Bob,
The thing is, ACB and its state affiliates, are not powerful, wealthy donors. I
feel like everyone is living in some past fairy tale land because the current
reality is too horrible to contemplate. People talk about making progress when
their losses aren't as big as they thought they would be. They celebrate when a
procedural vote regarding Saudi Arabia and Yemen passes the Senate when this is
not an actual vote on cutting military funds to Saudi Arabia or curtailing US
cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the slaughter of Yemenis. It had no teeth. It
has no twin vote in the House, nor would such a vote pass, and if it did, Trump
would veto it. But somehow, it was a moral victory on paper and the
Progressives are celebrating it. The New York Times used a whole podcast today
to explain why it was a good idea to print a picture of a Yemeni girl who died
of malnutrition. Wouldn't it have been a better use of time to explain what the
stupid war is all about, why the Saudis are fighting it and why the US is
involved?
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2018 4:02 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Fwd: Betsy DeVos is at it again
Hi All,
Unfortunately, I must agree mostly with Miriam here. One would hope that
Senator's Markey and Warren would be true progressives, but, more often than
not, I get very perfunctory responses from both well-known Massachusetts
senators. I used to get better responses from both, but that stopped happening
with Markey once he switched from the House of representatives to the senate.
Sad to say, now that Warren seems more interested in running for president, I
now get the same kind of responses from her as well.
Now here's another thing that is disappointing me about both of these senators
and some of our Massachusetts representatives, all Democrats. Bay State council
recently held its 2018 Fall Conference. AS part of that conference, we had a
small panel of staff members from the offices of elected officials. We tried in
vain to get members of the staffs of both senators and three representatives
and it seems that none of those offices could send a representative to speak at
a panel whose total length was around 40 minutes. The event was on a Saturday
morning but that shouldn't have meant we couldn't get even one member of
Congressional staff to come. I bet they attend plenty of fundraisers on
Saturdays.
Time to break up both parties and, I'm afraid I now believe we need term limits
in Congress.
Bob Hachey
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Miriam Vieni
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2018 3:07 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Fwd: Betsy DeVos is at it again
Oh, if I write, I get written responses from both of them. But the written
responses don't mean a thing. They're nicely worded form letters. I heard a
video of Schumer giving a speech to Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn. It sounded as if
he were a senator from Israel, not New York. He represents the interests of
Wall Street and Israel in the US Senate.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2018 10:32 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Fwd: Betsy DeVos is at it again
Chuck Schumer!
My deepest sympathies.
While they are a long way from perfection, Cantwell and Murray's offices do
respond to my grumbles.
Carl Jarvis
On 12/6/18, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Well, I express my opinions on this list. I just don't think that the
people who supposedly represent me, really care. One of them is Chuck
Schumer and I know whom he represents. It certainly isn't me. The
other senator is more benign and on most things, her votes are OK.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2018 8:46 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Fwd: Betsy DeVos is at it again
Hi Miriam,
I blow hot and cold on the subject of petitions. Anymore I sign very
few, and for the same reason you suggested. Sign one petition and
it's like wire hangers in a dark closet, it multiplies. But once in a
while some inner voice cries out, and I sign despite knowing the consequences.
Besides, knowing the government is serving only a small portion of
Americans, should not keep me from expressing my position on an issue,
even if I know that it will make little or no difference in the
outcome. And my ever ready delete finger can handle the "begging letters".
Carl Jarvis
On 12/6/18, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Something happened to me after Donald Trump took office and it is
perhaps, the opposite reaction to that of most people who are
horrified by the situation in our country. For years, I was dutifully
signing every petition with which I agreed which came from
organizations which I respected. And I was calling politicians'
offices about issues when it seemed important to do so. But the urge
to do all of that has disappeared. I feel that our system is so
corrupted, that the only real change can come from massive general
strikes and street demonstrations. I don't think that any of our
politicians are moved by 10,000 or 100,000 signatures. But those
petitions are a good way for organizations to gather our personal
information so that they can ask for money.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2018 7:38 PM
To: blind-democracy <blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: delores selset <dselset@xxxxxxx>; Jennifer Ford
<dandjford88@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-democracy] Fwd: Betsy DeVos is at it again
A request from Senator Patty Murray.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Senator Patty Murray <campmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2018 21:45:55 +0000
Subject: Betsy DeVos is at it again
To: Carl Jarvis <carjar82@xxxxxxxxx>
Carl,
The Trump Administration is at it again, rolling back protections for
survivors of sexual assault on college campuses -- and making it
perfectly clear that they have not listened to the students and
survivors who bravely asked for their stories to be heard, for
schools to be held accountable, and for students to have resources
they need when they are attacked, assaulted, or harassed.
Secretary DeVos has proposed a new Title IX rule that would weaken
protections for survivors of sexual assault, and make it easier for
schools to shirk their responsibility to provide a safe campus for
students. We can't let that happen -- and we can't let the Trump
Administration attempt to sweep sexual assault under the rug once again.
Stand with me, and with survivors of sexual assault everywhere, by
demanding Secretary DeVos withdraw her new Title IX rule. Add your
name now.
https://act.pattymurray.com/page/s/prevent-campus-sexual-assault?sour
c
e=em181206
Just look at what this new rule would do if implemented on college
campuses:
* Raise the burden of proof on survivors of sexual assault.
* Allow the survivor to be cross-examined.
* Reduce the situations in which schools need to investigate
accusations of sexual assault.
* No longer require schools to investigate accusations if they took
place outside of school programs, including off campus and online
harassment.
This rule could reduce the number of survivors who come forward, make
it harder for survivors to seek justice, and make it easier for
schools to wiggle out of their responsibility to provide a safe
learning environment for all students.
I'm going to keep standing with women and survivors in fighting back
against this rule, and I call on every woman, man, mom, dad, student,
and anyone else who cares about campus safety and preventing sexual
assault to make your voices heard too. Join me in demanding that
Secretary DeVos rescind this proposal now.
Sign the petition demanding Secretary DeVos listen to survivors of
sexual assault and withdraw her proposed new Title IX rules.
https://act.pattymurray.com/page/s/prevent-campus-sexual-assault?sour
c
e=em181206
Thank you,
Patty----
Patty Murray is the Senior U.S. Senator from the great state of
Washington, working to stand up for the people and achieve bipartisan
solutions to boost jobs, provide affordable health care, and improve
the lives of Americans everywhere.
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