Can you call RIGHT NOW to save pensions?

We Are One Illinois

Pension-cutting House Bill 1447 has been moved to the Senate floor and could be voted on any time. This bill affects active and retired state employees and legislators (SERS and GARS members). Call NOW to 888-412-6570, say NO to HB 1447 in the Senate and SB 1673 in the House

Been Taking LSD for 50 years now

"HEADIN' SOUTH ON LSD" - ALLIOTA HAYNES & JEREMIAH, 1971 

I've been riding on Chicago's scenic waterfront highway Lake Shore Drive (LSD) for fifty years now but never perched on a bicycle and peddling along with 25,000 other folks. The scene was Chicago's annual Bike the Drive Fest when LSD is turned over solely to cyclists the Sunday before Memorial Day. At 5:30 AM I steered my trusty 24 speed onto the Drive at Jackson Blvd to an amazing view of a swarm of cyclists in both directions where only two ton stinkpots usually tred. Never having biked that far in my life, the 30 mile route appeared daunting as I headed south toward Hyde Park. Circling the Museum of Science and Industry to head back north, this aging pre-baby boomer, born in the waning days of FDR's presidency, was lifted by a biker's high and thousands of fellow cyclists of all ages, sizes and backgrounds, to go the distance. An hour later I hit the northern turnaround at Hollywood for a tough, uphill push back to the starting line. It was satisfying to realize that we were traveling nearly 750,000 miles without a single carbon emission being expelled to poke holes in our decaying ozone layer.

Bike the Drive is sponsored by the Chicagoland non-profit Active Transportation Alliance, whose mission is to: make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. You can learn more about their programs at www.activetrans.org.

Walt Zlotow is a precinct coordinator in Milton Township and an active blogger and Letter to the Editor writer. You can find him at Heartland Progressive

For a limited time: $5 off Obama T-shirts

https://donate.barackobama.com/Get-a-Shirt

PAID FOR BY OBAMA VICTORY FUND 2012, A JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE AUTHORIZED BY OBAMA FOR AMERICA, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, AND THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTIES IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CO, FL, IA, NV, NH, NC, OH, PA, VA, AND WI.

Contributions or gifts to Obama Victory Fund 2012 are not tax deductible. The first $5,000 of a contribution to OVF 2012 will be allocated to Obama for America (with the first $2,500 designated for the primary election, and the next $2,500 for the general election). The next $30,800 of a contribution will be allocated to the Democratic National Committee. Any additional amounts from a contributor will be divided among the State Democratic Party Committees as follows, up to $10,000 per committee and subject to the biennial aggregate limits: FL (17%); OH (16%); PA (13%); CO (11%); NC (11%); VA (11%); NV (6%); WI (6%); IA (5%); and NH (4%). A contributor may designate his or her contribution for a particular participant. The allocation formula above may change if following it would result in an excessive contribution. Contributions will be used in connection with a Federal election.

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Ways to Honor Vets

We took a little blogging break over the weekend to quietly honor not only the service of our fellow citizens in the military but to allow a small caesura in all the rhetoric that seems to get ramped up around this holiday. There are so many ways that we each give service, all as expressions of who we are and what our gifts require of us.
Certainly many of you reading this know that I came to politics through my activism against our invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. And, like me, many others amongst us stuck their necks out (especially dicey as support for Bush's wars increased in DuPage)and risked accusations of disloyalty. It takes courage to stand in that line of fire as well.
As we begin this new summer season and head into the election run-up, I hope we can remember that, though our Democratic colleagues may do honorable service in myriad ways, we are all on the same team. I feel we best honor our veterans, our servicemen/women who will not be returning and our citizens serving now both overseas and here at home by being respectful to one another and aiming for the highest integrity in all of our public interactions. We are always remembered by the last act someone witnesses...what kind of impression do you, especially as a DuPage Demo rat,wish to leave in your wake? Amy Rohrer Opinions expressed in personally signed blogposts are solely those of the author and not necessarily a reflection of the policies of the DPDC.

BE A GOOD FRIEND: Tell others what this means so they can fight it in their state, too

Hello! Here are the three hottest progressive videos and graphics that we found on the web today, May 29, 2012. BE A GOOD FRIEND: Tell Others What This Means So They Can Fight It In Their State The Message Congress Sends When It Can Only Be Influenced By The Lobbyists If This Shocking Photo Doesn't Convince You That We Need Student Debt Relief, Nothing Will

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This picture will make you think forgiving student debt isn't so crazy after all

Hello! Here are the three hottest progressive videos and graphics that we found on the web today, May 24, 2012. This Picture Will Make You Think Forgiving Student Debt Isn't So Crazy After All How Obamacare Helps Millions Of Women As Of January 1, 2014 A Message To Those Who Still Think They Can Tell American Women 'No'

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 7 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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Come SWING with us!

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO GET A LARGER, MORE DISTINCT VERSION

Will we love everything he does?

