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Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

Archive for August 2013

Obama Debating Before He Was Famous

By: inoljt, http://mypolitikal.com/

Before Barack Obama was president of the United States, he famously lost a congressional primary against Congressman Bobby Rush. In this race, as in many other races, there was a televised debate between the primary candidates (Obama, Rush, and another State Senator Donne Trotter). Very few people probably watched it.

Nevertheless, the debate is still on Youtube. It provides some interesting insight into the president during the beginning of his political career.

Here is part one.

Here is part two.

More below.

Elections Matter: Social Security

On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Democrat, signed the Social Security Act into law. Since that time, Social Security has been protected by Democratic presidents and Democratic Congresses.



FDR signing Social Security into law

The Social Security Act of 1935:

Before the 1930s, support for the elderly was a matter of local, state and family rather than a Federal concern (except for veterans’ pensions). However, the widespread suffering caused by the Great Depression brought support for numerous proposals for a national old-age insurance system. On January 17, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a message to Congress asking for “social security” legislation.

The act created a uniquely American solution to the problem of old-age pensions. Unlike many European nations, U.S. social security “insurance” was supported from “contributions” in the form of taxes on individuals’ wages and employers’ payrolls rather than directly from Government funds. The act also provided funds to assist children, the blind, and the unemployed; to institute vocational training programs; and provide family health programs.

Prior to Social Security, the elderly routinely faced the prospect of poverty upon retirement. For the most part, that fear has now dissipated.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, Democratic president, created a long-lasting program to keep our most vulnerable citizens out of poverty.

The Daily F Bomb, Wednesday 8/14/13

Interrogatories

Have you seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show? If so, how many times? Did you participate in the audience antics?

What is the longest blackout you’ve ever had to endure? How did you handle it?

How many different kinds of batteries do you use? What for?

Are you careful with receipts, or do you generally just pay without looking?

Do you have duct tape? What colors? What have you used it for?

The Twitter Emitter

Wednesday Watering Hole: Check In & Hangout for the Herd

Good morning, Moosekind. Don’t forget to let your peeps know where to find you.


  PLEASE Do Not Recommend the check-in diary! 

        Recs on the weather jar comment are still welcome.

The common Moose, Alces alces, unlike other members of the deer family, is a solitary animal that doesn’t form herds. Not so its rarer but nearest relative, Alces purplius, the Motley Moose. Though sometimes solitary, the Motley Moose herds in ever shifting groups at the local watering hole to exchange news and just pass the time.

photo Moosewateringhole_zpsfce12127.jpg

Federal Judge rules against Stop and Frisk in NYC




Stop and Frisk photo StopandFriskACLUreportcovergraphic_zps28437357.jpg

It’s great to have some good news to report. Though the ruling on Monday by Federal Justice Shira Scheindlin doesn’t end the racist and discriminatory policy in New York City, this is being declared a victory for people fighting back against a racist system.

Here’s the statement from the ACLU, and a link to the Center for Constitutional Rights who have been waging the legal battle.

NEW YORK – Today in Floyd v. City of New York, a federal judge ruled that the New York City Police Department’s stop-and-frisk practices are unconstitutional.

Ezekiel Edwards, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Criminal Law Reform Project, said, “The ACLU celebrates today’s decision by Federal Justice Shira Scheindlin declaring the NYPD’s longstanding and widespread stop and frisk practices unconstitutional.

“As the decision exhaustively documents, the NYPD’s stop and frisk policy clearly violated the 4th and 14th Amendments, subjecting millions of innocent New Yorkers – overwhelmingly Black and Latino – to unlawful searches through systemic racial profiling. We hope that today’s decision, and the robust remedies the court has put in place, will mark the end to this dark chapter in the NYPD’s history.”

The Daily F Bomb, Tuesday 8/13/13

Interrogatories

Are you right or left handed?

Steak – rare, medium rare, medium, well done, or not at all?

Who would you like to blame to celebrate Blame Someone Else Day?

What is the highest land elevation you have ever attained?

Do you deliberately try to tan, or do you slather on the sunblock?

The Twitter Emitter

Judge: New York Stop & Frisk violates constitutional rights

In a welcome ruling, Federal District Court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin has ruled that New York’s stop & frisk practices violate citizens fourth amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure.

According to The New York Times the ruling, in the case Floyd v. City of New York goes even farther:

To fix the constitutional violations, Judge Scheindlin of Federal District Court in Manhattan said she intended to designate an outside lawyer, Peter L. Zimroth, to monitor the Police Department’s compliance with the Constitution.

The decision to install Mr. Zimroth, a partner in the New York office of Arnold & Porter, LLP, and a former corporation counsel and prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, will leave the department under a degree of judicial control that is certain to shape the policing strategies under the next mayor.

Breaking: Federal Judge Declares Stop and Frisk Unconstitutional

Good news everybody.

Federal Judge Shira A. Scheindlin has ruled New York City’s Stop and Frisk program unconstitutional.

To fix the constitutional violations, Judge Scheindlin of Federal District Court in Manhattan said she intended to designate an outside lawyer, Peter L. Zimroth, to monitor the Police Department’s compliance with the Constitution.

The decision to install Mr. Zimroth, a partner in the New York office of Arnold & Porter, LLP, and a former corporation counsel and prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, will leave the department under a degree of judicial control that is certain to shape the policing strategies under the next mayor.

Snip

She noted that about 88 percent of the stops result in the police letting the person go without an arrest or ticket, a percentage so high, she said, that it suggests there was not a credible suspicion to suspect the person of criminality in the first place.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08…

Our MSM is suggesting the city appealing is a done deal, completely seeming to ignore the constitutional issues the Judge Sheindlin outlined in their justification.  A curious position in that the bloviating head I saw Pete Williams spoke highly of press protections and other parts of the constitution as they applied to his class.  

Anyway no need to focus on the reactionary forces, it’s a good day.

“Show Me” Your Racism

At the Missouri State Fair last Saturday night, a rodeo clown dressed up as President Obama to entertain the crowd. The story was posted on a progressive blog site, ShowMeProgress.com. The report:

“Just prior to the start of the bull riding event, one of the clowns came out dressed in this,” the post says, referring to the photo. “The announcer wanted to know if anyone would like to see Obama run down by a bull. The crowd went wild. He asked it again and again, louder each time, whipping the audience into a lather. One of the clowns ran up and started bobbling the lips on the mask and the people went crazy.”

According to the post, a bull then charged the clown, forcing him to run away “to the delight of the onlookers hooting and hollering from the stands.”

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