Letter #162... Dear Mr. President... It's time to support the 1%

Dear Mr. President,

You may be surprised to learn that I support the 1%, even though I am part of the 99%. The 1% that I support are the 78,000 men and women still serving in Afghanistan, and their families still praying for their safety. I support bringing them home much sooner than the end of 2014. Move that timeline up by one year.

Soldiers in Afghanistan... Bring Them Home Now!

When you first announced that all troops would be out of Afghanistan by 2014, I thought, well, that's not too bad, one more year to wrap things up seemed reasonable. Upon reflection, my thoughts are that it is not reasonable. It's not reasonable because nothing further can be gained by keeping our men and women there. It is counter productive to keep forces there that are being attacked by the very people they are training to take over their own security. The Afghans.

What is the gain verses the cost of remaining where we are clearly not welcome? The gains are negligible compared to the losses. The loss of additional American lives, the loss of billions of dollars, thousands more injured requiring extensive medical rehabilitation, and mental rehabilitation, more marriages destroyed by long and multiple deployments, including the Generals. And hundreds of children living with single parents, some of them permanently due to the death of one parent. This is no longer acceptable, it time to end  the charade of this terrible war.

What are the gains, war profiteers will continue to make billions while our young men and women who put their lives on the line, make pennies on the dollar compared to the war profiteers. The Afghans who profit by what we bring to their country, including millions of dollars given to corrupt Afghan politicians.

The election is over and the war in Afghanistan was hardly even mentioned during the campaign, let alone actually talked about. Why are we still committing our men and women to a war no one wants to talk about? It's not right and we need to end this travesty sooner rather than later.

I'm sorry Mr. President, the costs are too great, the loss of American lives is too great, and the sacrifices of the 1% are too numerous to justify continuing this war for another TWO years, because that's what you're really talking about.

Yes Mr. President, it's time for you to support the 1% now, it's time to bring our 78,000 men and women home from the longest war in our history, they have sacrificed enough, and so have their families. It’s time to move that timeline up by one year and it’s time to bring the 1% back to the country they fought for… America.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #161... Dear Mr. President...It wasn't even close... it was a Landslide!

Dear Mr. President,

This morning while I was in the shower I couldn’t help but feel it was one of the best showers I’ve ever felt… it felt like I was washing off four years of racism, bigotry, homophobia, birtherism, and hate… washing away the divisiveness, ugliness, and anger that has raged through our country for the last two years.

The People have spoken... again.

As we head into this season of Thanksgiving, I’m extremely grateful to the over 60 million people that voted to re-elect you as our 44^th President. I’m grateful that the big money of Citizens United, the Koch Bros., the Adelson’s, the Trump’s and many like them, learned that the American people cannot be bought and the White House is not for sale. I’m grateful that the haters like Trump, Rove, Limbaugh, and Fox viewers learned that over 60 million people are not buying their relentless messages of lies, cynicism and divisiveness. I’m grateful that the 30 states that tried to impose voter ID laws and that they too were rebuffed by the voters. I’m particularly grateful to all those people who stood in long lines just to vote and send a clear message that those un-American tactics will not be tolerated, and are not acceptable in this country.

People say that this election isn’t a mandate, but it is… it’s a mandate for women’s rights, it’s a mandate against Citizens United, it’s a mandate for everyone paying their fair share in taxes, and that the very rich should pay a little more. It’s a mandate that discrimination will no longer be tolerated, and that includes a persons right to love and marry whom they choose. The State of Wisconsin proved this with Tammy Baldwin being the first female Senator and the first openly gay candidate ever elected.

I’m grateful that you opened the door and emboldened so many women by setting an example and appointing two women to the Supreme Court, one of them being the first Latino ever appointed. I’m grateful that you will make the next two or three appointments to the Supreme Court, ensuring the protection of women’s rights and the ACA. I’m grateful that you are using drones to help fight al qaeda, saving the lives of our men and women. I know it is not a popular position, and that innocent lives are lost, many of them women and children, and I know you do not make these decisions lightly, but that is what a great leader and the Commander and Chief is supposed to do... make the tough decisions that protect American lives.

My granddaughter came home from school yesterday visibly upset, upset because only 11 people in her 4^th grade class voted for you, and she thought that you’d lose the election. Her mom assured her that they lived in a neighborhood that was mostly Republican and that the kids would vote like their parents, but that because we live in California, she had nothing to worry about… you would win. I wish I could have gone to school with her today, I wish I could see the pride on her face and the faces of the other kids that voted for you, even though the majority of their friends didn’t. I hope the teacher explained what a meaningful election this truly is.

In closing, I want to thank you for always taking the high road, never stooping to the level of those detractors that have tried so hard to delegitimize your presidency. You have truly been an inspiration to many of us who have not always been on the same high road with you, myself included. To push back and respond to the ugliness and rancor was easy enough to do, but not necessarily the right thing to do, because it just added fuel to the fire… you never did that. This country is so fortunate to have you remain as our President, you lift us all, you lift the poor, the sick, the weak, the disenfranchised… you in fact, lift the whole world by your example.

Congratulations Mr. President, we’re fired up and ready to go… ready to go forward and raise this country back to its former greatness… we can, and will, do it together.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #160... Dear Mr. President... Romnesia & Bain Capital Voting Machines

Dear Mr. President,

I knew you could do it, and I knew you would do it… the second debate was outstanding, and I’m quite sure that Gov. Romney is still reeling from the smack-down. The one-two punch at the end, about the 47%, was perfect, and perfectly timed, not allowing Romney a chance to defend his indefensible remarks.

