Tell Betsy DeVos to protect our students! U.S. SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN.

David: It's been exactly one year since Betsy DeVos was confirmed as Education Secretary, but already she's done unbelievable damage. She tried to slash more than $9 billion from the federal education budget by gutting children’s mental health services and anti-bullying initiatives. She rolled back key Title IX protections for survivors of sexual assault on college campuses, making it harder for those who have been harmed to feel safe or seek justice. And she reversed rules put in place to protect the civil rights of disabled and transgender students. Our students deserve so much better, and I'm going to keep fighting against the backward agendas of the Trump administration and Betsy DeVos. I need you with me: ...tell Betsy DeVos to protect our students. Thanks, Jeanne

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMAS 2015 STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH; A CHALLENGE TO THE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL OPPOSITION. PT 1. 1/22/2015.

''DO YOU REMEMBER...BLASTS FROM THE PAST. ANALYSIS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMAS 2016 SOTUS. PT 1.'' has generated enough reader interest, to the point of reprinting previous sections of PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMAS SOTUS. THE FOLLOWING WAS TAKEN FROM THE 2015 SPEECH.

Having Listened to President Obamas STOTUS, and read the Full Transcript, to me the MOST IMPORTANT WORDS COME NEAR THE END.

Don't get me wrong, the POLICIES and ISSUES he Discusses are Very Important, and I will look at these in the Near Future.  Unfortunately, if the Attitudes Toward Properly Addressing Divisive Topics doesn't change, it will be an uphill battle to Find and Pass Solutions that are in the Best Interests OF THE PEOPLE LIVING, WORKING AND RAISING FAMILIES IN THE U.S.

Line #1-  

"Understand – a better politics isn't one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine."

Translation-  "You're not Always Right, and Neither am I.  Lets find Common Ground and Work from there.  The "IT'S MY WAY OR NOTHING ATTITUDE, IS THE ROAD TO FAILURE."

Line #2-  

"A better politics is one where we appeal to each other's basic decency instead of our basest fears."

Translation-  "If we Live in the Gutter, nothing gets accomplished, and Failure, Distrust, and Enmity is the Result.  IF WE LOOK FOR THE GOOD, INSTEAD OF PROMOTING IRRATIONAL  HATE AND FEAR AS AN AGENDA, THE RESULT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD ALL BE PROUD OF."

Line #3-  "A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues, and values, and principles, and facts, rather than "gotcha" moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people's daily lives."

Translation-  "As Lawmakers, and Elected Representatives of the American People, OUR JOB IS TO PRIORITIZE REAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT PEOPLES LIVES, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.  THE ETHICAL AND PRACTICAL APPROACH IS THE BEST SOLUTION, NOT IMMATURE INSULTS AND GLIB ONE LINERS THAT DO NOTHING TO ADDRESS REAL PROBLEMS. CONCENTRATING ON NON- ISSUES IS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF 'POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING', AND A CONTINUATION OF THE TYPICAL 'POLITICS AS USUAL' BRAND OF GOVERNMENT THAT SO MANY AMERICANS DESPISE.''

DO YOU REMEMBER...BLASTS FROM THE PAST. ANALYSIS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMAS 2016 SOTUS. PT 1.

WITH DONALD TRUMPS SOTUS OVER, I THINK  IT WOULD
BE INTERESTING TO CONTRAST IT WITH BARACK OBAMAS
2016 SOTUS.

After a Short Opening, THE PRESIDENT OFFERED THE FOLLOWING COMMENT; 

"...But, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the constructive approach that you and the other leaders took at the end of last year to pass a budget and make tax cuts permanent for working families. So I hope we can work together this year on some bipartisan priorities..."

That's Right, Praising the Opposition for the Ability to Work with Him, and other Ranking Democrats, to create a Budget both sides could live with.  Considering the amount of Time and Effort the Republican Party has spent attempting to Block or Destroy ANYTHING THE PRESIDENT PROPOSES TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC ISSUES, OFTEN IT SEEMS WITHOUT ANY REASONABLE EXPLANATION, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE ATTEMPT TO REACH OUT, AND GIVE CREDIT TO THE OPPOSITION FOR FINALLY DOING SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE.

However, we must consider The Following:

-  Had the Republican Party backed themselves into such a corner, being perceived as a group that wanted nothing to get done, that they had to do SOMETHING TO AVOID BEING CHARACTERIZED AS PURELY NEGATIVE AND OBSTRUCTIONIST.

-  The President then goes on to the Next Section of the Speech:

"...I’ll keep pushing for progress on the work that still needs doing. Fixing a broken immigration system. Protecting our kids from gun violence. Equal pay for equal work, paid leave, raising the minimum wage. All these things still matter to hardworking families; they are still the right thing to do; and I will not let up until they get done."

What Affect will this have on the REPUBLICAN PARTY LEADERSHIP?

-  REMEMBER, THIS IS A PARTY WHO HAS CONVINCED AT LEAST A PORTION OF IT'S SUPPORTERS THAT;  AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, AND AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE ARE NOT GOOD IDEAS, EVEN IF THEY HAVE A DESIRABLE AFFECT ON YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE.  

-  YET, THEY ALSO ARGUE THAT YOUR NEIGHBORS ABILITY TO HAVE FREE ACCESS TO LEGAL FIREARMS, REGARDLESS OF PREVIOUS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY.

APA CENTRAL DIVISION MEETING- EARLY REGISTRATION.

Dear DAVID, The early bird registration discount for the American Philosophical Association’s Central Division meeting expires on Wednesday, February 7! Register online now to save $50 on meeting registration. Early bird registration rates are as follows: APA members: $125 Non-members: $240 Student members: $40 Register now—last chance until the meeting begins! Online registration for the Central meeting will not be available after Wednesday. If you don’t register online by February 7, you can still register on-site at the meeting at the regular rates: APA members: $175 Non-members: $290 Student members: $90 Please note: You’ll save an additional $5 on meeting registration if you opt not to receive a paper copy of the program. The meeting program is available online, and our free meeting app for smartphones and tablets also contains the full program. Room locations will be added to the app on the first day of the meeting. Haven’t yet renewed your membership? Renew now! In order to receive the discounted meeting rate available to APA members, your membership must be current. (Lapsed members who have not renewed their memberships for the 2017–2018 year pay the non-member rate of $240 in advance or $290 at the meeting.) Looking forward to seeing you in Chicago in a couple of weeks! All the best, Melissa Smallbrook Meeting Coordinator

The American Ph