3.Who instituted many reforms as the Progressive governor of Wisconsin?
a. Charles Evan Hughes
b. Robert La Follette
C Hiram Johnson
- ANSWER:
  Good Job.
  
  The last 3 are
  1. B. navy
  
  2. B Russo-Japanese War
  
  3. B Robert La Follette
QUESTION:
How can Jamaica recover from the FX of Edward Seaga's damaging puppet leadership and restore Michael Manley's?
legacy. A lot of us don't know why what is talked about in the news is happening today. As always, the press gives a shallow snapshot and does not go in depth so we can get a clear view of what is happening in Jamaica. Here is a profile of Manley and Seaga, two Jamaican prime ministers and how the U.S. installed the White supremacist Seaga as a puppet Avatar in Jamaica.

Seaga, a notorious CIA agent who sold Jamaica to servitude of US interest was given a franchise by the CIA. As his reward, the chief Carribean CIA agent, Edward Seaga was given a free hand in ensuring his perpetual dominance over Jamaican politics in macrocosm and Tivoli gardens in microcosm. Seaga then built up Jim Brown and his Shower Posse, into the most feared gang on the Island of Jamaica. Jim Brown and Shower Posse took over the Habour Fronts of Kingston, and controlled the ingress and egress of all drugs and general shipment into the Island. With that assured source of fund, Jim Brown expanded into other businesses, bought land, and commercial properties. His gang was armed with the best, biggest and the most sophisticated weapons. His name was feared throughout the Island. But Jim Brown had a boss. He was the militia general of the Jamaican Labour Party. His boss was Mr. Seaga. Seaga made it clear in both Washington and Kingston that he would align Jamaica with the United States, break diplomatic relations with Cuba (which the Manley administration had actively promoted), and abolish the levy that Manley had placed on bauxite, which had angered the mainly US bauxite companies. He also said that the people did not need to be educated and pushed bush trades. He spoke often about Jamaica needing "a military solution." The tenor of his speeches and activities in the United States led to his being censured by the Jamaican parliament in 1979. Seaga was one of the architects of the Caribbean Basin Initiative sponsored by Reagan. Seaga supported the collapse of the Marxist regime in Grenada and the subsequent US-led invasion of that island in October 1983. On the back of the Grenada invasion, Seaga called snap elections at the end of 1983, which Manley's PNP boycotted. His party thus controlled all seats in parliament. In an unusual move, because the Jamaican constitution required that there be an opposition in the appointed Senate, Seaga appointed eight independent senators to form an official opposition.

Manley was a key player in establishing a national minimum wage, maternity leave with pay, the right of workers to join trade unions, the repeal of the Masters and Servants Act, the establishment of a National Housing Trust and the introduction of a bauxite levy, a land reform programme, a national literacy programme, and a Status of Children Act which ended discrimination against children born out of wedlock. He vigorously promoted education at all levels, cooperative development, worker participation, and national and community self-reliance.
Manley developed close friendships with several foreign leaders, foremost of whom were Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Olof Palme of Sweden, Pierre Trudeau of Canada and Fidel Castro of Cuba. With Cuba just 145 km (90 miles) north of Jamaica, he strengthened diplomatic relations between the two island nations, much to the dismay of United States policymakers. He was involved in the trade union movement, and became a negotiator for the National Workers Union. Manley's successful trade union background helped him to maintain a close relationship with the country's poor, black majority, and he was a dynamic, popular leader. Unlike his father, who had a reputation for being formal and businesslike, the younger Manley moved easily among people of all strata and made Parliament accessible to the people by abolishing the requirement for men to wear jackets and ties to its sittings. In this regard he started a fashion revolution, often preferring the Kariba suit which was a type of formal bush or safari jacket with trousers and worn without a shirt and tie. He was in the vanguard of world statesmen who applied international pressure to assist in the dismantling of apartheid and of minority rule in southern Africa. Manley seized and nationalized Jamaica's largest businesses owned by oppressive oligarchs.

Scan both and tell me what you think

http://www.khilafah.com/kcom/index.php/analysis/america/462-imf-and-world-bank-colonial-tools-to-exploit-the-world
http://www.africaresource.com/rasta/sesostris-the-great-the-egyptian-hercules/christopher-coke-edward-seaga-cia-and-the-trouble-in-jamaica-oguejiofo-annu/
http://www.michaelmanley.org/
- ANSWER:
  As a 2nd Generation Jamaican, I found your question and details very interesting and informative and I now have a better idea of my fellow Jamaicans dislike for Seaga. I am sadly not up on Politics, but felt that I should let you know that this was a good question as was your Israeli - Palestine question that was deleted. We all know the power behind the deletion of that question, dam! Here in T.O. that same power are the only ones that were able to put a dent in the gay parade when some of the fruits crossed them. Atleast in the latter case it was used for good!
QUESTION:
Do you think this Sarkozy thing should be slapped down for being a racist against our president 0bama?
Disappointed Sarkozy Shifts Gaze from Washington

Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:52pm IST
By Crispian Balmer

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy, initially dubbed Sarko the American for his pro-U.S. stance, is finding it much tougher to deal with Washington than he had anticipated and is recalibrating his policies accordingly.

