Anti-Gay Bigot Geraldine Creedon (MA-DINO) Won't Seek Reelection

I'm sorry, but the only link I can find right now is a PDF document from of a State House News Service article on the Jass Stewart website:

http://www.jassstewart.com/sites/jassstewart.com/files/CreedonWon%27tSeekReelection.pdf

After forty years, the best accomplishment this walking waste of skin can site in her political career is that she helped Brockton get a public swimming pool.

Yeah, forty years of paying this wretched excuse for a representative, and all we got out of it is that she was one among many of the people who helped us get a nice pool.

Long past time for her to go.


See also:

Jass Stewart to hold meet-and-greet to discuss running for State Rep
http://www.democraticunderground.com/105744

Brockton Councilor-at-large Jass Stewart mulling run for state rep. against Geraldine Creedon
http://www.democraticunderground.com/105719

Library Trustee Michael Burstein Exploring Congressional Run

Michael Burstein, a Brookline Library trustee, announced today the formation of a exploratory committee for a congressional run as a Democrat. The announcement also appeared on a website for Burstein's campaign.

“There were other potential candidates who I hoped would get into the race,” Burstein said in a press release. “But when they announced that they weren’t running, I realized that I had to explore the possibility of running for the office myself.”

Burstein is also Town Meeting member, and a columnist for Brookline Patch, where he and his wife Nomi write about raising their twin daughters. He also edits science textbooks, and is an award-winning science fiction writer.

He is exploring a fourth congressional district seat, which will be open following Barney Frank's retirement. Joseph Kennedy III has also announced an exploratory committee for that seat, and he may be moving to Brookline. Along with Kennedy, Brookline Democrat Jules Levine and Newton Democrat Herb Robinson have also announced campaigns for the Fourth District seat.

More:
http://brookline.patch.com/articles/library-trustee-michael-burstein-exploring-congressional-run

Brockton poised to be only third community to reject health insurance law

Brockton poised to be only third community to reject health insurance law
City Council surrenders key bargaining chip by rejecting health care reform

BROCKTON —

Of the 55 Massachusetts communities that have voted on accepting the state’s municipal health insurance reform law, only two have said no.

Brockton is about to become the third. That, say experts and others who have adopted the law, could be a costly mistake.

<snip>

Voting as the Finance Committee Monday night, all 11 city councilors voted against adopting the state health care reform law, which would allow the city to change city employees’ health insurance plans without going through collective bargaining.

<snip>

City councilors, most of whom carry the city’s health insurance, chose to leave the system as is, with the promise from union representatives that they would make serious concessions at the bargaining table to help save the city money.

More:
http://www.enterprisenews.com/answerbook/brockton/x1085184751/Brockton-poised-to-be-only-third-community-to-reject-health-insurance-law

Time to celebrate!

Jass Stewart to hold meet-and-greet to discuss running for State Rep

Jass Stewart
For Immediate Release
February 4, 2012
Contact
508-587-0022
Serving as Your State Representative

Recently, I announced my interest in serving Brockton and Easton as your State Representative*.

This month, I will be holding two public meet-and-greet events to inform my decision—to introduce myself, exchange ideas, and learn more about your concerns.

_____________________________

MEET & GREET EVENTS

Easton, Saturday, February 25 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the home of John and Holly Thomas, 221 Depot St., South Easton, MA 02375. Click here to RSVP.

Brockton, Sunday, February 26 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the home of Gary Lyon and Joe Rucker, 117 Fairview Ave., Brockton, MA 02301. Click here to RSVP.

_____________________________

I sincerely hope you will be able attend one of these events. Many thanks to John, Holly, Gary, and Joe for opening up their homes.

With regards,

Jass

*This district includes the north and west sides of Brockton (Wards 7c and d; all of Ward 1, and Ward 3d) and Precincts 1-5 in Easton.

More:
http://www.jassstewart.com/pressreleases/serving-your-state-representative

Chrysler Super Bowl Ad Features Wisconsin Union Rally, but Edits Out Union Signs

Chrysler Super Bowl Ad Features Wisconsin Union Rally, but Edits Out Union Signs

The one truly stunning ad on Super Bowl night was a moving two-minute Chrysler commercial featuring actor Clint Eastwood. Aired at half-time, the ad hailed the renewal of the American automobile industry and featured images of union firefighters and factory workers,

At the fifty-second point in the ad, images from last year’s mass pro-union protests in Madison, Wisconsin, were featured.

But something was missing: union signs.

The images from Madison were taken from a historic video by Matt Wisniewski, a Madison photographer whose chronicling of the protests drew international attention and praise. Wisniewski’s work went viral, and was even featured in a video by rocker Tom Morello.

