I remember all of that optimism when Obama was elected, all those books
written about FDR's first hundred days and comparisons with Obama and
suggestions about what he could do in his first one hundred days. I remember
all of our left leaning intellectual African Americans like Alice Walker
saying that Obama is young and inexperienced so we must be patient and give
him time and be supportive. Writers at The Nation said the same sorts of
things. Then there was the stimulus plan and left leaning economists were
saying that the initial figure should have been much larger so that if Obama
had to compromise, we could still end up with a meaningful stimulus plan.
But the initial figure was, they agreed, not quite adequate and then
compromises were made and it was much smaller. And then later, when the
Republicans had a majority in congress, Obama continued to talk about
bipartisanship and compromise, and he capitulated and we have
desequestration which he agreed to without a fight and the heart was cut out
of our domestic programs. And yet, people continue to make excuses for the
policies of our Democratic administration. I can't remember where I heard
or read this, but the other day, I did hear, perhaps in an audio or video
interview, someone explaining that the wealthy don't use our public
services, not the schools, not social security, not transportation, not our
health services. They are completely insulated so they really don't care
what happens to public services. They will do whatever they see as
increasing their wealth and power. And when this individual was talking
about wealthy people, he wasn't talking about the kinds of people that we
come in contact with and see as wealthy, not Jill Stein, not Bernie Sanders.
I did, during the time that I was doing adoption home studies in Manhattan,
actually meet some of these people. One was the head of Time/Life
corporation, , but in the mid 90's, his reported income was only 7 mmillion
dollars annually. He owned a two story huge apartment on the east side of
Manhattan, the kind with a private elevator that takes you to the foyer of
his apartment. And I also once did a home study for Mort Zuckerman, no not
the Facebook guy who is Zuckerberg, but the other one who owns another huge
communications empire, and he had three stories in a building on Central
Park West and several homes and a couple who lived in that apartment with
him and took care of him. And there were a few others, but these stand out.
There I was, going through the motions of evaluating these people's
capabilities to be adoptive parents. It was a farce because one way or
another, if they wanted to adopt a child, someone would make it happen. They
were polite to me. I was a non person, someone equivalent to a waiter or
elevator operator in their eyes. I was, like the rest of us, just a means
to an end as far as they were concerned.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2016 10:38 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of Louisiana's
Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
When I look at what Obama might have accomplished in his first year in
office I came to the conclusion that he went into the presidency under false
pretenses. Looking way back to the first year of FDR's administration,
Barak Obama had none of the leadership qualities he would need to take a
bold stand for the "common Americans". Or else, he was a pretender, never
convinced that fighting for the majority of Americans would further his own
future. Since Obama is a very bright man, I lean toward the direction of
his having sold us down the river.
Intentionally. Sure, he did back off on his support of the Keystone Pipe
Line, finally pulling back, but he continues to push the TPP, despite the
growing opposition to some of the central provisions it contains.
And the ACLU believes it can mount a drive to have Obama pardon Ed Snowden?
Get out of here! That would cost Obama his snug future with the boys in the
back room.
Carl Jarvis
On 9/15/16, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
There was a Democratic majority in Congress in 2009 and Obama hadproven.
tremendous popularity when he was elected. The loss of that Democratic
majority in congress was related to public disenchantment relatedd to
Obama's timidity in taking bold action on behalf of middle income and
low income Americans.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Frank ;
Ventura
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2016 9:11 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
Bob, I agree with all you have said below except for the part about
popular wind at his back in 2009. The wind he needed was from congress
and the supreme court and he had neither. Like I said I agree with
most of what you say but I don't believe he ever had the wind at his back.
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2016 7:51 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
Hey Frank,
I left this intact since it got lost in a bunch of other list mail and
I'm over two weeks late in replying.
Firstly, I'd have never appointed the likes of Geithner, Summers and
especially the slimy Rahm Emanuel.If Obama were really the progressive
he claimed to be in the 2008 campaign, he should have appointed
someone more like Robert Reich as secretary of the Treasury.
Did you ever get the chance to read a book entitled "Confidence Men"
by Suskind? That book tells the sad tail of how Obama was co-opted by
the bankster class. In one poignant section, Obama is having lunch
with a few of the women on his staff who are are calling him out for
not paying very much attension to their points of view in favor of the
views of Geithner, Summers and Emanuel. Obama says something like:
"I know Rahm is an asshole, but I need him." IMHO, that makes Obama a
wimpy professor to the core of his soul if he still has one.
Like I've said before, Obama was dealt a bad hand. But, if he'd acted
more quickly and decisively in 2009, he had the opportunity to be a
truly transformational president. For a short time, he had the popular
wind at his back.
