Thomas Nast, a famous political cartoonist, is credited with the earlier uses of the donkey, He first used the donkey in an 1870 Harper's weekly cartoon to represent the "Copperhead Press" kicking a dead lion, symbolizing Lincoln's Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, who had recently died. The Republicans got the elephant loved it and officially adopted it...the Democrats never have. after 142 years it is about time. The donkey is a stubborn little fellow and now more than ever before we as Democrats have to be stubborn and fight for our rights be they dealing with gender, racism, or sexual orientation. We have to stand up for the poor, the hungry, the homeless and for good schools, clean air and water and making sure that the wars we fight are worth fighting. Yes we have to fight for jobs and making sure taxes are fair and the amounts each pays is just for his earnings and ability to pay. Today more than ever Democrats MUST be stubborn and stand tight for what is just, fair and right. The donkey is the prefect mascot, and adding the word burro is fitting to invite Hispanics who seem to be America's largest emerging minority, and Democrats will do far more for them than the Republicans. Finally let us remember that Mary the mother of Jesus rode to the place of his birth on the back of a donkey, which he himself later rode to make a very clear point...if it is good enough for Christ, it should be good enough for the Democrat Party. I think our Democrat Leaders should make it official at the next national convention and formally adopt it!

The escalating avalanche of home foreclosures is not only displacing families, but also eroding all California neighborhoods and the economy. We demand that there be a moratorium placed on all California home foreclosures until there is greater analysis and consideration of the ensuing consequences.

Child abuse means harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare that occurs through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment, by a parent, a legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare or by a teacher, a teacher's aide, or a member of the clergy. The key word in that statement is health. The State of Maine does not include second hand smoke as a form of child abuse. Even thought the health effect can be devistating to young lungs and respritory systems. Please join me in asking the state to change the defintion of child abuse to include second hand smoke. The health effects of secondhand smoke are indisputable. In children, exposure increases asthma attacks, contributes to sudden infant death syndrome and leads to respiratory infections. In adults, it can cause heart attacks, heart disease and lung cancers. With over 250 toxic chemicals, 50 of which cause cancer. It's your choice if you want to smoke, but our children have no say in the matter. Let's come together for the common cause of protecting our states youth. Though second hand smoke may not be intentional child abuse, it still harms the overall health and welfare of the child. Preventing health problems at an early stage will not only improve the quality of life for them later, but give them a normal healthy childhood. Governor LePage and the State of Maine, change the law of child abuse to include second hand smoke.

This petition is about the DOT spraying our e-ways with chemicals. They are specifclly targeting what they coin noxious weeds. Yes, these weeds can block drivers views which can be a hazzard, but so is spraying with the chemicals. Why not have out of work Michiganders harvest these weeds, or put some of the MI prisoners to work harvesting these weeds to start a broom factory in MI?

llegals are working on mostl construction sights. Please sign this petition to not award government contracts to contractors who employ illegal immigrants.

President Obama has stated that he is against government-sanctioned same-sex marriage, but his views are "evolving." Same-sex marriage is now legal in Iowa, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, Connecticut and the District of Columbia.

The Congress makes decisions every day that impact citizens in this great country of ours except for themselves. This petition is simple. Congress would be limited and unable to have any health care provided by tax dollars in excess of any citizen of the USA. A child goes without, so should they!

The escalating avalanche of home foreclosures is not only displacing families, but also eroding all California neighborhoods and the economy. We demand that there be a moratorium placed on all California home foreclosures until there is greater analysis and consideration of the ensuing consequences.

Since getting money out of politics is extremely hard, the goal of this idea is to help to level the playing field of paid political speech by forcing any add to buy equal time for a rebuttal.

We're all up in arms about the banks making out big and the country hurting. We're also upset with the stock market players paying less in taxes than the wage slaves. How about taxing the stock market .0000001 dollar for every share traded to help fund education or health care?

The escalating avalanche of home foreclosures is not only displacing families, but also eroding all American neighborhoods and the economy. We demand that there be a moratorium placed on all home foreclosures until there is greater analysis, reorganization, and consideration of the ensuing consequences.

Removing regressive affect of SS tax