Wisconsin Voter ID Law May Force 84-Year-Old Woman To Pay $200 To Get A Voter ID
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/12/0... /

For 63 years, Brokaw, Wisconsin native Ruthelle Frank went to the polls to vote. Though paralyzed on her left side since birth, the 84-year-old “fiery woman” voted in every election since 1948 and even got elected herself as a member of the Brokaw Village Board. But because of the state’s new voter ID law, 2012 will be the first year Frank can’t vote. Born after a difficult birth at her home in 1927, Frank never received an official birth certificate. Her mother recorded it in her family Bible and Frank has a certification of baptism from a few months later, along with a Social Security card, a Medicare statement, and a checkbook. But without the official document, she can’t secure the state ID card that the new law requires to vote next year.

“It’s really crazy,” she added. “I’ve got all this proof. You mean to tell me that I’m not a U.S. citizen?” But state officials have informed Frank that, because the state Register of Deeds does have a record of her birth, they can issue her a new birth certificate — for a fee. And because of a spelling error, that fee may be as high as $200:

Though Frank never had a birth certificate, the state Register of Deeds in Madison has a record of her birth. It can generate a birth certificate for her — for a fee. Normally, the cost is $20.

“I look at that like paying a fee to vote,” Frank said.

And for Frank, that might not be the end of it. The attending physician at Frank’s birth misspelled her maiden name, which was Wedepohl. To get a birth certificate that has correct information, she will have to petition a court to amend the document — a weeks-long process that could cost $200 or more.

OccupyPortland leaves Xmas tree and message for the Mayor at his office door

Occupyers left Christmas message for the mayor last night at City Hall (left) after eviction from second camp.


http://www.thenation.com/blog/164956/occup...

Source: CNN

Gabriel Zimmerman was the first congressional staffer killed while performing their official duties. Thursday the House of Representatives passed a resolution to memorialize the aide to Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords by naming a meeting room in the Capitol complex after him.

The measure passed unanimously, 419 – 0.

The thirty-year-old aide was slain in January after alleged gunman Jared Loughner opened fire on a "Congress on your Corner" event at a Tucson grocery store where constituents gathered to meet with Giffords.

(snip)
The room that will bear Zimmerman's name, currently known as "HVC 215", is the weekly meeting spot for the House Democratic Caucus, as well as regular press secretary meetings and other congressional functions.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/... /

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House Names Room After Slain Giffords Aide Gabe Zimmerman
http://www.rollcall.com/news/house_names_r...

(snip)
“This resolution designating the Gabriel Zimmerman meeting room is not put forward to mark Gabe’s death but rather to recognize his commitment in life to making others’ lives better,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said during floor debate Wednesday. “With this vote, we honor (his) life and also recognize all Congressional staff.”

http://www.jambands.com/news/2011/11/30/ja...

Jackson Browne and Dawes will perform for Occupy Wall Street protesters tomorrow, December 1. The Americana acts—who have toured together recently—will perform at New York’s Zuccotti Park at 1 PM. They join a long list of performers who have played the park, including Crosby & Nash, Tom Morello and Jeff Mangum. From there, Dawes will head to Woodstock, NY for an appearance at Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble on December 3.


Just confirmed: OCCUPY Unplugged at Zuccotti Park tomorrow (12/1): Third Eye Blind (12 PM) & Jackson Brown (1PM)
http://twitter.com/#!/MoveOn

Former Rep. Guy Molinari (R-NY) unloaded on GOP presidential frontrunner Newt Gingrich today, calling the former House Speaker “an evil person” who has “got all kinds of baggage.” Molinari, who works on Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, went on to say that “The thought that could be president of the United States is appalling.” Far from the only Republican trashing the former House speaker, conservatives of all stripes have publicly grumbled about Gingrich’s record. In the last week alone, radio host Don Imus called Gingrich a “greasy, repulsive man,” longtime Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) tweeted, “RReagan was a friend of mine and you Newt are no RR,” and a Christian leader in Iowa, Cary Gordon, said, “Newt is famous for being all over the board,” before declaring, “I don’t trust him.”

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/11/... /

Guy Molinari says Newt Gingrich is 'evil,' warns he 'might do something' during candidate's Staten Island visit'
http://blog.silive.com/latest_news/print.h...
(snip)
"The thought that this man could be president of the United States is appalling," said Molinari, whose enmity for Gingrich goes back to their days in the House together. "He's got all kinds of baggage.

(snip)
Molinari claims that Gingrich bumped him from his slot as ranking Republican on the Investigations and Oversight subcommittee of the Public Works and Transportation Committee even though there was a written agreement not to do so.