Since that second debate you seem to have energized and rejuvenated yourself just as much as you’ve energized and rejuvenated millions of your supporters. In many ways we’re a lot like dogs… a simple pat on the head, a smile, or a good debate performance, will get our tails and our tongues wagging.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better… you did it again! Romnesia! The blogosphere, Twitter, Facebook, and its many threads all across the country, are lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree, spreading happiness throughout the land.

Romnesia is simply brilliant, and perfect for the crowd at GMU, especially the women. I fully expect your new word to be added to the dictionary by next year, with the definition being… Romnesia, [Rom-nee-zhuh] Noun - a condition when a person shifts from one position to another, over and over again.

The cure for Diarrhea of the Mouth

And now Vice President Biden is telling a crowd in Florida that Romnesia is contagious, and Congressman Ryan has caught it as well, citing the fact that Ryan is now giving a new explanation for cuts in the budget he oversaw and passed in the house. Both Romney and Ryan suffer from a ‘constipation’ of ideas, and ‘diarrhea’ of the mouth… but there is a remedy for them and it’s called “Milk of Romnesia”… when taken orally, guaranteed to work once both orifices have been sufficiently clogged, rendering them inoperable.

Romnesia couldn’t have come at a better time, with enough material to carry us through the election, and carrying you and Vice President Biden, to a decisive victory. You have redeemed yourself with Chris Matthews, and I’m quite sure that David Axelrod is giddy with all the attention this is getting, both for the energy it brings, and the comedic value, changing a very ugly and divisive campaign into something that is making most of us smile broadly and laugh out loud.

But, there is one more CRITICALLY IMPORTANT thing you need to do before the election… Make sure that there are boots on the ground in every state, every precinct, and every polling place, ensuring that there is no voter suppression. Nor, any corruption/manipulation of votes with the machines from Hart Intercivic, controlled by Bain Capital Investment. I don’t care if you have to call the National Guard to protect these machines, because the connection between the Romney family, Bain Capital, and ownership of these machines is anything but coincidental.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #159... Dear Mr. President... Next hand is "All in"...

Dear Mr. President,

Kudos to you Mr. President, the debate last night was one of the best-played bluffs in the history of debates. You sucked Gov. Romney into your web like dirt up a vacuum, allowing him to repeat his lies over and over again. Watching you was like watching the final table at a championship poker tournament, with the chip leader giving up just enough to suck his opponent into going all in.

Your poker face was extraordinary.

I could see it was nearly killing you to keep your cool… the ‘tells’ were easy to spot, like a poker player pulling his hood up when he has a really good hand, in hopes that the others won’t see his excitement. Your ‘tells’ were nodding in the affirmative like you were agreeing with him, encouraging him to continue, pursing your lips at obvious lies, and appearing to take notes that you didn’t actually use to refute his continuous lies and misrepresentations.

Of course all of my left leaning, dyed in the wool, Democratic friends were imploding all over Facebook. No one could believe how poorly you were doing, no pushback, no hitting him with your record, no reference to the 47% video… you just let him run off at the mouth, like he usually does. Even at the conclusion when Romney’s family all came up on stage, you and the First Lady walked quietly offstage leaving the crowd to cheer for Romney.

I think I know why you played your hand this way… 1. Get Romney to reveal all of his talking points in the first debate. 2. Gather as many lies and inconsistencies to use in new ads. 3. Give Romney the illusion that he’s got you on a bad hand, so he goes all in, while you’re already holding the straight flush. 4. Send the Vice President into his debate with Ryan, with all the ammunition he’ll need to mop the floor with him, and 5. Get all of Romney’s million dollar donors back in his game, committing their dollars back to him and not the down ticket candidates.

A very dangerous strategy for anyone in politics, except you Mr. President, because you have the brains, the facts, and the confidence to pull it all back together in the next debate. However, the next debate has to be ‘ALL IN’ for you, you’ve held your cards close, you’ve bluffed long enough to give your opponent a sense of false security and confidence, now it’s time to put him away… game over.

When the pundits come to their senses, they’ll realize you threw the first hand, and very nearly overplayed it with your terrible performance, but those of us who know just how smart you are, and what a great chess player you are, weren’t fooled.

Now it’s time to ante up and bring it home to the American people, we deserve the gold bracelet just as much as you do.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

The Gadfly Granny

Letter #158... Dear Mr. President... What's not on Mitts Laundry List

 Dear Mr. President,

Today is the 11th anniversary of 9/11, a time for all Americans to reflect on that horrific day, and how it has changed all our lives in such a profound and irrevocable way. It is a day for us to remember that as a result of that single terrorist act, hundreds of thousands of men and women were committed to two wars, wars that plunged this country into the deepest recession since the Great Depression.

Since the illegal invasion of Iraq we’ve watched our Vets get short changed on safe helmets and armor to protect their vehicles, putting our troops at even greater risk. We’ve seen our war wounded come home to face inadequate rehabilitative care and job retraining services, and our Vets are quickly becoming one of the largest percentages of the homeless in America, because they lack comprehensive mental health care, and adequate job opportunities.

I know that you have done a great deal to turn things around, ending the war in Iraq and establishing a date to end the war in Afghanistan, and most notably, fulfilling your promise to eliminate the mastermind behind the 9/11 attack, Osama bin Laden. You’ve brought closure to thousands of victims and their families and justice for America. I also know that the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden are working diligently to address the problem of homelessness in our Veteran population.

