Donna Schieferstein's Blog

This Thing Called Experience

Donna — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:43:35 EDT

Many of you feel that you can't "trust" senator Obama to be president of the United States. You feel that John McCain's 30 years in the senate would qualify someone to be president, along with crashing a Navy plane in enemy territory. His advanced age which many think is an asset could be a detriment. Spending all those years in congress would no more qualify John McCain to be president than it would qualify me to be a brain surgeon because I have spend many years in the hospital as a nurse.

Please consider what I am saying. The republicans have made a mess of our country over the last 8 years.

We need Obama because he is uniquely qualified to be president. His accomplishments through SELF discipline, his experiences in other cultures, his moral strength, and appreciation of family are only a few of the qualities he will bring as president.

Possible Threat to Obama

Donna — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:37:47 EDT

Police Uncover Possible Plot to Assassinate ObamaBy Emily Yehle
Roll Call StaffAugust 26, 2008, 12:14 a.m.

Police discovered a potential plot to assassinate presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) after making a traffic stop Sunday and arresting several people on drug and firearm charges.

Police in the suburb of Aurora, Colo., stopped the car in the early morning, according to a spokesman for the Denver Joint Information Center. A local CBS television station first reported the news Monday evening.

The Denver U.S. Attorney’s Office will have a press conference at 4 p.m. Tuesday with more information.

CBS is reporting that at least four people were arrested, and that one said he had come to kill Obama.

Obama received protection from the Secret Service early in his campaign because of the possibility of such threats, and this week’s Democratic National Convention is heavily secured.

Business and Professional Women Support Obama

Donna — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:50:36 EDT

Business and Professional Women PAC Endorses Barack Obama for President;

Points to Strong Support for Working Women and their Families

[August 25, 2008 -- Washington, DC] --Citing Senator Barack Obama’s strong support of working women and their families, BPW/PAC, the political arm of Business and Professional Women/USA (BPW/USA) has endorsed Senator Obama for President of the United States.

“The Trustees of BPW/PAC carefully analyzed the positions of both candidates before deciding to endorse Senator Obama,” said BPW/PAC Board of Trustees Chair Terri Freer of Texas. “The Senator’s commitment to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, increase retirement savings opportunities for women, expand paid sick leave and FMLA, along with his support of workplace flexibility and affordable healthcare made it clear that he was the candidate most supportive of our mission to achieve equity for all women in the workplace.”

“In addition, Senator Obama’s assurance that he will ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and his support of reproductive rights, programs to fight violence against women and passage of the Equal Rights Amendment makes it clear that he is committed to ensuring that women’s voices will be heard in his administration,” concluded Board Chair Freer.

“2008 is a critical election for working women. Our wages, our ability to care for our families, our access to health care and our retirement security are at stake,” said Trish Knight of Michigan, BPW/PAC Board Vice-Chair. “That is why BPW/PAC felt it was essential to let working women know which presidential candidate will best promote and protect the rights of workingwomen.”

Established in 1979, the nonpartisan Business and Professional Women Political Action Committee (BPW/PAC) helps shape the national agenda on workingwomen’s issues. Through education, endorsements and financial contributions, BPW/PAC supports federal candidates who will be strong advocates for equity for all women in the workplace.

For more information on BPW/PAC visit www.bpwusa.org.

MSNBC Reports

Donna — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:22:36 EDT

AP: Obama chooses Biden as runningmate Foreign Relations Committee chairman has globe-trotting credentialsMannie Garcia / AFP - Getty Images fileJoe Biden has represented Delaware in the United States

Just in Case

Donna — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:15:51 EDT

It's 99.9% certain that I have predicted correctly. Biden will be the nominee. To avoid the rush contribute to my fundraiser page now. For your convenience the link is below.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/DonnaSchieferstein

Exxon John

Donna — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:29:18 EDT

John McGreedy puts oil company's interest first and is deceiving the people into thinking they can have relief at the pump now. See this video.

http://www.democrats.org/page/invite/exxonjohn

Low-Road Express

Donna — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:19:00 EDT

John McCain's low-road express is headed full-speed into the gutter.

On Monday, he launched another round of baseless, absurd attacks on Barack Obama's patriotism.

Yesterday morning, Barack took an aggressive stand against these attacks, responding "I believe the American people are better than that. I believe that this defining moment demands something more of us. ... I will let no one question my love for this country."

Watch this video of Barack's speech and invite everyone you know to join the Action Wire:

As long as John McCain's campaign is stuck in the gutter, we know these character attacks and smears will intensify over the coming months.