Stung by perceived snubs from U.S. President Barack Obama and encouraged by the growing importance of the G20, Sarkozy is increasingly reaching out to non-aligned states in an effort to extend France's international influence.

He has forged especially close ties with Brazil, is seeking alliances in central Asia and is intensifying his activities in the Middle East, using multi-billion dollar military and civilian nuclear trade deals as his calling card.

These initiatives are being played out against a discordant tone in Franco-American relations. This lack of harmony does not constitute a crisis, but is nonetheless raising eyebrows.

"Sarkozy has clearly been thrown off course in his relations with America," said Didier Billion, a senior researcher at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRIS).

"America remains of primordial importance to him, but things are more complicated than they were a few months ago," he said.

Following his election in 2007, Sarkozy swiftly established a close friendship with the-then U.S. president, George W. Bush, and buried the U.S.-French row over the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

When Obama took office in January, Sarkozy was still glowing from the praise he had received for his accomplished handling of the European Union presidency, and was convinced that he was the natural partner for the new U.S. leader on the world stage.

"There is room for the two of us," he said, expecting his enthusiastic embrace of American values, which carries political risks at home, to pay dividends in Washington.

CHIDING OBAMA

But the chemistry never bubbled. Analysts say Obama clearly prefers dealing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Sarkozy is visibly frustrated by the situation.

Sarkozy's critics say he is jealous of Obama's high profile and hurt by public putdowns -- such as the U.S. president's refusal to dine with him during a visit to Paris last June.

Officials say the disconnect is centred on real issues, such as Obama's attitude to Iran's nuclear ambitions, which has been less hardline than Sarkozy's hawkish stance.

"There is an annoyance about what the French see as naivety in the Obama administration," said Bruno Tertrais, a senior research fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Research.

Sarkozy's frustrations spilled into the open at the United Nations last month, when he appeared to chide Obama publicly.

"I support America's outstretched hand. But what has the international community gained from these offers of dialogue? Nothing but more enriched uranium and centrifuges," he said.

There are also real differences of opinion over how to deal with the lingering financial crisis, with a close Sarkozy aide accusing Washington this week of risking global inflation by printing money and "flooding the world with liquidity".

The French government spokesman said on Wednesday that Sarkozy would propose "a new international monetary organisation which better reflects today's world" when France holds the presidency of the Group of 20 wealthy nations in 2011.

Roughly translated, this means France wants to challenge the supremacy of the dollar as the world's reserve currency.

Ahead of his G20 presidency, Sarkozy has been reaching out to what he calls "countries which are bridgeheads", creating a body of allies that will help give France international clout.

GLOBAL ARMS DEALER

He has signed accords with Kazakhstan, looked to woo India by giving them rare pride of place at Bastille Day celebrations and struck up strong rapports with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva.

Many of his ties are being underpinned by industrial deals, such as the likely sale of Rafale fighter jets to Brazil, with France presenting itself as the perfect partner for states that do not want to rely on U.S. technology.

This ideology was on display this week, when Defence Minister Herve Morin inched closer to an arms deal with Kuwait.

"Countries in the Gulf know that they can find in France a second partner, one which is a friend of the Americans, but which has its own vision of security and stability," he said, deploying the sort of non-alignment language that France used to roll out during the Cold War.

However, the French vision is not to everyone's taste.

Sarkozy's relations with China are poor and his efforts to build a meaningful union of states bordering the Mediterranean Sea have been blocked by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The French president is expected to go into diplomatic overdrive in 2011 when he holds the presidency of both the G20 and
- ANSWER:
  why? he knows a loser when he sees one has realized that barry is not what he at first thought he was. he wasn;t want to be to look like a fool in his support for one.and more will follow suit that haven:t already. you can fool the sheep but you can:t fool anyone that are able to think for themself.
QUESTION:
What do you think about Voting Out All Incumbents, at every level of government?
The following is a collection of my favorite comments regarding: Vote out all incumbents!

And, for heaven's sakes, don't worry that you might replace your incumbent with someone less qualified. The probability of finding people who could be more incompetent and neglectful of their duty than the present crop of politicians ranges between zero and minus one.

These nabobs and bloviators can't even write a lucid law. I listened to them debate the other day, and what they were arguing about was an editorial statement they wanted to insert into a bill. A bill should not have any editorial statements in it.

We are a nation of 290 million people. In Washington, 435 members of the House, 100 senators, one vice president (if there is a tie in the Senate), one president and nine Supreme Court justices make all the laws and rules and regulations that govern us.

Are you telling me we can't find 100 good men and women to replace the ones who have failed in their duty? That the present 435 members of the House represent the best people available in the United States? God forbid. We have not sunk that low. You could pick 535 men and women from any small city in America, pick them at random, and you'd have a vastly improved federal legislature.

You can walk down any street in America and find more common sense, good will, competence and concern for the public good than you can find in Washington.

Let's face it, folks: We have allowed our political system to deteriorate to the point where it attracts incompetents, crooks and mountebanks. Public office is the only place where many of these people can hope to make a decent living. Ask yourself if you had ever heard of your representative before he or she got into politics. In most cases, the answer will be no. We no longer attract leaders; we manufacture office-seekers.