None of us can take Barack Obama's re-election for granted. Last week, I was at a trade show in Las Vegas where they highlighted a statement by Barack Obama which they regarded as a slam on travel agents. YET, the rest of the conference was a cheerleading session for the fact that, in every sector--hotels, airlines, cruise packages etc--the economy is unquestionably on the rise. Gee, I wonder why it fell in the years previous and DUH, I wonder why it's improving noticeably.

The reason is the policies of Barack Obama and he needs our help so that he can take his last term and continue the work he has begun. We will love everything he does? Probably not. Do we want this positive economic and social trajectory to be radically blasted backward...NO!

If you agree, please, we need you. We need you to work your block, your neighborhood or your whole precinct. Please write to info@dupagedemocrats.com today and give us your contact info so we can determine where you live and how to get you on board today.

Amy Rohrer,
Executive Director, DPDC

Robert Reich Explains why Jamie Dimon got away with his lame excuses

I was really stunned by the admissions of utter incompetence by Jamie Dimon on the talk shows last week. It is a perfect example of what Robert Reich is discussing in this quick little video contrasting Public vs Private morality. Take a LOOK

Amy Rohrer
Executive Director, DPDC

Scott Walker explained by George Carlin (profanity warning)

George Carlin, of course, is right on target!

And what Paul Newman said too!

What Hillary Clinton says being Gay is (and isn't)

UPDATE: Glass-Steagall

We’ve seen all the headlines: JP Morgan Chase took risky bets and lost two billion dollars in a matter of weeks.

CEO Jamie Dimon called the bets “poorly reviewed" and even "sloppy." He added, "We will learn from it, we will fix it, and we will move on."  

Frankly, I don’t think we should just trust Wall Street banks to regulate themselves. Because as we learned during the 2008 financial crisis, they are not just taking risks with their own money -- they are taking risks with the whole economy.

That's why today, with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, I'm calling on Congress to put Wall Street reform back on the agenda and to begin by passing a new Glass-Steagall Act. This was the law that stopped investment banks from gambling away people's life savings for decades -- until Wall Street successfully lobbied to have it repealed in 1999.

Will you join us in calling on Congress to hold Wall Street accountable and pass a new Glass-Steagall Act? Click here to stand with us!

A new Glass-Steagall would separate high-risk investment banks from more traditional banking. It would allow Wall Street to take risks, but not by dipping into the life savings and retirement accounts of regular people.

Reclaim American Stewardship on your block

There are a thousand excuses not to get involved in anything that we perceive as a challenge to our mental serenity. Some of your friends and family and, occasionally, you, have gotten disgusted with the amount of work that needs to be done to reclaim an American "high ground" where we take the role of steward that would truly reflect the purported greatest about which we pound our chests in the worldwide media.

And, frankly, it only comes down to this relatively small challenge. Pay it forward in your own precinct, block or neighborhood. Show the stewardship we yearn to reclaim in the places you influence. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing, don't pass on stories of negativity about government, listen to others complaints kindly and quietly and then change the subject to something positive that is happening in the world or in your life. Start building these kinds of relationships in your world and you will be an ambassador with continued influence moving folks to the voting booth, or into a volunteer position or even just into a better frame of mind.

Amy Rohrer
Executive Director, Democratic Party of DuPage County

Henry Kissinger gets a pat-down?

Did you read this? Unbelievable. . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/henry-kissinger-gets-tsa-pat-down/2012/05/14/gIQAHDgBPU_blog.html

A perfect quote to share with friends who think politics is beneath them

Hello! Here are the three hottest progressive videos and graphics that we found on the web today, May 17, 2012. A Perfect Quote To Share With Friends Who Think Politics Is Beneath Them The Most Entertaining Mitt Romney Clip, Ever Four Reasons Why So Many Of Your Neighbors Are Quitting Bank Of America

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Evanston first Illinois city to take stand against Citizens United - City - The Daily Northwestern - Northwestern University

Evanston first Illinois city to take stand against Citizens United - City - The Daily Northwestern - Northwestern University

Wednesday: State of the State conference call for Obama Biden campaign

Friend -- I'm Obama for America's new Illinois State Director. I'm thrilled to be here, joining this team of supporters. I spent 2008 organizing for then-Senator Obama across the Midwest, and I am fired up for 2012. We've got less than six months to go before November 6th. That means we've got to do everything we can to deliver a win for President Obama here at home, and pitch in to help our friends in neighboring states like Iowa and Wisconsin. They've been doing some great organizing, and we can support that work. To help map out our efforts for the next six months, please join me and other supporters for a State of the State conference call at 7:00 p.m on Wednesday, May 16th. On the call, we'll get an update about the organizing we've done so far, including recaps of last Saturday's day of action in Iowa and Wisconsin. In case you missed it, volunteer teams from Illinois traveled to our neighbor states to help register voters and talk with people about the President's accomplishments. It was a great weekend, and we're looking forward to many more like it! We'll also talk about our broader national strategy, and how Illinois will help President Obama get the 270 electoral votes needed in November. There are new opportunities to get involved all the time, and we'll cover some of the most important ways you can help the campaign. Sign up here to RSVP for Wednesday's call: http://il.barackobama.com/Illinois-State-Director-Call I'm looking forwarding to meeting you on the call this Wednesday, and working with you for the next six months as we organize to re-elect President Obama. Talk to you soon, Janelle Janelle Rau-Clauson Illinois State Director Obama for America

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It's not okay for banks to do this to moms and their families

Hope you've had a nice weekend and are enjoying this Mother's Day with your loved ones! We think economic fairness is important for everyone, and banks that push moms and families into unfair foreclosures make us feel like standing up and saying "Enough!" Check out this photo and share it if you feel the same way!  The Bank Wanted To Take Almost Everything This Woman Had

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 7 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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Corporations are people? Money is speech? How did that happen!?