Mitts "Laundry List" of things that are important

What I find completely amazing is a recent statement by Gov. Romney when asked about why he didn’t mention the troops in Afghanistan during his speech at the Republican Convention. Here’s what Romney said, “When you give a speech you don’t go through a laundry list, you talk about the things you think are important.”

Really? What on earth can possibly be more important than American Troops fighting in a foreign country to keep America safe from another terrorist attack? I guess in RomneyWorld, if his five sons aren’t serving in the military then other peoples sons aren’t important enough to mention, even when you’re running to become not only President, but “Commander and Chief” of the armed forces.

So not only did Romney ask for, and receive, four deferments from serving in Vietnam, but he feels that his sons are “showing support for our nation” by helping to get him elected. Does he really believe that is in any way comparable to our service men and women serving in the military? What planet does this man come from? In what parallel universe does working on a campaign, or fighting for your country seem the same?

As we look back at the tragedy of 9/11, besides the loss of 3000 innocent lives and the continued suffering of thousands of families, there is no greater sacrifice being made today than those who served in Iraq and those who served and continue to serve in Afghanistan, and the tens of thousands of men and women who have died while serving in these wars.

It may be on a “laundry list” of unimportant things for Gov. Romney, but I can assure you it has the highest priority for families in America and the families of the coalition forces, and all caring and compassionate Americans, and Mr. President, I know it is one of your top priorities to bring our men and women home safely, to be reunited with their families, to end the war, and to reaffirm your promise and commitment to peace.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

Your Gadfly Granny 

Letter #157... Dear Mr. President... My Phone won't Ring this Year.

Dear Mr. President,

For the last 27 years on August 14^th I’ve received a phone call from my son Jeff saying, “Thanks for the kidney mom, I love you.” This year there will be no phone call, because Jeff passed away on April 7^th of this year from Pancreatic/Liver Cancer.

But I have to tell you, as much as I miss Jeff, I am eternally grateful for the ‘extra’ 27 years I had with him, because in 1984 I had a good job with a fortune five hundred company that provided excellent health care benefits. Those benefits paid for not only Jeff’s transplant costs, but mine as well, even though my kidney donation was elective. I doubt we would be so fortunate in 2012.

Jeff with Itchy and Scratchy in Pahoa, Hawaii

No, the phone won’t ring this year, and I’ll never hear his happy voice again, but I have 27 years of wonderful memories to count and savor whenever I think of him. I have photos to remind me of the sweet man he turned into, his love of family, animals, and his music. He wasn’t perfect by any means, but he had a good heart, and was loved by all who knew him.

Jeff was a champion of the underdog, often taking in a homeless person, or planning a benefit to feed needy families. The last gig he planned was to benefit “Food for Families” in Pahoa, Hawaii, where he lived. Unfortunately he was unable to play his drums in that gig because his cancer was too advanced, and he had to move home with us before the event. His band mates sent photos and a CD, so he could see that his last gig was a success even though he wasn’t there.

Although this will be a quiet day, it is not a sad day, because time can never erase those 27 years of memories. Others have not been so fortunate, many people die every year because they don’t have the kind of insurance that would allow them receive a lifesaving transplant like Jeff got.

I want you to know Mr. President, that you and Vice President Biden, and the Democratic Party are all that stand between Americans being able to afford the type of health care Jeff and I had back in 1984, and the Republican Party that seeks to destroy and dismantle that health care for all but the very wealthy. You must stop the GOP’s radical agenda that will decimate the middle class and this country.

You simply must prevail in November, lives depend on you winning a second term, ensuring the continuation of the Affordable Care Act, strengthening Medicare and Medicaid, and protecting Social Security, as we know it. You must make the case to the American people, that continuing to appease the top 2% will bankrupt America.

So instead of receiving a phone call this year, I’d like to make a phone call to you Mr. President, saying “Thank you for protecting our health care, Medicare, Social Security, and our Country.”

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #156... Dear Mr. President... A 'Yellow Book' for your Birthday.

Dear Mr. President,

I need my own ‘yellow book’ and at this point I think you could use one too. In fact the whole world needs a ‘yellow book’. So right about now you’re probably thinking what the heck is a ‘yellow book’?

Before I explain, let me say that I think you’ve had just about enough of my letters. Sometimes I harangue, cajole, implore, beg, encourage, and yes, sometimes criticize something that you’ve done or failed to do, or something I’d like you to do. I post my letters on my blog at Washboardexpress.com, and then on Facebook, where I’m  ‘friends’ of numerous groups and hundreds of people. I often get comments from people agreeing with me, and occasionally those that don’t.

Each day I read volumes of political sites with endless opinions, some of which I respond to with vigor and enthusiasm, my mighty pen is my sword. But I’m tired. Tired of the discourse, tired of the senseless acts of violence like the massacre in Colorado, tired of people in politics being too afraid to speak the truth about the need for gun control, tired of feeling disgusted that Clinton’s assault weapon ban was allowed to expire. I’m tired of the assault on women’s reproductive rights, and mindless drones that are incapable of thinking for themselves. I’m just plain tired of everything. I simply cannot sustain the fire in the belly that I’ve had for four years… After my son died on April 7^th, and I lost that piece of myself, so many of the things I thought to be important, aren’t. Right now I think it’s time for me to let it go, to stop fighting my invisible war, and find my own ‘yellow book’.

Asleep with her 'Yellow Book'

My daughter and her family are renting a place in Lake Tahoe this week for their vacation. They left last Friday, July 20^th, on my granddaughter Gwendolyn’s 4^th Birthday. That’s the day she found it… she found the ‘yellow book’, after carrying it around for quite some time, she wanted to take it to bed. My daughter asked her why she liked the ‘yellow book’, but she didn’t know why, she just did. Something about it gave her comfort, something about it made smile and made her happy, but only being four, she didn’t know how to express it, she just knew she liked it.  

