August 20, 2011by Michael McInteeDC, IllinoisComments Off
Click picture to watch President Obama's weekly address from Alpha, Illinois
President Obama reports to the American people from the road this week in his weekly address. He says politicians in Washington, DC can learn a lot from the people he’s talked to during his stops in Atkinson, Illinois and Peosta, Iowa and Cannon Falls, Minnesota.
“I think our country would be a whole lot better off if our elected leaders showed the same kind of discipline and integrity and responsibility that most Americans demonstrate in their lives every day”
He says there is support for the “commonsense ideas” he’s proposing – continuing the payroll tax cut that gives the average family an extra $1,000 to spend, passing a road construction bill so idled workers can build roads, bridges and airports, and passing trade deals to level the playing field for American businesses.
“We have Americans driving Hyundais and Kias. Well, I want to see folks in Korea driving Fords, Chevys and Chryslers. I want more products sold around the globe stamped with three words: Made in America.
“These are commonsense ideas – ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans. The only thing holding them back is politics. The only thing preventing us from passing these bills is the refusal by some in Congress to put country ahead of party. That’s the problem right now. That’s what’s holding this country back. That’s what we have to change.”
By Bill Sorem
About 150 supporters rallied in frigid weather in front of the Minneapolis Federal Court Building to support the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression, a group formed for the nine individuals who were targeted by Minneapolis FBI raids September 24, 2010. This rally was part of a national day of solidarity. People in 50 plus cities including Kiev, Ukraine and Ireland joined in solidarity with the Minneapolis people and the latest group of nine from Chicago. The Chicago group was ordered to report to the Federal Grand Jury January 25, all refused.
Coleen Rowley, FBI whistleblower, wrote that this flurry of FBI attacks on peace activists is counter productive as was the case in the 60s. The Federal Police lose so much credibility with the citizenry that their basic functions are weakened. The people are reluctant to assist the FBI and local police. She argues the need to restore community policing.
On Jan. 25, demonstrators held rallies in over 50 cities worldwide to protest the FBI’s September 2010, raids on 14 peace activists and subsequent Grand Jury subpoenas of 23 different activists — 9 of whom are involved in solidarity work with Palestine. All of those who received summons to testify before a Grand Jury in Chicago refused, through their attorneys.
Chicago peace activists Joe Iosbaker and Stephanie Weiner recount the Sept. 24 FBI raid on their home in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. The FBI simultaneously raided the homes of over a dozen peace activists in the Twin Cities. Iosbaker and Weiner attest that the FBI actions were taken in order to disrupt domestic peace activities as much as they were directed against solidarity actions with Palestine and Columbia, because unlike the Minneapolis peace activists, Iosbaker and Weiner have not traveled to Palestine or Columbia.
Video:FBI agents remove boxes from peace activist Mick Kelly’s apartment and place them in their vehicles:
FBI agents raided six homes in Minneapolis and two in Chicago today, apparently looking for links to terrorist activity. The Minneapolis raids targeted peace activists who were active in protesting the 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC) in St. Paul — among them Jessica Sundin and Mick Kelly, organizers of the massive march on the first day of the RNC. Travel and phone records were reportedly taken from their homes.
At a home on Park Avenue in Minneapolis, FBI agents arrived early this morning with a warrant. The person who answered the door says that the FBI pushed past her and began searching every room of the home, from attic to basement, looking at CDs, DVDs, books, photos and papers. Before leaving, the FBI issued subpoenas for the peace activists to appear before a Grand Jury in Chicago on Oct. 12.
This is one of the subpoenas that was served today. It commands the activists to bring along documents and photos of any trip to Columbia, Jordan, Syria, the Palestinian Territories or Israel and any records of payments to “Hatem Abudayyeh, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC).”
