Tom has started and its seems that every comment made keeps him going.
Thomas Mathews wrote:
> Spot-on metaphors there regarding the ideological pew and Clintonitis,
> Bill.
>
> So, how do we mobilize the amazing outpouring of grassroots support
> for Obama that we saw during the campaign and put it to work to
> vaccinate the Obama administration against Clintonitis? That's not a
> rhetorical question.
>
> As for Ken's complaint that my single issue has not registered with
> the general public, well I do have to apologize for that. I am not a
> very good activist. I'm too busy earning a living to have much time or
> energy left when I get home from work to do much organizing or
> educating. I'm on winter break now, so I can e-mail during the day.
> (And by the way, I'm concerned with many issues, most of which Vilsack
> is bad on. Let's hope Obama proves to be better on those issues than
> he appears just now. He hasn't even been inaugurated, after all.)
>
> But the fact is, we as environmentalists should be concerned about the
> release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment. Life
> may not exist anywhere else in the Universe. If it does, it's safe to
> say the life forms on Earth are unique and irreplaceable. Genetic
> engineering mutilates life at the molecular level. And the transgenes
> introduced into organisms by genetic engineering are passed on to
> future generations.
>
> (Genetically engineered organisms are now commonly referred to as
> genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Transgenes are sections of
> DNA (genes) transplanted from one organism into another of a different
> species. Genes from a fish have been engineered into a strawberry
> plant, for example.)
>
> If General Motors puts bad brake pads in some of its vehicles, those
> products can be recalled and the mistakes corrected. No recalls are
> possible for transgenes from GMOs released into the environment.
> Transgenes from GMO corn have been found in native corn in Mexico in
> the region of origin for maize. This could ultimately mean that the
> entire species that we call corn (Zea mays) will be contaminated with
> transgenes.
>
> This is a very serious health concern, as Gov. Vilsack and
> others support using corn as a "pharm" crop, that is, to engineer
> genes into corn plants that cause the plant to produce pharmaceutical
> substances. If these pharm genes spread into corn grown for food there
> could be toxic or allergenic effects on people eating that corn. If
> the pharm genes spread widely, corn would no longer be available as a
> food crop.
>
> Corn is only one species, but the supporters of GMO agriculture see no
> limits to the number of different crop species that could be
> "improved" by genetic engineering.
>
> It is simply wrong in a moral sense for humans to inflict this genetic
> damage on other species. There is even an effort to produce GMO trees.
> This must be stopped and it is Sierra Club that should play a leading
> role-- THE leading role--in stopping it. (Current national Sierra Club
> policy calls for a moratorium on the release of GMOs into the
> environment.)
>
> Genetic engineering, confined to a laboratory or factory, is being
> used to do important research and to make useful substances for
> medicine and other fields. All GMOs should be confined. Releasing them
> into the environment is an action that has grave moral, environmental,
> and safety implications. All pharm crops should be confined in
> greenhouses.
>
> For about the past two decades, the federal government, through the
> EPA, USDA, and FDA, has taken the role of promoter of genetic
> engineering in agriculture, when they should have been strictly
> regulating it. We must convince the Obama administration to reverse
> this pattern. Early indications are that this will be a daunting task.
> After 100 days I hope to be proven wrong. That's as positive an
> attitude as I can manage now, Ken.
>
> Space does not permit my discussing in this note other issues of
> concern to me.
>
> Tom
>
>
> In a message dated 12/19/2008 11:48:59 A.M. Central Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> I for one don't intend to apologize for voting for Obama, nor for that
> matter am I sorry that my wife and I supported him financially (with
> more $$ by at least an order of magnitude than we've ever given
> another candidate); we also housed an Obama staffer, gratis, for 7
> months; and we volunteered many days of effort. I am concerned,
> however, that Obama may be developing a more serious case of
> Clintonitis than I'd expected, and that it should be treated early.
>
> I'm bothered by the Vilsack appointment--Tom Matthews is right that
> Vilsack panders to the corporate imperators,
> while paying loftysounding lip service to us non-rich,
> non-influential, plebeian
> types. SC's concerns about his "truthiness" were conveyed in the
> tone
> of the news release,
> which expressed "congratulations." Compare that to the release on the
> Solis appointment, in which Carl Pope uses the word "overjoyed".
>
> I'm also bothered by the naming of Rick Warren to give the
> invocation
> at the Inauguration. This is a symbolic and momentary appointment
> of
> course, but it is also high-profile. I have gay and lesbian friends
> who are thunderstruck that such a prominent homophobe will be
> first on
> the podium on the Capitol porch. Obama may see this as reaching
> across the ideological aisle, but he can reach without falling out
> of
> the pew.