Well, we have the power. Just takes turning out, ignoring the lobbyist-paid-for campaign ads and voting against the incumbents. Do your representative and senator a favor. Bring them home to the folks they claim to love. --Charley Reese

All,

PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW:

The best way to get the attention of our politicians and take back our government is to vote out of office every INCUMBENT in the House of Representatives or Senate in November. While we may unfairly remove some very competent legislators (assuming there is such a thing), I think that the message we would send by doing so is worth the short term pain we might suffer by losing the good ones. We could always vote the the good Representatives back in after two years. Let me remind you that the ones in Washington that really control and misuse our money are the House members. If you will send this e-mail to everyone you know and they in turn, forward to everyone they know, including all the nationally syndicated conservative talk show hosts, and we all get behind this initiative before this coming election, we could actually get our government back by 2012 when all the politicians will have had to run for re-election, including the President that we elect this year.

What a day in American politics if we can even unseat 25% of the incumbents. *We would maybe scare the crap out of the rest of them even if we can't remove them this time; so much so that maybe, just maybe they will start acting like they are our representatives in government, not like our feudal lords. *

GBhouston

What has Congress done for you?
They are so wrapped up in power for power's sake that they have forgotten all about the people. Getting elected and holding office are the only driving forces behind most politicians. They promise better education. Where is it? They promise tax reform. Where is it? They promise a strong economy. Where is it? They promise help with the high cost of health care and prescription drugs. Where is it? They promise election reform. Where is it? They promise to end corruption. Where is it? They promise peace. Where is it? Washington is full of empty promises!

REPUBLICRATS!

This is not a Democrat or Republican problem!
Members of the House and the Senate have ALL lost sight of the forest
while they concentrate on the trees of greed, power, and influence! --"mr. yet".

I'm sorry, those "good" ones are not doing a very good job of convincing the others. Which means, they are not very effective. And if you read in here it does make a statement about WHY you shouldn't be keeping current ones who LOOK like they are doing OK.

Doing OK isn't doing good. It shouldn't be enough.
Joesph- you've hit the nail on the head on why this is about voting out all incumbents, and not just ones you think suck.

And this could be feasible is so many people would stop being too scared to see the status quo shaken. We have the ability to vote for a reason, but everyone just maintains status quo and are convinced they have no power.

You have no power because your not willing to TAKE it. The more you say it'll never fly, the more people can't be convinced that it can. If you like the idea, run with it. The more people that say it can fly, the more people willing to try, the more people who vote that way.

There was a time when there were more than democrats and republicans in the house of representives. We've got ourselves convinced there are only 2 options when it's just not true.
- ANSWER:
  It’s time for action. It’s time to form a new voting bloc, a bloc called the “Anti-Incumbent bloc”. To join, all you need is a desire to replace the present political players with a new team.
  By now, you ought to be tired of hearing the incumbents’ same old pretentious words concerning why they should be reelected. Their touts about the battles they have fought in your behalf should be scrutinized concerning their validity. They should be asked who they fought and if there has been any progress made since the last election as a result of their battles.
  It’s time to clean house from top to bottom. It does not matter who they are or what they say; it has become evident that they have avoided, yes, avoided, doing their job on many issues because it would upset their handlers and perhaps reduce their campaign contributions. Many just sit around and vote on this or that, but never put their voice into the fray. It may take a few years, but any elected official that has been in office four years or more should be shown the door.
  You cannot go wrong. Join the “Anti-Incumbent bloc” and the incumbents will come begging, because they should be beholding to you, not you to them as most of them think.
  As the saying goes, “Politicians and baby’s diapers should be changed regularly for the same reason.”
QUESTION:
Are you happy that we will get "something" in terms of health care reform?
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Democrats-vow-to-resurrect-apf-4032471551.html?x=0&.v=3

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Giving up on overhauling the nation's health care system is not an option, the top House Democrat said Wednesday as lawmakers looked to President Barack Obama for guidance in his State of the Union address on how to revive the stalled legislation.

Asked if Congress might abandon a health care initiative beset with political and policy problems, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., responded: "I don't see that as a possibility. We will have something."

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer told congressional staff that Obama will use Wednesday night's address to reiterate his commitment to an ambitious remake of the nation's health care system, similar to the call he issued last September after critics seized the momentum during a summer of angry town hall meetings.

Although lawmakers don't expect to hear a specific prescription for how to move forward, Pfeiffer said the president would offer "additional details" on his health care goals.

The speech comes as Democrats are struggling to find a way to advance health care legislation after the loss of a Massachusetts Senate seat last week cost them the 60-vote majority needed to deliver.

"The president is a strong persuader, as they say, and I think it makes an awful lot of difference, and I think he will bring everybody together," said Rep. John Larson, D-Conn.

Others were looking for a dose of reality from the president.

"I think he has to acknowledge that the well has been poisoned, that the debate has been lost, and tell the American people again why this is part of the economic strategy moving forward," said Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa. "Not an issue of fairness because we need to cover everybody, but it's the only way we're going to get our deficit in order in the long run is by addressing health care."

Democrats got encouragement Wednesday from groups as diverse as the nation's Catholic bishops and the head of the largest labor union federation. In a letter to members of Congress, the bishops urged lawmakers to "recommit themselves to enacting genuine health care reform."

