You know what they say -
The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards the World Series.

Did anyone save one of those Mayfair for Obama stickers from Saturday? I am trying to track one down for a friend. Pretty cool!

Really interesting story about how Sen. Obama wrote his race speech right here in good old Philadelphia.

Good luck everyone...
Hannah

Hey folks.

Okay, here's the deal. We all want healthcare reform, right? And some of us have been wanting healthcare reform since... oh, I dunno... 1993? When the Democratic party controlled the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, and it still didn't happen?

Well, we're probably going to get this great new president, President Obama, who is running on healthcare reform and has a great plan to lower the costs for everyone. Unfortunately, things don't happen just because they are good ideas.

If elected, President Obama is going to have many battles to fight. Even before the stock market crash, it was going to be hard for him.

Next Thursday: Join Our Elected Representatives as they Sign on the Healthcare for America Now Campaign!

National Healthcare Reform Kickoff Rally next Thursday,
5 p.m., Oct 16. in Philadelphia

with:
Congressman Chaka Fattah, PA
Congressman Bob Brady, PA
Congresswoman Allyson Y. Schwartz, PA
Senator Bob Casey, PA (invited)
Congressman Rush Holt, Albio Sires, and Bill Pascrell, NJ (invited)
Congressmen Joe Sestak and Chris Carney, PA (invited)

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No more excuses - we need healthcare reform now!

It's time we had quality, affordable healthcare in America - and the incoming Congress has an opportunity to make it happen.

Massive rally for Healthcare for America Now!

Assemble at 4:30, event starts promptly at 5 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 16
On the lawn of the National Constitution Center
Independence Hall
525 Arch Street

RSVP today to marcstier@stier.net.

1. WHOA HO HO!!!

http://www.politickerpa.com/alexroarty/2034/bonusgate-testimony-manzo-sa...

Bombshell Bonusgate testimony: Manzo says DeWeese knew about bonuses
By Alex Roarty
Category: LocalTags: Patrick Lavelle, Mike Veon, Michael Manzo, bonusgate, Bill DeWeeseTop Story: Breaking

UPDATED: House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese knew bonuses were illegally being paid to legislative staffer in exchange for political work, according to testimony given Wednesday by his former chief of staff Michael Manzo.

"I believe he did, yes," Manzo said.

DeWeese has repeatedly denied any involvement in "Bonusgate."

Manzo, along with Patrick Lavelle Jr., were two of 12 people indicted as part of the "Bonusgate" investigation, but both cut a deal with prosecutors to testify Wednesday.

Healthcare Reform in Pennsylvania
Campaign Update

The fight to get real, comprehensive, systemic healthcare legislation has been going on for almost 2 years now, and sometimes it’s hard to remember how far this project has come.

There were a lot of people who were skeptical about the possibilities of Rendell’s reform/coverage package even passing the State House; the fact that it made it through, and that some parts (the smoking ban, the hospital-acquired infections measures) were even signed into law, is very much a testament to the organizing and rabble-rousing done by a lot of people over a long time.

Hi friends - as I've heard it said, the fight for universal healthcare is the civil rights crusade of our time.

Please come this Saturday to show your support. When I get a sec I will write an update on the campaign.

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Please join Governor Ed Rendell at a fundraiser for
The Pennsylvania Health Access Network
this Saturday, September 27, 2008
2:00-4:00 pm

at the home of
Marc Stier and Diane Gottlieb
6714 Wissahickon Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119

Host Committee (In formation):
Gold Hosts, Valerie Arkoosh, MD and Jeff Harbison, Dan Gordon
Silver Hosts Diane Gottlieb and Marc Stier, Betty Gottlieb
Bronze Hosts: Bob Brand and Liz Werthan, Lance Haver, DeWitt Brown, Hal and Sue Rosenthal, Terry Graboyes, Bayard Storey, Olivia Brady

Pennsylvania is poised to take a major step forward in providing quality, affordable health care to all. But we have only a few weeks to make it happen.

Editorial: Health Care Unfinished business
Wednesday, Sept. 17

Even though Pennsylvania just implemented its most sweeping public-health measure in years - the workplace smoking ban - this is no time for Harrisburg legislators to sit by while nearly 770,000 people in the state continue to go without health insurance.

State lawmakers just back in session this week need to break their months-long stalemate over expanding health care for the uninsured.

At rallies yesterday in Philadelphia and in Harrisburg, community activists and business leaders alike sought to ratchet up pressure on officials to do the right thing.

The legislative standoff revolves around whether to move aggressively or accept incremental progress. It's a case of House Democrats and Gov. Rendell versus Senate Republicans - whose tax-phobic leaders want a go-slow approach.

Ugh! Truth is grosser than fiction!

http://blogs.mcall.com/penn_ave/2008/09/sal-pal-to-rais.html

In other news

1. Does anyone else think it's strange that you can look voters up in VAN by zodiac sign? If anyone is looking to find a Democratic supervoter Aries in Paoli, let me know, I'll send you a list.

