Super Bowl XLIII Stats and Figures: GOODMagazine

The Super Bowl is an advertising bonanza, a snack food orgy and—oh yeah—a football game. An original GOOD Video gives us few stats and figures about the Big Game on Sunday.

President Obama's Weekly Address: 1/31/09

In his weekly address, President Barack Obama announced that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is preparing a new strategy for reviving our financial system, and urged the swift passage of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.

Super Bowl XLIII Preview and Prediction

The following video from ESPN is a short preview of of Super Bowl XLIII, which as just about every knows by now features the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Arizona Cardinals.

The video does not provide in depth analysis of the game itself but it does give you an idea of what these 2 teams are all about.



If anyone is truly interested in my pick for the game, I feel sorry for you. I really don't have much of a track record picking winners. However be that as it may, I am going against the general consensus and picking the Cardinals.

Why the Cardinals, no real rhyme or reason. I just have a feeling that this is a Cinderella team and Kurt Warner is this years Prince Charming.

The score:
Cardinals 27  Steelers 20

Governor Corzine talks Economic Stimulus, NJ Economy on CNBC, 1/29/09

If you missed it, Governor Corzine made an appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box yesterday morning. The Governor talked about President Obama's Economic Stimulus package and what it means for New Jersey as well as the Country.

The Governor talked about New Jersey's economy and how the State is fairing during this economic crisis. He also talked with Jack Welch about the bonuses being paid out to some of the executives on Wall Street.

Vice President Joe Biden and the Middle Class Task Force

The President created a Middle Class Task Force and asked his right hand man, Vice President Joe Biden, to lead it. The Task Force has one goal -- to make sure the recovery doesnt just benefit the wealthy, like past expansions, but improves quality of life for the middle class.

Princess the Camel Picks Super Bowl XLII Winner

The prognosticator of Popcorn Park Zoo, Princess the Camel, made her final prediction for this years NFL season it was reported yesterday in the Asbury Park Press.

After a somewhat successful season picking the winning teams, Princess record stands at an impressive 16 - 5 . 

Of her most publicized picks, the Giants over the Eagles in their NFC Divisional playoff match up and then the Eagle over the Cardinals in the NFC Championship game, Princess picked the losers. 

What was her final prediction of the season ? Princess picked the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLII.

Seems like a safe bet for me, but afer being burned twice by Princess during the playoffs, I think that I'm going with the Cardinals !

More on that tomorrow.

PALLONE INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES' RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT TOXIC RELEASES

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, yesterday introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that will undo U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations weakening toxic reporting requirements that have been in place for nearly two decades.

The Toxic Right-to-Know-Protection Act will undo changes that have seriously undermined the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), a critical tool that has given communities access to an online database describing what toxic chemicals are being released from nearby plants and refineries. The TRI program has been extremely successful in empowering communities by ensuring that they know what chemicals and how much of these harmful chemicals are being released into the air, water and ground.

In December 2006, the Bush administration's EPA announced final rules that loosened reporting requirements for the TRI. These rules have significantly reduced the amount of information available to the public about toxic chemicals by eliminating detailed reports from facilities that release up to 2,000 pounds of chemicals every year, and facilities that manage up to 500 pounds of chemicals known to pose some of the worst threats to human health, including lead and mercury.

Read full Press Release >>>Here

Could Sports Betting Be Coming to Atlantic City ?

In this video press release, in advance of Super Bowl XLIII, Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano (D-Cumberland/Atlantic/Cape May) and Louis D. Greenwald (D-Camden) discuss their legislation to legalize professional sports betting in Atlantic City casinos.

The measure (A-1909) would provide New Jersey voters with an opportunity to decide - via a November General Election referendum - whether Atlantic City's casinos should be able to accept in-person wagers, limited to professional sporting events.

HOLT: ECONOMIC RECOVERY BILL WOULD CREATE NEW JOBS,HELP THOSE STRUGGLING IN ECONOMIC CRISIS

Here is what Congressman Rush Holt has to say about the passage of the Economic stimulas bill passed last night in the House.

Press Release:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Rush Holt (NJ-12) tonight voted for the House-passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009, arguing that it would provide the comprehensive investment needed to stop the nation’s economic decline and rebuild the economy by creating millions of new jobs. Holt highlighted nearly $16 billion of new funding for science research and facilities, including $3 billion for the National Science Foundation, $2 billion for physical science research at the Department of Energy, $3.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health, and $3 billion for research into energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Senate still needs to pass the bill.

“The ideal project is one that keeps on giving, and that is exactly what scientific research does,” Holt said. “In his Inaugural Address, President Obama said ‘we will restore science to its rightful place.’ This legislation places science at the center of short-term job creation and long-term economic growth.”

In December 2008, Holt hosted a roundtable discussion at Princeton University, along with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, senior Congressional leaders, and national leaders in the science and technology community to highlight the importance of innovation infrastructure to ensure long-term American competitiveness.

Holt also drew attention to other investments that would help create new jobs and help families struggling in the economy, including funding for:

--School modernization, including funding for Holt’s initiative to increase energy efficiency (an estimated $250 million for New Jersey).

--Helping states prevent the laying off of teachers and other school employees (an estimated $1.7 million for New Jersey)

--Road and bridge construction, as well as improving public transit and rail (an estimated $1.15 billion for New Jersey)

--Transforming the nation’s electricity systems through the Smart Grid Investment Program.

--Job training, including for green-collar jobs.

--Increasing Pell Grants to $5,350 by the next school year, helping to make college more affordable.

--Extending unemployment benefits through 2009 and extending health care coverage for unemployed workers (an estimated 148,000 New Jersey workers would be eligible).

“We’re past the point where we can hope the economy will right itself,” Holt said. “People are hurting now. New Jersey’s unemployment rate has risen to 7.1 percent from 4.2 percent just a year ago. This legislation would provide the bold, wise action needed to get our economy on the road to recovery. Every dollar spent would create new jobs and help build the economy for the 21st century.”

N.J. high court denies Town Center appeals:Mountain Hill project may now move forward

It looks like the efforts of  Middletown Township has fallen short. Its attempt to stop life long resident and former State Assemblyman Joshep Azzolina and his family from going ahead with thier long sought after Town Center project was  again struck down by the courts. 

Below is the story from the Independent:

BY JAMIE ROMM -In what may be the final blow for opponents of the Town Center project, the New Jersey Supreme Court declined to hear appeals by the Middletown Township government challenging the project.

The denial lets stand a lower court decision that will allow the mixed-use development to go forward.

The state Supreme Court released three decisions on Jan. 20 denying appeals by the Middletown Township Committee, the township Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

The appeals sought to overturn a ruling by the Appellate Division of state Superior Court issued Sept. 10 in favor of the Town Center project proposed by Mountain Hill LLC for Route 35 north at Kings Highway East.

"We are grateful that the Appellate Division and Supreme Court agreed with my client that Middletown and its two boards acted improperly standing in the way of this amazing project," Mountain Hill's attorney Gary F. Fox, of Ocean Township, said in a press release. "I give tremendous credit to my client for not giving up when it was unsuccessful at the trial court level."