"The health care debate, with all its political and ideological conflict, seems to have lost its central moral focus and policy priority, which is to ensure that affordable, quality, life-giving care is available to all," said clergy from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "Now is not the time to abandon this task."

Similarly, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka said the Senate should come up with a measure that the House can pass. "We fought too long and too hard for health care to quit for now," Trumka said in an interview.

Both the Catholic Church and labor unions have flexed their political muscle in the debate. The bishops say they won't support a final bill that includes Senate-passed language they see as too weak in restricting taxpayer funding for abortion. Labor unions struck a deal with the White House to weaken a proposed tax on high-cost insurance plans.

Pelosi didn't say whether the final bill will be the sweeping overhaul sought by Obama, or smaller-scale legislation that accomplishes only some of his goals. Democrats were on the verge of passing far-reaching legislation before the Massachusetts election.

Stunned by the loss, Democratic leaders have taken health care legislation off the fast track as they try to find a path forward acceptable to rank-and-file Democrats wary of unhappy midterm election voters.

The leading option for moving forward -- having the House pass the Senate bill along with a package of changes that both chambers would approve -- will take weeks, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Wednesday. That's time most lawmakers would much rather spend focusing on jobs and the economy, the concerns they say preoccupy their constituents. Many believe health care has become a political drag.

In a sign of the turmoil surrounding the issue, some House Democrats have begun pushing to revive a proposal for a government-run insurance plan left for dead months ago after it became clear it could not command the necessary votes in the Senate.

The House and Senate separately passed 10-year, nearly trillion bills last year to remake the nation's medical system with new requirements for nearly everyone to carry health insurance and new regulations on insurers' practices. Negotiators were in the final stages of reconciling the differences between the two measures before last week's GOP upset in the race for the Senate seat long held by the late Edward M. Kennedy.

-----------------------------------------

Wow, great. "Something". No matter how crappy or unpopular it is. Nice going Nancy.
- ANSWER:
  They are all going to be unemployed
QUESTION:
More good news???Do you think it will pass?? I DO?
Immigration-enforcement proposal to go up for vote

Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 17, 2006 12:00 AM

PHOENIX - A group that wants to require Phoenix police officers and other city employees to enforce federal immigration laws has now collected enough signatures to put that measure to a public vote as early as November.

Randy Pullen, chairman of Protect Our City, needed 14,844 valid signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. His group turned in 15,052.

advertisement

There will be a special meeting at 9 a.m. Monday for the City Council to consider whether to put the measure on the Nov. 7 ballot. The meeting will be in the subcommittee room on the 12th floor of City Hall, 200 W. Washington St.

"People throughout the city are frustrated with the effects of illegal immigration," Mayor Phil Gordon said. "And now the residents of Phoenix will have the opportunity to vote."

Jake Jacobsen, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, said Pullen's proposal is not the answer to the problem of illegal immigration.

Requiring police officers to enforce federal immigration laws would hamper their ability to deal with daily emergencies, Jacobsen said.

Pullen's group initially submitted 21,797 signatures, but the Phoenix City Clerk's office found only 14,160 of those valid.

Follow-up efforts yielded an additional 1,275 signatures. Of those, 892 were valid, which more than made up for the 684-signature shortfall.

Phoenix voters will consider whether police officers and other city employees should act as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and whether Phoenix should "enter into an agreement with the United States Department of Homeland Security to designate police officers as immigration officers qualified to investigate, apprehend and detain aliens."

Pullen, who helped bring Proposition 200 to Arizona, plans to take this initiative to Tucson and Mesa next year.

Proposition 200 is a voter-approved measure that aims to restrict certain public benefits to undocumented immigrants and prevent them from voting.

The deadline is Aug. 24 to submit arguments that appear in election publicity pamphlets in support of or in opposition to the enforcement measure.
- ANSWER:
  This IS Good News
  
  The Point Is NOT
  Whether It Will Pass Or Not
  Although I Would Favor That
  
  The POINT Is That
  The VOICE Of The PEOPLE Is Being Heard
  
  America Is WAKING Up
  And Were Waking Up On The Right Side Of This Bed
  
  As Ive Said Before
  More And More Cities, Counties And States
  Are Taking The Initiative To DEFY The Fed. Govt.
  
  We WILL Have Our Nation Back
  
  Thanks For Posting
  
  Keep The Faith
QUESTION:
Questionable tactics from American-Jews against Mr.Obama. Opinions please?
As I was reading the news headlines here at Yahoo! World I came across this:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081004/ap_on_re_us/newspapers_islam_dvd
It's "The Obsession Project" a highly provocative DVD containing photo and sound collage with the sole purpose to show Muslims as bad, or dangerous or even evil.
It was included in almost all Jewish owned American newspapers in the vast majority.
The above article states:

"Clarion Fund spokesman Gregory Ross said the group spent several million dollars in donations FROM INDIVIDUALS HE WOULD NOT NAME (!!!sic), and he said running the ad in swing states was a means of drawing media attention and not meant to influence the election's result, a move barred by federal tax law covering nonprofits."

http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/09/25/endowment-for-middle-east-truth-funds-massive-obsession-dvd-distribution/
When I did some further browsing I found out this:
"former Israeli diplomats…are behind the mass distribution"
"EMET’s spokesman, Ari Morgenstern, told IPS. Morgenstern is a former press officer for the Israeli embassy here…
Morgenstern told IPS that EMET was “partnered with the Clarion Fund” on what he called the “Obsession Project” which he identified as “an initiative of EMET”. He declined to name the Project’s donors…"

and it gets more interesting

"Morgenstern also declined to specify the cost of the DVD distribution, but did say, “it costs a great deal — it’s a multi-million-dollar effort.” Outside experts have estimated the cost of the operation, including reproduction and distribution, at between 15 million dollars and 50 million dollars.