>
> BW
>
>
>
> Quoting KENNETH LARSON <[log in to unmask]>:
>
> > Some need to get "real" and give the Obama administration a
> > chance... Maybe a positive attitude would go a long way to
> success
> > when advocating for your seemingly single issue that has not
> > registered with the general population...
> >
> > When you look at the trouble the US is in and list the top 6
> > problems.. Like The Economy, Foreign Policy (War), Energy
> > independence, Education, Health Care, Global Warming... where
> are
> > some of the issues that in a perfect world would be more
> important
> > at this point of history ...?
> >
> > In the election, SC really had only one choice ... We got that
> > choice...We won! Now it is our role to support it and work with
> it,
> > or run for office the next election. The SC does not want to
> find
> > itself in the same position of the Republicans who had the
> single
> > issues of "abortion" or the "danger" of Gay Marriage.. They are
> > "out of influence" and "out of Power.." with few friends in high
> > places. We are so much better off ... No apology is necessary
> at
> > this point ....can you contemplate a McCain Palin Administration
> and
> > those appointments.. Let's hold off evaluations for at least a
> > 100 days after January 20th.
> >
> > Ken Larson, Ph.D.
> > Ames, Iowa..
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Thomas Mathews<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> > To:
> >
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 8:17 AM
> > Subject: New Sec. of Labor
> >
> >
> > Maybe Ms. Solis can help us guide the new administration in
> the
> > right direction. Goodness knows we need a ray of hope, from this
> new
> > administration that led us to believe it would be all about
> Hope.
> > Maybe I won't have to apologize to people because I voted for
> > Obama. Maybe.
> > Tom
> >
> >
> >
> http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=83221.0<http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=83221.0>
> >
> > ( FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December, 18, 2008
> > CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384
> >
> >
> > Obama Picks Major Green Jobs
> > Advocate to Head Labor Dept.
> > Sierra Club Congratulates Rep. Hilda Solis
> >
> >
> > Washington, D.C.?Media reports indicate that President-Elect
> Barack
> > Obama has chosen Representative Hilda Solis of California to
> head the
> > Department of Labor. Rep. Solis has been a preeminent
> advocate for
> > green jobs and environmental justice during her career in the
> House.
> > She has a lifetime League of Conservation Voters score of 97.
> >
> >
> > Representative Solis co-authored the Green Jobs Act, which
> later became
> > part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,
> which became
> > law December 19, 2007. The Green Jobs Act authorized $125
> million for
> > workforce training programs. The training will be targeted to
> > veterans, displaced workers, at risk youth, and individuals
> in families
> > under 200% of the federal poverty line. It could benefit
> programs such
> > as the one at the East Los Angeles Skills Center where
> workers are
> > trained to install solar panels. Upon the signing,
> Congresswoman Solis
> > stated: "The bill is a message for all workers across our
> nation that
> > there is a place for them in the clean energy future."
> >
> >
> >
> > Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director
> >
> >
> > "The Sierra Club is overjoyed at the news of Hilda Solis'
> selection as
> > Secretary of Labor. She has been a tireless advocate for
> environmental
> > issues, environmental justice, worker's rights, and green
> jobs. We send
> > our deepest congratulations to Representative Solis.
> >
> >
> > "Representative Solis was one of the earliest and most vocal
> supporters
> > of green jobs in the House of Representatives. We can think of no
> > better person to help President-Elect Obama implement his
> plans for an
> > economic recovery fueled by the creation of millions of new green
> > jobs. Hilda Solis also understands that green jobs must also
> be good
> > jobs and has worked to make sure that the clean energy economy
> is one
> > that lifts up all workers.
> >
> >
> > "This latest pick underscores the strong commitment of the
> > administration to action on clean energy, global warming, and
> a green
> > economic recovery. President-Elect Obama has assembled a team of
> > unprecedented strength to advise him on energy, environmental,
> science,
> > and climate issues. This extraordinary team is poised to help the
> > President-Elect implement his ambitious agenda to put America
> back to
> > work by tackling the significant climate and energy challenges
> facing
> > our country.
> >
> >
> > "One of our other top legislative priorities is passage of
> the Employee
> > Free Choice Act. We are very pleased that a strong supporter
> of this
> > essential legislation has been tapped to head up the Deparment of
> > Labor, yet another agency that has been gravely damaged
> during the
> > past eight years.
> >
> >
> > "Hilda Solis has been a strong ally of the Sierra Club and we
> very much
> > look forward to working with her in her new position."
> >
> >
> > # # #
> >
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