Fox said in a press release issued last week that the decision validates his client as well as what he has been saying over the past decade: that the Town Center project is a valid project.

"This case is an example of why appellate courts exist; to correct errors made at the trial court level," Fox said in the release. "Now it's time to move ahead and get this project going."

The plan currently before the Middletown Planning Board proposes approximately 1.4 million square feet of retail space and 200 residential apartments.

The appellate court had ruled that formerMayor Joan Smith should not have had a vote on the Planning Board hearing to rezone former Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina Sr.'s property from a town center to an active adult community, because her title company had prior business dealings with Mountain Hill.

"We conclude that Smith had a disqualifying conflict of interest that infected not only her official actions in 2001 but also those in 2004," the opinion stated. "As a consequence, the 2004 Master Plan and both 2004 AAC ordinances are invalid and of no effect."

Former Middletown Township Attorney Bernard Reilly said last October, when filing the appeal with the Supreme Court, that he would have to prove that Smith did not have a conflict of interest in voting against the Town Center proposal.

The township argued that there was no conflict of interest because her business relationship with members of Mountain Hill in the past was minor and occurred many years prior.

The Supreme Court decision left in place the appellate court's decision overruling trial court Judge Lawrence M. Lawson, who had allowed Middletown to rezone the Town Center project out of existence.

The appellate panel ruled entirely in Mountain Hill's favor, overturning the trial court decisions, invalidating the rezoning, the Master Plan and numerous rulings by the Zoning Board.

The decisions end Middletown's right to appeal and give a green light to Mountain Hill to proceed with its Town Center project without any further interference from the township.

The township's December 2008 affording housing plan includes the Town Center tract and anticipates it will provide at least 400 residential apartment units of which 80 would be deemed affordable and go toward its state-mandated affordable housing obligation.

Mountain Hill and Middletown have battled in court over development of the property for more than a decade.

On Sept. 30, the Township Committee unanimously agreed to petition the New Jersey Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that the project could go forward.

The Sept. 10 decision by Appellate Division Judge C.L. Miniman invalidated the township's 2004 master plan and directed that the 1993 master plan be the one the township would have to follow. The court said the Planning Board should have heard Mountain Hill's January 2003 application.

The court overturned a 2006 decision by Lawson who ruled the Planning Board should follow the 2004 master plan, which changed the zoning to an active adult community and blocked the Town Center development.

On Oct. 1, 2008, the Planning Board passed a resolution reaffirming its 2004 master plan, which does not permit the proposed $150 million, 137-acre mixed-use development.

Mountain Hill, which is controlled by members of the Azzolina family, sought to overturn a zoning change adopted by the Middletown Township Committee about five years ago to stop the project from getting off the ground.

According to Fox, the Azzolina family acquired this property over a period of many years between 1954 and 1993 with the goal of building a shopping center.

Fox said the 1993 master plan supported the Town Center project while the 2004 master plan did not permit it.

On Oct 31, 2003, the Planning Board denied Mountain Hill the ability to file any more applications for the Town Center.

The revised master plan in 2004 was approved to establish a model for land use in Middletown and infuriated proponents of the town center development.

The plan, unanimously adopted by the Planning Board on Jan. 29, 2003, was a policy document "to serve as a development and conservation guide for the 24,000-some acres that comprise the township," as described in the plan.

See story>>> Here

Dems: GOP will pay political price for stimulus vote

Breaking story just in from The Hill -

Democrats are blasting House Republican leaders for pressing their conference to vote against the stimulus bill and warn the party that it will face political consequences.

In a memo on the “Republican Problem” to “interested parties” that was e-mailed to reporters on Thursday morning, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) charged Republicans with acting in a “partisan and irresponsible manner.”

By voting against the $819 billion stimulus package, spokesman Brendan Daly said Republicans were rejecting tax cuts, jobs in their communities and critical services such as health care. He also rejected arguments that a Republican alternative bill focused on additional tax cuts would have created more jobs.
Republicans say their bill would have created 6 million jobs, while Democrats count 3 million jobs created from the package approved by the House.

Daly all but explicitly said Republicans were playing politics on the bill against a Democratic Congress and president, noting that in 1993, the last time a Republican minority faced a Democratic majority and president, they voted against a budget bill en masse.

“There’s a pattern here of Republican economic mismanagement and Democrats stepping up to do what’s needed for the good of the country while Republicans acted in a partisan and irresponsible manner,” Daly wrote.

Read more >>> Here

Obama gets his stimulus but not bipartisan support

The Hill - House Democrats on Wednesday delivered on their promise to President Obama to pass an $819 billion economic stimulus bill, but they had to do so without a single Republican vote.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) herself rose to the chair to call the final vote, which was 244-188. Eleven Democrats joined every Republican in opposing the bill.

Although Democrats erupted in cheers after final passage, it was somewhat of a bittersweet victory for the majority, which has been championing what it claimed to be the bipartisan nature of the economic recovery bill.

The massive bill – which has been the top priority of both President Obama and congressional Democrats – will have to be reconciled with a companion bill working its way through the Senate that is now nearly $900 billion with the inclusion of a one-year patch for the alternative minimum tax intended to prevent its application to middle-class taxpayers. Democratic leaders are preparing for a bicameral conference to iron out what could be significant differences between the two bills.

The House bill was a mixture of tax cuts and spending proposals that deviated in detail from the president’s initial proposal, and that divided the chamber along party lines.

Read more >>> Here

Breaking News: House Approves President's Stimulus Plan

Breaking News from the New York Times:

House, in 244-188 Vote, Approves President's Stimulus Plan

The House voted, 244-188, on Wednesday evening for President
Obama's package of federal tax cuts and spending worth $819
billion and meant to jump-start the economy out of its worst
crisis in decades.

The Transition

PALLONE TOUTS HEALTH PROVISIONS IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, touted several health provisions included in the $825 billion Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act during floor debate this evening on the House floor. The New Jersey congressman worked with other health leaders in Congress to develop the important Medicaid, COBRA and health information technology provisions that are included in the legislation. The House is scheduled to vote on the economic recovery bill tomorrow.

"Mr. Speaker, last year, 2.6 million jobs were lost, and on Monday alone four American companies announced that they would lay off 37,000 employees.

"When workers lose their jobs, many also lose their health insurance. And for those lucky enough to keep their coverage, many end up delaying medical care because they choose to use their limited resources on groceries and other basic necessities. These families need help, and they will get it from this economic recovery package.

"This bill makes important improvements to COBRA coverage so that it is more affordable for workers who have been laid off. In addition, for those workers who have lost their job, but are not eligible for COBRA coverage, the bill creates a new temporary Medicaid option that will be paid for entirely by the federal government. Combined, these provisions will help provide health coverage to over 8 million Americans over the next year.

"In addition, this bill would provide states with urgent fiscal relief. Right now, almost every state is experiencing a budget crisis. Governors are struggling to find ways to close these budget gaps. Many Governors are starting to look at scaling back on their Medicaid programs, just as more and more people are in need of Medicaid services. This bill provides critical financial assistance so states are not forced to scale back their Medicaid programs and can continue to serve those in need.