Ever wonder how we got to corporations are people with the same free speech rights as you and I? Robert Tracy, professor emeritus at DePaul University and member of the Elmhurst committee of the DPDC, connects the dots. You can contact Bob at rtracy@condor.depaul.edu. Don't forget to sign the Motion to Amend at the bottom of the page.

As persons, we would like to be wealthy and prosperous, a pursuit legitimized in our Constitution.

An efficient way to create wealth is to develop a corporate machine, with organization and staff that will make money for us even when we are resting or absent. To the extent that a corporation is profitable—and modern corporations are extremely profitable—they have the wherewith-all to hire huge staffs of lawyers and advocates, some located outside the main corporate offices. For the first 75 years or so after the American Revolution, corporations existed only if they demonstrably served the public good. 

About 126 years ago, corporate lawyers realized that corporations could become even more prosperous if they had special rights and privileges, such as those available to natural persons under the US Constitution. On May 10, 1886 in the Santa Clara v. Southern Pacific Railroad case, the Supreme Court gave corporations as “persons,” equal protections under law, as provided by the 14th Amendment. Since then, there has been case after case in which the Court expanded the Constitutional "rights" of corporations. 

Today corporate advocates argue that the public good is met if a corporation makes money for its owners. Supposedly, the public good will be guaranteed by a sufficient number of corporations filling niches of need, together with a “free” market that inspires a competitive work ethic. The above guarantee was refuted by the 2007-2008 catastrophic failure of the big banks, their subsequent bailout with taxpayer funds, their supposed “recovery;” and the absence of a subsequent recovery of the larger economy. 

Most recently, in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Comm. (2010), the Supreme Court gave the most explicit justification of corporate personhood (asserted without proof): Corporations are Persons with constitutionally given rights of free speech under the 1st Amendment.  Also, without proof, they asserted that Money is the same as Speech. Combine these two ideas with the huge financial resources of corporations, and it’s clear the Supreme Court has given corporations the right to unlimited spending in political elections, enabling  wealthy corporations to have a determining influence on the outcome of elections. 

On this anniversary of Santa Clara v. Southern Pacific Railroad, will you do your part for real democracy by signing and finding ten people to sign a Motion to Amend the constitution which denies that corporations are people and money equals speech? If each of us collects 10 signatures, we would reach over a million people! Such a turnout would encourage the next steps toward a constitutional amendment.

Governor Quinn backs gay marriage!

Following President Obama, Governor Quinn made his strongest statement yet on marriage equality in Illinois. True to his "everybody in, nobody left out" mantra, the Governors spokesperson announced Quinns support for same sex marriage. 

Check it out! http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/05/11/governor-backs-gay-marriage-illinois
Way to go Governor Quinn!

Wisconsin bombshell

Oh! I am SO surprised!

Dan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Adam Green, BoldProgressives.org" <info@boldprogressives.org>
Date: May 11, 2012 8:17 AM
Subject: Wisconsin bombshell
To: "Daniel Stafford" <aquarianm@gmail.com>

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BREAKING: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel just dropped a bombshell:

A filmmaker released a video Thursday that shows Gov. Scott Walker saying [in early 2011] he would use "divide and conquer" as a strategy against unions.

Walker made the comments to Beloit billionaire Diane Hendricks, who has since given $510,000 to the governor's campaign...

Walker told the public his actions were not about union busting, but this reveals the truth. It's shaking up the recall election today.

Click here to watch the video -- then, chip in $3 to help us recall this awful governor next month.

We're running ads right now in Madison urging voters to recall Walker. We're aiming to expand to Green Bay and other media markets next week. 

The election is less than 1 month away -- please chip in $3 today to help recall Scott Walker.

Thanks for being a bold progressive.

-- Adam Green, Stephanie Taylor, James Ploeser, Neil Sroka, Amanda Johnson, and the PCCC team

 

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Jon Stewart Lets Loose On NC Bigots, Mitt Humiliated A Gay Classmate, And One Viral Question

Hello! Here are the three hottest progressive videos and graphics that we found on the web today, May 11, 2012. HILARIOUS! Jon Stewart Opens Up A Can O' Whoop Ass On Bigots In North Carolina Mitt Romney Humiliated A Gay Classmate And Every American Should Know It One Question That Should Be All Over Everyone's Facebook News Feed

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