The ‘yellow book’ doesn’t have any stories in it, and not the kind of pictures that a small girl would be interested in… in fact most of us would have never given it a second look. Most of us have given up on our ‘yellow books’… we have, after all, we have Google and Yahoo, and any number of apps on our phones that can provide whatever information we want or need.

As you’ve probably guessed by now Mr. President… The ‘yellow book’ as Gwendolyn calls it, is actually the South Lake Tahoe Yellow Pages. The fact that something so uninteresting, so inconsequential, and so mundane to the rest of us, actually brought her joy… is a gift to the rest of us. That’s what’s missing in our lives… the pure joy of everyday things, little things, silly things, even stupid things. Something to embrace, to bring a smile to our faces, something to take our minds off of the myriad of things we cannot change and cannot control… and something to take to bed in hopes of sweet dreams and better days ahead.

It’s not often that we can learn something so vital from a four year old, but then again, when you look around and really ‘see’ things, the very best things are all around us every day… a smile, a wagging tail, a door held opened, the sound of giggles from the other room, the hand you hold tight, and the kiss good night.

Happiness is a 'Yellow Book'

Those are the things that keep us going, those are the things that bring us joy, and those are the things that matter most. Those are the things that my sweet granddaughter taught me when she embraced the ‘yellow book’. 

I’ll write occasionally and continue to support you in any way I can, but this old Granny is done trying to convince the rest of the world what I have always known… you’re a good man, a good President, and this country is lucky to have you on the side of ordinary people like me, and for that I’m immensely grateful.

Since your birthday is almost here, my heartfelt wish for you on your 51^st birthday is that you have the opportunity to find your own ‘yellow book’… and that it brings the same sense of joy and happiness that it brought to my sweet Gwendolyn on her 4^th birthday.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #155... Dear Mr. President... Let them Cry, this is a Win for All Americans

Dear Mr. President,

Congratulations, you deserve a huge ‘THANK YOU’ from the American people, including those that do not understand just what the Affordable Care Act does for them. You know, and I know, that this is just the first step towards a single payer plan, but it’s a very big and important step.

This isn't your Party, but you can Cry if you want too.

I listened to your speech after the Supreme Court upheld all of the provisions of the ACA, and you did a terrific job of explaining just what it means for ordinary Americans. I also saw the list of benefits posted on the White House web site. My one suggestion would be to add just what is in effect now, and with each check point the date it was implemented or will be implemented, and then publish the heck out of it… the general public is a little slow on the uptake and sometimes they need to be hit between the eyes with a two-by-four before it finally sinks in.

Check it Out!

It’s a message that every single Democrat should carry to every corner, and nook and cranny of this country, along with their own two-by-four.  It’s a message that you need to drive home at each and every opportunity, including how much of it is like RomneyCare, and just how successful RomneyCare is in Massachusetts. Just keep hanging both RomneyCare and ObamaCare around Mitts neck like a gold medal from the Olympics, and watch him squirm because he can’t trash what he started in his home state without looking like a complete fool. Extol the virtues of his plan and tell the American people that just like Massachusetts, very soon at least 98% of adults and nearly 100% of the children in this country will be covered.

Thanks again Mr. President, for fighting to provide all American’s with affordable health care… for the first time in a long time SCOTUS did the right thing in upholding the provisions of this vital piece of legislation.

Keep on fighting for us Mr. President, we need you on our side for another four years… for some of us, our very lives depend on it.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Washboard Express: Letter #154... Dear Mr. President... Why Would You Share Ignorance?

Washboard Express: Letter #154... Dear Mr. President... Why Would You Share Ignorance?

Letter #154... Dear Mr. President... Why Would You Share Ignorance?

Dear Mr. President,

What’s wrong with people these days, why don’t they want to hear the truth anymore? Why, when confronted with actual facts, do they insist that ‘someone’ made up the facts? Why is this mentality so widespread, and when are we going to take our heads out of the sand? 

I have a friend that I went to high school with that recently posted a reply to one of her friends, that she shares things on Facebook as long as they’re not political, because she gets so many that she doesn’t look at any of them.

In fact Mr. President, that’s not quite true… she shared a post that I believe was very pointed and political, and here is the post verbatim, typos and all.

“SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT… If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 years hard labor. If you cross the Afghanistan border illegally, you get shot. Two Americans just got eight years for crossing the Iranian border. If you cross the U.S. border illegaly, you get a job, a driver’s license, food stamps, a place to live, health care, housing, child benefits, education, and a tax free business for 7 years? No wonder we’re a country in debt. LIKE AND SHARE IF YOU AGREE!!!!”  

The person she got it from had 5 likes and 1,106 shares, and she had 6 likes and 42 shares. My response was: “So let me get this straight… if only 6 people liked it, why did 42 people share it. Why would you share something you don’t like?” One can only imagine how many others ‘shared’ it as well.  I can only hope that this was only meant as political hyperbole, used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally, but that would assume that all those people that saw fit to share it, actually knew it to be factually incorrect.

Does anyone ever question these outrageous claims? Illegal immigrants are never guaranteed a job; in fact, they’re often exploited and work for much less than others get for the same work because they are afraid to complain. If getting a drivers license was so easy, why are there so many driving without a license and insurance? Most would never apply for food stamps, or child benefits because the risk of being deported is too great. Health care is sought only under extreme conditions, and then it can only be provided through emergency care at a hospital. Yes, their children can, and do go to our public schools, but a tax-free business for 7 years, is just ludicrous.

