Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Impeachment: Myths, Facts, & History

More Empty Impeachment Threats from the GOP

Right-wingers trembled with glee when Sen. James Inhofe said that President Obama might be impeached for the events in Benghazi. Few rank-and-file Americans understand impeachment or the odds of it happening. It does not mean that the president is fired.

Most members of Congress and the media understand what impeachment means, but our schools work very hard to produce politically ignorant citizens. Impeachment means charging a public official with an offense. Impeachment does not mean firing a public official from her/his job.

Only to the House of Representatives can impeach. The House can impeach hundreds of public officials: the president, vice president, all federal judges – including Supreme Court justices – cabinet secretaries and other high-ranking officials. If the full House approves impeachment, then the official has been impeached. But that just begins the process. The accused still faces trial in the Senate.

Read More …
http://voices.yahoo.com/article/9883987/impeachment-myths-facts-history-12148497.html?cat=37

Monday, May 6, 2013

Find Out What Congress Is Doing

Free. Easy. All Online.

Public interest in Congressional activity surged in recent years. Confusion, misinformation, and outright lies abound. But we can get accurate information without extensive web searches. All official Congressional activity is available on one website.

Have you ever wanted to read the text of a bill for yourself, while Congress debates it? Do you want to know which committees consider nominees for particular cabinet positions? Or the status of the federal budget? It’s much easier to find that information than you might think.

Thomas.gov. It’s easy to remember. And it’s your link to all Congressional activity.

Most Americans have no idea how Congress works, who their representatives are, how laws are made, or what committees do. That’s because our schools do an excellent job of producing politically ignorant citizens. They spend far too much time on historical minutiae instead of teaching our children how their government works. And those clueless children become clueless adults.

Members of Congress introduce thousands of bills every year. Those bills absorb tens of thousands of person-hours in meetings, hearings, briefings, debates, and reports. Only about five percent ever become laws.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Martin Sheen Honored in Pittsburgh for His Activism

Molly Rush and Martin Sheen in Pittsburgh

Sheen Calls Pittsburgh Activist Molly Rush His Inspiration.

In a building dedicated to those who have fought in America’s wars, about 250 people gathered in Pittsburgh on Saturday to honor a man who has dedicated his life to working for international peace and social justice.

Pittsburgh’s Thomas Merton Center honored actor and activist Martin Sheen with its Thomas Merton Award at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum on Saturday, April 13. Thomas Merton was a writer, Trappist monk, and social activist. The center named for him has been a hub of the city’s peace and justice activity since 1972.

Pennsylvania State Senator Jim Ferlo, another lifelong activist and friend to many in attendance, served as Master of Ceremonies. Guitar soloist Moko, folksinger Anne Feeney, and Mike Stout and the Human Union band provided musical entertainment. Pittsburgh’s city council proclaimed April 13 as Thomas Merton Center Day in the city. The city’s Congress member Mike Doyle (D) attended the event and issued his own declaration honoring the Merton Center and Martin Sheen for their work.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

The 113th Congress Opens for Business

Just What is a “Congress” Anyway?

Every two years, Congress reboots. Like a bright New Year’s Day, it’s fresh, and clean, and brief. The 113^th Congress assembled on Thursday, January 3 – a day for family and tradition, smiles and handshakes. They’ll return to the backstabbing soon enough.

For some reason, many Americans think that “Congress” is only the House of Representatives. It is not. Article I, Section 1 of the United States Constitution says:

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

That means that Congress makes the national laws and authorizes all federal spending. Yes, that’s right. The president can’t spend a dime without Congressional approval.

The Constitution requires that a new "Congress" convene every two years. In even-numbered years, every one of the 435 House seats and one-third of the 100 Senate seats, called a “class”, are up for election in November. The new Congress opens early in the following January. There are two sessions of each Congress; each lasts one year. The first Congress was elected in 1788 and assembled in 1789. The 112^th Congress officially closed at noon on Thursday, January 3, 2013 and the 113^th Congress opened moments later. The second session of the 113^th will open in January 2014.

WHY don’t Americans know this stuff?

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

How Does the Electoral College Work?

And Why Don’t We Get Rid of It?

Legally, the Electoral College chooses our president, but our votes DO control that result. And until we can remove the marketing geeks from the election process, we do still need the Electoral College.

As usual on election night, news reporters announced each state’s vote totals as the polls closed and kept a running tally of electoral votes. Incumbent President Barack Obama won re-election by 4,602,212 popular votes and earned 332 Electoral College votes. Former Gov. Mitt Romney won 206 electoral votes. Other candidates won 2,227,841 popular and zero electoral votes. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the election. But what’s the point of having the Electoral College?

