We've always been told that spying on the citizens is a prerogative of the totalitarian states such as Communist or Nazi regimes. And we always thought and been told that this could not happen in US. That was before we learned a true scope of the NSA programs, including spying on heads of our allies among other 35 states, as well as monitoring phone calls and e-mails of tens of millions of people in different countries around the world and probably most of the citizens of this country. Now after initial shock and disbelieve most people must have realized that the illegal spying was going on for a long time, in violation of court orders, not just by NSA, and that FISA law is one big loophole. Yet, there was still some hope that things might change and that legislature will wake up from coma of narcissistic greatness and trans of patriotic propaganda and will close the loopholes that took away rights guaranteed by the American Constitution that they swore to uphold and defend. That all has changed on Thursday last week (October 31, 2013) when a bill that would validate NSA’s harvesting of phone, e-mail records cleared the Senate Intelligence Committee and progressed to the full Senate. If the FISA Improvements Act will become law, “Congress effectively will be validating expansive powers that have been claimed by the NSA and upheld by a court--but never explicitly written into statute—to harvest the phone and e-mail records of millions of Americans”(Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-bill-would-validate-nsas-harvesting-of-phone-e-mail-records-privacy-advocates-say/2013/11/02/aa24932e-4310-11e3-a751-f032898f2dbc_story.html). Please, sign this petition and send the strong message to the Congress and President that they cannot take from us our Constitutional Rights. Say 'No' to legalization of warrantless blanked phone and e-mail wiretapping. For more information visit http://screwedbylawyer.tumblr.com/post/66067056140/spying-without-borders-to-become-the-law

I am afraid for our country. I am a Korean Vet. and I am ashamed of the way we have allowed the Washington elite to treat us (you and me) It may not do any good BUT it will show them we are united......

Watermark is buying Commercial Site 1 and 2 on Discovery Creek in Harmony neighborhood in Spring Texas to build Multi Family Housing. Let the Developers and Investors know how you feel about an apartment complex being built in the area.

Seniors need increases in their Social Security, not cuts such as those we will see if the Chained CPI goes through!

Great news! Senate Majority Harry Reid and his colleagues just took the historic step of eliminating the filibuster for most presidential nominations -- which was being abused by a minority in the Senate to obstruct every recent qualified judicial nominee. The New York Times called it "the most fundamental shift in the way the Senate functions in more than a generation." This change will stop the courts from being hamstrung by vacancies. It will also prevent outrages like the recent filibusters that stalled enforcement of basic election rules by the Federal Elections Commission and that tried to make the Federal Communications Commission nominee promise not to require disclosure on political ads. Federal judge nominees and executive-office appointments can now be confirmed as the Constitution intended: under the principle of majority rule. The filibuster will still be in place for legislation and Supreme Court nominations, which is a real problem that still needs to be addressed, but this is a landmark step towards a functioning government. Nearly 6,000 Californians like you signed petitions to Senators Feinstein and Boxer urging them to pass filibuster reform – and they ended up providing the two critical votes. Sign the petition to thank them: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/thanks-for-reforming

With the next round of budget talks fast approaching, there are threats of a "grand bargain" that would result in cuts being made to Social Security and Medicare benefits. So many families have worked hard for these benefits and do not deserve to have them cut. Please urge Senator Donnelly to become a co-sponsor of The Strengthening Social Security Act of 2013.

The time has come for our sons and daughters to be treated as human beings. I am nervous waiting on my sons to return home from work,shopping or from school.Hoping that they have not come in contact with the any bad guys or worse yet a police officer.I see young Black men pulled over laid on the ground with guns pointed at them. Then they are let go.Every time I see this i feel angry and helpless. I am still angry, but not feeling helpless.This should be a priority in your term Mr.President.

The aftershocks of the 2008 financial crisis continues to impact families in PA-8 and all across the country. By acting now, we can create a new source of funding that will get our fellow Americans back to work and grow our economy. Working poor and middle-class Americans, the backbone of this great country, deserve nothing less.

Last month's budget showdown shut down the government and hurt the economy. The next budget showdown—which may be just six weeks way—could result in a "grand bargain" that cuts Social Security and Medicare benefits. We can't let that happen, we can't allow this important social safety net be whipped out from under us! Everyone in Missouri needs to speak out now, ask Sen. McCaskill to co-sponsor this bill so it can come to a vote before then and get signed into law. We are all affected by this: those who are already seniors or disabled who depend on Social Security, as well as those who are paying into Social Security for future retirement.

Social Security benefits barely keep recipients above the poverty level of income and COLA increases are not even keeping up with prescription and other medical costs. Sen. Tom Harkin and other progressive lawmakers are advancing commonsensical and reasonable legislation to address the needs of today's retirees. Sen. Nelson needs to add his name in support of these improvements to strengthen the message to Congress and the White House that balancing the budget on the backs of the elderly is not acceptable.

A political operation working with gun lobbyists decided to declare December 14 -- the anniversary of the tragic massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary -- "Guns Save Lives Day." You read that right. Naturally, they immediately bowed to pressure to not hold their crass political event on the anniversary of the shooting deaths of 28 people -- most of them children -- to score cheap political points and raise cash to support their organization. So they pushed it back -- one whole day. But they're still trying to profit -- politically and financially -- off of an unimaginable tragedy. Please take a second to add your name to our open letter to make them cancel this ghoulish sideshow. I've worked in politics a long time. But it is really rare to see something so crass and so brazen as to try to exploit the senseless deaths of children to build your network and raise money to support the very thing that stole them from their parents and friends. Even worse, their terrible antics give a bad name to so many well-intentioned gun owners -- the majority of whom fully support sensible reforms like I-594, our initiative to require background checks on all gun purchases in Washington.

Tom Harkin has introduced the Strengthening Social Security Act of 2013 to expand Social Security, not cut it. The bill needs more co-sponsors before it can be voted on.