"We also make a significant investment in our economic future by investing $20 billion to help doctors and hospitals acquire and use health information technology. For years, we have all been talking about the need to modernize our health care system. This bill finally provides the means to do so. Not only does this legislation invest in our economy today, but it also makes our health care system safer and more efficient for years to come.

"Mr. Speaker, this recovery package answers the pleas from economists who said we must act quickly and boldly. It deserves bipartisan support."

What brought down U.S. Airways Flt 1549?

AFC Champs Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Preview

AFC Champs Pittsburgh Steelers should they be the favorited team entering the Super Bowl? Jason Horowitz, Ian Eagle and Clark Judge take an in depth look at the AFC Champions, the road they took to Tampa as well as the reasons why they are the early favorites in Super Bowl XLIII.

The Obama Lovefest

From last nights 60 Minutes comes these few minutes with Andy Rooney:

F.D.R was one of our country's greatest presidents and even he was disliked by millions, so what it is about President Obama that has everyone swooning? According to Andy Rooney, maybe it's because he's just that good.

Why An A**Hole is Always in Charge.

Greg Palast, one of my favorite writers, is the co-author of Steal Back Your Vote, a comic book co-authored with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Palast is also an investigative reports on BBC Television's Newsnight and in Rolling Stone Magazine.

Palast wrote the following article for SuicideGirls.com in which he expressed his outrage and dismay over former Merril Lynch head honcho John Thain, who was able to sell a worthless Merril Lynch to Bank of America for $50 Billion and then when Bank of America realized that Merril was in worst trouble than what they thought, Thain was able to wrestle another $20 Billion from the U.S Treasury to cover that loss.

As outrageous as that may sound it was nothing in comparison to Thain's audacity in spending $1 million refurbishing his office, which included spending $35,000 on a toilet and then demanding a $30 million bonus from Merril Lynch for his efforts.

Here is some of what Greg Palast had to say:

John Thain is the guy that looks like a Clark Kent doll you saw grinning from page one of your paper Friday morning. Thain was just fired by Bank of America because the square-jawed executive demanded a $30 million bonus after losing $5 billion in just three months at the bank's Merrill Lynch unit. In addition, Thain spent over a million dollars redecorating his office while, at the same time, the U.S. Treasury was bailing out his company with billions in aid. Thain's office re-do included the installation of a $35,000 toilet bowl.

Thain was robbed. He shouldn't have been fired; he should have gotten a $60 million bonus -- and Obama should immediately hire him as Secretary of the Treasury in place of that tax-dodging lightweight that's been nominated, Timothy Geithner.

Here's the facts, ma'am.

Thain was CEO of Merrill Lynch, the big brokerage firm. On a good day, Merrill is worth zero. A week before it was about to go out of business, Thain sold this busted bag of financial feces to Bank of America for $50 BILLION.

I'd say that's worth a bonus.

But it gets better. When the bag broke and another $5 billion in losses were discovered at Merrill, Thain went to the U.S. Treasury and got ANOTHER $20 BILLION to cover Bank of America's bad financial bet -- from us, the taxpayers.

Now that certainly deserves a bonus. And let's face it, a butthole that big needs a $35,000 toilet....

Finish reading what Greg had to say >>>Here

 

In Torre’s Book, Rodriguez Strikes Out

I have never been a Yankee fan, I prefer for some reason to place my baseball loyalties in the other NY team, so I don't find former Yankee manager Joe Torre's newly release tell all book that interesting.  What I do find interesting however, is the fact that Torre needed to air his dirty stirrups in public when it came to Alex Rodriguez.

As any baseball fan in NY knows Rodriguez is not known as Mr. Clutch, he is more like Mr. May then Mr. October and according to Joe Torre his presence from day 1 in the Bronx was a major distraction that sometimes caused chaos in the clubhouse.

Here are just a  few example of what you'll find in the book :

...But what stands out the most about the book are the frank, and often critical, statements that Torre makes about Alex Rodriguez, who won two Most Valuable Player awards during the four years that Torre was his manager in the Bronx. At 33, Rodriguez has hit 553 career home runs. He is widely regarded as the game’s best all-around player. He is also its highest paid...

...But in the past year, Rodriguez has clearly become something of a target for people trying to sell sports books...

...Torre’s view, however, has nothing to do with the use of performance-enhancing drugs and everything to do with Rodriguez as a person and a player...

...“Alex monopolized all the attention,” Torre said...

If you want to read more about Torre's book, the NY Times writer Michale S. Schmidt tells all about it in todays edition.

  

NFC Champs Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl Preview

NFC Champs Arizona Cardinals - Who are they and how did they get here? Jason Horowitz, Ian Eagle and Clark Judge take an in depth look at the NFC Champions and their unlikely road to Tampa as well as their surprising defense.

Limbaugh against stimulus because its success could hurt GOP’s electoral chances

OH heavens forbid if President Obama's economic stimulus package actually works and 600,000 or more jobs are created while boosting the economy, what would members of the GOP do with themselves?

Think Progress -
On Friday, when President Obama met with congressional leaders from both parties to discuss his economic recovery and reinvestment program, he told GOP leaders, “You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done.” Asked for a response by National Review yesterday, Limbaugh said that Obama’s “plan is to isolate elected Republicans from their voters.” He added that passage of the stimulus bill would hurt Republicans electorally:

Obama’s plan would buy votes for the Democrat Party, in the same way FDR’s New Deal established majority power for 50 years of Democrat rule, and it would also simultaneously seriously damage any hope of future tax cuts. It would allow a majority of American voters to guarantee no taxes for themselves going forward. It would burden the private sector and put the public sector in permanent and firm control of the economy. Put simply, I believe his stimulus is aimed at re-establishing “eternal” power for the Democrat Party rather than stimulating the economy because anyone with a brain knows this is NOT how you stimulate the economy.

Limbaugh’s argument echoes former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell’s recent claim that Obama’s stimulus plan “could create a major electoral advantage for Democrats at taxpayer expense.” “Creating 600,000 new jobs might help cement Virginia in the Democrat column, making it harder for Republicans to retake the White House,” said Blackwell.

Open Letter to President Obama on Consumer Protection

I am no fan of Ralph Nader, but today he posted an open letter to President Obama on the CommonDreams.org  website which makes perfect sense to me. In his letter, Nader expresses his concerns over the economy and the need for consumer protections against fraud and deceit:

Dear President Obama:

Underneath many of our country's economic problems is the thirty-year collapse of consumer protection-both of the regulatory kind and of the self-help kind known as proper access to justice.

Last month major consumer groups sent you a letter proposing action to rein in exploitation of consumers as debtors, as buyers of oil, gas and electricity, as patients needing health insurance and as eaters wanting safe goods.

Under the Bush regime, the words "consumer protection" were rarely uttered and the Bush administration almost never initiated any pro-consumer efforts, even with massive evidence before it, such as predatory lending and credit card abuses.

You need to recognize and elevate the GDP significance of fair consumer policies along with their moral and just attributes at a time of worsening recession.

