Well...

Fuck.

-AWC

My 2nd response from a Senator on Citizens United

Senator Cornyn also likes his corporate financing.

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Thank you for contacting me regarding campaign finance reform. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.

Prior to my election to the United States Senate, President George W. Bush signed the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act into law (P.L. 107—155). In part, this law amended the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 by increasing the limit on "hard money"—regulated donation limits on direct campaign contributions used to influence elections—and bans "soft money"—money raised outside federal election restrictions and used to indirectly influence elections. The law also regulates certain political communications for a specific period preceding an election.

On September 8, 2003, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding the claim that the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act restricts free speech and violates the First Amendment. The Court considered this challenge and issued a decision on December 10, 2003, upholding the reform legislation.

However, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court struck down a provision of the Act that completely prohibited corporations, including non-profit corporations, from exercising their First Amendment right to praise or criticize political candidates in the weeks before an election. In the Citizens United case, the Federal Election Commission had effectively banned a movie produced by a non-profit corporation because that movie was critical of Hillary Clinton, then a candidate for President. The Obama Administration argued for an expansive interpretation of the law that would have even permitted the government to ban certain books if it found that those books contained “electioneering communications.”

I agree with the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the provisions of this law that violated the intent of the First Amendment, which reads: “Congress shall make no law...abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press.” Our First Amendment rights are fundamental principles that strengthen our democracy and republican form of government. The right to criticize the government and argue for one’s political beliefs is essential to a free country. I understand the concerns many Americans have with respect to campaign finance reform. I believe we must make America's campaign process transparent while also protecting our political freedom. You may be certain that I will continue to closely monitor this issue.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator


517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov

And now my first response....

Senator Hutchison's Response to my call to support Senator Sanders proposed amendment to reverse Citizens United ruling (She doesn't agree.):


Dear Friend:
Thank you for contacting me regarding campaign finance reform. I welcome your thoughts and comments.

I believe the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission took a step in the right direction by scaling back the limits on speech imposed upon Americans by the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act. I voted against McCain-Feingold because it unduly regulates and limits our First Amendment rights by limiting political speech. I believe that curtailing speech is not the answer to reforming campaign finance.

The Supreme Court ruling protects the freedom of speech for all American citizens. Acting as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution, the Court is charged with ensuring the promise of equal justice under the law to all Americans. Justice Anthony Kennedy concluded that in the opinion of the court “under our law and our tradition it seems stranger than fiction for our Government to make political speech a crime.”

On July 21, 2010, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced S. 3628, the "Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act". The legislation proposes a combination of disclosure and disclaimer provisions designed to provide additional information to regulators and the public about political advertising that could emerge following Citizens United. While proponents claim the bill applies equally to corporations and unions, the bill exempts unions from restrictions that would limit their campaign activity.

On July 27th, 2010, I voted against the measure because it does not treat all United States citizens, corporations and organizations alike when it comes to transparency and accountability. I also rejected it because of the far-reaching regulations it would place on our constitutionally protected speech. On September 23rd, the Senate again took a vote on this act, defeating it once again by a vote of 59-39.

I am committed to maintaining the fundamental fairness and integrity of our political system without infringing upon the constitutional rights of all Americans to participate in our political process. Should any similar legislation come before the Senate, you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind.

I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you.

Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator

Open Letter to the Senators of the United States

It is with great pride and a heavy heart that I write to you today.  I am proud of the United States of America's heritage and foundation based upon the Bill of Rights that give the American People the opportunity to speak their mind to their government and to ask their representatives to do that job which they were elected to do: represent the People.  It is with a heavy heart that I am writing today to discuss a topic which has eroded the American People's ability to have a real voice in their government and turned elections into little more than class warfare.

