Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and many other authors, talk radio hosts and television hosts LIE to the American electorate on a daily basis inciting racism, xenophobia and HATE. Canada won't even allow Fox News to be broadcast because of the disgusting content of the programs. Freedom of speech is one thing - but lying with the specific purpose of turning people against the government is another.

If Sen. Kerry is nominated as Secretary of State to succeed Hillary Clinton, it would leave Massachusetts with an empty senate seat to fill and the the US Senate one seat closer to losing its democratic majority. Scott Brown's campaign machinery is still in place and although he failed to beat Elizabeth Warren for re-election, it was a close contest. His mean-spirited campaign was funded in large part by outside the state right wing SuperPacs, most notably Karl Rove's Crossroads. That means, if he ever was bi-partisan in his first term, he is going to be beholden to far right Republicans if he succeeds in regaining a Senate seat. All of us who worked hard to defeat Scott Brown and elect Elizabeth Warren would have an uphill struggle to do it again for a brand new democratic candidate in such a short period of time, given his campaign machinery is likely still in place just waiting for this opportunity.

My pets have always been like family members to me. Currently in California, pets are merely personal property. Therefore, if somebody were to murder my dog, I would only be able to recover the value of my dog in a civil law suit against the murderer, and nothing for my emotional distress or loss of companionship. My dog is priceless to me, but being a rescued mixed breed, with health problems his objective, economic value is probably zero. I believe that the legislature should add statutory civil damages against those who purposely or recklessly kill pets. I'm not asking that pets be treated like humans, just better than some inanimate object (like a chair or tv).

This past election cycle hosted numerous advertisements that were factually false and misleading..time to stop deceptive political advertisements. We should demand truthful ads on all stations or in print so voters can have facts and truthful details upon which to base their vote. We need an informed electorate!

Reports claim that renters in New Jersey, Brooklyn, and other parts of New York City are being denied any assistance by FEMA. Renters, unlike homeowners, have limited or no resources. Renters need money to get a new place to live, buy clothes, and get to and from work. If their old job is no longer available due to Hurricane Sandy, they need help finding a new job. If the renter has children there's more need of assistance. FEMA should provide financial help to renters.

For people in the NY, NJ area directly impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy it has been next to impossible to obtain gasoline to run their cars or power their generators. People are unable to get to work, take their children to school, check up on elderly family members, or have access to light and heat via the use of a generator. Residents of these areas are being forced to wait in line for hours on end (one report tells of a man who waited almost 30 hours!!!) It's about time that the big companies such as Shell, BP, Exxon/Mobil, etc. give back to the communities that continually provide them record making profits in the BILLIONS!! Let's ask them to set up temporary filling stations and DONATE GAS so that people can have much needed access to gasoline and put those savings into rebuilding their homes and families that were destroyed by this natural disaster

It's time to stop trying to get others to do what they should do. If we want a peaceful, just, and ecologically sustainable world, all the protesting, pleading or petitioning of authority figures isn't going to make that happen. These institutions are their (the 1%'s) game and they're well-armored against outsiders (you and I) meddling with what they've set up (for their own benefit, of course).

As a veteran I have always found in unbelievable that so many vets have to work on Veteran's day. We have served our country and so many non-vets get the day off and vets are working. It is time that all vets get the day off with pay.

Dogs, cats and other animals are constantly being abused. A law should be enacted making animal cruelty a felony.

Daylight Savings Time is nothing but a nuisance now.

Our nation is racially divided, including American churches. Ninety-three percent of American churches are either 95-100% white or 90-95% black. American church segregation has persisted since slavery days and must cease. It opposes our commitment to divine, unconditional love (agape love) and unity among Christian believers and sustains a non-integrated institution in the United States. If white and black American Christians integrate their churches, their love, courage and humility will overflow into our racially and politically divided land. When the church heals itself, it will have the integrity and divine power to heal the nation.

That Republicans kept control of the House of Representatives and the ability to stall the Senate with countless filibusters may not be a problem in the next Congress if they are willing to discuss alternatives and to compromise. But, if they remain determined to continue the same course of "gridlock" as a means of not having to pass any bill not 100% to their liking, they need, finally, be dumped for Democrats or independents in the 2014 elections. President Obama was clearly given a mandate to resolve as many issues in his second term as he did in his first using compromise as a tool to address these issues. However, if Republicans continue their ideologic-based policy of no compromise, they need to be forced to accept the only wake-up call by the only means they seem to understand. The voice of massive defeat by vote of the American people. We can only hope.