I suggest you focus on the state of the poorest consumers in the urban and rural ghettos. As you know from your days with the New York Public Interest Group (NYPIRG) and as a community organizer in Chicago, the consumers in these areas are the most gouged and least protected. That the "poor pay more" has been extensively documented by civic, official and academic studies, and numerous local newspaper and television news reports.

Unfortunately, neither Congress nor the Executive branch have paid adequate attention to the tens of millions of people who lose at least 25 percent of their consumer dollars to multiple frauds and shoddy merchandise. You should establish special task forces in the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission on their plight and on the many proven but unused remedies to assure a fair marketplace with effective enforcement and grievance procedures.

Working with and galvanizing local and state agencies to enlarge their capacity and staff-with stimulus monies-can produce a triple-header-making the federal effort more effective, providing valuable jobs and freeing up billions of consumer dollars from the financial sink-hole of commercial crimes.

It requires the visibility and eloquence of your personal leadership to launch this long-overdue defense of poor people.

A second area of action is simply to update major areas of regulatory health and safety that have been frozen for thirty years. These include modernizing standards for auto and tire safety, food safety, aviation and railroad safety and occupational health and trauma protection.

New knowledge, new marketing forays, and new technologies have accumulated during this period without application. It is the obsolescence of so many safety standards hailing from the fifties, sixties and seventies that permits the tricky, corporate advertising claims that products "exceed federal safety standards."

Note for example that the SEC has never come close to regulating the recent explosion of myriad collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). The massive speculation in this area is destabilizing the national and world economies.

Third, you need to articulate and provide a high profile to what western Europeans have long called "social consumerism." Citizens are consumers of government services for which they pay as taxpayers. In return they are entitled to prompt, accurate and courteous responses to their inquiries and to their perceived needs as embraced by the authorizing statutes.

To begin with, Americans need to be able to get through to their government agencies and departments. Being put on hold interminably with automated messages to nowhere, not receiving replies of any kind to their letters, and generally getting the brush-off even with the deadlines explicated in the Freedom of Information Act have been a bi-partisan failure.

However, under the Bush regime, not answering serious letters from dedicated individuals and groups on time-sensitive matters of policy and action-as with the Iraq war and occupation-became standard operating procedure-starting with President Bush himself.

This stonewalling has turned people off so much that they do not even bother to "ask their government" for assistance and that includes an astonishingly unresponsive Congress (other than for ministerial requests such as locating lost VA or social security checks.)

As you shape the Obama White House, bear in mind that the "change you can believe in" is one of kind, not just degree.

Sincerely yours,

Ralph Nader

 

Closing Gitmo just the beginning

Eric Marolis of the Toranto Sun Times expressed the following opinion in this mornings edtion about the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison, as well as other CIA secret "Black" prisons around the globe. It's an opinion in which I happen to agree with:

Kudos to President Barack Obama for closing the U.S. prison at Guantanamo, Cuba, and the CIA's network of secret, or "black,'" prisons abroad, both blots on America's honour and grave violations of international law.

The U.S. conquered Cuba in the 1898 Spanish-American War. Washington then installed a U.S. citizen as president who granted Washington base rights to Guantanamo in perpetuity. A century later, the U.S. made a similar sweetheart deal in Afghanistan.

Now is an excellent time for Obama also to close the U.S. base at Guantanamo and return it to Cuba. Gitmo is a military white elephant. Returning it to Cuba would be a good start to thawing relations between Havana and Washington.

Obama's next step in returning America to its senses should be ending use of the propaganda terms, "terrorism," and "war on terror."

Read more>>> Here

01/24/09: President Obama's Weekly Address

In his first weekly address since being sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, President Barack Obama discussed how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan will jump-start the economy.

National Republican Campaign Committee(NRCC):“Economy is Robust and Job Creation is Strong”

Honestly, you can't make this stuff up! 

The National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) has posted an article on their website touting their wonderful achievements in creating/establishing an economy that is strong and robust. 

Here's the text, read all about it yourself:

 Thanks to Republican economic policies, the U.S. economy is robust and job creation is strong.

Republican tax cuts are creating jobs and continuing to strengthen the economy, yet there is still more to do so that every American who wants a job can find one. Congressional Republicans understand that many Americans are working hard to make ends meet. That is why the GOP continues to push for pro-growth policies that create jobs and oppose tax increases that would add a burden to working families and set back our economy. Republicans believe we should:

Allow families to plan for the future by making tax relief permanent.

Encourage investment and expansion by restraining federal spending and reducing regulation.

Make our country less dependent on foreign sources of energy through a comprehensive national energy policy.

Expand trade and levels the playing field to sell American goods and services across the globe.

Protect small business owners and workers from excessive frivolous lawsuits that threaten jobs across America.

Lower the cost of health care for small businesses and working families through Association Health Plans, tax-free Health Savings Accounts, tax credits for employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts, Medical Liability Reform, and health information technology.

Additionally, to keep our economy growing, we must reform the tax code to make it simpler, fairer, and more pro-growth. Embarking on a bipartisan effort to reform and simplify the tax code is one of the goals of the Republicans in Congress.

The next thing they will be tell you is that the Democrats cause the current fiscal crisis!!

Take Action - Make A Pledge

President Harry Truman said that being president is the loneliest job in the world.

A group of celebrities, lead by Demi Moore and Ashton Kushner, got together and recorded a message to President Barack Obama to let him know that he would not have to be alone, that they pledge to make a difference and help change the country, themselves and the world for the better. 

Watch the video and if you are inspired make a pledge:

Presidential Pledge @ Yahoo! Video

I pledge to be a better husband, father and son.

I pledge to be more understanding to the people around me.

I pledge to make a difference !

Middletown Republicans Turning Voter Trust Into A Joke

By Joe Caliendo

The Republican Majority on the Middletown Committee hasn't told the truth about what it is doing to township residents, their trust or their money for quite some time.

In Middletown, Republican Chairman Peter Carton sits in the back of the committee chambers sometimes and holds court while the show that is the committee meeting goes on in the front of the room. Peter Carton picks the candidates that become elected officials in town, he then turns around and works for those people when they appoint his Newark Law firm as the bond counsel for the township. How can that be a good thing? It can't.

He must find it quite humorous, how the township Republicans dupe people into believing they are voting for candidates from a political party when they are, in fact, voting for a law firm.

Deputy Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger would tell you that Middletown represents the best in government in this state. I suppose that would be true, if someone counted cronyism, backroom dealing, financial mismanagement, and a lack of transparency as good things.

Emboldened by their recent election win in November, the Republican Majority practically doubled the township's legal budget. While there is a new township attorney, Brian Nelson, the committee decided it would keep the old township attorney, Bernard Reilly, around for awhile, and pay him about what they paid him when he was the township attorney last year. It's being said that Mr. Reilly is cleaning up cases. Well, he sure can buy a big mop.

Brian Nelson isn't a new face for people in politics. He was the Republican Party executive director for the state organization under Sen. Joe Kyrillos when he was state chairman. Then Mr. Nelson went to Mr. Carton's Newark law firm, and worked there while he was an oft-used campaign staffer for Monmouth County Republicans. Mr. Nelson was even involved with Middletown Republican campaigns. It's funny how I've always thought about lawyers – it was always my view that lawyers are supposed to get jobs by being good at practicing law. I don't see how Mr. Nelson had time for such a thing with all of his political work.

