Monday's Daily Brief: Republicans Back Away From Grover Norquist Pledge

Monday, November 26, 2012 Republicans Abandon Anti-Tax Pledge POLITICS John McCain Softens Opposition To Susan Rice Nomination WORLD Syrian Rebels Capture Air Base Near Damascus TECHNOLOGY The Best Cyber Monday Tips For The Savvy Online Shopper POLITICS CEOs Who Collect Billions In Govt. Money Demand Cuts To Poor, Elderly GREEN UN Climate Talks Open In Qatar BLOG POSTS Russell Simmons: The Black Blog Mr. President, I am deeply concerned about the future of urban America, specifically the plight of people of color. After listening to people's stories from across this country, this is what I have learned we need to do in order to re-build our families, our communities, our companies and our neighborhoods. Marlo Thomas: Online Shopping Tips For Black Friday and Cyber Monday Whether you want to shop online or actually hit the stores, here are the very best sites, services, and no-brainer tech tools to login, load-up, and start saving now. Alan Grayson: My Thanksgiving: A Turkey Sandwich at Walmart I did not spend Thanksgiving evening with my wife and my five children. I spent it, instead, handing out turkey sandwiches to workers in Walmart. And showing my support for one brave soul who walked off the job in protest against exploitation. Jared Bernstein: Inequality and Budget Deficits: Why is Only the Latter an Emergency? I just read two sweeping reports on the state of income inequality in the U.S. and other advanced economies. Perhaps it's because I've been so ensconced in fiscal cliff discussions, but I was struck by how much more alarmed policy makers are by the budget deficit than by the inequality situation. There are reasons for that tilt -- some good, some bad -- but based on magnitudes of the problem, it's far from clear that our current sole policy focus is warranted. Of course, many deficit scolds are motivated by anti-tax, anti-social insurance, and anti-government ideology, so they've got a vested interest in the status quo. But we're not going to make much progress if policy makers continue to obsess so exclusively on budget deficits instead of the income deficits experienced by the poor and middle class. Steve Clemons: Mohammed Morsi: Abe Lincoln in Disguise? Or Another Mubarak? Is Morsi the kind of leader who will aggrandize total power and then liberalize like a George Washington or Abraham Lincoln? Or is he more like a Lee Kuan Yew who can build a state and the facade of a democratic system while holding tightly to power for decades in all ways that matter?

MOST POPULAR ON HUFFINGTONPOST.COM 31 Most WTF Notes From PO'd Neighbors CEOs Who Collect Billions In Govt. Money Demand Cuts To Poor, Elderly Kris Jenner: 'Everyone Needs A Fresh Set Every 20 Years' ON TWITTER ON FACEBOOK Chris Brown's DISGUSTING Attack On Female Comedy Writer (NSFW) CEOs Who Collect Billions In Govt. Money Demand Cuts To Poor, Elderly Can't Catch A Break: Obese Mannequins Critiqued On the Heels Of Anorexic Plastic Model Debacle

The "fiscal cliff" or "curb"

Fred -- Right now, President Obama is working with leaders of both parties in Washington to reduce the deficit in a balanced way so we can lay the foundation for long-term middle-class job growth and prevent your taxes from going up. Your voice and action helped re-elect President Obama, and hundreds of thousands of you have already responded to our survey, which will help shape our next steps. Thanks to your feedback, we're taking immediate action on one of your suggestions: keeping you informed about how the President is fighting for you so you can continue to talk to your friends, family, and neighbors. So here's the deal: That's the President's plan, but he's not wedded to every detail. He is determined to work with Congress to find compromise and common ground. His guiding principle throughout this debate will be what's best for the middle class. He'll be fighting for you. These problems are challenging, but they're solvable. In fact, the Senate has already passed a bill to keep your taxes low. The House needs to pass it, and Congress should get it to the President as soon as possible. There's a lot at stake. With your help we'll continue to move this country forward. Please forward this email and spread the word on Facebook and Twitter: http://my.barackobama.com/Share-This-Graphic Thanks, Obama for America

Paid for by Obama Victory Fund 2012, a joint fundraising committee authorized by Obama for America, the Democratic National Committee, and the Florida, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Virginia State Democratic Parties.