More:
http://www.thenation.com/blog/166082/chrysler-super-bowl-ad-features-wisconsin-union-rally-edits-out-union-signs

Original video Here:
http://vimeo.com/20089255

Lazy media reports Komen Foundation decision as 'reversal.' It isn't.

Earlier today, the news broke that the Komen Foundation had issued an apology for its decision to stop funding cancer screen and prevention at Planned Parenthood. The apology was nothing more than an attempt to control the damage done to the Komen brand, but the traditional media nonetheless did the work for the foundation by reporting it as a reversal of the Komen Foundation's decision.

But it's not.

Greg Sargent reports:

I just got off the phone with a Komen board member, and he confirmed that the announcement does not mean that Planned Parenthood is guaranteed future grants — a demand he said would be “unfair” to impose on Komen. He also said the job of the group’s controversial director, Nancy Brinker, is safe, as far as the board is concerned.

Right. So in other words, the foundation's announcement isn't reversing anything at all.

More:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/03/1061450/-Lazy-media-reports-Komen-Foundation-decision-as-reversal-It-isnt

Why You Still Shouldn’t Trust Susan G. Komen, Even After Their Reversal

Why You Still Shouldn’t Trust Susan G. Komen, Even After Their Reversal

If there is one thing every human being knows, it’s the idea of trust. And when that trust is broken, it’s hard to rebuild it. Perhaps in a marriage, over time, trust can be restored, hopefully. But in a relationship with an organization, that trust has to be based both on actions and on research. And the bottom line with the new Susan G. Komen For The Cure organization is that the people who were once part of the organization that was known since its founding as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is that it’s an entirely different organization than America once knew, and trusted. Frankly, their name change proves their desire to move from being a cancer non-profit to a political organization.

<snip>

And it’s these new people at Komen that have changed a once non-political non-profit breast cancer fighting organization into a political profiteering organization with an agenda, beholden to the radical right.

<snip>

One, Handel was a member of the Georgia Log Cabin Republicans, a gay GOP group, yet denied it during her gubernatorial campaign and even claimed to be against gay rights, including marriage. Handel was endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans in 2002 and 2003.

Secondly, as Georgia Secretary of State, Handel was behind notorious so-called voter registration laws and so-called citizenship verification efforts that serve only to intimidate voters and make it especially challenging for minorities and the poor to register and vote. So extreme and indefensible were these actions that the U.S. Department of Justice ordered Georgia to cease citizenship verification under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

More:
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/why-you-still-shouldnt-trust-susan-g-komen-even-after-their-reversal/politics/2012/02/03/34090

Bloomberg is donating $250,000 in matching funds. PP raised $600,000 in donations yesterday.

Plus this Texas dude's donation.

Wow, this might be the best thing to ever happen to Planned Parenthood.

Thank you, Komen Foundation!

AAUW Cancels Service Learning Event with Susan G. Komen Foundation

AAUW Cancels Service Learning Event with Susan G. Komen Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
02/02/2012

<snip>


AAUW Cancels Service Learning Event with Susan G. Komen Foundation

WASHINGTON – The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is disappointed with the Susan G. Komen Foundation's decision to strip funding for cancer screenings from Planned Parenthood. As a result, AAUW will not offer the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure as an optional pre-conference community service opportunity at the upcoming National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL). NCCWSL is an annual leadership event, now in its 27th year, attended by hundreds of college women from across the nation.

"This is an opportunity for AAUW to demonstrate leadership on a vital women's health issue: cancer screenings and mammograms for poor and underserved women," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "Taking a stand now is an excellent example of what the NCCWSL conference is all about: empowering college women as leaders and informed decision makers."

To its credit, Komen has made advances in women's health. This optional service learning activity has been part of previous conferences.

"AAUW is disappointed that some are playing politics with women's health and jeopardizing care for the most vulnerable among us," said Lisa Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations.

AAUW's long-held position on health care is clear. The member-adopted Public Policy Program makes "increased access to quality, affordable health care and family planning services" a priority.

AAUW hopes that Planned Parenthood and the Komen Foundation, both iconic organizations well known for their efforts to improve and advance women's health, can come to an agreement to restore this critically needed funding. Planned Parenthood health centers provide a wide range of safe, reliable health care, more than 90 percent of which is preventive, primary care. These clinics are often the only source of medical care for their patients, providing access to contraception, reducing sexually transmitted infections through testing and treatment, and screening for breast, cervical, and other cancers.

"This is a regrettable situation for all concerned but exactly the kind of circumstance in which we must strongly adhere to our principles. Those principles have guided us well for more than 130 years," Hallman said.


###

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation's leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW's founding 130 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.

More:
http://www.aauw.org/media/pressreleases/komen_02022012.cfm