The Citizen's United vs. FEC ruling by the Supreme Court in 2010 in a divided 5-4 vote began allowing corporations to not only begin spending money through political broadcasts in an effort to promote their candidate of choice but allowed unfettered amounts of money to begin undermining the people's voice.  Corporations do not enjoy the right to vote, but they do enjoy the right to directly affect the outcome of elections by spending exorbitant amounts of money to spread their message more loudly and widely than any individual could hope to.  

Lobbyists that represent special interest groups are little more than shadow companies that stand between representatives and corporations with the sole purpose of funneling funds from corporations (for-profit and not-for-profit) to candidate's campaigns for election and reelection.  Done directly and without a middle man, this act would still be considered illegal in federal campaigns, but by allowing lobbyists to act on their behalf, it has become standard practice and perfectly acceptable to spend money on candidates and ask for political favors and consideration in return.

As of today, I do not accept that it is a foregone conclusion that my government is utterly lost to us.  I do not accept that you have all abandoned us completely in the lust for the almighty corporate dollar.   I believe that our first act as the People of the United States needs to be communication with our representatives in the United States Government.  I am writing you today in an effort to communicate to you, my Representative, my wishes as a member of your constituency.

It is time that you and your peers return the government to the hands of the American People and take it away from faceless corporations that have only one goal in mind: profit for the few on the backs of the many.

On Thursday, December 8, 2011, Sen. Sanders of Vermont introduce a bill to the Senate that would create an amendment to the Constitution to overturn the Citizens United ruling and put the power of governing back into the hands of those that you represent, instead of allowing corporations to continue to dominate our elections by funneling money into campaigns and political broadcasts in an effort to undermine the American People.

I am demanding that you, as a representative of the people, as one of MY representative, sponsor and support this bill with every ounce of your political influence. When a similar bill is introduced and passes in the House as well as the Senate, we can begin the process of letting the People retake their rightful place in a Government.  I would like to be able to say that MY representative is the one that began the process of removing corruptions from the United States Government and returned honor and respectability to those that represent the American People.

Please do not ignore those People you represent.  Approval ratings for both the House and the Senate are at an extreme low.  Recent surveys suggest that close to 80% of the American People, people that you and your peers represent feel that no one in Congress should be reelected.  This is an expression of our distaste for the way in which our government has quite literally been bought by corporations that are beholden to a small group of shareholders rather than the American People.

We cannot and will not continue to abide this corruption.  I am writing you today with the hope that you will reflect the opinion of your constituents and agree that this cannot continue.

-------------------------------------------------------

Feel free to use the above text to contact your Senator.

Find your Senators HERE

Open letter for the House of Representatives

It is with great pride and a heavy heart that I write to you today.  I am proud of the United States of America's heritage and foundation based upon the Bill of Rights that give the American People the opportunity to speak their mind to their government and to ask their representatives to do that job which they were elected to do: represent the People.  It is with a heavy heart that I am writing today to discuss a topic which has eroded the American People's ability to have a real voice in their government and turned elections into little more than class warfare.

The Citizen's United vs. FEC ruling by the Supreme Court in 2010 in a divided 5-4 vote began allowing corporations to not only begin spending money through political broadcasts in an effort to promote their candidate of choice but allowed unfettered amounts of money to begin undermining the people's voice.  Corporations do not enjoy the right to vote, but they do enjoy the right to directly affect the outcome of elections by spending exorbitant amounts of money to spread their message more loudly and widely than any individual could hope to.  

Lobbyists that represent special interest groups are little more than shadow companies that stand between representatives and corporations with the sole purpose of funneling funds from corporations (for-profit and not-for-profit) to candidate's campaigns for election and reelection.  Done directly and without a middle man, this act would still be considered illegal in federal campaigns, but by allowing lobbyists to act on their behalf, it has become standard practice and perfectly acceptable to spend money on candidates and ask for political favors and consideration in return.

As of today, I do not accept that it is a foregone conclusion that my government is utterly lost to us.  I do not accept that you have all abandoned us completely in the lust for the almighty corporate dollar.   I believe that our first act as the People of the United States needs to be communication with our representatives in the United States Government.  I am writing you today in an effort to communicate to you, my Representative, my wishes as a member of your constituency.