Contributions or gifts to Obama Victory Fund 2012 are not tax deductible. The first $2,500 from a contributor to Obama Victory Fund 2012 will be allocated to Obama for America, designated for general election debt retirement. The next $30,800 from a contributor will be allocated to the Democratic National Committee. Any additional amount(s) from a contributor will be divided equally among the Florida, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Virginia State Democratic Party Committees, up to $10,000 per committee and subject to the biennial aggregate limits. A contributor may designate a contribution for a particular participant. This allocation formula may change if following it would result in an excessive contribution or if Obama for America receives sufficient funds to pay its outstanding debts. Contributions will be used in connection with a Federal election, may be spent on any activities of the participants as each committee determines in its sole discretion, and will not be earmarked for any particular candidate.

Proposed 28th Amendment

I challenge you to read this and NOT have the will to pass it on.         No one has been able to explain to me why young men and women serve in the U.S. Military for 20 years, risking their lives protecting freedom, and only get 50% of their pay on retirement.  While Politicians hold their political positions in the safe confines of the capital, protected by these same men and women, and receive full-pay retirement after serving one term. It just does not make any sense. If each person who receives this will forward it on to 20 people, in three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.   Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."   You are one of my 20+. I passed it on, will you?   "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice," and these brave soldiers have given you that right!!

SAVE PAPER - THINK BEFORE YOU PRINT

Tuesday's Daily Brief: Hillary Clinton Dispatched to Middle East

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Hillary Clinton Traveling To Middle East WORLD Egyptian President: Gaza Truce Deal Will Be Reached On Tuesday WORLD Militant Rockets Hit Outskirts Of Jerusalem POLITICS Allen West Finally Concedes POLITICS Obama Plots Outside Game To Pressure Republicans On Fiscal Cliff GREEN Global CO2 Levels Hit New Record BLOG POSTS Michael Moore: An Open Letter to President Obama This was truly another historic election and I would like to take a few minutes of your time to respectfully ask that your second term not resemble your first term. Cecile Richards: Savita's Death Was Not an Isolated Incident The slow and painful death Ireland's abortion ban forced Savita to endure brings to mind another tragic story. Earlier this year, doctors in the Dominican Republic refused chemotherapy to a 16-year-old cancer patient because she was pregnant. Think this couldn't happen in the United States? Think again. Marlo Thomas: St. Jude Thanks and Giving: Brennan's Story I'd like you to meet Brennan. He's a terrific little boy with a great smile and big dreams. He is also a patient at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and part of our annual Thanks & Giving campaign, and his story is one of several we're featuring on the TODAY show this week. Leo W. Gerard: Party of Entitled Rich Threatens Economy Republicans aren't talking about extending tax breaks for the 98 percent. Instead, they're threatening the economic life of the country if they don't get what they want -- tax breaks for people who don't need them. Bill Moyers: WATCH: Activism and Aid for Coney Island's Hurricane Victims Two weeks after Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc across the Northeast, and more than a week after power returned to Lower Manhattan, many public housing residents in Brooklyn's Coney Island were still without electricity, heat and hot water.

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THANK YOU FROM THE MAYOR

DID YOU KNOW...

Election 2012

Emanuel on Fox News: 'Shut the Fuck Up. You Lost'

Nov. 07, 2012

Tweet

Chicago mayor and former White House Chief-of-Staff Rham Emanuel tore into Fox News host Sean Hannity tonight on live television.

Emanuel was on the conservative network to offer his opinion on the night's election results, which saw his former boss Barack Obama reelected to the presidency for another four years.

A devastated Hannity, however, was intent on using the occasion to vent his rage at the nights events and incessantly provoked Emanuel's ire:

"Is Barack Obama going to move to the center? Or is he going to continue his radical Socialist policies that are destroying America ?" Hannity asked, beginning a rapid-fire sequence of badgering questions:

'Is he going to start paying attention to ordinary Americans? Or his he going to continue his goverment of, by, and for the welfare queens?

Is he going to ask the keep apologizing to our enemies? Or is he going to show some backbone and invade somebody?"

"Is he ever going to release his real birth certificate? Or is he gonna contiuing lying to the American people about his Kenyan heritage?"