Responding quickly, directly, and forcefully whenever McCain and the Karl Rove protégés who run his campaign attack is the most effective way to neutralize them.

As a member of the Obama Action Wire, you've taken a stand against McCain's petty and divisive tactics. Right now, you can take the next step by inviting your friends to join the Obama Action Wire.

We can't let Republicans like John McCain and George Bush keep questioning the character and patriotism of anyone who disagrees with them -- but it's going to take all of us working together to change the way Washington works.

Watch the video of Barack standing up to the McCain-Bush attack strategy and invite your friends and family to join you on the Action Wire:

http://my.barackobama.com/standingup

These times are too serious to let this kind of politics continue. Please forward this email to everyone you know.

Thanks for your help,

Obama Action Wire

Stephanie Tubbs Jones

Donna — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:16:33 EDT

According to Fox News Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio was just taken off life support around noon today following an aneurysm. Our prayers are with her family.

No Negative Campaign Ads on Sept. llth

Donna — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:05:29 EDT

Obama, McCain to Pull Attack Ads on Sept. 11th Anniversary
August 19, 2008 11:59 PM

ABC News' Jennifer Parker reports: A 9/11 victims' advocacy group is urging 2008 presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to observe a "campaign moratorium" on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

MyGoodDeed.org, a nonprofit group trying to establish Sept. 11 as a national day of voluntary service, wrote to both campaigns Tuesday asking them to halt partisan campaign activities, including negative ads.

"The campaign appears to be getting more negative and I think that we were concerned that that might begin to carry over right into 9/11," David Paine, MyGoodDeed.org co-founder and president told ABCNews.com.

"What we want the presidential candidates to do is put aside their differences of opinion for the day, dispense with their normal campaign activities and, instead, spend the day, along with their staffs, if possible, engaging in their own personal expressions of community service and just to reach out and speak to people about the importance of national service," said Paine, who created the group in 2002 to honor an emergency medical technician friend who died when the World Trade Center south tower collapsed.

The Obama campaign told ABCNews.com they will not be running any negative ads attacking McCain on Sept. 11. The McCain campaign said they will pull all of their campaign ads altogether.

"We wonâ��t be running ads on 9/11," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers told ABCNews.com. "Itâ��s a day for remembrance and unity, not political campaigning."

"We hope Sept. 11 is a day when Americans come together and reaffirm our resolve to address our common challenges together," Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan told ABCNews.com.

Both candidates have been invited to speak at Service Nation Summit in New York on Sept. 11, where political and business leaders will meet to discuss how to boost volunteerism in the US.

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are also scheduled to attend the forum, which is co-chaired by Obama supporter Caroline Kennedy.

While McCain has agreed to speak at the summit, Obama hasn't confirmed whether or not he will attend.

"We feel, and have always felt, that 9/11 is really a sacred day," said Paine, whose group is helping to organize the Service Nation Summit.

"Our big concern is really how will 9/11 be remembered and will there ultimately be something good that comes out of it after all the tragedy that happened on that day?"

Should Needy Families Be Required to Take Drug Test to Receive Aid?

Donna — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:20:17 EDT

This Week in Congress Your Headlines, Your Issues, Your Opinions

SHOULD NEEDY FAMILIES BE REQUIRED TO TAKE DRUG TESTS TO RECEIVE AID?

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) introduced a bill that would amend the Social Security Act to require States to implement a drug testing program for applicants for and recipients of assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. If an applicant fails a drug test, or was convicted of a drug related crime they can be denied aid. Also, states would be allowed to require random or set time drug tests. A person can be permanently denied aid if they fail three drug tests or receive three drug related convictions.
Read the details of the bill -The Drug Free Families Act of 2008
Tell Congress and the President if you support or oppose this bill or what you would do differently.

ACTION POLL: Pick the view that comes closest to your own. The choice of Congress is to vote this bill up or down or amend it. So if you support the idea but want to see it changed, pick the support option. If you think we should do something else, pick the oppose option. Be sure to personalize your response to make it more influential.

Yes, Support Drug Tests to Receive Federal Assistance
No, Oppose Drug Tests to Receive Federal Assistance

Bush Political Discussion

Donna — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:23:48 EDT

New Computer Virus

Donna — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:10:23 EDT

In case you haven't heard.

On Keith Olberman tonight there was a warning of a computer virus which would come into your email as "MSNBC breaking news". Do not open it.

