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I worked for a neighbor who was running for mayor. I recruited some other girls my age to hand out campaign literature in the park.

I can remember watching the conventions when I was in elementary school!

I really got hooked after I heard Hubert Humphrey speak when I was in high school. I saw Robert Kennedy speak in 1968 (although I was for McCarthy). I couldn't vote until 1972 when I voted for McGovern.

Today's party has little resemblance to the progressives I supported, but I am a life-long democrat and I'm not going anywhere else. They can carve a donkey on my tombstone!

I am so sorry for what you are going through, Tucker. I will keep you in my heart and prayers. You will not be forgotten here on DU or by those who love and knew you.

I don't believe in punishment in the afterlife, but that we will be reunited with our family and pets who have gone before us. I hope you have someone you loved waiting for you. I also believe that after we are gone our "spirit" (or energy, or whatever it is) lives on in those we left behind.

I hope you will find some peace and the strength to face your treatments. Please continue to keep us updated, no matter how difficult that may be. We genuinely care about you and want to help you through this as much as we can from afar.

Obituary: Frank R. Mascara / Congressman, 'dean of Washington County politics'
Jan. 19, 1930 - July 10, 2011

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11192/11596...

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I don't believe the above article mentions the Mon-Valley Expressway, which was one of his many accomplishments:

"Frank was the driving force behind developing Southpointe for commercial and business growth. And as leader on local transportation issues, including spearheading the development of the Mon Valley Expressway, Washington County residents know his commitment to the area was deeply rooted in true public service to his constituency," . . .

Read more: Southpointe advocate Frank Mascara dead at 81 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...

I wanted to use my 10,000th on something "special".... but I forgot and now I'm over. LOL

Their education policies have been terrible for teachers.

For example, stimulus money runs out at the end of this year, causing many furloughs and jobs lost to attrition. This will translate into larger class sizes and a cut in programs and activities next school year.

The "meme" about dismissing ineffective teachers is just a wingnut talking point. There is no glut of ineffective teachers and there is no barrier to dismissing them. They just cannot be fired "at will" for political reasons (if they are in a union and/or have tenure). When Duncan and Obama start listening to teachers and enacting meaningful "reforms", I might change my opinion. NEA will not influence either my donations or my activism.

I can't wait to get out into my garden. It not only puts food on the table, it feeds my soul to be out there "playing" in the dirt.

Unlike you, I can block out the world when I'm tilling, planting, weeding, staking, and ultimately harvesting. I look at my accomplishments and I am always amazed that "I grew this"!!

I loved this paragraph:

"The other major gripe I have is this: if we really believed that accountability works, wouldn't we have accountability for all public servants? Why do we not require our legislators to make "Adequate Yearly Progress"? We have the data from their congressional districts, do we not? There is crime data, health care data, poverty figures, and drug use statistics for every state and federal legislative district. Why, exactly, do we not establish annual targets for our legislators to meet? We could eliminate 100% of poverty, crime, drug abuse, and preventable illness by 2014! "

Sounds good to me!

Link to article that she referenced: http://www.propublica.org/article/corbett-...

She had on one of the authors, Abrahm Lustgarden, who wrote:

"Now, as Corbett stakes much of the state’s economy on Marcellus Shale gas drilling, a paragraph tucked into the 1,184-page budget gives Walker unprecedented authority to “expedite any permit or action pending in any agency where the creation of jobs may be impacted.” That includes, presumably, coal, oil, gas and trucking. "

Corbett's appointee, C. Alan Walker, has deep roots in the coal industry and was a big contibutor to Corbett's campaign. He is being given total authority over other state agencies involving gas drilling and environmental protection.

Good article; worth reading!

Proud public school teacher: Building rep. and strike team member.

Granddaughter, DIL, and niece of Steelworkers.

Solidarity forever!

Our district has "blue jean Fridays" and teachers pay for the privilege. The proceeds to buy winter coats, shoes, etc. for needy children. Our middle school has a closet for kids who need clothing (it is jam-packed).

If there is a family in need in our district (from a fire for instance), we pass around an envelope and collect food, clothing and household items for them. We recently donated several hundred dollars to each of two families whose children were killed in car crashes.

We recently held a blanket drive (just teachers) for the local emergency shelters. The collection boxes were filled with new blankets and quilts.

And we collect for new school supplies at the beginning of the year for children who come to school without any.

Add this to school-wide Support the Troops and food drives... and in many ways we are the benefactors of our community.

1. First day of high school and don't know how I will get there (we had to take public transportation).
2. Someone stole my car.
3. Riding a bus on a long round-about route and never reaching my destination.
4. Staying with a wealthy family's daughter (who befriended me) and has strange parents.
5. Lots of college dreams --- Can't find my class; lost my schedule; bad professor who gives parties; need one more class to graduate and have to drive there for the class; never went to class but have to take the final, etc.
6. Driving on vacation and get lost, or don't have gas money.
7. Seeing my dogs who are long-gone. They are playing on a hill and won't come when I call them.
8. Class reunion.
9. Work- related: Students won't leave at the end of the day; former co-worker comes in to show me up; teaching in some dirty, cluttered old classroom with lots of old tools and junk in it.
10. Moving: Roommates won't help me pack; don't have a U-haul; want to go home but keep staying at old apartment; etc.

Almost all of these dreams cause me to wake up with a migraine.

I'm so touched that you all took the time to read and to reply to my post. Today went well, and we are hopeful.

Thank you again to everyone who took the time to think about me today and to send so much positive energy. It means so much to me and to our family.

God (or Power of your choice) Bless you all for your kindness.

I don't want to jinx it by talking about it too much, but any vibes you can spare today will be greatly appreciated. It's not for me, but for a family member. Thank you, femmocrat.

I don't know what I expected... well, actually I do. I really thought that after 8 years of hell, we could hope again. I thought Obama would come in and make good on his promises. I knew it wouldn't be easy, and it wouldn't be immediately, but that steady progress would be made.

And here we are, with health care still looking unlikely, we are still bogged down in Iraq and escalating Afghanistan, and the Sec. of Education is anti-union and not even an educator. (I'm not even sure he supports public education.)

I will give him props on the stimulus money. I do appreciate it, but wonder if it's going to cost me something down the road?