Like hard-line neo-conservatives, EMET opposes any land concessions to Palestinians and takes other hard-line positions identified with Israel’s right-wing Likud Party and the ”Settler Lobby” there…"

Of course many democrats protested against this, not for their support towards the Muslims per se, but in their support for the Democrat nominee Mr.Obama himself.

My opinion about this is that it was a totally wrong move since these rabid Jews have tried to divide Americans or even demonize the Democrats as evil and categorize them as Muslim lovers.
These are moves of fanaticism that can never work in Democratic America and I think it is also a very bad investment from the Ultra-rich Jews that form the Jewish Lobby in Washington.

So I want to ask you my dear friend, to give me your clear opinion on that.
I am interested in telling me if actions of this kind are doing Israel any good or damage.
The same applies to the Diaspora Jews of course.
Thank you for your patience
Greetings.

Edit
Thank you my friends for your immediate response. The same applies to the Y mods of course.

@Z
Of course my dear friend. I strongly believe that most of the Diaspora Jews have nothing to do with this, or any other "not so fair" tactics.
I am afraid that the people behind this particular way of thinking is less than 1% of all of the Jewish people. Unfortunately the power of money counts more than the voice of the simple or average democratic person.
- ANSWER:
  Tell me who owns Hollywood and I'll tell you how many "Bad-Muslim" DVDs the Americans can have.
  Anyway this is not of my business, but I hate when I see the jews to try and spread hate using newspapers to people that really do not care too much about foreign policies.
  Mr. Morgenstern does not sound too "American" and anyway what a jew ambassador has to do in Hollywood messing around with the American Elections?
  The jew lobby must be thrown out of the White House I believe.
  Anyway I think the jews are betting on the wrong horse here, because this is the first time in the history of the last 20 years in America that so many jews will vote the Republicans.
  It's almost 50-50, can you imagine that?
  Mr.McCain sounds too much George Bush-like, although he is a war hero and somewhat smarter than George (naturally, LULz!).
  bye bye
QUESTION:
I'm scared, do you beleive this? will it some day happen?
this is what i'm worried about.

Washington, D.C. – Over the last forty years the zombie has become one of, if not the most, pervasive and popular of all movie monsters. From the first appearance of the creatures (in their modern form at least) in the legendary horror film ‘Night of the
Living Dead’ the idea of the dead returning to life to feed on the living has haunted many a dreamer and many a multiplex. Branching out into books, comics, and videogames, the zombie has well and truly become an integrated part of western society and will likely continue to stalk our world for many years to come.

Perhaps because of that popularity Zombies have entered into mainstream society and even into the world of science. A recent work by a group of Canadian researchers, for example, created a mathematical model of how a real zombie outbreak would occur and how governments should react. Though the creatures are, as far as we know at least, completely fictional that model has startled U.S. Government officials into action. A new initiative by the Obama administration has put the fear of the zombie into the real world with its efforts to predict the progression of the zombie outbreak and will need to be done to combat the undead villains.

“I have set forth an initiative to a specially formed group of scientists, military personnel, law enforcement agents, and other experts to try and predict how a zombie outbreak may in fact occur. I want to be clear here. We are not predicting that such an event will occur in the near future but it is incumbent on us to prepare for such an eventuality,” said President Obama. “This program will detail a number of different scenarios under which a zombie outbreak might occur. It will track it’s progression from numerous points throughout the United States and in neighbouring countries and will make recommendations as to how we should deal with such an occurrence should it happen in the future.”

Because of the slow moving nature of most zombies a widespread outbreak has often been seen as unlikely should it be inspired by some type of viral or bacterial agent. Such mass outbreaks are likely only with a wrath of God type of scenario.

“Since the release of Night of the Living Dead the government has looked at possible scenarios involving such an outbreak but most dismissed it simply because of the extreme unlikelihood of something like that occurring. Of course a major terrorist attack on American soil was
considered very unlikely as well and that thinking ended up being quite flawed,” said Scrape TV Apocalypse analyst Seth Morris. “The real issue, just as it was with terrorism, is that without an identifiable threat, an incident, it’s very hard to convince Senators and Congressmen to potentially put their jobs and reputations on the line to okay the type of financing required to start a full scale study. They need to be sufficiently satisfied that the American people are scared enough to vote for them in the next election should they okay the funding. Unfortunately it is often too late by then.”

Many experts predict that the greatest threat related to a zombie outbreak is likely to be the panic created in the public at large which would cause many to abandon jobs, loot, and commit other crimes in the face of the impending apocalypse.