Even Ostriches aren't this stupid.

The frustrating part of this is that you can’t even talk to these people, they don’t want to hear it, but I suppose it’s like the quote from Thomas Paine – “Attempting to debate with a person who has abandoned reason is like giving medicine to the dead.”

When are the American people going to take their collective heads out of the sand and start thinking for themselves?

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers, 

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #153... Dear Mr. President... The 4 N's of the Repocalypse Party

Dear Mr. President:

The American people have had enough of the 4 N’s of the Repocalypse Party, and that is why you should continue with your message of ‘Hope and Change’ from the campaign leading up to the ’08 election…  The Republican Party’s Henny Penny mentality of “the sky is falling” is getting old and people are sick and tired of living in fear of everything and everyone.

We all remember the phrase penned in the 1970’s by William Safire, for Spiro T. Agnew because of his particularly acrimonious relationship with the press … the Nattering Nabobs of Negativity. Then again in 2009, John W. Dean wrote an eye opening piece titled, The New Nattering Nabobs of Negativism Are Gunning for Obama’s Judicial Nominees: A Republican Strategy That We Must All Hope Fails http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20090417.html - outlining the blatant attack to block all of your nominees to the Federal Courts.

The Repocalypse Party's vision for America

The 4 N’s for the Repocalypse Party, and in particular, Mitt Romney, stand for Nattering Narcissistic Nabobs of Negativity. The way he prattles (nattering) on about nothing, or when he’s talking about how ‘he’ saved the auto industry, or how you actually used ‘his’ ideas for kick starting the economy (narcissist), or making $10,000 bets, or talking about his Cadillacs, his companies, and his wealth (nabob), or his attacks on Social Security, Medicare, Education, public funds for infrastructure, and a myriad of other programs that benefit ordinary people (negativity)… Romney epitomizes the entire Repocalypse Party.

The Repocalypse Party believes that the only way to save this country is to reject any, and all of your ideas, and programs that would actually move this country forward. How can they be so against you that would they would sacrifice the American people, and the entire economy just to regain the White House? I realize that’s a rhetorical question because we all know that they only care about themselves and the ‘1%’. That entire concept is about as ‘negative, as you can get… because it’s ‘against’ everything.

So you keep doing what you do best Mr. President… inspire people, encourage people, and protect the programs that are safety nets for ordinary people. And, continue to speak up for programs that put people to work, that protect personal freedoms, and that ensure that everyone pays their fair share… including the 1%.

That’s what we want to hear, that’s what we need to know… a ‘positive’ plan for moving the country forward… we’ve had enough of the “4 N’s of the Repocalypse's”.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #152... Dear Mr. President... Show the Bums the Door!

Dear Mr. President,

First let me wish you a very happy Father’s Day… one only needs to watch you with Sasha and Malia to know that you are an excellent father, because you can see it in their faces when they are with you… so Happy Father’s Day, Mr. President.

Next I would like to respond to the incident when The Daily Caller’s reporter, Neil Munro, interrupted your formal announcement on immigration, and I have a suggestion that I think should be implemented for future Presidential statements, and that includes when you address a joint session of Congress. 

To say that Munro was rude is a gross understatement… he should have been escorted by a Secret Service agent, out of the Rose Garden immediately. The fact that the site’s editor in chief, Tucker Carlson, said he was proud of Munro goes beyond the pale of civility and proper decorum for reporters, and I don’t care which party they are affiliated with.

New Policy...Have Secret Service eject him immediately!

And then for The Daily Caller to tweet, “We are very proud of, @NeilMunroDC for doing his job,” is appalling. His ‘job’ was to listen, and gather information, and if… and only if… it was appropriate, could he hope to be recognized by the President and then ask his question. The excuse we heard that it was a misunderstanding is both pathetic and lame… he knew exactly what he was doing. If he was doing his job he would have had his recorder out, or a notepad to take some notes, not standing there with his hands in his pockets like he was waiting to take his turn at golf. There was no excuse, and there was no reason for his blatant disrespect and rude behavior. If it truly was a mistake, he would have apologized on the spot.  

As much as I detested G.W. Bush with every fiber of my soul, I could not condone someone from another country throwing shoes at him. I understand why the guy was so upset, but there is no excuse to show that level of blatant disrespect for any President or Head of State from any country.

So my suggestion is this: Send out a memo to ALL news media, that when the President is addressing Congress, conducting a press conference, or making a formal statement, interruptions will not be tolerated, and the person, or persons, will be immediately escorted from the event. And further, the agency or media organization they represent will not be invited back, unless and until, the White House receives a formal apology, and the apology is printed and broadcast for the public.

The incivility and blatant disrespect we are witnessing these days has got to stop. You, and the office of the President, deserve better… and by the way, you did the right thing in protecting the innocent children of illegal immigrants.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers, Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #151... Dear Mr. President... You Dropped the Ball in Wisconsin

Dear Mr. President:

We may not be elephants but many of us have long memories… yours truly included.

We remember back to 2000 when all eyes were on Florida’s recount, before the Un-Supreme Court selected Bush over Gore.

We remember back to 2004 when all eyes were on Ohio when the sudden shift in votes for Bush gave him an unexpected, and still unexplained, victory. This was confirmed in a deposition given by the late Michael Connell, the IT guru for Bush and Rove, and the creator of the controversial system that transferred Ohio’s vote count on election night to a partisan Republican server site owned by SmarTech, a firm that had the capability of easily changing the outcome of the election. In fact the entire system was set up and designed for voter fraud. After giving that deposition, Connell died in a suspicious plane crash just a month and a half later.