2. Go Eagles!

3. And please come to our healthcare rally tomorrow at 1 pm at Hahnemann. Broad and Vine. To pass healthcare reform. Everyone should have healthcare. Including puppies in puppy mills. Thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Montgomery County Democratic
Women's Leadership Initiative

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Montgomery County Democratic

Women's Leadership Initiative

Presents

Women in Politics Symposium

Pennsylvania ranks 43rd in women representation in government. How does that affect our women legislators?

Come and find out why during a panel discussion featuring:

State Senator LeAnna Washington

Former County Commissioner Ruth Damsker

Abington Commissioner Lori Schreiber

Upper Moreland Commissioner Lisa Romaniello

Norristown Councilwoman Linda Christian

Keynote Speaker

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz

Saturday, September 20, 2008

9am - 1pm

Church of the Living Word
1250 Easton Rd, Roslyn, PA

$20 suggested donation

Continental Breakfast will be served.

RSVP at demwomenleaders@gmail.com

www.demwomenleaders.org

The Senate returns to Harrisburg on September 16 for a last few days of the 2007-08 session. 19 months ago Governor Rendell called for legislation to Cover All Pennsylvanians with health insurance. In February 2008 the House passed a bill (SB 1137) to increase coverage for hundreds of thousands of the uninsured, but the Senate has yet to take any action on this legislation. Not one person has received health insurance through the legislature in 19 months, but studies show that two have died each day in Pennsylvania due to the lack of coverage.

We will hold a rally at Broad and Vine Sts. in Philadelphia, outside of Hahnemann Hospital on Tuesday September 16 at 1 PM to demand action on health reform legislation. Uninsured Pennsylvanians will speak out to call for the State Senate to pass legislation to cover over 350,000 people with affordable insurance.

Rally for Health Care for the Uninsured

Tuesday, September 16 1 PM
Hahnemann Hospital
Broad and Vine Streets

From president Karen Bojar...I am pretty sure the obama endorsement vote is over but there are of course all sorts of other interesting things to discuss!

-----------
Agenda for PHILA NOW meeting on Monday September 8 from 5:30-7:00 at 1606 Walnut .

Agenda items to include:

5:30 Announcements

5:35 Update on maternity care coalition

5:45 Report on status of Governor Rendell’s healthcare reform plan: Hannah Miller

6:00 Report on national NOW conference. See report posted immediately after conference on www.philanow.blogspot.com

6:15 Voter registration efforts: America Votes representative (not confirmed)

Political Action Committee

6:30 Recommendation to endorse Vincent Hughes for State Senate

6:45 Update on Vanessa Brown's campaign

7:00 Adjournment

Upcoming events:

Philadelphia NOW meetings for Fall, 2008:

(All meetings will be from 5:30-7:00 at 1606 Walnut)

Just a reminder, Philly for Change will hold our September Meetup tomorrow, Wednesday September 3 at 7:00 p.m* at

Tritone, 1508 South Street
(Handicapped Accessible).

Skip the the McCain-vention and Plan Real Change w Progressive Superstars!

Agenda:

Reforming Harrisburg Discussion
featuring Reps. Babette Josephs, Josh Shapiro, and Democratic Nominee Vanessa Brown

Beating John McCain

Vote on endorsement of Rep. Patrick Murphy (Pa.8) for reelection to Congress

Fixing Healthcare

Come to PHILLY FOR CHANGE Meetup!
See you there,

David Sternberg
Philly For Change

From the Madonna/Young column - http://www.fandm.edu/x18781.xml

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"But Bonus Gate markedly differs from past corruption in Pennsylvania. Corrupt politicians throughout state history have found many ways to steal and have stolen for many reasons. But historically personal enrichment and financial gain were common motivations for corrupt behavior. Since vigorous parties and abundant patronage provided the campaign resources necessary to run campaigns, crooked politicians of earlier eras were free to steal for themselves, and many did.

And the accused Bonus Gate malefactors are different too. Boiled down to its elements, they are accused of creating within state government a campaign organization that performed very similar campaign functions to those that parties and patronage performed in the past.

(To highlight BD's point)

This Thursday, join nurses, doctors, patients and Americans of every stripe protesting in memory of the countless victims of the insurance industry. Protests are being held around the country on a day when 38,000 health insurance lobbyists are having their annual convention in San Francisco.

Healthcare Yes! Health Insurance No!

Guaranteed, Universal, Single-Payer Healthcare Now!

Hands Off Our Healthcare!

RALLY - PHILADELPHIA
Two Liberty Place at 16th and Chestnut
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 12:00 noon

Our Healthcare System is Not Working! Over 47 million are uninsured; millions more inadequately covered. Yet, the U.S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries in its performance, according to the World Health Organization.

Here you go, folks...

Two movements for the price of one!

Takes a Canadian magazine to see it.

Or, as someone put it in the Daily News: They're like yin and yang.

---

So...tomorrow...you should know that John McCain will be speaking at the Constitution Center in our hometown.

Now this is interesting. I'm not quite sure why John McCain would start caring all of a sudden about the U.S. Constitution. He sure didn't have a problem with the contempt with which the Bush administration has treated our nation's founding document for the last 8 years. Does anyone remember this supposed 'independent' having anything feisty to say then? Eight years went by - and this man didn't bother about the separation of church and state... the fact that war powers reside with Congress...and habeas what?

This can lead me to only a few conclusions:
Either