http://experienceadvocacy.com How committed advocacy bends power for social justice Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:39:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I did not know Representative Stephanie Tubb Jones (D-Ohio). ButI want to tell a story that I accidentally came upon. But first the reason I consider Representative Tubb Jones to have been a valued public servant reaches beyond her being a reliable liberal supporter who was a valued member of the ... http://experienceadvocacy.com/2008/08/22/stephanie-tubbs-jones-a-valued-public-servant/ Senator Lieberman's descent into political isolation will come after the election if the Democrats have at least 52 seats no matter who is President. Lieberman has to pay a political price in the Senate for his endorsement of John McCain for President. As a participant in successful efforts to strip House ... http://experienceadvocacy.com/2008/08/21/senator-lieberman-crosses-many-lines-one-matters-most/ Political cognoscenti recognize that Obama has to keep McCain from reaching the magic number of 35% Hispanic votes. That is important in key states across the country especially Colorado, New Mexico, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and southern states that may be in play: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia. Right now ... http://experienceadvocacy.com/2008/08/14/obamas-surprising-hispanic-strength/ On July 30, 2008 President Bush signed into law a bill he threatened to veto.  The turnaround represents the creative work Barney Frank (D-Mass), Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, did to shepherd the legislation through the House, through conference and his working so thoroughly and professionally with Treasury Secretary ... http://experienceadvocacy.com/2008/08/01/leadership-from-congress-barney-frank-and-chris-dodd/ The House nad Senate support a thorough reversal of the Bush-Cheney Iraq war policy.It is one of the great under reported stories in the main stream media, the alternative progressive media and the blogosphere. In supporting an end to Bush's  destructive policy to peoples lives--Iraqis, Americans, Allies-- the House and Senate support ... http://experienceadvocacy.com/2008/07/01/national-security-policy-new-directions-in-iraq/ The Senate defied President Bush by approving a comprehensive GI bill for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan covering members of the National Guard as well. In the same bill it surrendered to Bush by approving an appropriation for the Iraq war into 2009. All of the Senate Democrats, and a majority of ... http://experienceadvocacy.com/2008/05/23/iraq-appropriations-senate-both-defies-and-surrenders-to-bush/ May 15, 2008 stands as a historic day: the House of Representatives voted no-confidence in President Bush’s Iraq War Policy. Iraq war veterans opposed to the war lobbied the House. Their visible presence, in quiet, intense and moving conversation with House members told it all. The anti-War movement stood united ... http://experienceadvocacy.com/2008/05/16/house-votes-no-confidence-in-bush-iraq-war-policy/ Yes, it's horrible that a Veterans Administration (VA) psychologist says lets avoid the costs of  compensating PTSD and call it something else (adjustment disorder). She is properly mortified for creating an Orwellian experience. The real sinners are the President and Vice-President who have created these war policies that kill our young people, wound ... http://experienceadvocacy.com/2008/05/16/the-va-ducks-on-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/ I know it's not fashionable to ever praise Congress or one if its bodies. By a vote of 213-197 the narrow House Democratic majority held firm and ended the President's warantless surveillance program in approving the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). That's a real achievement. The House members that supported ... http://experienceadvocacy.com/2008/03/18/the-house-stands-up-to-president-bush-on-surveillance/ Hats off to House Approproations Committee Chairman Obey (D-Wi), a public servant of passion, committment and one not afraid to stand up to the President and take heat. Obey put it directly to President Bush by saying on October 2 that the Approproiations Committee will not report out any war supplemental ... http://experienceadvocacy.com/2007/10/02/exercising-anti-iraq-war-leadership-chairman-obey/