Proverbs 11:2

"Sean...sean...," Emanuel interrupted, "Sean...sean...sean...sean...sean... ... shut the fuck up. You Lost. Get over it and move on. Barack Obama is president for the next four years."

"No amount of childish whining will change that fact. Why don't you start working on improving yourself as a person, rather than finding fault in others."

"At the moment you're a terrible, cynical human being who gets rich off of other people's ignorance. Your entire existence is defined by intellectual stupor and purposelessness. There's not a single cell of your body that has any redeeming value whatsoever - not even the intestinal cells which host your parasites."

"I feel deeply sorry for your children and your children's children, who will have to bear the stain of their relationship to you for their entire lives."

"I am a dumber, coarser, less centered individual for even haven spoken to you, and I promise I will never repeat that mistake again."

Emanuel then removed his microphone and quietly walked off the set.

Three people you should listen to

Hello -- The conversations happening right now in Washington are going to set a course for the middle class in this country for years to come. And that's a discussion that you should be part of. Unless our leaders can come up with a solution, 98 percent of American families are looking at a tax increase -- with a typical family of four paying $2,000 more starting on January 1. So it's time for you to step up. We know from experience that when real people come together to speak with one voice, their perspective becomes impossible to ignore. Here are three Americans who have taken that first step. Listen to them, then keep the conversation going by telling us why you think it's important to keep taxes from going up on the middle class. Right now, there's reason to be hopeful. This has the potential to be one of those moments in our politics when lawmakers from both parties come together to do what's best for the country. You know where President Obama stands when it comes to tackling our nation's deficits. He's committed to doing it in a balanced way, but not at the expense of the middle class. Time and time again, he's argued that we have to combine spending cuts with asking the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more in taxes. And leaders ranging from the heads of labor unions to the CEO of Walmart are saying that it doesn't make sense to drag this out and leave the middle class uncertain about what they'll be asked to pay in taxes. If that's a position that you agree with, then we're asking you to make a statement of your own. I can tell you that no one makes that argument better than real people who have to wrestle with paying bills and juggling family responsibilities every day. It's on you to add your voice and bring your friends and neighbors into the debate. Watch this video, then tell us what you think: http://www.whitehouse.gov/engage/join Thanks, David David Plouffe Senior Advisor White House   The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

IACJ News and Updates

Welcome to the IACJ eNewsletter...your source for timely information on criminal justice policy and practice in Illinois. News and Reports The following is a summary of criminal justice news and reports recently posted on the association's website. Visit www.illinoiscriminaljustice.org for more information and direct links. The Georgetown Center on Policy, Inequality, and Public Policy released a report examining the increase of young girls in the juvenile justice system and proposing recommendations for gender-responsive reforms.  A new report from the John Howard Association of Illinois describes its IYC-Chicago monitoring visit. The Vera Institute of Justice examines recent state efforts to increase public safety by utilizing performance incentive funding. The report highlights Adult Redeploy Illinois. Authors from the Center from American Progress explore the use of social impact bonds in states around the country. The Cook County Board of Commissioners recently passed a resolution creating a committee to examine the potential of social impact bonds to reduce the county's jail population. The Redeploy Illinois' 2011 annual report highlights a 51% reduction in youth incarceration and savings of $40 million since its inception. Events Illinois Telepsychiatry Symposium (Two Locations) March 6, 2013 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Chicago and Springfield Locations http://illinoiscriminaljustice.org/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=156742 TASC Leadership Awards Luncheon December 12, 2012 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago 909 N. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611 http://www.tasc.org/preview/luncheon2012.html IDOC Summits of Hope Various dates & Illinois locations For more information, visit www.summitofhope.org. Membership If you are not yet a member of IACJ, we'd like to invite you to consider membership in the association. IACJ is structured to support the work of advocates, providers and policy professionals focused on criminal justice work in Illinois. We hope to bring education, understanding and attention to the best practices in reentry and community reintegration.  Benefits of membership include being part of a strong network of your criminal justice peers and experts; the ability to share resources, act collectively, and speak with a common voice to command attention of elected official on policy issues; and a prestigious affiliation with a state-wide association. Membership is free for a limited time only!  For more information and to join, please visit our Membership page.    For more information on criminal justice issues and opportunities, and how you can get involved, visit illinoiscriminaljustice.org