Archive for April, 2010:
President Obama: “The economy that shrank for four quarters in a row has now grown for three quarters in a row”
This morning we saw Order Generic Accutane Online without Prescription one more sign that our economy is on the path to recovery: new GDP numbers showing that the economy grew 3.2% the first three months of this year. To put it in perspective, during the same period last year the economy shrank by 6.4%.
The President spoke on the news in the Rose Garden this morning:
“Every three months, the federal government measures the total output of goods and services our businesses, our workers and our government produce. It determines whether our economy is shrinking or growing -– the single broadest measure of America’s economic health. At the height of our economic crisis, that measure all too often was delivering grim news. But today is a different story.
In the first quarter of last year, our economy shrank at a rate of 6.4 percent. Today, we learned that in the first quarter of this year, our economy grew at a rate of 3.2 percent.
What this number means is that our economy as a whole is in a much better place than it was one year ago. The economy that shrank for four quarters in a row has now grown for three quarters in a row. And that growth has been a condition for job growth -– the economy that was losing jobs a year ago is creating jobs today.
After the single biggest economic crisis in our lifetimes, we’re heading in the right direction. We’re moving forward. Our economy is stronger; that economic heartbeat is growing stronger.”
Monday: 2010 Online Strategy Session with Mitch Stewart and David Plouffe
Organizing for America Director Mitch Stewart just sent the following email, inviting supporters to join him and David Plouffe for an online strategy session on the 2010 elections this Monday:
This week, President Obama outlined our top priority for the 2010 elections: Making sure first-time voters from 2008 return to the polls.
Now, it's up to us to make it happen.
So I hope you will join David Plouffe and me for our Vote 2010 online Strategy Session next Monday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, where we'll detail our plans to organize supporters and volunteers and get the job done.
You'll get the inside scoop on the plan you helped create, have a chance to ask questions, and participate in an online discussion with other supporters in your state.
Join us for the Vote 2010 Strategy Session this Monday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Please RSVP today.
Over the past few months, we've held hundreds of local strategy planning meetings across the country to make our 2010 campaign the most effective it can be. We've incorporated your feedback into a comprehensive electoral plan we think will make the difference in the November elections.
You Buy Cialis told us your top priority was clear -- getting the millions of first-time voters from 2008 out to the polls once again. During Monday's Strategy Session, you'll find out exactly how we plan to make that happen.
We'll detail the role organizers and supporters like you will play and give you an insider look at our plan. You'll have a chance to ask David and me questions -- and we'll connect you in a live chat with staff and volunteers in your area so you can talk about your local strategy.
We've set an ambitious goal to protect the progress we've made together. And with corporate special interests able to spend freely to elect their allies, we can't afford to fail. All that we've worked for is at stake.
Once again, our strength will come from volunteers and organizers in every city and town. You will lead us to victory in November -- so we wanted to organize this special briefing to give you a closer look at our plans.
RSVP today:
http://my.barackobama.com/2010StrategySession
Thanks,Mitch
Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America
President Obama on Wall Street Reform: “It’s time to get this done”
The Senate began debate on Wall Street reform yesterday, overcoming days of Republican obstruction to consider a bill that would rein in Wall Street, prevent future bailouts, and protect consumers.
Speaking in Illinois earlier this week, President Obama called on Congress to send him a final bill to his desk and explained how reform will help regular Americans:
President Obama:
“We’re going to make sure the American taxpayer is never again on the hook when a Wall Street firm fails. Never again. We don’t want to see another bailout. That’s what this reform does...That’s point number one.
Point number two -- we’re going to close the loopholes that allowed derivatives and all these other large, risky deals that don’t make a lot of economic sense and that could threaten our entire economy -- we want to bring those deals out into the -- out of the dark alleys of our financial system into the light of day, so that everybody knows exactly what’s happening, what risks are being taken -- investors, shareholders, everybody knows what’s going on. That’s the second thing.
Number three -- this reform is going to give you more power because we’re going to put in place the strongest consumer financial protections in history...
Finally, we’re going to give the people who own these companies,
these financial companies -– mainly investors and pension holders and shareholders like many Order Generic Cialis Online without Prescription of you -– we want you to have more say in the way they’re run. Because some of these firms, they’ve got these huge salaries, huge bonuses that create a perverse incentive to encourage people to take reckless risks. But if you own stock in these companies, you need to get some say in how they operate...
Now, I don’t think this should be a partisan issue. Everybody –- Republicans, and Democrats, and independents -– were hurt by this crisis. So everybody should want to fix it. So I’m very pleased that after a few days of delay, it appears an agreement may be at hand to allow this debate to move forward on the Senate floor on this critical issue. I’m very pleased by that.”