It is time that you and your peers return the government to the hands of the American People and take it away from faceless corporations that have only one goal in mind: profit for the few on the backs of the many.

On Thursday, December 8, 2011, Sen. Sanders of Vermont introduce a bill to the Senate that would create an amendment to the Constitution to overturn the Citizens United ruling and put the power of governing back into the hands of those that you represent, instead of allowing corporations to continue to dominate our elections by funneling money into campaigns and political broadcasts in an effort to undermine the American People.

I am demanding that you, as a representative of the people, as MY representative, introduce a bill to the House of Representatives that would do the same thing. When each bill passes in the House and the Senate, we can begin the process of letting the People retake their rightful place in a Government.  I would like to be able to say that MY representative is the one that began the process of removing corruptions from the United States Government and returned honor and respectability to those that represent the American People.

Please do not ignore those People you represent.  Approval ratings for both the House and the Senate are at an extreme low.  Recent surveys suggest that close to 80% of the American People, people that you and your peers represent feel that no one in Congress should be reelected.  This is an expression of our distaste for the way in which our government has quite literally been bought by corporations that are beholden to a small group of shareholders rather than the American People.

We cannot and will not continue to abide this corruption.  I am writing you today with the hope that you will reflect the opinion of your constituents and agree that this cannot continue.

________________________________________________________________________

Please feel free to use the above text and send it to your local representative of the House.

Find your Representative today by going HERE.

Awesome Keith Olberman rant

Be Heard Not Just Counted

I believe that we are lied to in the open so often by so many politicians and corporations in so many different ways that people not only think it's true but automatically discount any other way of thinking. Enjoy the corp/pol Kool-Aid; it's tasty but holds no nutrition. 

Corporations and politicians have colluded to make themselves richer without regard for the potential consequences to their employees, customers, communities, and environment. And they know that keeping a separate class of people down is the only way they keep that wealth and power. (See the last 300 years of history.)

I don't want completely free education, I want equal opportunity for reasonably priced education to those that desire to make more of themselves. 

I don't want to stop paying taxes; I want those that make more to pay the same percentage I do instead of getting tax breaks that aren't available to the rest of us.

I don't want a corporation to have the ability to give gifts and money to politician's campaigns in exchange for special exemptions and considerations and call it lobbying instead of being prosecuted for bribing. 

I want banks to recognize that when we trust them with our money, we expect to be treated fairly and not to be preyed upon by nickel and diming us out of every cent they can.

I don't want free health care or even universal health care, but I do want to live my life without being afraid that my next accident could result in an insurance claim that won't be paid by the company that I PAY to insure my health, thereby sending me spiraling into debt. 

I don't want free money in my pocket. I just want less money going into the pockets of politicians and more money going into our communities. 

I don't want MY debts to be forgiven; I incurred them. But in today's economic crisis CAUSED by the banks that we owe the money to, the banks need to accept some responsibility and fault for some individual's hardship. Yes there are programs out there, but the onus is still on the indebted to deal with the bank that helped create the problem in the first place. The banks should bear the responsibility for their poor business practices that harmed so many. Instead of a fine to the SEC which amounts to a slap on the wrist, they should take some losses and admit guilt while making things right for the borrower by modifying their loans to allow people to keep their home. 

I know that my opinion differs in some respects from OWS, and I don't have all the answers, but I believe that when the system is broken and allows for these abuses to continue, then something new must be tried. I don't see how we can just put new people in the same chairs and expect different results without LOUDLY and with great emotion voicing our displeasure at the current status quo. There is NO incentive for Congress to change their ways as long as we remain quiet and complacent. 

I will always encourage people to voice their opinion in the voting booth, but it is time we voiced that opinion in the streets too so that the politicians truly understand what we want.

Be heard not just counted. 