You dropped the ball and missed the point

We remember in 2008 when McConnell, Boehner, and Cantor vowed to make sure you were a one term President, and in 2010 the Democrats took their eye off the ball and we got the radical right TeaPublicans that have managed to put a strangle hold on your ability to move this country forward.

Now in 2012 when all eyes were on Wisconsin and the stakes were enormous, you, and the DNC dropped the ball by not going all out for Barrett. To say that this fight was for the people of Wisconsin to win without interference was just plain absurd. Clearly the “outside” money that poured into the Walker coffers came from outside of Wisconsin… how is that not interference?

The naiveté of even imagining that the Koch Bros, Carl Rove, et al, would not pull out all stops to make sure Walker remained as Governor is astounding. The last minute cash the DNC gave was pathetic, as was the short video put out telling the people of Wisconsin that you supported them. You may have supported them, but you most certainly didn’t have their back. You failed in your leadership of the Democratic Party, when you failed to respond to the desperate need of the WI Democrats.

The problem with the Democrats is they get upset with people like me for speaking up and saying what’s on the minds of most of us, but failing miserably to hold you and the DNC at least partially responsible for the loss in Wisconsin.

I have been a strong and outspoken supporter of yours since you were elected, I have donated countless small donations to your campaign and written countless letters… and why, so you can turn your back on the Democrats in Wisconsin?

Just remember Mr. President, if you lose in November it could be because you dropped the ball, and because what was at stake there was not just about Wisconsin politics… it was about big money buying elections, and you should have done more to stop it from happening…. That’s what a leader does.

Most Respectfully, 

Marcia Reimers, 

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #150... Dear Mr. President... Please Don't Forget about Kelly.

Dear Mr. President:

We cannot save our way to prosperity, and we cannot to cut programs and services and create jobs at the same time. We need to create instead of cut, and grow instead of shrink. 

Where are the Republican "Job Creators"

The conversation you need to have with the American people is about jobs, jobs, and more jobs… when people have jobs the economy will change. But, as long as the Republicans can force you into talking about ridiculous things like gay marriage, abortion, women’s reproductive choices, or whether or not you intend to take away their gun rights, the more likely they are to win in November.

For President Clinton, it was “the economy stupid” and for you Mr. President, it is  “jobs, jobs, and more jobs.” The economy will rebound when people have jobs that pay a living wage. Those 15 million people without jobs are not sitting around waiting to be saved by their government… they want to work. Many of those people are college graduates that have been out of work for several years and have long since exhausted all benefits, and are faced with employers that advertise the “unemployed need not apply.” What are these people to do?

Kelly

In a recent online discussion with a woman named Kelly, who’s been out of work for 3 years, and was saying how difficult it is to find the silver lining when bad news on the jobs front just keep getting worse. The weak jobs report not only had an adverse effect on the market, but also people like Kelly. She wrote that she is scared to death that she will NEVER be able to find a job again – nothing more than a temporary, part time and low wage job. Kelly agrees that we MUST throw the GOP bums out of Congress, but she can’t pretend like everything is fine because it’s getting increasingly worse… her ability to look for work, to buy food, shampoo, toothpaste, and prescriptions… and she lays the blame right on the back of House Republicans – and the corporate CEO’s who keep outsourcing our jobs.

Kelly is not without hope, she has goals and dreams that she is actively pursuing, thanks in part to the fellowship training program through the Center for Progressive Leadership – about starting a non-profit to help people like her. Kelly says, “if I can’t find a job – and corporate America has made it clear they aren’t going to give me a job, then maybe I have to try to find a way to make my own job. A job that will use the experiences of the last 3 years to make a difference in the lives of people who have been forgotten by so many others…”

Please don’t forget about Kelly, and the15 million others that need your help.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #149... Dear Mr. President... Don't let this become a 'My Pet Goat' moment.

Dear Mr. President:

Enlisting the help of President Clinton in Wisconsin, is a wonderful gesture and I know he will be welcomed with open arms for all the support and goodwill he brings to Democrats and all Wisconsinites in their fight to recall Scott Walker.

President Clinton's visit will be appreciated

The stakes in Wisconsin are enormous and it’s not just about labor unions or state workers or the teachers… it’s about the message it sends to all those states that have Republican Governors. It’s about the strong-arm tactics Republicans are using to destroy unions, suppress voter rights, deny equal rights to the LGTB Community, and use unlimited amounts of PAC money to do it.

The ramifications of a Walker win will be staggering… it will embolden all the other Republican Governors to follow suit and strip workers of all collective bargaining rights and destroy unions all around the country. It will open the floodgates and allow Walker to follow in the footsteps of Rick Scott in Florida to purge people from voter rolls and continue to perpetrate the myth of rampant voter fraud.

That is just part of why it’s important for YOU to go to Wisconsin and lend your support to the PEOPLE… not just the Democrats, but all the people of Wisconsin, because no one can lend more credibility to a cause than the sitting President of the United States… and the cause is equality, and civil rights.

We can't afford another Bush

Please do not let this become your ‘My Pet Goat’ moment. If you sit this out or wait too long to act, and Barrett loses by a slim margin, you may end up regretting the decision to remain bi-partisan. You took a great risk going after Bin Laden, and another great risk by endorsing the right of Gays to marry… both could have been the undoing of your presidency, but you took that risk because both of those things were the right things to do. So is going to Wisconsin. You can’t sit this one out.