The PolitickerNJ.com, this political website, has even given Mr. Nelson the title "Republican insider." As a resident and taxpayer of Middletown, I would prefer to have a good lawyer representing the township rather than some ridiculous political "insider."

Middletown voters pulling the lever for Peter Carton's Republican Party are being used. But they don't have to take my word for it – they could always go to a meeting of their committee for themselves once and see what they put into office. They might even catch an appearance by the great man himself, Mr. Carton, while he swaggers in the back of the committee chambers mocking the township foolish enough to buy his election season scam.

With A Down Turn In the Ecomomy, Middletown Hires Second Lawyer And Doubles Legal Fees

The following is a letter from Middletown resident Don Watson.

Mr Watson is addressing his concern over Middletown's hiring of a second Municipal Attorney which would essentially double the cost of legal fees that the Township could incur:

After all of the whining by Republicans about unfunded mandates being imposed on the Township by Trenton, the Republican-controlled Township Committee voted to appoint not one, but two attorneys this year. Their actions do not follow their words, leading residents to assume they are not really concerned about reducing costs to keep our taxes low.

Former Township Attorney, Bernard Reilly, will retain his position on the payroll to perform litigation duties for the town at a rate not to exceed $310K. Mr. Reilly has been the Township's single attorney for the past 20 years. This year, however, the Township felt it necessary to retain Mr. Reilly's services and hire Brian Nelson, 31, as Township Attorney. Mr. Nelson has only six years of total law experience and no municipal law experience. The Committee rationalized Nelson's appointment because he works for a law firm that has some experience in this area. It is too bad that Middletown did not hire the law firm instead of its very junior member.

Middletown is not a training ground for future lawyers. This is the largest township in Monmouth County and deserves the kind of representation that does not require colleague oversight. We need someone that knows the game and can come out swinging. Little League players may be future big leaguers, but Middletown is already in the big league and needs seasoned players.

Mr. Reilly and Mr. Nelson have different experience levels and should not command the same salaries. Retaining two lawyers has the potential to bring legal fees to over $600k per year, doubling what taxpayers paid last year for the same service.


Don Watson
New Monmouth, NJ

SEN. MENENDEZ SEEKS ASSURANCES THAT FEDERAL LOAN IS NOT USED TO PROP UP FOREIGN AUTO MAKER

Member of Banking and Finance Committees asks President Obama to require that Chrysler repay TARP loan should Fiat take majority ownership

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today asked President Barack Obama to institute a policy to prevent auto company rescue funds from going to foreign auto companies. With Italian carmaker Fiat in a deal to purchase 35 percent of Chrysler and with news reports citing the possibility that it could eventually own up to 55 percent of Chrysler, Senator Menendez is asking that Chrysler be required to pay back loans from the Troubled Asset Relief Program should Fiat become the majority owner of the company.

Read Senator Menendez's letter to President Obama>>>HERE

HOLT STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ORDERS ON DETAINEE TREATMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington, D.C.) –U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12), who has served as Chair of the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel for two years and as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for six years today issued the following statement on President Obama’s Executive Orders on detainee treatment, including the order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center within one year. Holt also urged the President to support his legislation to require the videorecording of all interactions between American government personnel or contractors, and detainees arrested in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. These records would be kept at the appropriate level of classification, and would be available to intelligence personnel who could examine them for any potential intelligence benefit.

“President Obama promised to take swift action to bring this sorry chapter in our nation’s history to an end, and today he took the first, significant step to do so. Today’s orders will begin the process of putting our detainee policies back on a sound legal footing while maintaining our ability to get actionable intelligence. I am confident that the Obama Administration will continue to restore our nation’s credibility and moral leadership.

When he was an Illinois State Senator, Barack Obama supported legislation to require law enforcement to videotape those in custody to get the best results of interrogations and to document the procedures and treatment followed. I urge him to support my legislation, passed last year in the House of Representatives, to require the recording of all interrogations of those in American custody.”

Sports Thursday: No. 1 Loses, and More

No. 1 Wake Forest beaten at home Wednesday by Virginia Tech, 78-71; Rex Ryan introduced as the Jets' new head coach; Jeff Kent to announce his retirement; Jayson Werth, Phillies agree on a two-year, $10 million deal.

Playing For Change: Song Around the World "Don't Worry"

From the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", comes the follow up to the classic "Stand By Me" and the second of many "songs around the world" being released on CD/DVD in April, 2009. Featured is an incredible track written by Pierre Minetti performed by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it traveled the globe.

Join the Movement to help build schools, connect students, and inspire communities in need through music.

NEW LEGISLATION FROM SEN. MENENDEZ PROVIDES INCENTIVES FOR PRODUCTION OF SOLAR ENERGY

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) yesterday introduced legislation that would help encourage the use of solar energy by homeowners and small businesses. The initiative would support new, innovative solar financing strategies being adopted by local governments around the nation by allowing home and business owners to participate in these local programs while still receiving a full solar federal energy tax credit. In addition, the bill would help spur the manufacturing of solar panels here in the United States and would boost the use of solar power in federal buildings.

“Solar power can save people money, create jobs, and help lower greenhouse gas emissions, which is why it needs to be a key part of our green economic recovery,” said Senator Menendez. “This legislation would allow homeowners to take full advantage of programs to help harness solar power and encourage the manufacturing of solar power in our country. These are the sorts of programs with short and long term economy benefits that should be considered for an economic recovery package.”

“We applaud Sen. Menendez’s ongoing efforts to help the solar industry to continue to flourish. This bill will help the solar industry produce 440,000 jobs by 2016 and truly repower our economy,” said Rhone Resch, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industry Association.

Senator Menendez’s bill is a companion to legislation introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA). It would do the following:

• Allow communities to finance solar panels without forcing their residents’ to forgo federal tax incentives. Instead of incurring upfront costs of up to $40,000, residents would be able to get solar panels for less than $200 per month by taking full advantage of a solar energy tax credit. New Jersey communities are considering adopting such a funding mechanism that was adopted by Berkeley. See the following for details: http://www.berkeleyfirst.renewfund.com/

• Provide a manufacturing tax credit for solar equipment so solar panels can be made affordably right here in America.

• Allow federal buildings to enter into long term solar power purchase agreements. This will mean federal buildings can contract with firms to get power at a fixed rate long period of time. This could result in an immediate savings for taxpayers and the expansion of solar installations.

NSA Whistleblower- Bush Administration Spying on Journalists- Recording "Everything"

From last nights Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Russel Tice former analysist for the National Sercurity Administration (NSA)says that the Bush administration was spying on and targeting journalists and had access to all Americans phone calls, emails and computer communications.

CREW Applauds Obama's New Ethics Rules and Approach to the Freedom of Information Act

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON - January 21 - After eight long years of secrecy, President Obama's actions today indicate that transparency in government was more than just a campaign promise. The Obama administration's approach to the Freedom of Information Act will allow government watchdogs and the public to obtain information about what the executive branch of government is doing and why. CREW also applauds the new ethics rules announced today. Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director said, "The fact that Mr. Obama took these actions on his very first day in office signals a new era in government accountability."