"This guy is evil," Molinari said. "He's an evil person."

Molinari said that Gingrich's double-cross "ended my career" in the House and led to him running for borough president in 1989.

Former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) tells Keith how an audit of the Federal Reserve shows that the agency “play Russian roulette” with the U.S. dollar over the course of more than $26 trillion worth of bank bailouts.


http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/...

by Chris Bowers
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/28/1...

A whopping 301,214 signatures to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had been collected as of last night, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin has confirmed to Daily Kos. This is more than 55 percent of the 540,000 required to trigger a recall election.

Republican-leaning areas are providing some of the most energy to the recall campaign. For example, in Columbia County, which George W. Bush narrowly won in 2004, organizers have already exceeded 100 percent of their goal for the entire petition drive. Goal Thermometer They had 10,033 signatures in hand as of last night, after setting a 60-day target of 9,235.

The recall started big, and hasn't slowed down at all. With 50,000 signatures gathered in the first two days and 105,000 in the first four, after twelve days grassroots activists are still pulling in 25,000 every single day (excluding Thanksgiving, of course).

United Wisconsin, one of the key grassroots groups involved in the Walker recall, is aiming to turn in signatures on January 13. Every indication is that they will have an Earth-shattering number when they do.

Please, contribute $8 to the recall of Scott Walker by giving to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. They are making the most of your money so far, and this is only the beginning.

Mike Tate coming up with Ed
http://www.thertv.eu/90
13 days in, proud to announce over 300,000
Thanksgiving Holiday was tremendous. Got signatures at all the malls and stores from people waiting in line. Huge grassroots movement. Republicans aren't going to scare us from this recall. Walker spent over 2 million on ads.

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http://gothamist.com/2011/11/28/protesters...

Several hundred protesters are currently marching near Baruch College at 24th Street at Lexington Avenue to demonstrate against the planned $300/year (over five years) tuition hikes that the City University Board of Trustees is expected to vote on this afternoon, as well as a need for "democratic accountability." There's a heavy NYPD presence, with police on scooters attempting to funnel the demonstrators into barricaded areas and off the street.

Student loan bills are being burnt, and chants like "Banks got bailed out / Students got sold out," made popular by the Occupy movement, can be heard along the route. A freelance photographer tweeted, "Would LOVE an explanation from @NYPD / @DCPI why Officer Torres #11394 found it necessary to run me over TWICE on his motorbike. #CUNY" The photographer, Daniella Zalcman, added, "Visible press credential, camera in hand, very obviously working. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE." There's also a heavy union presence, with the TWU and the CWA getting top billing.

Updates below
According to CBS, the CUNY trustees have approved the tuition hikes that were expected to pass this evening. NYPD officers in riot gear, around 16 of them according to one reporter, have arrived outside the 25th street entrance to Baruch.
https://twitter.com/#!/CBSNewYork/status/1...

We'll update as pertinent details become available. You can see the livestream here.
http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution /


According to reporter Ryan Devereaux, around 500 students and protesters are now approaching Gramercy Park.
https://twitter.com/#!/RDevro/status/14128...
About 500 demonstrators approaching Gramercy Pk protesting CUNY tuition hikes and exclusion of students/faculty in decision-making process.

http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/11/2... /


Two weeks ago, a leaked secret memo written by a Republican lobbying firm, Clark Lytle Geduldig & Cranford, outlined an $850,000 plan for the American Bankers Association (ABA) to combat the growing resonance of the Occupy Wall Street movement’s message — that we need an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthiest 1 Percent. (The ABA claims the smear campaign proposal was unsolicited and that they decided not to act on it.) Today, Politico Influence reports that one of the four masterminds of the proposed smear campaign, Republican lobbyist Sam Gelduldig, will be co-hosting a Young Professionals for Mitt Romney fundraiser in Washington D.C on December 14. Before becoming a lobbyist Geduldig was a top adviser to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH). This year, Geduldig has lobbied on behalf of various finance industry clients, including the ABA, Financial Services Roundtable, Financial Services Forum, MasterCard, American Insurance Association, and Koch Industries (which engages in significant commodities trading activities).


http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/11/2... /
Washington Lobbyists Crafted $850,000 Secret Plan For Bank Lobbyists To Undermine Occupy Wall Street

Barney Frank Challenges Gingrich To Debate Over DOMA In Retirement Speech
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/11/28/3... /

(snip)
Frank also took a shot at current GOP front runner Newt Gingrich, quipping, “I will neither be a lobbyist or a historian” and “I didn’t think I lived a good enough life to see Newt Gingrich be the Republican nominee.” Frank said he would be interested to debate the repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act with the former House Speaker:

FRANK: I did not think I had lived a good enough life to be rewarded by Newt Gingrich being the Republican nominee. It still is unlikely, but I have hopes. Let me say, for example, I intend to continue to be an advocate of public policy. I look forward to debating, to take one important example, the Defense of Marriage Act with Mr. Gingrich. I think he is an ideal opponent for us, when we talk about just who it is, is threatening the sanctity of marriage.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-roo...