Rush to Judgment on Anthrax

Donna — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:17:54 EDT

Anthrax was known by ancient Greeks and Egyptians and survived as a spore. During the cival war a plot of land was poisoned with Anthrax spores. Cattle grazed on that land and died of Anthrax over 100 years after the land was poisoned.

George W. Bush and John McCain wanted the extremists in Iraq to be held accountable for the Anthrax poisonings in the U.S. The Iraqis did not have the capability to execute such a sophisticated plan. Military grade Anthrax was used. Initially the FBI thought Dr. Hatfield was responsible. Within the last month the DOJ settled with Dr. Hatfield for over $6 million. The next suspect was Dr. Ivins who allegedly committed suicide last week. This is too convenient. The evidence is circumstantial and his co-workers do not believe he poisoned people with Anthrax.

Which Party is More Fiscally Responsible?

Donna — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:42:26 EDT

The economy is a big issue for the '08 election. So, which party has handled it better historically? To be fair, and since the current US president is a bit of an anomaly, most of this information doesnâ��t include George W. Bush.

_____________________

Which Party Handles the Economy Better Historically?
A new analysis by long-time fiscal analyst Richard Kogan shows clearly how different presidents have fared on their budget scorecards. By separating historical data by presidents, he finds that under Democrats, the country has had better budget and economic outcomes.

For example, over the last 42 years, Democrats have been more fiscally responsible than Republicans:
* The biggest deficits occurred under Republican administrations; and
* The budget has been balanced five times, and always under Democratic presidents.

Add Ted Stevens (R) from Alaska to the List

Donna — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 01:31:21 EDT

Jessie Helms: Dead, finally, on July 4th, 2008. A disgusting, ultra-rightwing racist who tarnished the face of American politics for a third of a century. His actions against civil rights, AIDS funding, affirmative action, a woman's right to choose, the establishment of the federal Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, and in support of racial segregation and the Ku Klux Klan made him one of the most egregious bigots in recent history. Thousands of good people suffered as the direct result of his actions. Good riddance. Read MoreTed Stevens: Republican Senator from Alaska indicted July 29, 2008, on seven felony counts of making false statements on his financial disclosure forms. The 28-page indictment -- the latest in an ongoing probe of corruption in Alaska politics -- claims Stevens concealed his receipt of more than $250,000 dollars worth of benefits from oil services company Veco Corp. and its former chief executive, Bill Allen, from 1999-2006. Federal agents searched his home on July 28, 2008, focusing on records related to his relationship with an oil field services contractor jailed in a public corruption investigation. Stevens has been under a federal investigation for a 2000 renovation project more than doubling the size of his home in Girdwood that was overseen by Bill Allen, a contractor who has pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska state legislators.Trent Lott: Republican Senator from Mississippi forced to relinquish his position as Senate Majority Leader after he stated that the United States would have been better off if segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond had won the presidency in 1948. Speaking at a 100th birthday party and retirement celebration for Republican Senator Thurmond, Lott said, "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either." On July 17, 1948, delegates from 13 southern states gathered in Birmingham to nominate Thurmond and adopt a platform that said, "We stand for the segregation of the races and the racial integrity of each race."Tom Delay: Participated in a conspiracy to funnel corporate donations to state political candidates through the Republican National Committee. Forced in shame to step down as House Republican leader after he was indicted by a Texas grand jury on charges of conspiracy. He is the first House leader to be indicted while in office in more than a century. On 3/31/06, DeLay's former chief of staff, Tony Rudy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promised to help with a federal investigation of bribery and lobbying fraud relating to Abramoff. Rudy admitted conspiring with Abramoff — both while Rudy worked for the Texas congressman and after he left the lawmaker's staff to become a lobbyist himself. He is the second former DeLay staffer to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the lobbying probe. Read MoreJohn Negroponte: Recently appointed by the Bush administration as Director of National Intelligence for the United States, and since fired. Ambassador to Honduras from 1981-1985 during which time he supported and carried out an extreme US-sponsored policy of severe violations to human rights and international law. Supervised the creation of the El Aguacate air base, where the US trained the far-right murderous Nicaraguan Contras during the 1980's. The base was used as a secret detention and torture center, and in August 2001, excavations at the base discovered the first of the corpses of the 185 people, including two Americans, who are thought to have been killed and buried at this base. During his ambassadorship, human rights violations in Honduras became systematic. The infamous Battalion 316, trained by the CIA and Argentine military, kidnaped, tortured and killed hundreds of people. Negroponte knew about these human rights violations and yet continued to collaborate with them, while lying to Congress. He should spend the rest of his life in a federal prison to pay for his crimes.