CNN reported on what comes next:
"Lawmakers started making opening speeches Thursday, talking in general about the bill. They're not expected to start debating the details of possible changes to the bill until next Tuesday.
The amendment process and debate could take several weeks...
...The House passed a Wall Street reform bill last December. A final Senate bill, if passed, would trigger one of two options: either a conference with the House to reconcile differences and come up with a single measure that must pass both chambers, or the House could agree to vote on the Senate bill."
After Days of Republican Obstruction, Senate Moves to Consider Wall Street Reform
As Senate Democrats prepared for an all night session to force votes on Wall Street reform, Republicans finally gave in yesterday and allowed the Senate to move forward and consider the bill. Republicans had been blocking debate since Monday, and had unanimously voted three times against proceeding.
Before taking questions from reporters on Air Force One yesterday evening, the President hailed the Senate's progress and urged Congress to quickly send a bill to his desk:
“I am very pleased that the United States Senate has decided to proceed to the financial regulatory bill Buy Accutane by unanimous consent. It is the right thing to do. And I want to reiterate what I said earlier, that this shouldn’t have to be a partisan issue. Republicans, Democrats, independents -- everybody was hurt by the crisis on Wall Street. It is something that we can prevent with some better rules of the road, and I hope that we can get this done quickly, reconcile it with the work that was done over on the House side, and that I can sign this bill into law very soon. But I want to congratulate the Senate on making progress on an issue that’s vital to everybody in the country.”
Politico has more:
With bipartisan negotiations at an impasse and Democrats pledging to force votes until they relented, Republicans ended their standoff Wednesday over a financial regulatory reform bill, agreeing to allow a debate to begin on the politically popular measure.
Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, the ranking Republican on the Banking Committee, walked from the negotiations after deciding that Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) would make no further concessions on the scope and powers of a new consumer protection agency.
Dodd was under pressure from the Democratic caucus to not weaken the bill in any significant way, believing that there was no need to do so. The politics of the issue were so lopsided in their favor that Republicans would eventually have to fold without much to show for it, Democrats believed.
And by late Wednesday – after three days of negative headlines and an 11-hour grilling Tuesday of Goldman Sachs executives by frustrated senators – Republicans backed down...
"It's time for Wall Street to come out of the shadows and out into the light of day,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). “And it's time for negotiations to come out of the back room and onto the Senate floor. . . .It's time to put an end to obstruction and begin working for American families, so I'm glad that we're finally now on this bill."...
“Now we'll be able to begin that process, [amending the bill]” [Senate Majority Leader] Reid said. “The American people will finally have the opportunity to watch and weigh those ideas."
President Obama: “Let us honor Dorothy Height’s life by changing this country for the better”
This morning, President Obama spoke at the funeral of civil rights legend Dr. Dorothy Height, who passed away last week at the age of 98. The President has ordered that American flags be flown at half mast today in honor of Dr. Height's memory.
In the eulogy he delivered at Washington's National Cathedral, President Obama said:
“The love in this sanctuary is a testament to a life lived righteously; a life that lifted other lives; a life that changed this country for the better over the course of nearly one century here on Earth...
Dorothy Height was a drum major for justice. A drum major for equality. A drum major for freedom. A drum major for service. And the lesson she would want us to leave with today -- a lesson she lived out each and every day -- is that we can all be first in service. We can all be drum majors for a righteous cause. So let us live out that lesson. Let us honor her life by changing this country for the better as long as we are blessed to live. May God bless Dr. Dorothy Height and the union that she made more perfect.”
You can read the President's full speech here.
In honor of Dr. Height, the White House just released never-before-seen footage of President Obama with Dr. Height during an intergenerational reflection on the civil rights movement at the White House in January. In the video, Dr. Height shares her memories of meeting 15-year-old Martin Luther King, Jr. Watch it here:
‘Help get more boots on the ground for 2010′
Organizing for America Director Mitch Stewart just sent supporters the following message:
"Republicans win back House, Senate." "Voters reject Obama's agenda."
If you listen to the talking heads on TV, it's like November 3rd's headlines are already written.
But here's what they don't know -- and it's why they're dead wrong: The same grassroots movement that knocked on the most doors, made the most calls, and inspired the most first-time voters in history in 2008 hasn't gone anywhere. In fact, we're gearing up to do it all again.
You heard it from the President on Monday. We've been planning for the fall campaign all year. And we know full well that winning nationally means organizing locally. Every House district holds an election this year, and all but five states will vote statewide for a governor or senator.
