I want to know the status of your Glass-Steagall proposal, girl:
"Warren broadens reach by joining petition website; Online activists push causes from quirky to weighty" by Mattias Gugel | Globe Correspondent, November 03, 2013
WASHINGTON — Already one of the highest-profile Democrats in the country and a prolific Internet fund-raiser, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is seeking to expand her influence on the Web by inviting a connection to the hundreds of thousands of people who sign online petitions.
Warren last month became the first US senator to formally align herself with a commercial Internet site, called change.org, that claims to be the world’s largest forum for electronic petitions, serving up a smorgasbord of causes — from ridding the world of nuclear weapons to giving Kim Kardashian a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Warren is joined as a formally designated “decision maker’’ on the change.org site by a small but diverse group of Washington lawmakers that also includes Republican Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the former vice presidential nominee.
The designation means petition sponsors can direct their petitions to Warren, with the expectation that she will consider their cause.
Politicians have already discovered, perhaps somewhat belatedly, Facebook and Twitter. But this is something new.
In an age when well-heeled Washington lobbyists compete for the attention of lawmakers, the business executives behind change.org hope creating a direct link to a lawmaker like Warren will give grass-roots citizens a better shot of being heard.
They can't hear us already in this day and age? We spoke loud and clear on Syria. They seemed to hear us then.
In turn, by affiliating herself with the site, Warren is attempting to turn the burgeoning field of online petitions to her advantage. She gains an instant platform to raise her profile among activists and petitioners of all stripes, while gaining at least an appearance of being responsive to the grass-roots.
Yeah, Liz Warren strikes me as one of those kinds of people. What an SUBTLE INSULT coming from the Boston Globe. Yeah, Warren has SELFISH REASONS for doing this.
Political money is another byproduct. The move gives fresh opportunities to identify potential contributors to a variety of political committees and groups who support Warren and are active on the site — such as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and EMILY’s List.
Oh, that's what "change" is.
The suffix “.org’’ at the end of a Web address typically denotes nonprofit status. But in this case, the suggestion of nonprofit is illusory. Change.org is a private, for-profit enterprise. Based in San Francisco, it says it combines “the values of a nonprofit with the flexibility and innovation of a tech startup.’’
I'm tired of the imagery, illusion, and lies of politics as promoted by my propaganda pre$$.
It makes money by selling petition sponsorships for organizers who want to gain greater visibility for their causes on the site, attract more signatures, and generate more connections on the site.
Warren’s office declined to make the senator available for an interview.
That's why the Globe takes subtle shots at her.
In a statement from Warren contained in a press release from change.org, the senator emphasized the link’s value to voters.
“It’s a great new way for people to connect with Congress,” Warren said. “I’m excited to start using this additional tool to hear from constituents about the issues that matter most to them.”
I think she is a nice, well-meaning woman; however, the whole $y$tem is to far gone. Washington is captive to Zionist and corporate interests and they have had plenty of time to change. They have not. Case closed.
How, and whether, Warren will respond to the flood of online petitions that will be directed to her remains unclear. Since Wednesday, change.org users have sent Warren more than 75 online petitions — ranging from asking Congress to revoke the NFL’s tax-exempt status to helping an autistic young man get a heart transplant.
Other petitions are seeking high-level intervention for individuals imprisoned domestically or overseas. There also are bizarre-sounding causes, such as “Stop Jimmy Kimmel and ABC from promoting genocide of ALL Chinese people: Jimmy Kimmel must be fired.’’
Yeah, yeah, we all know how the corporate pre$$ feels about the crowd. Always trying to paint us as the loons.
At least we are not liars like them.
Few of the petitions directed at Warren thus far pertained exclusively to Massachusetts, although some related to regulation of the financial services industry — which is Warren’s area of expertise. Massachusetts residents now total 623,000 of the website’s 50 million users, making Massachusetts one the most active states for the hub of online activists.
Examples of local petitions that have been posted on the site generally, and not specifically targeting Warren, were a campaign to persuade North Andover High School to drop the suspension of a student who helped a drunk friend after she requested a ride, and a Boston Marathon runner who petitioned to allow competitors to complete the race if they were unable to finish on Marathon day because of the terrorist bombings.
Perhaps the highest-profile example of an online petition site is President Obama’s, at the White House, called “We the People.’’
But that site has received mixed reviews due to the wide variety of trivial issues petitioned and the lack of genuine response from the White House. Complaints also were raised after the White House raised the threshold this year to warrant a response from 25,000 to 100,000.
What, the site didn't crash like healthcare.guv?!!
See: Sunday Globe Special: Globe Erases Petition Signatures
I have my own complaints. I guess I will just have to pardon them, huh?
Change.org says on its website that it believes combining a for-profit business model with social causes is an effective strategy. But the company has come under criticism for its dual approach.
I used to believe that, and still do in a local, entrepreneurial way; however, anything and everything promoted by my propaganda pre$$ is nothing but agenda-pu$hing $hit. Sorry.
“They’re willing to do anything they need to do and say anything they need to say to disguise the fact that they are a for-profit company,” said Clay Johnson, a tech guru who cofounded Blue State Digital, the firm that managed President Obama’s 2008 online campaign.
They are acting just like the mouthpiece I call a morning paper.
Change.org spokesman Jake Brewer scoffed at the idea that any partisan advertisers would actually influence the outcomes of petitions.