George W. Bush: Lied to the world about reasons for going to war in Iraq. Increased the national debt to over $8 Trillion with tax cuts for the rich and two wars. Directly responsible for the near-collapse of the US economy with millions of US citizens having lost their jobs. Created a poisonous atmosphere of anti-Americanism around the globe. Supports irresponsible foreign, economic, social and environmental policies. Obscene ties to big business and the Religious Right. He has spent more than 40% of his time in office either on vacation, going to or returning from vacation. He's spent the remainder of his time trying to form meaningful sentences and to clear his mind of the perpetual fog that seems to linger there. The voters in the US booted out many republicans from Congress, turning over control to the democrats, to voice their contempt of this president and his support by republican representatives.

It's time for impeachment

Dick Cheney: Directly responsible while CEO of Halliburton for corporate tax evasion, illegal arms sales, bribing of foreign officials, and price gouging the US government. Responsible for the granting of no-bid contracts while holding the position of VP to Halliburton. Lied to the US public about Iraq's nuclear activities. Blasted his hunting partner in the face and chest with a shotgun while illegally hunting in Texas in February 2006.

Sued in federal court on July 13, 2006, along with presidential advisor Karl Rove by CIA officer Valerie Plame and her husband, Joseph Wilson, a former U.S. ambassador accusing them and other White House officials of conspiring to destroy her career.

John Boehner: Elevated to the position of republican house leader to replace disgraced former leader Tom Delay. Boehner himself is a prime example of congressional corruption. His political action committee collected nearly $300,000 from private student lending companies and for-profit academic institutions from 2003-2004. He has taken more than $157,000 in free trips, placing him in 7th place for such questionable activity. More than 20 of his staff members have taken jobs in the private sector as lobbyists or corporate public affairs specialists. He handed out checks to his colleagues from tobacco company political action committees on the floor of Congress in 1995.

In September 2006, shortly after the five-year anniversary of the World Trade Center destruction, he stated to the disbelief of everyone that Democrats "are more interested in protecting the terrorists than protecting the American people." Just another corrupt Republican extremist.

Karl Rove: White House political adviser who has appeared five times before a federal grand jury investigating the leak of the name of a CIA operative. Close ties to corrupt Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Forced to give up his role as senior policy coordinator at the White House in April 2006. Rove originally failed to disclose to prosecutors that he had talked to Time magazine reporter Matt Cooper about the outed CIA operative, Valerie Plame, back in 2003. Months before Rove acknowledged speaking to Cooper about the CIA status of Plame, reporter Robert Novak told Rove's lawyer the Rove might have disclosed Plame's CIA work to Cooper.

Sued in federal court on July 13, 2006, along with vice-president Dick Cheney by CIA officer Valerie Plame and her husband, Joseph Wilson, a former US ambassador accusing them and other White House officials of conspiring to destroy her career.

Announced his resignation from the White House on August 13, 2007. Good riddance.

John Ashcroft: Former US Attorney General who helped draft the presidential order creating secret military tribunals which bypasses the US court system and contains significant due process violations and allows for the imposition of the death penalty. Appointed individuals who have poor civil rights/liberties records to high-level DOJ positions. Eliminated a pilot program that provided federal money to pay for DNA testing to exonerate innocent inmates. Has blurred the line between church and state by conducting daily sessions of prayer and Bible study at the DOJ. Rounded up and imprisoned over 1200 men of Middle Eastern descent based largely on pretextual immigration violations and refused to disclose their identity and location and the reason for their detention. Read MoreKatherine Harris: Florida Secretary of State who purposefully committed multiple felonies to throw the 2004 Presidential election. Her crimes are carefully documented. Read more Read moreJeb Bush: Governor of Florida who abused his position and conspired with his brother George Bush, the Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, and the Bush-Cheney Campaign to illegally compromise the integrity of the 2004 Presidential election in Florida and skew the national election in favor of George Bush. Read morePhyllis Schlafly: Ultra-right-wing troublemaker. Through the years she has never failed to spew forth unimaginably hateful rhetoric. A sad individual, really, with little to no credibility.Ronald Reagan: Placed on a pedestal by most republicans, this former president was actually one of the worst presidents in US history, committing multiple crimes against humanity during his time as president. These included the deaths of tens of thousands of gay men in the United States as the direct result of his refusal to take action to combat the AIDS crisis, as well as his ongoing conspiracy to promote right-wing dictatorships, contras, and death squads in Central America.Pat Buchanan: Hypocrite, anti-Semite, pro-fascist, racist, hires staff members with ties to white Supremacy and militia groups, closely tied to Nixon's Watergate crimesRobert Novak: Damaged US security by irresponsibly and illegally reporting the CIA cover of Ambassador Robert Wilson's wife (who is an operative), as part of a retaliation for his report that concluded there was no attempt by Iraq to purchase yellowcake uranium ore from Niger.