(snip)
"This country has never had a Congressman like Barney Frank, and the House of Representatives will not be the same without him. For over 30 years, Barney has been a fierce advocate for the people of Massachusetts and Americans everywhere who needed a voice," Obama said in a statement on Monday, shortly after Frank formally announced his retirement at a press conference.

(snip)
"He has worked tirelessly on behalf of families and businesses and helped make housing more affordable. He has stood up for the rights of LGBT Americans and fought to end discrimination against them," Obama continued. "And it is only thanks to his leadership that we were able to pass the most sweeping financial reform in history designed to protect consumers and prevent the kind of excessive risk-taking that led to the financial crisis from ever happening again."

Obama added that Frank's "quick wit" will be missed on Capitol Hill.

"Barney’s passion and his quick wit will be missed in the halls of Congress, and Michelle and I join the people of the Bay State in thanking him for his years of service."


http://www.politico.com/politico44/wbarchi...
'FIERCE ADVOCATE': The White House has released this statement on Barney Frank's retirement from President Obama, who has been meeting with European Union leaders since around noon:

"This country has never had a Congressman like Barney Frank, and the House of Representatives will not be the same without him. For over 30 years, Barney has been a fierce advocate for the people of Massachusetts and Americans everywhere who needed a voice. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of families and businesses and helped make housing more affordable. He has stood up for the rights of LGBT Americans and fought to end discrimination against them. And it is only thanks to his leadership that we were able to pass the most sweeping financial reform in history designed to protect consumers and prevent the kind of excessive risk-taking that led to the financial crisis from ever happening again. Barney’s passion and his quick wit will be missed in the halls of Congress, and Michelle and I join the people of the Bay State in thanking him for his years of service.".

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/28/world/africa...

Amid worsening unrest, Egyptians will head to the polls Monday to cast their vote in the first election held since an improbable revolt toppled one of the world's longest-serving rulers.

Polls open at 8 a.m. (1 a.m. ET ) for the first of many rounds to decide who will sit in the upper and lower houses of parliament. Egyptians have dozens of political parties and thousands of independent candidates to choose from in what, for many, will be their first election.

"I have never voted in any election because it was totally corrupted and it was not called election. It was called forgery. Why ... vote if you're 100% sure that you won't be respected, you won't be counted," said Mohamed Ali, a tour guide.

(snip)
"The election -- it's the chance now," Ali said. "I'll go (vote) -- and (then) I'm back in the square."


Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23EgyElect...
#EgyElections

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/dome...

Democrats in the Senate will push a plan this week to extend an expiring payroll tax cut, making up the lost revenue by imposing a surtax on Americans earning more than one million dollars, said Sen. Charles Schumer on Sunday.

"The first thing we're going to do when we get back this week is put the payroll tax holiday on the floor in the Senate," said Schumer (N.Y.), the number three Democrat in the Senate, on NBC's Meet the Press.

(snip)
"If it doesn't pass once, we're going to put it on the floor again and again," Schumer said.

The tax cut extension is one part of the jobs plan that Obama is now pushing piece-by-piece after Republicans refused to swallow it as one piece of legislation. The White House said last week that average middle-class Americans would see their taxes hiked by $1,000 next year if the cut isn't extended. Under the expansion of the cut Obama is seeking, those families would pay $1,500 less next year.

Chris Hayes Slams CNN for Allowing Torture Advocate David Addington Being Allowed to Ask Questions at GOP Debate

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heathe...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45448731

Despite a fast-approaching deadline set by the mayor and police chief, very few of the anti-Wall Street protesters from Occupy Los Angeles have begun breaking down their tents on the City Hall lawn — and most say they don't intend to.

The Occupy LA encampment was abuzz with activity Saturday, but nearly all of it was aimed at how to deal with authorities come Monday's 12:01 a.m. deadline.

Some handed out signs advertising a Monday morning "eviction block party."

Others held a teach-in on resistance tactics, including how to deal with rubber bullets and pepper spray.