The long-term effects could be disastrous. If Republicans take back the White House they will pack the Federal courts with ultra-conservative Judges that will make rulings that allow voter suppression to continue, making it impossible for the Democratic Party to ever win back the White House. The Supreme Court would be packed with enough conservatives to set back civil rights, women’s rights and gay rights by 50 to 100 years.

You can’t sit this one out Mr. President. Bill Clinton will do an amazing job, but he is not you… You are the man in the White House now… You are the one Wisconsinites want to see, they want to know that YOU have their back. Yes, there is a risk of appearing to be engaging in partisan politics, but this is a risk you must take, because the stakes are incredibly high, and you can’t afford a ‘My Pet Goat’ moment.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #148... Dear Mr. President... Become the Tax and Save President

Dear Mr. President:

It’s been a while since I last wrote to you, but I’ve got some ideas about things for you to remind people about along the campaign trail over the next six months.

For too long now Democrats have been labeled the ‘tax and spend’ party, and the Republicans have done a pretty darn good job of making that sound wasteful and bad for America… well I’ve had enough of that nonsense, and it’s got to stop.

Become the Tax and Save President… Tax and Save our Schools, Tax and Save our Parks, Tax and Save Social Security, Tax and Save Medicare… and so on and so forth.  Make paying taxes a good thing, because taxes are a good thing. Taxes are what built this country and the lack of those taxes is what’s bringing this country to its knees.

It’s time to expose the Republican Party for what they are, the Cut and Close Party. Cut and Close Schools, Cut and Close Parks, Cut and Close Libraries,  Cut and Close Medical Clinics that serve the poor, Cut and Close Planned Parenthood Clinics, Cut and Close critical nutrition programs, and Cut and Close every safety net put in place to protect the most vulnerable citizens… children, seniors, veterans, the disabled, etc… etc… because cutting taxes has worked so well for so many people… oh wait, well not so many people, only about 1% of the population… the super rich.

That’s the message you need to be telling people. The Democratic Party stands for tax fairness for everyone, everyone paying so we all prosper, and returning this country to the great nation it once was. And yes, that means making the rich pay higher taxes, it means closing the loopholes that allow the rich to have offshore accounts and pay nothing, it means making corporations that send manufacturing jobs overseas pay a large tariff to return those products to the U.S., and it means making sure EVERYONE pays a fair share… no wiggle room, no loopholes.

Look who's the real "NO" Taxes, but "BIG" spending Party

What has happened since the Cut and Close Party convinced the American public that somehow all taxes are evil? The idea that cutting taxes is good for our economy has spread like a plague across this country wreaking havoc in every state at every level. Yes, the Republicans have done a wonderful job of convincing the public that cutting taxes is always good, when the exact opposite is true, and that has got to be stopped and it has got to be stopped now.

So Mr. President, it’s time to start a new mantra for Democrats… We are the Tax and Save Party, we will save Social Security and Medicare and we will do it by raising taxes on the super rich, and by instituting a plan that makes sure EVERYONE pays their fair share… no if’s, ands, or buts about it.

As Ed Shultz would say, “Now lets get to work.”

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers, 

Your Gadfly Granny

Unite Against the War on Women Speech... Sacramento Capitol

We are at a pivotal point in the history of women – right here, right now.

I believe that each person here has a family member with stories similar to those you will be hearing today… Stories from your mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers… deeply personal stories that need to be heard.

While many may reveal painful secrets that most families would like to keep private, they need to be told. They need to be told so they are not repeated, because if we do not stop this insidious War on Women… our rights will be pushed back more than 40 years .

My Grand Mother was adopted on April 7, 1890… she was left on the doorstep of the Browns in Marin County, wrapped in a blanket and placed in a laundry basket.  The Browns had no other children and were fairly well off, so they adopted this baby girl and named her Ethel Minerva Brown. It was obvious that this infant was left by some woman, or some young girl that was either unmarried, or unable to care for her, or already had too many children.  

But my story begins back in 1944, after my older brother was born… because I was born in December of 1945 after my father had had a vasectomy.

It was a time when mainly men were in charge of birth control, through the use of prophylactics and vasectomies, although vasectomies were not prevalent until the late 50’s and early 60’s. Think about it, men practicing birth control, what a novel idea that is today, and nobody questioned them about it… no government interference, just make the appointment and spend the next 3 days with an icepack, and if they’re smart they do it during football season so they can lay on the couch, drink beer and eat chips.

Now it’s 1960 and my mom is pregnant with #6 … she’s now 44 years old and completely devastated by the news. She asked her OB GYN about an abortion because at her age the chance of this baby being born with one or more birth defects was much greater. She was told that abortion was illegal and that her life was not at risk, so in desperation my mom took all of prescription medications she could find in the house and stumbled off of the hill behind our house. She wasn’t hurt, but she had a bad case of poison oak and was out cold for 3 days, but I guess her mental well-being wasn’t a consideration. My youngest brother was born in May of 1961, and yes, my father had another vasectomy.

Then in 1963 I got pregnant in the back seat of a 58 Ford, on Prom Night, in my senior year of H.S… it was the first time I’d ever had intercourse… Did I mention my last name was Fields… they called us the fertile Fields.

Back in 1963 you had two choices… get married or go back East to a home for unwed mothers and give your baby up for adoption… being a SINGLE MOM was not acceptable… so, given the CHOICE, I got married. Dennis was born in January of 1964 and because my husband was Catholic we practiced the RHYTHM METHOD, and Jeff was born in January of 1965. Then came the PILL and Colt was born in 1971. I switched to an intrauterine device called the DALCON SHIELD, but in 1976 found out I was pregnant again… right in the middle of running for city council… BUT, THIS TIME WAS DIFFERENT… My Doctor asked me what I wanted to do with the pregnancy… MY GOD… A CHOICE… I looked him square in the eye and said…”This must be my Girl, because God wouldn’t be that cruel.” I CHOSE to have a forth child, and her name is Eden… Eden is 35 now, with 3 children of her own.