Jerry Falwell: Born-again Christian bigot who stated that the attacks on September 11, 2001, were the result of God removing a protective barrier from the United States as punishment for the nation's acceptance of homosexuals and feminists.

Falwell's "protective barrier" was removed on May 15, 2007 and he died then.

Rick Santorum: Former junior senator from Pennsylvania. An anti-gay bigot who dishonors family values by spreading false and inflammatory rhetoric against gays and lesbians. Named as one of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress.

Booted from office by the people of Pennsylvania in November 2006. History will look back on him with contempt.

McCain Ethics - Hillbilly Style

Donna — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:05:58 EDT

http://www.markfiore.com/mccainerly_hillbillies_0

McSame as Bush

Donna — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:13:23 EDT

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/johnmccainvideos/youtube/mcsame.htm

Question?

Donna — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:28:56 EDT

Has anybody seen a comment from Mr. Bill tonight? He said he wasn't feeling well last night. Just concerned.

Should We Invite Obamicans?

Donna — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:16:47 EDT

Should we invite republicans who will vote for Obama (Obamicans) to participate in DNC PartyBuilder discussions?

We need all the votes we can get in November.

Sean Hannity: The Bully

Donna — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:13:41 EDT

Who: Sean Hannity: The Bully

Sean Hannity is the typical bully. He seems like the kind of person who is making up for being beaten up a lot as a child. His debating skills are excellent. His success comes from his natural ability to win an argument regardless of which side he takes.

Journalism Credentials: None available.

According to his bios posted on Fox’s web site and his personal web site, Sean has not attended any journalism classes, has no formal training in journalism and has not been a reporter. He was a talk show host on a college radio station and he made a very successful jump to AM radio.

Indicators:

Out of Context Quotes: This is one of Sean’s most common tools of deception. By using partial quotes, or quoting words without explaining the intended message of the person quoted, Sean basically commits slander on an hour by hour basis. For those of you who do not know what this is, I will try to site some examples in the future. There is a never ending list of examples but all you have to do to witness this is watch or listen to him for 10 minutes. It is amazing, once you realize he is doing this you will be stunned at how often he uses this method of deception.

“It is incumbent on broadcasters to add background and context”
BBC Director of News, Richard Sambrook

Dismissing Facts: Whenever someone points out a fact or statistic that works against his point of view he dismisses it. He questions it’s validity regardless of the source. In other words he disregards the truth. Attack the Messenger: This might be the most often used tactic of the right wing since Nixon used it so successfully. Sean spends a great deal of energy searching for any controversial aspect of his interviewee, or the who ever the target of the moment is, so as to discredit the messenger. In other words when he is scared of the message and he has no way of winning his argument he lashes out at the individual. Sometimes he uses this preemptively, before any interview starts, he begins by making some accusation, distracting from the topic of discussion. An example of how this is so wrong to do might be if a convicted murderer saved someone life, the fact that he had murdered in the past has no relevance to the fact that he just saved a life. The argument, as most of Sean’s arguments are, is irrelevant.To paint another picture of how wrong this to do when dealing with journalism you might think of it this way, regardless of Michael Jackson’s odd personal life you can not in any way question his musical talent. Sean would use Michael’s personal life to discredit his talent. It is wrong both technically and morally. Cut Off and Redirect: Sean constantly stifles people for the purpose of brining up another issue or to make an accusation, usually making use of his skill at presenting out of context information. Factual Errors Relentlessly Posed as Truth: Sean’s flagrant disregard for honesty is simply stunning. He quotes facts that are simply wrong. It would be a full time job for someone to keep track of his lies. One example might be the fact that he continually repeats the statement that Sadam gassed 1.5 million of his own people. Well Sean, wrong as usual. 1.5 million people may have died over the 10 years of war with Iran, but even the US did not sell him THAT much gas! I can go on, but I have to work on the rest of the site...check back for updates:-)

Why he is dangerous:

Using his loud mouth, partial truths, and tactics (see above), he has become one of the most listened to radio hosts in America. Sadly, our less than intelligent American public has been suckered into following this Pied Piper of Pontification. much like the bad guys in professional wrestling gain a fan base.