We need the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulations to limit predatory and exploitative lending practices.

In Oregon this January, protesters began an occupation of the Federal Building at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge that lasted for 41 days. The 25 people who occupied the reserve are now facing felony charges for conspiracy to impede an officer of the United States. That federal criminal statute has a maximum penalty of six years. Prosecutors need only prove that two or more defendants agreed to prevent some federal employee from discharging his or her duty by force, intimidation or threat. Prosecutors do not have to prove they were successful. It seems, then, that those listed below and other Senators are collaborating to prevent federal officials, including the President of the United States, from doing their job by: 1. Insisting there would not even be a hearing of a nominee to fill Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s vacant seat, 2. By failure to confirm federal judges, 3. By failure to confirm more than a quarter of the administration’s most senior executive branch jobs. The airwaves and social media are chock-full of their own words: statements in press interviews, statements in YouTube videos, and statements in widely distributed emails. Conspiracy to impede an officer of the United States includes: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Senator Chuck Grassley (IA), Senator Orrin G. Hatch (UT), Senator Jeff Sessions (AL), Senator Lindsey Graham (SC), Senator John Cornyn (TX), Senator Michael S. Lee (UT), Senator Ted Cruz (TX), Senator Jeff Flake (AZ), Senator David Vitter (LA), Senator David Perdue (GA), Senator Thom Tillis (NC), Senator Roger Wicker (Miss.), Senator Ron Johnson (Wis.), Senator John McCain (Ariz.), Senator Pat Toomey (Pa.), Senator Marco Rubio (FL), Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Donald Trump, Speaker Paul Ryan. Part 1 - Supreme Court The Constitution of the United States, Article II, Section 2 states: “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment. “He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he (the President) shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.” Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee signed a letter (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/02/23/us/politics/document-Senate-SCOTUS-Letter.html?_r=0) to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declaring they would not hold hearings to ensure the next president, not President Obama, pick someone to replace the late conservative justice, Antonin Scalia. This action is an attempt at intimidation and a threat to the President and people of the United States. If no hearing is granted, the tactics prevent remaining Senators from taking part in a confirmation vote, thereby preventing them from doing their job. The 54-member GOP caucus, and those in lock step with them, are united against taking any step in the Senate’s “advice and consent” process, making them subject to prosecution for “preventing some federal employee from discharging his or her duty by force, intimidation or threat.” The Constitution hasn’t changed, but Mitch McConnell’s interpretation of it has as evidenced by his remarks from 1970-2010. How can this shift be anything other than McConnell’s attempt to prevent federal employees, including the President of the United States, from discharging their duties by force and intimidation? “The framers intended for three separate and independent branches of government. The judiciary was to be free from political influences, insulated from the whims of a changing majority and answerable only to the law and a public that expected the judicial branch to dispense justice free from the taint of popular politics. Any attempt to deny confirmation on the basis of a philosophy, that is within the mainstream of American political and judicial thought, is an assault on this tripartite structure of government. It is clear under our form of government that the advice and consent role of the Senate in judicial nominations should not be politicized.” [Floor Remarks, 10/2/90] “It is time to move away from advise and obstruct and get back to advise and consent. The stakes are high. The Constitution of the United States is at stake. Article 2, section 2 clearly provides the President and the President alone nominates judges.” [Floor Remarks, 5/19/05] “There are few duties more consequential for a Member of the U.S. Senate than to vote on a Supreme Court nominee.” [Floor Remarks, 7/13/09] “Our job is to react to that nomination in a respectful and dignified way, and at the end of the process, to give that person an up-or-down vote as all nominees who have majority support have gotten throughout the history of the country. It’s not our job to determine who ought to be picked.” [Fox News, 7/3/05] “Whether it’s small-claims court or the Supreme Court, Americans expect politics to end at the courtroom door.” [NY Times, 8/5/10] “I believe that a heavy burden must be met by those who would have this nominee rejected. Under the Constitution, our duty is to provide advice and consent to judicial nominations, not to substitute our judgement for what are reason...

On Monday, a Secret Service agent choked a Time photojournalist who stepped out of a press area at a Trump rally. (http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/29/politics/donald-trump-event-protest-rally/) Secret Service has an important role in protecting presidential candidates. But they should not be employed as thugs. The Secret Service agent should be punished for these actions, and all agents should be reminded of their appropriate role in a heated campaign climate. Trump rallies have incited violence before, and he has forcibly rejected journalists from press events. He is attracting enthusiastic support from white supremacists, and as recently as Sunday refused to disavow the KKK In a televised interview. He has verbally attacked women, immigrants, the disabled, and Muslims, while proposing policies that are bigoted, xenophobic, and unconstitutional. Trump events are already heated enough—the Secret Service has an important role, but it should not be adding to the chaos and violence.