“The biggest concern here is Barack Obama himself. He has so many things on his plate and is asking for so much in the way of change and finance that he runs the risk of wearing out everyone, including his supporters. If the zombie program fails in gaining financing the first time around then it may never gain footing and leave the American public and the world vulnerable to zombie extinction,” continued Morris. “What Obama needs, and ultimately what the world needs, is some kind of small outbreak that will show Americans how dangerous flesh and brain-eating zombies truly are. That would cause a shift in the standard thinking and inspire real change and protect humanity from a zombie holocaust.”

Due to the age of the population many experts believe that any zombie apocalypse would likely begin and be most heavily concentrated in Florida
- ANSWER:
  I am far more scared of the living than the dead my dear. They rob us blind with taxes tie us up with damn fool laws and live like lords. Zombie's I can put up with. Not going to happen, chill out.
QUESTION:
please provide me with evidence that this article is false. Please help I'm scared?
here's the article

Washington, D.C. – Over the last forty years the zombie has become one of, if not the most, pervasive and popular of all movie monsters. From the first appearance of the creatures (in their modern form at least) in the legendary horror film ‘Night of the
Living Dead’ the idea of the dead returning to life to feed on the living has haunted many a dreamer and many a multiplex. Branching out into books, comics, and videogames, the zombie has well and truly become an integrated part of western society and will likely continue to stalk our world for many years to come.

Perhaps because of that popularity Zombies have entered into mainstream society and even into the world of science. A recent work by a group of Canadian researchers, for example, created a mathematical model of how a real zombie outbreak would occur and how governments should react. Though the creatures are, as far as we know at least, completely fictional that model has startled U.S. Government officials into action. A new initiative by the Obama administration has put the fear of the zombie into the real world with its efforts to predict the progression of the zombie outbreak and will need to be done to combat the undead villains.

“I have set forth an initiative to a specially formed group of scientists, military personnel, law enforcement agents, and other experts to try and predict how a zombie outbreak may in fact occur. I want to be clear here. We are not predicting that such an event will occur in the near future but it is incumbent on us to prepare for such an eventuality,” said President Obama. “This program will detail a number of different scenarios under which a zombie outbreak might occur. It will track it’s progression from numerous points throughout the United States and in neighbouring countries and will make recommendations as to how we should deal with such an occurrence should it happen in the future.”

Because of the slow moving nature of most zombies a widespread outbreak has often been seen as unlikely should it be inspired by some type of viral or bacterial agent. Such mass outbreaks are likely only with a wrath of God type of scenario.

“Since the release of Night of the Living Dead the government has looked at possible scenarios involving such an outbreak but most dismissed it simply because of the extreme unlikelihood of something like that occurring. Of course a major terrorist attack on American soil was
considered very unlikely as well and that thinking ended up being quite flawed,” said Scrape TV Apocalypse analyst Seth Morris. “The real issue, just as it was with terrorism, is that without an identifiable threat, an incident, it’s very hard to convince Senators and Congressmen to potentially put their jobs and reputations on the line to okay the type of financing required to start a full scale study. They need to be sufficiently satisfied that the American people are scared enough to vote for them in the next election should they okay the funding. Unfortunately it is often too late by then.”

Many experts predict that the greatest threat related to a zombie outbreak is likely to be the panic created in the public at large which would cause many to abandon jobs, loot, and commit other crimes in the face of the impending apocalypse.

“The biggest concern here is Barack Obama himself. He has so many things on his plate and is asking for so much in the way of change and finance that he runs the risk of wearing out everyone, including his supporters. If the zombie program fails in gaining financing the first time around then it may never gain footing and leave the American public and the world vulnerable to zombie extinction,” continued Morris. “What Obama needs, and ultimately what the world needs, is some kind of small outbreak that will show Americans how dangerous flesh and brain-eating zombies truly are. That would cause a shift in the standard thinking and inspire real change and protect humanity from a zombie holocaust.”

Due to the age of the population many experts believe that any zombie apocalypse would likely begin and be most heavily concentrated in Florida
1 year ago
- ANSWER:
  That's just funny. But, just in case, I'll be carrying my zombie zapper anytime I am outside. No point in taking chances☺
QUESTION:
provide evidence to me that this article is false?
hereit is

Washington, D.C. – Over the last forty years the zombie has become one of, if not the most, pervasive and popular of all movie monsters. From the first appearance of the creatures (in their modern form at least) in the legendary horror film ‘Night of the
Living Dead’ the idea of the dead returning to life to feed on the living has haunted many a dreamer and many a multiplex. Branching out into books, comics, and videogames, the zombie has well and truly become an integrated part of western society and will likely continue to stalk our world for many years to come.

Perhaps because of that popularity Zombies have entered into mainstream society and even into the world of science. A recent work by a group of Canadian researchers, for example, created a mathematical model of how a real zombie outbreak would occur and how governments should react. Though the creatures are, as far as we know at least, completely fictional that model has startled U.S. Government officials into action. A new initiative by the Obama administration has put the fear of the zombie into the real world with its efforts to predict the progression of the zombie outbreak and will need to be done to combat the undead villains.