We need to get moving in your community -- and all over the country -- earlier than ever before. David Plouffe and I have taken a hard look at the numbers, and we need 12 donations from your area by May 1st to kick off our efforts.
Republicans are already Cheap Accutane calling 2010 a "referendum" on the President's agenda. They're campaigning to win majorities in Congress, so they can roll back the progress we've worked so hard to make. In fact, hundreds of candidates have signed a pledge, circulated by the conservative Club for Growth, to repeal health insurance reform.
If history is any guide, this is nothing to scoff at. In midterm elections, the president's party regularly loses seats. And an economy that's still recovering only makes our job harder.
But history has never seen anything like us.
While Sarah Palin gives big speeches mocking "community organizers," we're investing in them. Our field operation is far and away the largest of its kind in history. OFA staff and volunteers are pounding the pavement across the country.
From the earliest primaries in 2008 to the fight for Wall Street reform, while the attacks ads were flying and the cynics were talking down our chances, we've done what we know best -- keep on organizing. Investing in these resources is what will make it possible for us to set records again in 2010.
The headlines we wake up to on November 3rd are in our hands. But we can't succeed without a strong start -- and we can't do it without you.
Will you be one of the first in your area to chip in $5 to get our grassroots off the ground? Donate now:
https://donate.barackobama.com/2010kickoff
The fight ahead is going to be tough. With your help, Election Night doesn't have to be.
Thanks,
MitchMitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America
Listen Live: President Obama Speaking on Rebuilding Our Economy
UPDATED: The Buy cheap Accutane Online event has now ended.
Listen live as President Obama speaks in Macon, Missouri on rebuilding our economy.
New Folks and Veteran Organizers Alike Come Out to Gear Up for 2010
In San Francisco last Saturday, more than 50 people piled into Marcus Books, the oldest African-American bookstore in the country, eager to build local Organizing for America teams and prepare for the work of getting new voters to the polls in 2010. San Francisco's training was just one of the hundreds of Camp OFA trainings that took place around the country this weekend, and will continue over the coming weeks.
As the New Media Director at our national headquarters, it was great to get out of Washington and meet some of the amazing volunteers and leaders who work day in and day out building support for President Obama's agenda for change.
Participants in Saturday's Camp OFA were a range of ages and races, with many different reasons for coming out. Some had been deeply involved in the 2008 election -- making calls, knocking on doors, even driving for hours to talk to voters in battleground states. Others had only recently got involved.
Trudy was one participant I met who just recently decided to take part in OFA's work for change. She started her story with a simple line, “I just want to matter and make a difference.” Trudy had never gotten involved with politics until she saw what a tough fight the health reform battle was. Her family's story is an example of how President Obama and OFA's work has real-life, personal impact for folks across the country. Trudy is a retiree, and her son's medicine costs $40,000 every year, and he is virtually uninsurable. She’d never taken political action until she saw how close the health care vote came to not passing. She realized then it’s going to take all of us working together for change, and for her this training was the first step.
Then there were participants like Camille, a long-time organizing veteran who had driven through the night to register and talk to voters in Nevada during the 2008 election. As a nurse, Camille saw the broken health care system first hand, and was deeply involved in the push for Buy cheap Cialis Online reform.
These stories played out over and over again at Camp OFA Trainings around the country, as new folks and long-time organizers alike gathered to sharpen their skills and prepare for the fights ahead.
Watch Live: President Obama Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting in Ottumwa, Iowa
UPDATED: The event has now concluded.
Cheap CialisSenate Republicans Block Debate on Wall Street Reform
Senate Republicans voted unanimously to block debate on Wall Street reform last night, preventing the Senate from even discussing the President's proposals to establish a new set of consumer Provigil online No prescription protections and prevent future bailouts. All 41 Republican Senators are filibustering not in opposition to a bill, but rather to prevent the Senate from evening discussing or amending the existing proposals.
Following the vote, President Obama urged the Senate to get back to work and find a way forward on Wall Street reform:
“I am deeply disappointed that Senate Republicans voted in a block against allowing a public debate on Wall Street reform to begin. Some of these Senators may believe that this obstruction is a good political strategy, and others may see delay as an opportunity to take this debate behind closed doors, where financial industry lobbyists can water down reform or kill it altogether. But the American people can’t afford that. A lack of consumer protections and a lack of accountability on Wall Street nearly brought our economy to its knees, and helped cause the pain that has left millions of Americans without jobs and without homes. The reform that both parties have been working on for a year would prevent a crisis like this from happening again, and I urge the Senate to get back to work and put the interests of the country ahead of party.”
Despite last night's obstruction by Senate Republicans, Democrats have pledged to continue pushing for Wall Street reform, with a new series of votes beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET today.