Our founders were afraid to permit the uninformed and uneducated public to elect the president and vice president, but didn’t want to give that much power to Congress. The Electoral College was their compromise. The constitution allots each state the same number of electors as it has members of Congress – both in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. There are 435 House of Representatives members and 100 senators. The 23^rd amendment allots three electors to the District of Columbia, just as though it was a state, so there are 538 total electors.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving, the U.S. Constitution, and American Ignorance

Most Americans don't know that the very first Thanksgiving was not about Pilgrims.
It was about the US Constitution.
Here's a repost of my 2011 Thanksgiving article.
Enjoy!
http://voices.yahoo.com/thanksgiving-us-constitution-10508935.html?cat=9

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Secession, the U.S. Constitution, and the Consequences

It’s Not What You Think

Since last weekend, the internet has been aflutter with news that many states have petitioned the White House for permission to secede from the union. No state has officially done any such thing. This is what’s going on.

To date, there are forty-eight petitions asking President Obama to approve the secession of 40 states.

This is just another in a long list of examples of the pathetic state of civics education in the United States. The president has no power to approve a state’s secession, yet tens of thousands of people signed petitions asking him to do so. And they think it’s going to work. Most of the petitions contain glaring spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors, illustrating their authors’ illiteracy.

Many other Americans are under the impression that the U.S. Constitution prohibits secession. It does not. Yes, it is possible to secede. No, the president does not have the authority to permit it. Most believe that the Civil War settled the secession question permanently. Wrong again.

But, if Congress did agree to a peaceful secession, it would open up a whole new can of worms.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Does the U.S. Constitution Still Matter?

People who ask this question usually want to start a fight or are pathetically ignorant. Our Constitution emerged 225 years ago today. It matters as long as the United States exists. Yet Americans still argue about it, file lawsuits about it, claim to love it, and swear to uphold it. They accuse each other of violating it. But most have never READ IT. So let’s look at it.

The founders’ first attempt at creating a government in 1781, the Articles of Confederation, didn’t work very well. So six years later, they tried again and gave us the United States Constitution.

Fifty-five farmers and businessmen, serving as Constitutional Convention delegates, contributed their ideas. James Madison and Gouverneur Morris wrote most of the text, consisting of 4,400 words. The founders didn't want to write an intricate daily operating manual. The Constitution is an outline for our government. Madison and Morris deliberately included some very general language.

The Constitution contains three parts – the Preamble, the Articles, and the Amendments.

Read More …

http://voices.yahoo.com/does-us-constitution-still-matter-11774776.html?cat=37

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Thank a Union Member for the Good Life You Have

Join Your Friends and Neighbors in the Labor Day Parade

On Monday September 3, Americans will observe the 131^st Labor Day celebration. The Allegheny County Labor Council will host its 31st consecutive parade downtown.

Pittsburgh’s parade is one of the largest Labor Day events in the United States, with nearly 200 groups and 80,000 people participating. Everything good about your standard of living came to you through the organized labor movement. First celebrated by the Knights of Labor in 1882, Congress proclaimed a national holiday in 1894.

Labor unions brought benefits to every working person in America, whether they belonged to a union or not. They are primarily responsible for establishing the middle class. We take these things for granted, but none of them existed before the rise of the unions.

Unions created the day to honor the contributions of all workers – union and nonunion – to our economic and social life. It’s especially important now when corporatists and political thugs are attacking American workers like never before. Do you REALLY believe that teachers caused the Wall Street crash in 2008? Really? Do you REALLY believe that abolishing unions will fix everything that’s wrong with the economy? Really?

Today, our unions are still fighting for our families while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Republican Party, and others are trying to destroy them. They’re not only trying to destroy unions. They’re coming for you next. Unions made our lifestyle possible. If you want to keep it, then support our unions.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Political Party Conventions Have Several Purposes

Since our schools don’t teach this stuff, this is what the conventions are all about.

This week and next, Americans will conduct the most intense stage in the presidential election process. The 2012 Republican National Convention is in progress in Tampa, FL until Thursday, August 30 and the Democrats will convene in Charlotte, NC from September 4 through 6. The conventions’ primary purpose is to nominate the parties’ presidential and vice presidential candidates for the November election. However, there are other goals as well.

Please be sure that you are registered and that you vote. Voter registration is painless. Forms are available in many locations –government offices, public libraries, schools, and others. You can even register online. Election Day is November 6.

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR STATE’S VOTER ID RULES.

THE REPUBLICANS DON’T WANT YOU TO VOTE.

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