Above the Hard Times Cafe in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, the FBI allegedly kicked in doors and entered Mick Kelly’s second-floor apartment this morning with guns drawn. Mick Kelly talks about it here. Hours later, as many as half a dozen agents began carrying boxes down to their vehicles: a grey Chevy Impala on the street and two black SUVs parked behind the cafe. This is the search warrant the FBI had for Kelly’s apartment.
The search warrant indicates the FBI was seeking evidence that Kelly was “providing, attempting and conspiring to provide material support to …foreign terrorist organizations” (FTOs). Specifically the FBI is interested in Kelly’s work with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) and travel he may or may not have made to Palestine and Columbia.
Women against Military Madness held a 4pm news conference today to talk about the raids.
Members of the peace community are gathering at Walker Church today at 5:30pm to give advice and comfort to those who had their homes raided.
” We need to make it as easy as we can for our companies to create more jobs in America, not overseas. And that starts with our tax code.” —President Obama in his weekly address
“Because you reminded people what it means to have 40 bucks taken out of your paycheck every week, it got done.”—President Obama on Congress passing payroll tax cut.
The federal government and 49 state attorneys general have reached a landmark $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers to address mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuses.
President Obama announces ten states have agreed to implement bold reforms around standards and accountability will receive flexibility from the most burdensome mandates of the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind.
The President meets an 8th grader named Joey from Phoenix, AZ at the White House Science Fair and the two launch a marshmallow across the state dining room with Joey’s science project – an air cannon.
The housing crisis has been the single largest drag on America’s economic recovery. President Obama wants to fix that fairly for homeowners who have been responsible, but not the ones who took out huge mortgages or bought multiple homes.
Minnesota will be creating a “cottage industry of voting lawsuits” if the current proposed voter photo ID amendment becomes law says Carolyn Jackson, Lobbying Coordinator with the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota.
DFL lawmakers make a second attempt to repeal the Minnesota constitutional amendment on marriage that is on this fall’s ballot, this time to “pay for” the unknown cost of the voter photo ID constitutional amendment.
A proposal to give Minnesota businesses property tax relief would add $126 million to a already expected $1.3 billion state deficit says Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk.
“Mean spirited” and “humiliating” to poor people is how Ebony Harris describes a Minnesota proposed law requiring 60-days residency to qualify for welfare benefits.
Hundreds of people are expected to show up to this afternoon’s hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment requiring Minnesotans to present a photo ID to vote. However, it is unlikely they will be able to talk about the potential voter suppression effect the amendment would have.
Untargeted business tax relief that would go to out of state retail corporations such as McDonalds and Costco would be a “race to the bottom” says Senator Scott Dibble (DFL- Minneapolis)
Education Minnesota says a proposed law that allows high seniority teachers to be laid off first will create a “lot of chaos, a lot of grievances, (and) possible lawsuits.
A website owner from Maple Grove tells the House tax committee that trying to make Amazon.com charge sales taxes for goods sold in Minnesota will not bring in revenue and will put her out of business.
Occupy MN is occupying Monique White’s house at 3310 N. 6th St. in the city’s downtrodden North Minneapolis neighborhood. In doing so, Occupy MN instantly made itself more diverse, and more relevant.
When administrators revealed a plan last spring to shut down North High School — one of only two public schools on Minneapolis’ embattled north side — MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change and other activists answered the call.
North Minneapolis food entrepreneurs use Kindred Kitchen to learn about starting their own business, making their food safely and legally in a commercial kitchen, and marketing it within the community.
Voters should pick their politicians, not the other way around. That’s the thought behind Draw The Line Minnesota, a citizen group that is working to draw the maps for congressional and legislative districts.
This year’s FLOW art crawl was all about recognizing thousands of volunteers that helped with the clean-up and recovery efforts after the May 22nd tornado. Leaders hope the positive can-do attitude of the cleanup can power a rebirth of the Northside.
After their home in North Minneapolis was destroyed by the May 22 tornado, Dennis and Deborah were forced to seek refuge in the local Armory and at the North Commons Recreation Center. For weeks, they and their five children slept on cots on the floor of a gymnasium.