“I have set forth an initiative to a specially formed group of scientists, military personnel, law enforcement agents, and other experts to try and predict how a zombie outbreak may in fact occur. I want to be clear here. We are not predicting that such an event will occur in the near future but it is incumbent on us to prepare for such an eventuality,” said President Obama. “This program will detail a number of different scenarios under which a zombie outbreak might occur. It will track it’s progression from numerous points throughout the United States and in neighbouring countries and will make recommendations as to how we should deal with such an occurrence should it happen in the future.”

Because of the slow moving nature of most zombies a widespread outbreak has often been seen as unlikely should it be inspired by some type of viral or bacterial agent. Such mass outbreaks are likely only with a wrath of God type of scenario.

“Since the release of Night of the Living Dead the government has looked at possible scenarios involving such an outbreak but most dismissed it simply because of the extreme unlikelihood of something like that occurring. Of course a major terrorist attack on American soil was
considered very unlikely as well and that thinking ended up being quite flawed,” said Scrape TV Apocalypse analyst Seth Morris. “The real issue, just as it was with terrorism, is that without an identifiable threat, an incident, it’s very hard to convince Senators and Congressmen to potentially put their jobs and reputations on the line to okay the type of financing required to start a full scale study. They need to be sufficiently satisfied that the American people are scared enough to vote for them in the next election should they okay the funding. Unfortunately it is often too late by then.”

Many experts predict that the greatest threat related to a zombie outbreak is likely to be the panic created in the public at large which would cause many to abandon jobs, loot, and commit other crimes in the face of the impending apocalypse.

“The biggest concern here is Barack Obama himself. He has so many things on his plate and is asking for so much in the way of change and finance that he runs the risk of wearing out everyone, including his supporters. If the zombie program fails in gaining financing the first time around then it may never gain footing and leave the American public and the world vulnerable to zombie extinction,” continued Morris. “What Obama needs, and ultimately what the world needs, is some kind of small outbreak that will show Americans how dangerous flesh and brain-eating zombies truly are. That would cause a shift in the standard thinking and inspire real change and protect humanity from a zombie holocaust.”

Due to the age of the population many experts believe that any zombie apocalypse would likely begin and be most heavily concentrated in Florida
- ANSWER:
  Very untrue!
QUESTION:
Death with Dignity, Assisted Suicide ?

So, I live in Washington state and this coming November, we get to vote on whether or not to provide terminally-ill patients the medications to choose death. I'm looking over the included links below to make my own analysis, but I'd like to know what other people think about the issue. Its a controversial one...Oregon is the only other state that I know of to pass such an initiative...so any oregon folks, I'd be interested in your takes especially.

Thanks!
The Ballotpedia summary:
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Wa...

And the Pdf of the initiative in full:
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/ini...
I'm specifically looking for measures that people think need to be included to ensure the initiative supports the patient...and not euthinasia.
- ANSWER:
  I don't see why it even needs a vote. This should be left up to the families.
QUESTION:
what's your opinion on the article Doer’s drive to clean the air ?
Doer’s drive to clean the air
NDP leader wants to model California’s crackdown on vehicle emissions

By Mia Rabson
MANITOBANS could have more than just sunny skies in common with California if Gary Doer is sent back to the premier’s office next month. Doer marked Earth Day Sunday with a series of campaign promises to protect the environment, including forcing all cars on Manitoba roads to spew out fewer greenhouse gases. “We want to work using the California method on vehicle emissions,” Doer said in the backyard of a private residence in Wolseley. California set tailpipe emissions standards 41 years ago, and has long been the North American leader on the subject, including recent plans by the state to cut by 10 per cent the carbon content of gasoline sold in the state.
Cars sold or imported in California must meet that state’s emissions standards or they aren’t allowed on the road, and Doer wants to set the same standards here.
He said he believes the federal government should set a national standard for tailpipe emissions to ensure car manufacturers are forced to act.
“Having said that, just like California is not going to sit back and wait for Washington, we’re not going to wait for anybody else,” he said.
Doer said the tailpipe restrictions will not just be for new cars sold in Manitoba, but also include incentives for people with older cars to cut back on emissions. “We believe carrots are the best in this regard,” said Doer.
Doer repeated his pre-election pledge to pass a law requiring Manitoba to meet its greenhouse gas reductions targets under the Kyoto Protocol by 2012. But, for the first time, he said he’d like to meet that goal with actual reductions, not by buying credits from other jurisdictions that have fewer emissions or have

Top

cut back more.
Manitoba’s Kyoto target requires a cut of 2.3 megatonnes of greenhouse gases. The province currently emits about 20 megatonnes a year, more than one third of which come from vehicles.
Other promises in his environment platform include building renewable energy sources for the communities in Manitoba that don’t have access to hydroelectricity, and requiring all landfills to capture emissions.
Curtis Hull, project manager of the Manitoba-based environment crusader group Climate Change Connection, said overall the Doer environment platform “looks promising.”
But he said he’d like to see more initiatives to get people out of their cars in the first place, including investments in public transit, particularly in rural Manitoba, and higher gas taxes, though he acknowledged that is a hard sell.
“Increased gas prices won’t be popular, especially at election time, but when it comes to getting people out of their cars, that’s the big one,” said Hull.
Doer was joined at the microphone by Lloyd Axworthy, who was once the senior federal Liberal in Manitoba and is now the president of the University of Winnipeg. Though Axworthy’s presence implied he was endorsing Doer’s campaign, he said that’s not true.
But he did laud Doer for showing leadership on climate change in Canada.
“I’m not here in a partisan way, I’m here because as a citizen of this province I think it’s important we continue to build on what’s been accomplished,” said Axworthy.
Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard, who also made environment announcements Sunday but didn’t get the boost of Axworthy’s presence, sniped that he thought it was funny that Doer felt the only way he’d get credibility for his environment announcement was by having a Liberal present.