“Our users will decide what works and what doesn’t,” he said. “The reason to do ‘decision makers’ is to empower as many people as possible to create the change they want to see.”
All of sudden the Globe gets all Gandhi on me!
What do you think I'm trying to do here?
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At least Obama is standing up to her, as is the Boston Globe:
"Warren, as much as anyone, knows she has to cover her bases. During last year’s campaign, former Senator Scott Brown ran several sports-related ads, making hometown teams a central facet of his campaign image, as his fellow Republicans tried to paint Warren, an Oklahoma native, as an insincere Boston sports fan. Opposition research included prior statements she had made in support of the Houston Rockets, before she was in politics, of course."
Kind of a shot at Warren, but I'm glad my Globe covers the crucial and critical issues when it comes to electing a senator. I usually vote against the team, if jwho know what I mean.
Sunday Globe related: Elizabeth Warren backs Daniel Rivera for Lawrence mayor
"Lawrence mayor’s critics do an about-face" by Maria Sacchetti | Globe Staff, October 19, 2013
LAWRENCE — Mayor William Lantigua’s popularity, coupled with an about-face by one-time enemies, is puzzling outsiders and infuriating critics after his stormy first term.
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Lantigua’s historic election in 2009 electrified this former mill city of 76,000, where many residents, like Lantigua, are immigrants from the Dominican Republic who admired his rise from electronics technician to legislator and then mayor.
I remember when the Globe hailed the diversity of the decision for that sanctuary city.
But controversy erupted immediately. At first, Lantigua refused to resign as state representative and collected two paychecks as Lawrence sought a state bailout for a $25 million deficit. Two former City Hall employees filed lawsuits accusing him of wrongful termination. The city’s police force lost about 40 officers to layoffs and budget cuts, only to see car thefts, homicides, and other crime soar.
State and federal investigations led to indictments of his close allies. On Oct. 8, Officer Pedro J. Lopez, a onetime Lantigua campaign supporter, was found guilty in federal court of bribery, obstruction of justice, and lying to a federal agent.
In September, Lantigua’s former campaign photographer was indicted on charges of skimming money from the municipal garage where he worked and campaigning on city time. Last year, Lantigua’s former campaign manager, also the former deputy police chief, and the mayor’s former chief of staff were indicted on state corruption charges, including conspiracy and extortion. The three facing trial have pleaded not guilty.
Separately, the state attorney general is suing Lantigua for alleged campaign-finance law violations.
Related: Sunday Globe Special: Coakley Violated Campaign Finance Laws
She has her own problems now.
These controversies and others inspired failed recall campaigns to force Lantigua from office. New candidates were recruited to face off against him, which was not easy.
You get the $cum you deserve then.
“People are afraid of William Lantigua,” said Zoila Gomez, an immigration lawyer who supported Lantigua in 2009 but now chairs Daniel Rivera’s campaign. “People have the perception that he’s unbeatable, and he isn’t.”
Opponents fear that the barrage of news stories has garnered sympathy for Lantigua, a charismatic politician who calls himself “the people’s mayor.”
Lantigua has not faced any charges, and he has denied any wrongdoing.
He referred specific questions about the corruption investigations to his lawyer, but Lantigua said he believes the attacks on his administration are motivated partly by racism.
He hauls out the race card? He must have done $omething wrong then.
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On a recent Friday night, Lantigua’s popularity and political savvy were on vivid display amid the bodegas and beauty parlors of traffic-clogged downtown Lawrence. In a suit and tie, he stood at a busy intersection with about 50 supporters. They waved signs with Lantigua’s cellphone number on them and wiggled to the merengue and bachata jingles blasting from a speaker on his truck.
Soon, the air roared with horns and shouts.
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Supporters said they heard of the controversies but suspect they were racist attacks.
“I think those are all lies,” Jacquelin Cepeda, 27, said in Spanish.
She also reads the newspaper?
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Lawrence has the highest unemployment rate in Massachusetts, about 15 percent, according to the most recent figures from the state.
But he's doing a great job.
Rivera, a city councilor and Gulf War veteran, has faced some union opposition because in 2010 he proposed reopening several contracts for cuts because of the deficit. The plan failed, and Rivera said he would not bring it up again. But many union members now feel that Lantigua is the safer bet.
Police Captain Scott McNamara, for one, said he backed Lantigua because he rehired every laid-off police officer, settled contracts with both police unions, and invested in cars and other new equipment for the department. And crime is down: Lawrence had only two homicides in 2012, compared with 10 in 2011.
Tran$lation: he bought off the cops.
The firefighters’ union echoed his sentiments. “Everything went pretty well with this current administration,” said fire Captain Eric Zahn, union president.
Tran$lation: he bought off the firemen. He did a Scott Walker, folks (now that's a name you have not heard in a long, long time).
Critics say the union support for Lantigua is short-sighted. Frank McLaughlin, president of the Lawrence Teachers’ Union, which has endorsed Rivera, said teachers had also opposed Rivera’s plan to reopen contracts, though the plan would not have affected them. But McLaughlin said the teachers still support Rivera for mayor....
Having teachers on your side is worth nothing, if you under$tand what I mean.
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I don't give a s*** about any mayor's race in any city in this country so why would I care about Lawrence? I know I've covered the corrupt Lantigua and Lawrence in the past, but why waste time looking for links you can find for yourself if you are interested?
Sorry, but I just don't give a s*** about so much of what is in my Globe these days.