CONTACT: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
Naomi Seligman

 202.408.5565

PALLONE STATEMENT ON THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) issued the following statement today after the swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

"I felt so proud to be an American today. Every inauguration is special as it signifies the peaceful transfer of power that makes our nation so unique. Today, however, was a celebration as history was made on the steps of the U.S. Capitol when Barack Obama became the first African-American sworn in as our president.

"I was also awed by the enthusiasm that brought millions of Americans to the National Mall at a time when our nation faces enormous challenges. In his inaugural address, President Obama outlined those challenges and charged each of us with helping to rebuild our nation so that every American can once again live the American dream.

"In the coming months, I pledge to work with President Obama and my colleagues in Congress to begin the difficult and long process of rebuilding our nation. I hope that the civility and the bipartisan spirit that we witnessed today will continue as we work to address the extraordinary challenges ahead."

President Obama Circulates Draft Order to Close Guantánamo:GTMOP Attorneys Say He Needs to Do Better

Press Release

NEW YORK - January 21 - Center for Constitutional Rights attorneys for Guantánamo detainees responded today to portions of President Obama's draft executive order to close the offshore prison camp that appeared in the news.

According to accounts, the president will order that Guantánamo "shall be closed as soon as practicable, and no later than one year from the date of this order." In addition, President Obama requested yesterday that the notorious military commissions be halted for 120 days while his administration reviews the cases.

CCR Executive Director Vincent Warren issued the following statement:

It only took days to put these men in Guantanamo, it shouldn't take a year to get them out.

We are proud that President Obama made addressing Guantánamo one of his first acts in office. Yet we are disappointed that he outlined no concrete steps for closing the base and gave his administration an entire year to sort out its plans - meaning that some men could have been detained indefinitely in terrible conditions for eight full years. Surely he could do better.

President Obama should commit to dismantling the military commissions, not just suspending them, and to prosecuting any cases before federal criminal courts - real courts with real laws.


CCR has led the legal battle over Guantanamo for the last six years - sending the first ever habeas attorney to the base and sending the first attorney to meet with a former CIA "ghost detainee." CCR has been responsible for organizing and coordinating more than 500 pro bono lawyers across the country in order to represent the men at Guantanamo, ensuring that nearly all have the option of legal representation. CCR represented the detainees with co-counsel in the most recent argument before the Supreme Court on December 5, 2007.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change

Kennedy Is Said to Withdraw Senate Bid

The NY Times is reporting that Caroline Kennedy has decided to withdraw from considerationfor Hillary Rodham Clinton's vacant Senate seat in New York, according to a person told of her decision.

President Obama Pledges a Remade America

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history.”

- Barack Obama Inaugural Address January 20,2009, NY Times

  

U.S. Troops On Inauguration

Does anyone wonder what our military personnel think of their new President? Soldiers stationed in Afghanistan send their warm wishes to President Obama and share their thoughts on the critical transition facing our nation's new Commander-In-Chief.

President Barack Obama 2009 Inauguration and Address

If you missed it earlier today, President Barack Obama took the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States and delivered an inaugural address focusing on the themes of sacrifice and renewal on January 20, 2009.

Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov

The change was swift, at exactly 12:00pm est. the official website of the White House and the Presidency of the United States dropped all references to the Bush administration and ushered in all things Obama.

Here is the first post from the White House blog:

 

Welcome to the new WhiteHouse.gov. I'm Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House and one of the people who will be contributing to the blog.

A short time ago, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and his new administration officially came to life. One of the first changes is the White House's new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.

Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country's future. WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement.

Just like your new government, WhiteHouse.gov and the rest of the Administration's online programs will put citizens first. Our initial new media efforts will center around three priorities:

Communication -- Americans are eager for information about the state of the economy, national security and a host of other issues. This site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to keep everyone up-to-date and educated. Check out the briefing room, keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from the President and his administration so you can be sure to know about major announcements and decisions.

Transparency -- President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise. The President's executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that’s just the beginning of our efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government. You can also learn about some of the senior leadership in the new administration and about the President’s policy priorities.

Participation -- President Obama started his career as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he saw firsthand what people can do when they come together for a common cause. Citizen participation will be a priority for the Administration, and the internet will play an important role in that. One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.

We'd also like to hear from you -- what sort of things would you find valuable from WhiteHouse.gov? If you have an idea, use this form to let us know. Like the transition website and the campaign's before that, this online community will continue to be a work in progress as we develop new features and content for you. So thanks in advance for your patience and for your feedback.

Later today, we’ll put up the video and the full text of President Obama’s Inaugural Address. There will also be slideshows of the Inaugural events, the Obamas’ move into the White House, and President Obama’s first days in office.

How Could We Forget 100th Anniversary of the Jersey Devil?

With all of the excitement surrounding the Obama inauguration today, it's no wonder that we have forgotten a very important piece of New Jersey news and folklore. I have to give the heads up to the radio program coast to coast am for reminding us of this very import event in our State's history.

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the notorious rampage of the Jersey Devil, which took place in the Delaware Valley from January 16-23, 1909. Strange tracks were found in the snow and across the rooftops of houses, with witnesses claiming to see something like a large flying kangaroo.

"...Legend has it that in 1735, a Pines resident known as Mother Leeds found herself pregnant for the thirteenth time. (Leeds is the name of one of New Jersey’s earliest settlers, and many descendants of the Leeds family can still be found throughout NJ to this day.) Mother Leeds was not living a wealthy lifestyle by any means. Her husband was a drunkard who made few efforts to provide for his wife and twelve children. Reaching the point of absolute exasperation upon learning of her thirteenth child’s forthcoming, she raised her hands to the heavens and proclaimed “Let this one be a devil!”

She went into labor a few months later, on a tumultuously stormy night, no longer mindful of the curse she had utter previously regarding her unborn child. Her children and husband huddled together in one room of their Leeds’ Point home while local midwives gathered to deliver the baby in another. By all accounts the birth went routinely, and the thirteenth Leeds child was a seemingly normal baby boy.

Within minutes however, Mother Leeds’ unholy wish of months before began to come to fruition. The baby started to change, and metamorphosed right before her very eyes. Within moments it transformed from a beautiful newborn baby into a hideous creature unlike anything the world had ever seen..."

 More at >>> WeirdNJ.com.

Weird NJ Hunts the Jersey Devil:

Inauguration Day

Here's the official schedule of events:

President-elect Barack Obama, Mrs. Obama, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden for church services tomorrow morning at St. John's Episcopal Church. The President-elect will not speak during the services.

Following the services, President-elect Obama, Mrs. Obama, Vice President-elect Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will have coffee with President Bush, Mrs. Bush, Vice President Cheney, Mrs. Cheney and members of the House and Senate leadership at the White House. The coffee is closed to the press.

President-elect Obama, Mrs. Obama, Vice President-elect Biden and Mrs. Biden will travel with President Bush and Mrs. Bush, Vice-President Cheney and Mrs. Cheney to the Capitol. Vice President-elect Biden will be sworn in by Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. President-elect Obama will be sworn in by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. at 11:30 AM ET. Mrs. Obama will carry the Lincoln Bible to the platform and hold it while the oath of office is administered. President Obama will deliver his Inaugural Address at approximately 12 PM ET.