■
- ANSWER:
  I think it's great, our leaders really need to get serious about climate control if we're ever going to make a real difference. I live in Manitoba so you know that I'm not just blowing smoke when I say that I support this, I realize that I will probably have to make some sacrifices in order to make a difference, but if it helps the environment than it's worth it.
  
  I think that Doer has done an excellent job his last two terms in office. Manitoba was in a pretty sorry state when he got a hold of it, with huge unemployment rates, a bunch of cutbacks on healthcare, and the firing of over a hundred nurses among many other things. And I think that since Doer has gotten into office he has done an excellent job of keeping his promises, and helping the environment. I sincerely hope that he gets reelected on Tuesday, I'm certainly planning on voting NDP.
  
  Plus I have a hard time seeing the PC's even promising to do half of what Gary Doer has already done for Manitoba's environment.
QUESTION:
What are my chances of getting into Princeton?
Clubs:
-National Honor Society (11,12)
-Parliamentarian (11)
-Interact (10,11,12)
-Executive Committeeman (11,12)
-Quiz Bowl (9,10,11,12)
-Teenage Republicans (11,12)
-Founder and de facto Chairman (11)
-District Chairman (12)
-Future Business Leaders of America (10, 11)
-President (11)
-Distributive Education Clubs of America (9,11)
-Environmental Club (12)
-Debate Club (10)
-Political Club (12)
-Senior Advisors (12)
-Freshman Year Experience (12)
-School Paper (10,11)
-News Editor (10)
-Opinions Editor (11)
-Student Council (10,11,12)
-Class President (11)
-Student Body President (12)
-Superintendent’s Advisory Council (11,12)
-Local Board of Education Student Representative (11,12)
-Intern for McCain for President (11)

Academics:
-2nd in my class
-SAT Score:2200
-Scored a five on my AP English Language exam and a five on my AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam
-Scored a 700 on my SAT Subject Test in U.S. History

Awards:
-Senior Hall of Fame
-Most Likely to Cure Cancer
-School’s Elected Nominee for the DAR Good Citizen Award
-Won a local scholarship to attend the Future World Leaders’ Summit in Washington, DC
-Was selected as one only two students in my state (104 throughout the nation) to serve as a delegate to the 2009 United States Senate Youth Program
-Selected to serve for a week as a page in the North Carolina House of Representatives
-Transylvania County Scholar
-Junior Marshall
-Nominee for the Morehead Scholarship
-1st place in the state for the Public Speaking I category of the Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference
-Qualified twice to go to state for Distributive Education Clubs of America

Sports:
-Tennis (9, 10, 11)
-All-Conference Player (10)

Jobs:
-Phone Bank Operator for Charles Taylor for Congress (September – November 2006)
-Called-up local citizens to inform them about early voting and other election procedures
-Rocky’s Soda Shop General Employee (July – August 2009)
-Prepared ice-cream desserts
-Took orders
-Ran orders
-Swept
-Washed dishes
-Restocked food

AP Courses:
-AP English Language
-AP English Literature
-AP Government and Politics
-AP U.S. History
-AP Macroeconomics
-AP Microeconomics
-AP Biology
-AP European History

Leadership Conferences:
-Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (Summer of 2007)
-United States Senate Youth Program (11)
-Presidential Classroom (11)
-Student Council Leadership Conference at Clemson (10)
-Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference (10)
-Local Student Council Leadership Conference (11)

Volunteering:
-Rang bells for the Salvation Army (10, 11, 12)
-Tutored students at Brevard Elementary School (10)
-Tutored a student at Brevard High School (11)
-Volunteered at Brevard Elementary School’s Fall Fun Day (10)
-Participated in Rent-A-Student (adults rented students and the proceeds went to providing heat for needy families during the winter months) (11,12)
-Volunteer at the Brian Center (local nursing home)
-Helped organize the Senior Citizens Prom (brought senior citizens from across the county together for a night of fun, food, and dancing) (11,12)
-Volunteer at SAFE’s Attic

Initiative:
-Founded my local branch of the Teenage Republicans

In The Works:
-Founded a local STAND (anti-genocide) club
-Organized the Night of 1000 dinners to raise money for the victims of land mines
-Founded the Inter-Club Council to help facilitate greater communication between the various clubs in our school

My weighted GPA was 4.56 last time I checked. Also, what should I focus on in the coming months to enhance any areas of weakness in my credentials?
- ANSWER:
  If your unweighted GPA is 4.0 or close to it, you stand just about as good a chance as any regular applicant, which is under 10%.
  
  You should perform outstandingly in at least two classes, so that you can obtain outstanding letters of recommendation. You should also earn all A grades from now until you graduate. You may get in by being selected from the waiting list, so your spring grades may be important.
  
  Good luck.

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