Bob Hachey
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Frank ;
Ventura
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 5:51 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
Bob, revolution would only lead to totalitarianism, as history has
We need evolution. Since you think Democratic leadership has failed ifhigh.
you were Obama what would you have done differently?
Honestly given your stance concerning civil rights and
anti-discrimination, I am shocked that you would be in favor of a
revolution which would erase the aforementioned.
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 4:31 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
Hi Frank,
Assuming what you say about Stein and the Greens is true and I have no
evidence to suggest otherwise, then none of the presidential
candidates give a hoot about the working class so that we who do ought
to be working against all of them and for real change otherwise known
as revolution.
Given the recent history of Democratic leadership, how can you
continue to support them?
Bob Hachey
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Frank ;
Ventura
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 9:08 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
Bob, first of all non of those people have or are trying to put the
GOP in office, which is what the green party is doing. Also you forgot
to mention Stein's personal opulence. Remember the Green party was
founded by and for alternative energy investors that believed strongly
that the labor movement, unions and the FLSA were outdated and needed
to be replaced. Although the green party platform may look attractive
to the welfare class and the liberal elite class; it is really a smack
to the working class that is caught in between. But heck the working
class is an endangered species anyway and no one wants to waste
resources courting a class of people that may not exist a few years
from now.
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 5:07 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
Hi Frank,
So, it is your opinion that the green Party are shills for the GOP.
Where does that put the Democratic leadership like the Clintons,
Wasserman/Shultz, Al Gore, John Kerry, etc. All of them sure have
talked a good game about how they support the working class while
their actions suggest they are very quick to utilize the privileges of
wealth and connection.
Sad to say, but, in many ways, Obama fits into this group as well. I
had very high hopes for Obama when I voted for him in 2008, perhaps too
But he chose to surround himself with some of the worst scum of Wallis a GOP schill.
Street and high finance like Summers and Geithner.When he first took
office, the wind was at his back and he had the support of a majority
of Americans. If he'd planned it right, he might have been able to be
a transformational president like FDR. I do realize that Congress
fought him tooth and nail, but he did have a majority in both houses
including a filibuster-proof Senate for the first two years.
AS for Al Gore, he talks a good game when it comes to the environment,
but he loves to travel about in private jets and luxury vehicles.
Kerry, Mr. yacht decided to moore his yacht in Rhode island on one
hand while proposing higher taxes for the wealthy on the other.
The Clintons fought for NAFTA, welfare reform and the horrible get
tough on Crime bill that sentenced users of crack cocaine mush more
harshly than users of snortable powder cocaine. They are also known
for not treating the help, cooks, cleaners, maids, etc. with respect.
How on earth could the green party be worse?
Bob Hachey
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Frank ;
Ventura
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 5:41 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
Bob, I spent much time (and money) traveling down that green brick
road and let me tell you it doesn't lead to the Emarld city. It
actually leads right out the Hamptons, if you catch my drift. A GOP schill
Franktour.
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 2:37 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
Hi Frank,
While I agree with you on concerns over providing security for high
profile types in a disaster area like Batton Rouge, I must also agree
with Miriam that Stein cares more about disaster victims and the poor
than either Clinton or Trump. You really do seem to have it in for the
Green Party Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 2:04 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
Hey Frank,
Good point here regarding Louisiana's governor who did indeed ask high
profile types to delay visiting Batton Rouge. But I think Trump also
went against his wishes.
Bob Hachey ; I heard
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Frank ;
Ventura
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2016 6:40 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
All lies below. The governor of Louisiana asked all the campaigns and
the president to delay coming to the affected areas to avoid the media
and security juggernaut from being an impediment to movement of first
responders and aid. Evidentially only the green party did not respond
to this reasonable request. Hopefully you don't think an election year
media circus would be better than first responders and aid workers.
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Miriam ;
Vieni
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2016 6:21 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
And while Jill Stein was visiting flood victims this weekend, Hillary
Clinton was doing fund raising. If she's so smart, why didn't it
occur to her that she might visit the flood victims. Perhaps because
by now, it doesn't matter to the campaign what the public thinks of
her? And if it doesn't matter, why does she need to do all that fund
raising for advertising? They had the mothers of the slain black young
people at the convention. Why not have her cradling a black child in a
house destroyed by a flood in Louisiana? Obama, Clinton, they're so
damn entitled that they can't take time off from their very busy lives
to pretend to be humanitarians.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2016 5:05 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of
Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and Those Trying to Help Them
Well, President Obama finally did arrive for a tour. But of course,
despite charges that he was tardy in rushing to the scene, his
detractors did not appear to be digging deep into their off shore
accounts to help those whose homes had been destroyed without the
benefit of flood insurance. What was missing in the President's
comments was how swiftly resources will be available and to what
extent. Can the USA do for it's own citizens what it is so quick to
do for certain foreign governments?