The new President will then proceed to the Capitol where he will sign cabinet secretary nomination certificates. A pool from the Joint Committee on Congressional Ceremonies will be present for the signing ceremony and for the remarks at the Inaugural Lunch that will follow. The Senate Press Gallery is determining the pool. The President and First Lady, Vice President and Second Lady will then proceed to the East Front of the Capitol for the Review of the Troops, before the beginning of the Inaugural Parade.

The President and First Lady will travel with the Presidential Escort to the Presidential Reviewing Stand where they will meet up with their daughters and the Biden family to watch the rest of the parade.

The President and First Lady will attend all ten official Inaugural balls. The President will speak briefly at all ten balls.

- Political Wire

Barack Obama: Inaugural Celebration Address at the Lincoln Memorial

Due to the NFL championship games being played yesterday and the fact that HBO paid over $2 million for exclusive rights to cover the inaugural celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, most people did not a see Barack Obama address the crowd.

So here it is:

Youths head to inauguration by the bus load

As masses of people migrate towards Washington DC this weekend to be witness to the inauguration of Barack Obama, Star-Ledger's own Jennifer Weiss rode a public bus to our nation's capital and noticed that almost everyone on her bus is under the age of thirty.

New Hudson Jet Crash Details

NTSB officials are now searching for the missing left engine of the US Airways jet which crashed into the Hudson River. As Bianca Solorzano reports, that planes pilot has been praised as a hero.

Ride on the Whistle Stop Train Tour

Inaugural Weekend is kicked-off with President-elect Obama's whistle stop train tour from Philadelphia to Washington, DC.

Hop on board and join the fun!!

NFL Championship Sunday Predictions

Here are my predictions for the NFL's NFC and AFC Championship games, the winners of which will meet in the Super Bowl on February 1st.

Eagles vs. Cardinals

As stated last week after the game against the Giants, I feel that the Eagles will move onto the Super Bowl with a 24 - 19 victory over the Cardinals in Arizona. However, if Kurt Warner has great game and does not turn the ball over, I can see the results being reversed.

Steelers vs. Ravens

Jersey Joe Flacco's story book year is over after this game. The Steelers have beaten the Ravens handliy twice already this season and I see no reason to think otherwise here. Big Ben will do just enough to NOT lose the game and let the Pittsburgh defense control the game.

Steelers 23 Ravens 13

It should be an all Pennsylvania Super Bowl this year.

Thank you, Congressman Pallone

While surfing through Blue Jersey earlier today, I happened to come across a post written by a friend of mine, Vincent Solomeno.

Vincent has been a very active and successful Democrat in the bayshore for almost a decade. He got his start in 2000 when he managed his first successful Democratic campaign for Borough Council in Union Beach in over a decade. He then served as Executive Director of the Union Beach Democrats. Afterwards he moving to Hazlet to manage several campaigns, including Mayor Kevin Lavan and Committeeman Jim DiNardo's.

 Vincent penned the following piece in support of Congressman Frank Pallone's efforts to ensure that uninsured children have access to quality healthcare:

"The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped."
- Vice President Hubert Humphrey

In Washington, Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-6) is fighting for the progressive agenda. On Wednesday the House of Representatives approved, by a 289 to 139 margin, a record expansion of the State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Capitol Hill watchers expect the bill to easily pass through the Senate and reach President-Elect Obama's desk within days of his inauguration. In addition to reauthorizing a program that presently covers seven million children, yesterday's expansion will provide four million more with access to basic medical care.

This victory has been long coming. Both Democrats and a minority of Republicans attempted in the previous Congress to pass similar legislation, only to have their work vetoed twice by a President more interested in providing corporate welfare than extending health care to the children of the poor.

New Jerseyans should take pride in the knowledge that Congressman Pallone has led the House's efforts toward passage of the expansion. As Chair of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, he helped draft the legislation and went to the floor to shepherd it through to final approval. Pallone's work is consistent with his progressive principles and a reflection of his long held commitment to providing access to health care for all Americans.

The child health bill provides $32 billion to insure a total of 11 million children whose families lack the resources to pay for preventative and emergency care. Moreover, the legislation removes the discriminatory clause that excluded the children of legal immigrants - first generation Americans - from coverage.

With the economy entering recession, more than 2.6 million people lost their job last year alone - the highest one year loss since 1945. Experts estimate that for every 1 percent increase in the number of jobless, 1.5 million people lose health coverage. 47 million Americans are uninsured. Sadly, 9 million are children, and according to a recent report, 273,000 of them are from New Jersey.

Thanks in large measure to the work of Congressman Pallone, our country is one step closer to reducing that number. In doing so, we guarantee access to basic medical care for those who need it the most: our children.

Vincent Solomeno

  

HOUSE DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO EXPAND

Press Release -
WASHINGTON, DC —Today House Democratic leaders introduced legislation to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides health insurance currently for more than 7 million children. This legislation will protect coverage for those children and expand it to include an additional 4 million children who would otherwise be uninsured.

“As our nation moves deeper into a recession, millions of American families are joining the ranks of the uninsured,” said Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Pallone. “For the last two years, President Bush blocked our efforts to strengthen SCHIP, but change is coming to Washington. This week, the House should once again show its commitment to ensuring more Americans have access to affordable and quality health care by passing legislation that will reach 11 million American children.”

“I am very proud that our first health care bill being considered in the new Congress and with a new President is to ensure health coverage to vulnerable children,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Waxman. “The legislation will provide states with sufficient funding to continue their current SCHIP programs as well as to expand them to reach 4 million more low-income uninsured children. It also makes one important improvement by allowing states, at their option, to end the 5-year waiting period for low-income, uninsured children who are legal residents. This is far from health care reform, but it is a necessary start.”

“The current economic crisis makes reauthorization of this program essential,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Emeritus Dingell. “Americans are losing their jobs at alarming rates and the CHIP program will be there to ensure our nation’s children don’t fall through the cracks. In my home state of Michigan it is expected that unemployment will rise to 11.3 percent in 2009. There is no doubt that this will only increase the number of children without health insurance, which currently stands at 142,000 children. It is clear that the time to act is now. Reauthorization of the CHIP program is a great first start as we begin our work on reforming the nation's healthcare system.”

“I cannot think of a better investment in the future of our great nation than the health of our children,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rangel. “Extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program is not only good policy, it also offers an important opportunity to build bipartisan consensus on a critical issue. Congressional passage and swift enactment by President-elect Obama will demonstrate that change has come to Washington and that we are moving forward to improve economic security and quality of life for American families struggling during these hard times.”

“I am proud to join with my colleagues to introduce this SCHIP improvement legislation,” said Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Stark. “With a new President, we can and should quickly enact this legislation to help millions of children maintain their health coverage, a step made all the more important by the failing economy. I am also pleased that this bill includes a provision to finally close a loophole allowing physicians to self-refer to hospitals they own. These arrangements increase health expenditures, destabilize community hospitals by pulling profit centers out of them, and potentially endanger patients’ lives.”