I will begin posting again! Stay tuned.

Occupy everything!

I really do love my wife. It's unquestionable.

I'm pretty damned thankful most days.

-A.W.C.

Just Stop.....

NOT ALL

Not all Caucasian people are racists.
Not all racists are Caucasian.
Not all African Americans are criminals.
Not all criminals are African American.
Not all Hispanic people are illegal immigrants.
Not all illegal immigrants are Hispanic.
Not all feminists are lesbians.
Not all lesbians are feminists.
Not all atheists are Christian haters.
Not all Christian haters are atheists.
Not all Muslims are terrorists.
Not all terrorists are Muslim.


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Until we stop pigeon holing everyone into a negative stereotype simply because of their physical appearance, who they worship (or don't), or their lifestyle choices, we can't possible expect others to stop doing the same thing to us.  Although there are those that would do you harm, you can't not decide that based only on any of the criteria above. 


A.W.C.

Politics

I'm tired of people and politicians that refuse to see the ocean of gray that exists between their black and white views of the world.

Rejection....often the result of trying

I remember the first girl I asked out on a date in the 8th grade. I sat next to her in a History class, and we had a few other classes together too. She was very pretty and every guy at school wanted to date her. I was thoroughly infatuated with her. I'm not about to say she was my first love, because that just isn't true; I never had the chance for that to be seen. It took a great deal of effort for me to even ask her out, because it was for one of the 8th grade dances, and I didn't have the first clue how to dance. (Baptists went to hell for dancing.) She let me down easy, but promised me a dance. I don't know what I would have done if she had said yes. I asked some friends to teach me some dance moves but all they knew how to do was the running man (a la M.C. Hammer circa 1988).

I did go to the dance, but all I did was walk around the wall and watch people. I saw her and I knew that she wasn't there with anyone in particular, but I never got the nerve to approach her again. She probably thought I was some creepy stalking boy (I'm sure she had a few of those), but I was just scared out of my mind. What would the result have been had I approached her again? I started to say "It wasn't meant to be", but I don't believe in that destiny/predetermination bull shit. It just didn't happen. Why? Because I didn't try again, or because she was nice but never had any intention of taking a chance on me? No one can know. Hell....I don't even know how much of my memory is colored by my own fears and desires preventing me from remembering exactly the circumstances or conversations.

The point is that the only way to find out is to try...

Rejection/Failure...that's a real possibility of all things we attempt in life, but acceptance/success are also real possibilities of the things we try to accomplish and can not be obtained with out trying.

That young girl from 20 years ago is still around. She's been through some crazy shit just like a lot of people have. I wouldn't exactly call us friends any more....more like internet acquaintances. In the end, I don't think I am worse off because of a rejection. I'm pretty damned happy with the path my life traveled down, and I think she is rather enjoying herself these days.

I'm going to keep trying, and I'm sure I am going to be rejected for most things, but when I am accepted for something, I am going to give it my all. I hope that the next thing I am accepted for (hopefully, a job) will be at least half as enjoyable and as successful as the last thing I was accepted for....my marriage to my wife.

-A.W.C.

Bad Drivers Suck

You jackasses are driving a 1+ ton hunk of metal that could kill you, your passengers, and just about anyone else around you. Look before you change lanes. Look before you do a U-turn. JUST LOOK! I'm sick of someone thinking that it is OK to slam on the brakes, change lanes and make right turn RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND at the risk of killing everyone around them. Just suck it up, admit you missed your turn, and safely make your way back to where you need to be via additional driving.

That is all.....

A.W.C.

STOP WITH THE CLICHES ALREADY

Look, I know that some people find comfort in religion. It only irritates me, however.

This idea that everything is destined to happen, or that everything happens for a reason (that you can't know until later) is tiring.

We make our own futures. They aren't written for us. IF there was a god that has predetermined our lives, and we can't affect it, then we might as well lay in bed all day, because whatever happens is destined to happen.