Carl Jarvis
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Christi Parsons AUGUST 23, 2016, 1:15
PMAUGUST 23, 2016, 1:15 PM |REPORTING FROM ZACHARY, LA.
President Obama tried to set aside politics Tuesday in favor of
pointing to the plight of victims of the devastating floods in
Louisiana as he underscored the importance of an effective and quick
federal disaster response.
Obama toured ravaged homes and talked with relatives of some of the 13
people killed by flooding from severe rains of the last two weeks.
With Republican
and Democratic officials at his side, he dismissed criticism that he
ignored the unfolding disaster while he was on vacation and instead
urged Americans to help.
"Nobody on this block, none of those first responders - nobody gives a
hoot whether you're a Democrat or a Republican," Obama said during his
"What they care about is making sure they're getting the drywall out,
the carpet out, there's not any mold building, they get some
contractors in here and they start rebuilding as quick as possible."
Obama bragged about the speed with which his Federal Emergency
Management Agency is dispatching aid to the region, and White House
aides noted that more than $127 million for rental assistance and
flood insurance payments has already been disbursed. More than 100,000
people have applied for federal assistance.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican, did caution that it was too early to
judge the FEMA response.
But the bipartisan array of officials touring with Obama made for an
image that stood out for its contrast from the partisan accusations
lobbed in recent days. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump
visited the area last week and complained that Democratic rival
Hillary Clinton had not done likewise.
Clinton countered that she would travel to Louisiana "at a time when
the presence of a political campaign will not disrupt the response."
Trump charged Tuesday that the president should have gone to Louisiana
instead of golfing on vacation. "Too little, too late!" he tweeted as
Obama was en route to Baton Rouge.
On 8/23/16, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
.
Truthdig
Jill Stein Speaks With Victims of Louisiana's Catastrophic Flood-and
Those Trying to Help Them
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/jill_stein_is_bringing_attention
_
to_vic
tims_of_flooding_in_20160822/
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Posted on Aug 22, 2016
Jill Stein, left, with resident Le'Kedra Robertson. (Jill 2016)
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was in Denham Springs,
La., on Monday to speak with
people(https://www.facebook.com/drjillstein/) forced from their
homes by historic flooding-and to the volunteers trying to help them.
Some of the groups working on the scene were the Louisiana
Environmental Action Network(https://leanweb.org) , Together Baton
Rouge(http://www.togetherbr.org) , North Baton Rouge Disaster
Relief(https://www.gofundme.com/northbatonrouge) and Mutual Aid
Disaster
Relief(https://www.facebook.com/MutualAidDisasterRelief/) .
In one clip (viewed 42,000 times within three hours of appearing on
Facebook), Stein spoke with some of the displaced residents and
volunteer relief workers from Louisiana's Green Party.
Anika Ofori, a representative of the black caucus of the Louisiana
Greens, pointed out the racialized neglect of residents in the form
of slow-arriving support from the federal government. "We know from
Hurricane Katrina that when the resources come, they don't always,
and most often, do not get to the poorest or the blackest communities,"
she said. "So I am part of the Green Party because the Green Party
platform encompasses issues that affect me, that affect the black
community, that affect the poor community, that affect other minority
communities. And so I thank Jill for getting in contact with us."
Another woman expressed gratitude for her experience at the shelter,
saying that despite flood victims' losses, "we're still gaining
because we have each other to lean on."
Stein added that "it's a crisis like this that really brings out the
strength of a community. And we're here to help enlarge that community."
In another clip, Stein described what she saw while walking around a
formerly submerged neighborhood. "We basically saw drenched floors
where the floors were buckling. We saw walls that were beginning to
be covered with mold. ... We saw basically muck on the floor, on the
furniture, on the cabinets; the doors being taken down.
"All these emotional mementos and trophies," she continued. "The
sports trophies that were earned by the parents and also by the kids
who are now adults. . Grown children, their life's treasures, their
childhood treasures were basically all out on the front lawn.
"And we saw a crew of wonderful people, neighbors and many people who
came from New Orleans, who had been victimized by the floods."
In a concluding clip, Stein thanked everyone who had shown up to help
the people of Denham Springs recover. Local activist Le'Kedra
Robertson said local children won't be able to return to school until
December and invited viewers to come to Denham Springs and contribute
physical labor to help residents get back on their feet.
"If you walk through these streets of Denham Springs, where I grew
up, there aren't any FEMA or other resources that are coming except
for people who have compassionate hearts who are fixing lunches and
putting boots on the ground."
Anyone interested in financially contributing to the community's
recovery can do so via a GoFundMe
campaign(https://www.gofundme.com/510DenhamSprings)
.
-Posted by Alexander Reed
Kelly(http://www.truthdig.com/alexander_kelly)