The bill summary and other information are available online at www.energycommerce.house.gov or can be e-mailed upon request.

CONTACT: Andrew Souvall/Tali Israeli
(202) 225-4671

1/17/09: Your Weekly Address From the President-elect

In his final weekly address before assuming office, President-elect Barack Obama speaks about the upcoming Inauguration activities, a tradition at the heart of our democracy.

AFC Title Game Features Steelers vs. Ravens

Baltimore and Pittsburgh are squaring off to decide to advances to the Super Bowl from the AFC.

Obama's Peace Train Arrives on Tuesday - Hop on Board!

The "Peace Train" arrives in Washington on Tuesday come on everyone hop on board!!

Assembly Democratic Budget Panel Members Commentary on Mid-Year Budget Cuts

In this video press release, Democratic members of the Assembly Budget Committee discuss the need to make mid-year budget cuts.

Earlier this month, the Corzine administration released a list of $812 million in planned budget cuts, selected as part of a larger plan to deal with an estimated $2.1 billion shortfall in the current year budget.

Rangel To Reintroduce Military Draft Measure

The Hill - Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) likely will introduce his controversial legislation to reinstate the draft again this year, but he will wait until after the economic stimulus package is passed.

Asked if he plans to introduce the legislation again in 2009, Rangel last week said, “Probably … yes. I don’t want to do anything this early to distract from the issue of the economic stimulus.”

Rangel’s military draft bill did create a distraction for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) soon after Democrats won control of Congress after the 2006 election.
In the wake of that historic victory, Pelosi said publicly that she did not support the draft and that the Democratic leadership would not back Rangel’s legislation. She also said Rangel’s legislation was not about reinstating the draft but was instead “a way to make a point” about social inequality.

Reintroducing the military draft bill, which would attract media attention, will be trickier for Rangel in 2009 than it was a couple years ago because the Ways and Means Committee chairman is now under investigation by the House ethics committee.

Democratic leaders have given Rangel a leading role in helping craft the new economic stimulus bill despite an array of ethics allegations that have surfaced over the last several months. The charges have ranged from failing to report rental income on a villa in the Dominican Republic to an alleged quid pro quo involving a legislative favor for a donor to an education center bearing Rangel’s name.

Read More >>>HERE

Lessons from the Bush Years

Political Wire - In today's must-read piece, Bob Woodward, who wrote four books on the Bush presidency, offers ten lessons that President-elect Obama and his team should take away from the last eight years.

1. Presidents set the tone. Don't be passive or tolerate virulent divisions.

2. The president must insist that everyone speak out loud in front of the others, even -- or especially -- when there are vehement disagreements.

3. A president must do the homework to master the fundamental ideas and concepts behind his policies.

4. Presidents need to draw people out and make sure bad news makes it to the Oval Office.

5. Presidents need to foster a culture of skepticism and doubt.

6. Presidents get contradictory data, and they need a rigorous way to sort it out.

7. Presidents must tell the hard truth to the public, even if that means delivering very bad news.

8. Righteous motives are not enough for effective policy.

9. Presidents must insist on strategic thinking.

10. The president should embrace transparency. Some version of the behind-the-scenes story of what happened in his White House will always make it out to the public -- and everyone will be better off if that version is as accurate as possible.

HOLT SUPPORTS EXTENDING CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM:Similar to Bill President Bush Twice Vetoed in 110th Congress

(Washington, DC) – Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) today voted to extend and improve the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to protect existing coverage and provide states with funding to provide coverage for 4 million additional children. The bill is similar to legislation that Holt helped pass twice in the 110th Congress, but President Bush vetoed.

“Sending a child to the emergency room is not an alternative to having comprehensive health insurance,” Holt said. “Especially at a time when millions of families are facing economic hardships, we must ensure that children have the care they need.”

SCHIP currently provides health care coverage for more than 7 million low-income children who otherwise would go without care. President-elect Obama has signaled his support for expanding SCHIP.

New Jersey uses its SCHIP funds to run a program called FamilyCare. Currently, 150,000 children and approximately 100,000 low-income parents are enrolled in New Jersey's program.

Holt also noted that the bill would provide parity for mental health for children.

“I long have fought for mental health parity, and was pleased that last year we could improve mental health coverage for private insurance plans and Medicare. I am encouraged that we have now extended this to the SCHIP program.”

Eagles and Cards Play for NFC Championship

 

Philadelphia and Arizona are playing for the right to advance to the Super Bowl. This video report by the Associated Press details what each team had to do to get to the this point.

Playing for Change: Peace Through Music

A friend of mine sent me a link to an organization called Playing for Change. He learned about Playing for Change from a segment he saw on Bill Moyers Journel and thought that they were worth checking out and supporting.

I did a quick google search to learn more about them and I found the following blog entry from Bill Moyers's website. The blog entry was written by the creator/director of Playing for Change:Peace Through Music, Mark Johnson.

Mark Johnson describes the mission and goals of Playing For Change much better than I can, please read it then check out the following video it is amazing:

PLAYING FOR CHANGE is a movement uniting people all over the world through music and inspiration. It all began about seven years ago as my producing partner, Whitney Kroenke Burditt, and I assembled a group of like-minded people with cameras and a mobile recording studio. We embarked on a journey across the globe in search of music and human connections.

We started the journey with the idea that with an open mind and positive intentions we can find ways of uniting people as the human race. Music has always been the universal language and we followed its path from city streets to Native Indian reservations, African villages and the Himalayan Mountains. I could never have imagined that we would discover a world with so much love, hope and inspiration. In a world with so much focus on our differences I am proud to have discovered that people everywhere believe in creating a better world together.

Throughout our travels we created songs around the world such as “Stand By Me” and “One Love.” These songs and videos offer musicians who have never met in person the ability to collaborate and unite through the power of music. We also interviewed all of the musicians and learned stories of how music has helped to persevere through struggles all over the world. These collections of songs and interviews serve as a reminder of the power of the human spirit as well as a means of further illustrating our global collective conscience. We live in a world with way too many starving children and way too many warring nations. As a human race we come together for birth, and we come together for death, what brings us together in between is up to us. Stop and listen to the universal language of music and bring that positive energy with you everywhere we go.

The vision of PLAYING FOR CHANGE extends far beyond just music and film. We have established the Playing For Change Foundation to build music and art schools for kids around the world. We have recently returned from Gugulethu, South Africa where we constructed the first Playing For Change Music School. We plan to build many more schools, each equipped with cameras and a recording studio so supporters all over the world can watch recitals and performances in the schools we are building together. We can use these schools as sources of inspiration and a means of breaking down negative stereotypes among people everywhere. In the words of one of the artists featured in PLAYING FOR CHANGE, Vusi Mahlasela, “The world is immigrating into a global village, the question is how much do you want to belong.” Learn more about PLAYING FOR CHANGE, and together we can accomplish much more than we ever can apart.

From the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", comes the first of many "songs around the world" being released independently. Featured is a cover of the Ben E. King classic by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it travelled the globe. This and other songs such as "One Love" will be released as digital downloads soon; followed by the film soundtrack and DVD early next year.