Massachusetts

Below is an email I received from Mitch Stewart at Organizing for America.  It is a donation request, but I couldn't help myself and my reply follows.




On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 7:09 PM, Mitch Stewart, BarackObama.com  wrote:

Jeremy --

Yesterday's disappointing election results show deep discontent with the pace of change. I know the OFA community and the President share that frustration.

We also saw what we knew to be true all along: Any change worth making is hard and will be fought at every turn. While it doesn't take away the sting of this loss, there is no road to real change without setbacks along the way.

We could have simply sought to do things that were easy, that wouldn't stir up controversy. But changes that aren't controversial rarely solve the problem.

Our country continues to face the same fundamental challenges it faced yesterday. Our health care system still needs reform. Wall Street still needs to be held accountable. We still need to create good jobs. And we still need to continue building a clean energy economy.

The President isn't walking away from these challenges. In fact, his determination and resolve are only stronger. We must match that commitment with our own.

But it won't be easy. Real change never is. For that reason, I am grateful you're part of this fight with us.

Thank you,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart

Director

Organizing for America

_________________________________________________________________________



Mitch,

I appreciate the letter and the fight the President is facing.  I am disappointed at the state of politics in this nation.  As my family and I do our yearly review and set our goals and resolutions, we find that we are really no better off than we were a year ago.  I have had to take my dog to the vet twice in the last week.  I have had to get new glasses and have significant dental work in the last couple of months.  I have more dental work coming.  I have insurance, but it is a high deductible plan.  I am still broke.

I am late on my mortgage for the first time in nine months.  We dug out on our own, because Bank of Amerika won't work with us to lower our interest rate.  I haven't had a pay raise in four years.  With rising benefit costs, I am taking home less pay than 4 years ago.  We have been wavering on whether to walk away from our mortgage and let Bank of Amerika suck it up.

I am becoming disillusioned with the whole corrupt political process in this country.  Our government has become so divided that we can't get anything done except help the people of Haiti.  When the fuck do we help those out at home.  Don't get me wrong my family has made donations to help Haiti, but there is a big problem with homeless here in Colorado Springs.  The local news portrays the homeless as criminals who are beneath human dignity.  When I drive by the homeless camps in town, I see families in tents as well as the more traditional stereotype of homelessness.  Many of these folks are veterans who have served this country honorably only to slip through the cracks to be dishonored.  Our local idiot representative Doug Lamborn politicizes the homeless problem in Colorado Springs and uses it to argue against health care and the rest of the President's agenda.  When I asked Mr. Lamborn at a town hall meeting recently how much money he had taken from the insurance and health care sectors, he replied that he wasn't sure, and didn't have exact numbers, but figured it was around $5000.  I am sure he would not be surprised to know that it was nearly $200,000.

I read comments all over online from tea baggers who are just as deluded as the politicians who think they will be able to hold power and influence if they continue to not do the business of the American people.  Every issue that is debated in Washington is influenced by millions of dollars of lobby money and other kickbacks.  We have rules to regulate the buying of influence in Congress and other offices, when we should have laws disallowing such practices.  When do the American people crawl out from under the weight of the greed mongers and corporate robber barons who are polluting, poisoning, killing, and robbing this country.

The criminals in Washington are not just the Republicans, but Democrats as well.  As long as money changes hands to help people get elected and/or get votes in Congress, we the people will still be fucked.  As long as the money continues to change hands from corporations, industries, and other lobbying groups to politicians and other officials, then we will never get meaningful health care reform, climate protection, or economic stability.  I have only a high school education, and I can see that the math doesn't add up.

Mitch, I urge you to urge the President to call for lobby and election reform in Washington.  If the President uses his platform to call for removing the corrupting influence of money from the election process and the lawmaking process, I believe the rest of the elected riff raff will have to fall in line.  I am sure this would be highly unpopular with said riff raff.  I am sure those who have the most to say also have the most to lose.  This needs to happen soon in this country or there will be dire consequences.  As I often say, I am getting my rock collection ready.  Want to see my Palestinian impression?

Look, I am no angel.  I made many mistakes in my life, including a couple of felonies.  I did my time, and live with the stigma of being an ex-con.  This is my cross to bear. I have since put my life together and worked to become a productive member of society.  I am proud to be an American, and I want to have hope for this country, but it ebbs a little each day.  While my family and I struggle each day to survive and do right, the corporations and their elected puppets get away with murder.  It is time for this to end.

Thank you,

--
Jeremy Cook

World Freedom Advocate Blog

Wodhof Urban Farmstead Blog

On Twitter:  @Ravenlaughing

One can reason with ignorance, but it is futile to argue with stupidity.

Rep. Doug Lamborn Has Health Care Town Hall Meeting in Colorado Springs.

I went to a health care centered town hall by tea bagging Colorado 5th district Rep. Doug Lamborn(R). As promised by Mr. Lamborn's congressional website, the town hall meeting was a spirited mix of scared seniors ready to be scared some more, and the more vocal progressives, ready to call Mr. Lamborn out for his lies.

I was fortunate enough to be called to ask representative Lamborn a question. So I asked a two part question: A. Why does he continue to quote the now discredited Price Waterhouse Coopers report, and B. How much money has he taken from health industry & insurance lobbyist. Rep Lamborn answered that he didn't know that the PWC report was discredited. Secondly he said he didn't think that he had taken that much from health and insurance interests, " maybe a few thousand dollars."

I think Mr. Lamborn would be interested to know that he has taken more than $200,000 in money from health and insurance industries. The health sector has donated $44,000 to Mr. Lamborn during his political career. The finance, insurance, and real estate sector has given $159,000 during Mr. Lamborn's political career. It is no wonder Mr Lamborn that you are against reform. You have been paid for by the big industry.

One thing I can say for sure is that it is going to be a long day at the Country Buffet. The large majority of the audience was seniors who couldn't believe that free speech should apply to people like me because I was calling out the lies they were being told by an elected leader, who has been paid to tell these lies.

It is time to call out the traitors in Washington, whether they be Republican or Democrat. If you take money from the health and insurance lobby to derail and lie about health reform, then you work for the insurance companies and not the American people. It is time Mr. Lamborn for you to step down. You have refused to call down the violent rhetoric of the tea baggers. You refuse to call down the violent rhetoric of Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

It is time for a health care reform for the American people, with a strong and robust public option that provides competition to Mr. Lamborn's insurance bosses. It is time for Mr Lamborn and his colleagues to do what is best for America and resign. By your lies you have shown your intent toward serving the American people. You will rule by who pays you the most. It is ironic that your views and your donors coincide Mr. Lamborn.