Nebraska Republican Senator Ben Sasse has courageously stated that he would not vote for Donald Trump, if Trump becomes the Republican nominee. He cited "Trump's relentless focus ... on dividing Americans, and on tearing down rather than building back up, this great nation." This was a day after Trump refused to disavow the KKK in a televised interview on Sunday, dishonestly claiming he didn't know who former KKK grandmaster David Duke was, which former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney called a "disqualifying and disgusting response." It is time that all Republican office-holders and office-seekers publicly state whether they would support a Trump candidacy or, if he is the nominee, they will declare they won't vote for his brand of bigotry. The KKK response was only the latest in a series of incidents that have revealed the dangerous connection between Trump's campaign and white supremacists. Furthermore, Trump supporters have committed acts of violence, including at Trump's own rallies. And the candidate himself has verbally attacked women, immigrants, the disabled, and Muslims, while proposing policies that are bigoted, xenophobic, and unconstitutional. It's time for Republican leaders to tell us where they stand—and declare they will not vote for, endorse, or campaign for Donald Trump if he is the Republican nominee.

The corporate media including CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, and others are currently reporting “Super Delegates” in their counts on national news in an attempt to trick and sway undecided voters that Hillary Clinton is way ahead and that Bernie Sanders will have a difficult time catching up. They are currently reporting in their counts that Hillary has 546 delegates and that Bernie currently has 87 delegates. This is because they are including party insiders that are not “Pledged Delegates” selected by voters but rather “Super Delegates” that can select any candidate that they choose. However, the actual amounts of Pledged Delegates that are allocated based on votes after Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina are 91 for Clinton and 65 for Sanders. To date 455 “Super Delegates” have currently endorsed Hillary Clinton and only 22 have currently endorsed Bernie Sanders; although, they can switch at anytime and are not committed to stay with Hillary if she doesn’t win the popular vote. A candidate needs 2,383 total delegates to secure the nomination so there is a long way to go for either candidate. The “Super Delegates” are establishment party insiders, Corporate Lobbyists, or have Wall Street and Corporate Media ties. They are trying to throw the election to Hillary quickly because they think she will be the eventual nominee. However, Super Delegates are not bound to this vote and in 2008 when many Super Delegates originally supported Clinton they switched to Obama once he started gaining popularity and winning many states. Super Delegates are able to switch their endorsement at any time up until the convention and they should not be included in the counts because it is undemocratic and gives the false impression that Hillary is way ahead which she is not. The majority of “Super Delegates” will eventually support whoever wins the majority of votes in their state or they risk being voted out of office. Corporate Media STOP reporting “Super Delegates” as if they are “Pledged Delegates” as this is an Undemocratic Process and seeks to undermine the voter’s choice.

My best friend is IN LOVE with SHINee and I want her to be able to go to one of their concerts if it's the last thing I do. Why hasn't SM brought SHINee to America yet? They could make so much money if that's what they're worried about while making thousands of international fans immensely happy. If you want SHINee to come to America, or would be willing to buy tickets, please sign this petition.

I am a veteran of the Iraq war and served for almost 10 years to protect our country. Many soldiers have given their time and some have made the ultimate price to ensure the People are protected and have a voice. Respect the sacrifices we have made and let the voters decide elections.

The KKK (as well as all other racial and terroristic groups) has no grounds for being a legitimate group. If the US government disbanded the Black Panthers, they need to disband the KKK.

Many citizens in Rome, Floyd County, Georgia have leased their mineral rights (e.g., oil and natural gas) to out-of-state companies that seek to drill in our community. Vertical "test" wells pose some risk, but horizontal drilling, or fracking, poses significant risk to our community. Fracking has been associated with ground and surface water contamination, with road damage, with air and noise pollution, with earthquakes, and with negative health consequences. Of particular concern are the risks to citizens and businesses who rely on well water.

Vote it Loud is leading the charge to urge U.S. elected representatives in the House and Senate to pass the Flint Emergency Funding Proposal that will provide $600 Million in Federal Emergency Relief Funding for Flint families in need.

Addiction is a devastating disease that affects 1/3 of all American households. Opiate overdose deaths are at epidemic levels. We must help save lives by carrying naloxone, a life-saving overdose reversal drug.

I have always loved having a teen librarian. Now that I am officially a teenager, I was shocked to find out that I wouldn't have a teen librarian at the new library. They are not a children's librarian and not an adult librarian either. It's their JOB to help teens, and they always are good at it. There is going to be this amazing new teen space, but it won't be staffed full time by an actual teen librarian.