I've got 5 words for you: Suicide, homicide, genocide, famine, and disease. Any god that has already decided that people should suffer these without the possibility of escape is not a god I want to claim.

I have free will, regardless of the existence of a god. I choose the direction of my life, I get the credit for the good decisions, and I get the blame for the bad ones. That's life.

--A.W.C.

I guess I'll just sit at home for a few weeks

Well, I got laid off last Friday. Had been working there loyally for 8 years. I rolled with the punches, expressed a willingness to work with the new management, did what I was asked in a timely manner, and......they laid me off. At least I wasn't the only one. I know that it is just business, but I can't help wonder if there weren't better choices to be made. Oh well, I can't change that now....

So, that means I will be job hunting soon. I haven't been on a job interview in over 8 years. Hopefully my experience giving job interviews to applicants will help me.

Stay tuned...

--A.W.C.

It's time for real change.

No, I'm not talking about Barack Obama's brand of change from a Republican run administration to a Democrat one. I'm talking about real change. It's time we stopped listening to the far left and the far right. It's time we realized that both sides have no real interest in fixing everything. As long as something is broken, they can always blame the other side and implore American citizens to vote for the opposing parties candidates. It is time we realized that they both have it wrong!

Come on, people! Do some research. Find someone else to vote for. Stop voting just because some has a "(R)" or a "(D)" after their name when they make an appearance on TV. Stop voting for one person just because he says the other guy can't do the job. Let's vote for someone that didn't base their campaigns on personal attacks.

Let's find individuals that we believe care about the future of this country and our children, and let's encourage them to run for office. We may have to start small, but that's OK. Get on city councils, get elected as mayor of your city, and start taking care of your constituents.

We don't need representatives whose only goal is to remain in the seat of power; we need representatives that want to REPRESENT their people. If they don't get elected again, then they need to understand that it is because the PEOPLE didn't like the job he/she did.

This goes both ways! You have to learn about your representatives...local, county, state, and federal. You need to educate yourself about what they vote for and against. You need to hold them to their promises. We need to call them out when they make promises they can't possibly keep while they are campaigning. We need to hold them accountable for what they do and what they don't do. Today, politicians count on the general population to NOT do any of these things. As long as we remain ignorant, they have an increased chance of keeping the status quo.

I don't care how futile you think it is. DOING NOTHING WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING. If you really want to see some changes, then STOP VOTING FOR REPUBLICANS AND/OR DEMOCRATS. They are the source of the problem, and our ignorance fuels it.

-A.W.C.

School!?!?!?!? What was I thinking?

OK. So I started school last week. Taking my first class in 13 years! WTF was I thinking?

It's not that bad. Just a little culture shock. Within the first class (which is about 2.5 hours of class time each week), I received two lab assignments, and before my second class even starts, I already have my first real Essay assigned.

English 1302 may not be very difficult for people that took English 1301 last year, but those of us that took it 13 years ago are having a tough time adjusting. I never even heard of MLA format, and now I have to write essays using it.

*Deep breath* It'll be OK, but, damn, I have some adjusting to do.

-A.W.C.

Honestly, It's Your Fault

YouTube, TV, Video Games, Movies, Bam Margera....

What do all of these things have in common?

NONE of them are at fault when you or your child does something ignorant and/or dangerous.

It's your fault, or a combination of you and your child's fault. No one else is to blame.

Stop trying to find a big payday in the courts and just accept that you and/or your child probably deserved whatever you got. Even if you didn't deserve it in a moral sense, you are still the 'tard that thought it was going to be OK to try to jump a moving car.

I'm not saying it's not entertaining to see a dumb ass get run over by a car, but the least he can do is own up to being the dumb ass after he gets out of the hospital.

It's called personal responsibility. Let's all get a big ol' bucket full and carry it around with us.

-A.W.C.

Being Sick Sucks

I think the title should have been the body of this post.

-A.W.C.