Me, at the Capitol in Sacramento before the Rally

While the right wing pundits like to refer to us as pro-abortion... we are all in fact anti-abortion... I don’t know of a single woman that’s anxious and excited about having to undergo any medical procedure, let alone an abortion. What we are is PRO-CHOICE which is where the problem lies... Some people in Government, and certain Religious groups and yes, mostly men... think they know what is best for women and women’s reproductive rights. They are passing legislation many states to restrict a woman’s right to her own reproductive HEALTH choices, AND WE CAN’T LET THAT HAPPEN!

When Darrell Issa, (I’m ashamed to say he’s from CA) denied Sandra Fluke the right to speak at his congressional hearing, but had no problem picking 5 men to discuss a woman’s use of contraception… he unwittingly ignited a firestorm of protest culminating in this event, an event which is being duplicated in every capitol all across America.

In 50 states in 2011 there were over 1,100 bills introduced affecting women’s health provisions and reproductive rights – 135 have been signed into law.

38 states so far in 2012 are pushing for 450 new pieces of legislation – ALL aimed at restricting access or denying existing benefits of reproductive coverage and rights.

Wisconsin, Tennessee, Virginia, Indiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Arizona, and New Hampshire have all voted to either defund Planned Parenthood, ban abortions after 18 weeks, establish personhood laws, ban coverage for contraception, redefine rape, or require unnecessary and sometimes invasive ultrasounds.

AND…  for the first time we are hearing about opposition to the

        Re-authorization of VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT. 

Make no mistake about it... THERE IS A WAR ON WOMEN, and it is being waged mostly by MEN in the REPUBLICAN party because they want more control over women, and they have been systematically, passing laws that take away rights we have had for over 40 years, and they are doing it one state at a time.

A few years ago, right out there on the sidewalk a man was picketing with one of those horrendous signs of an aborted fetus, and he asked me for my support… BIG MISTAKE… After taking him to task for protesting something that is none damn business, I asked him this:

HOW MANY CHILDREN HAVE YOU ADOPTED from mothers that have chosen life, but are putting their babies up for adoption?

HOW MANY FOSTER CHILDREN ARE YOU RAISING from children taken away from parents that are unable to care for them or have abused them?

That’s right… these people PRETEND to be pro-life, when in fact they are PRO-CONTROL… they don’t give a damn about children AFTER they’re born… What the HELL… they don’t even want to see us breastfeed our babies in public… they only care about CONTROL, and CONTROLLING A WOMAN’S CHOICE.

And this issue doesn’t just affect us women… it affects men and families as well. When a woman makes just 77cents for every dollar a man makes, and has to pay up to 30% more for health care services, it affects that families ability to provide decent housing, food, education, etc…

This WAR ON WOMEN screws you men too… think about it…

1.  BIRTH CONTROL helps men have MORE SEX… with less anxiety.

2.  With birth control spacing out pregnancies, you have a healthier

      spouse and healthier kids.

3.  The ECONOMIC BENEFIT… approx. $300,000 to raise a child to

      18, that doesn’t include the cost of college.

NOW THAT’S A LOT OF BIG SCREEN TV’S, ROUNDS OF GOLF, AND FAMILY VACATIONS IN HAWAII.

BUT…

THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE PAST STRUGGLES OF WOMEN …

THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE SYSTEMATIC EFFORTS TO DISMANTLE ROE V WADE

THIS IS NOT ABOUT RUSH LIMBAUGH OR DARRELL ISSA, OR THE GOP

THIS IS ABOUT US… THIS IS ABOUT WOMEN

THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WOMEN

AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT… the GOP has a TARGET… a PRIZE that they seek… they are after FULL and COMPLETE CONTROL over the SUPREME COURT, and that is why they are so DESPARATE to regain the White House... if they are allowed to appoint more ultra conservative Judges then they will be able to CONTROL WOMEN for decades to come.

WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN...

WE MUST SHOW THEM THAT….

WE are sick and tired of the status quo. 

WE are NOT PAWNS to be manipulated by men.     

WE will NOT go quietly.

WE will NOT roll over.

WE will NOT comply.

WE will NOT sit down.

WE will NOT shut up.

WE will NOT submit.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GO BACKWARDS IN TIME...

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE OUR DAUGHTERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS SUFFER THE INJUSTICES SO MANY OF US HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD AGAINST.

WE CANNOT GO BACK... NOT NOW…   NOT EVER…

WE MUST STAND UP FOR OURSELVES,

WE MUST STAND UP FOR ALL WOMEN,

WE MUST SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OPPRESSED WOMEN EVERYWHERE, BECAUSE IF WE DON’T ... THEN WHO WILL?

YES, We are at a pivotal point in the history of women – right here, right now.

And on November 6^th WE have a MISSION… a MISSION to VOTE.

A MISSION TO VOTE FOR CANDIDATES THAT SUPPORT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO MAKE HER OWN REPRODUCTIVE CHOICES

A MISSION IS TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW.

                       

A MISSION  to restore the RIGHTS of ALL Women, ALL ACROSS AMERICA.

       

WE are CITIZENS of THESE United States …

We are EQUAL and we WILL PREVAIL !