In his February 20th Weekly Address, President Obama called on Congress to "focus not on scoring points, but on solving problems; not on the next election but on the next generation." To that end and in reaction to the unreasonable raises in premiums by some of the biggest health insurance companies, he is calling for a bipartisan health care meeting on Thursday, February 27, 2010. (To read more, go to Obama_Plans_Bipartisan_Summit -- to watch highlights of the meeting, click here!)

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ELECTION 2010

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US Supreme Court Abolishes Restrictions on Big Business Political Spending

"So much for the demise of corporate America," writes David A. Kaplan (CNN/Money) "at least in the popular imagination. Just a little while ago, we were petrified about the auto companies in Detroit and the larger manufacturing infrastructure. Wall Street behemoths like Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns were crushed. AIG was saved only by Uncle Sam. Even the iconic Goldman Sachs, today riding high with record profits of $13.4 billion for 2009, needed a temporary bailout. The president acted, Congress enacted emergency legislation, crises were stemmed. Now, though, comes the U.S. Supreme Court to rescue corporations not from financial ruin but from laws barring them from swaying elections. Who knew this was such a problem?" more...

GHO Turns Out for Martha Coakley
GHO was well-represented at various Coakley events leading up to the election of January 19. We could be seen everywhere: at the Rally on January 16th at Maria's; at White's Corner on the 17th; making phone calls at various phone banks (including those in our homes); canvassing neighborhoods and standing out in the falling snow at various polling places on the 19th. (for pictures, please click here).

Although we know that our candidate was the right choice for Massachusetts and the nation, the citizens of our state decided to elect Scott Brown, who has pledged that he would be the 41st vote against Health Care Reform.

But this election was not just about health care. It was about everything else on President Obama's agenda. We voted for change in November of 2008. All that may be

in jeopardy unless, as Doug and Demet said, we come together and learn from our mistakes. Now we need to regroup and forge ahead, keeping our goals in mind.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard especially Doug!

For comments from Demet and Doug on the Coakley/Brown election, please go to coakley.html.


President Obama Delivers His First State-of-the-Union Address to Congress
On the evening of January 27, 2010 we gathered at Demet and Bill's house to watch and listen to Barack Obama's first State-of-the Union Address. Although there was some dissention in the group (nuclear power and off-shore drilling, for instance), we were satisfied that he addressed most of the pressing issues that face the country today. We were all especially gleeful as he wagged his finger at members of the Supreme Court for their latest ruling (see below). (more on our State-of-the-Union Watch Party coming soon)