Burr (R-NC): "The dumbest idea I've ever heard of"

Coburn (R-OK): "intellectually dishonest"  

McCain (R-AZ): "shenanigans"

Shelby (R-AL): "it's foolish"

Washington DC - When Senator Chuck Grassley sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last week warning that he would block a continuing resolution that would keep the federal government open after September 30 unless Obamacare was defunded, he probably didn't expect a barrage of friendly fire in response from fellow Republicans who have called his threats everything from "terror politics" to "intellectually dishonest" to "really dumb."

Jeremy Funk, Comm. Dir., Americans United for Change: "We get it.  Senator Grassley really, really wants to make it legal again for insurance companies to deny care to kids born with a 'pre-existing condition', drop people when they get seriously sick, and charge women more than men for premiums -- so much so that he is willing to shut down the government and disrupt services for millions unless he gets his way.  But Grassley's latest attempt to strip away Obamacare's new consumer protections that are already working to lower premiums is so beyond the pale and counterproductive that even many of his Republican colleagues are condemning it."

A Growing Chorus of Republicans Urging Grassley to Release the Political Hostage, Don't Shut Down the Government:

 

• U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK): "It's a terribly dangerous and not successful strategy. You're going to set an expectation among the conservatives in our party that we can achieve something that we're not able to achieve. It's not an achievable strategy. It's creating the false impression that you can do something when you can't. It's a denial of reality mixed with a whole bunch of hype to promote groups and individuals who are saying, 'I'm going to give you hope' for something that we can't do," Coburn said. "The underlying premise is intellectually dishonest. ... Creating false expectations and being less than honest about how you're going to do this is the worst of politics." [Washington Examiner, 7/29]
• U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC): "No, I think it's the dumbest idea I've ever heard of... Listen, so long as Barack Obama's president, the Affordable Care is gonna be law... I think some of these guys need to understand that, you shut down the government, you better have a specific reason to do it that's achievable. Defunding the Affordable Care Act is not achievable by shutting down the federal government. At some point, you're gonna open the federal government back up, and Barack Obama's gonna be president, and he won't have signed the dissolution of the Affordable Care Act." [Think Progress, 7/29]
• U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Deputy Majority Whip:  Condemned the idea as "the political equivalent of throwing a temper tantrum" and accused Senate Republicans of "blackmail."  Cole: "Shutting down the government is a suicidal political tactic. Eventually it will be reopened, but the president will not have capitulated and you will have discredited yourself and along the way you will have hurt the American people," Cole (R-Okla.) said Monday on MSNBC's "Now with Alex Wagner." // "The only way Republicans will lose the House is to shut down the government or default on the debt," the Oklahoma Republican told Politico. "Shutting down the government is not in the best interests of the American people and it makes you look politically irresponsible." "I'm not inclined to jeopardize the crown jewel, and the House of Representatives is the crown jewel in this election cycle." [Newsmax, July 26; Twitter, 7/24; Politico, July 29]
• John McCain (R-AZ): Obamacare repeal is "not going to happen" and that the American people would not stand for political "shenanigans" that tie a government shutdown or a hike in the debt ceiling to the health law. [Washington Post, 7/22]
• U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-NY): "There's no reason to be threatening to bring down the government, let's make this work get spending cuts we need but the American people get turned off with the threat of terror politics." [Political Wire, July 28]
• U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL): "it's foolish" not to fund the government. [Huffington Post, 7/26]

###

Americans United for Change is a 501c4 issue-advocacy organization established in 2005 to beat back President Bush's effort to privatize Social Security and has been working ever since to advance a progressive agenda in Congress including health care reform, reversing climate change, Wall Street reform, protecting Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security from benefit cuts, minimizing gun violence, and requiring millionaires and big corporations to pay their fair share in taxes.

'It's a Relationship That's Not Going Away,' Advises Female Financial Expert

If you're a woman, chances are good that in the years ahead, it will be you and you alone who's responsible for managing your money.

That could be a problem: Even among the very affluent, many women admit they know little to nothing about bigger-picture money concerns such as financial planning and investment management, according to a recent survey.

"A lot of women cede those responsibilities to their husbands or partners because they say they don't have the time, interest or opportunity to learn," says Luna Jaffe, Certified Financial Planner™, psychotherapist, and author of the new "Wild Money: A Creative Journey to Financial Wisdom" and its companion workbook, "Wild Money: A Financial Field Guide and Journal," (www.lunajaffe.com).

"Things are changing- more women are choosing not to marry or have been devastated by divorce or death of a loved one.  They recognize they can't ignore money any more, but don't know where to turn or who to trust."

But even women with a net worth of at least $1 million concede they aren't especially knowledgeable about money management. In the Women & Wealth Study sponsored by GenSpring Family Offices, only a third said they know a lot about financial planning, and 30 percent said the same for investment management.

Part of the problem is that financial education is male-oriented, catering to how men's brains are wired and what appeals to them, Jaffe says.

"When we approach it creatively and from a more emotion-based perspective, women are not only drawn to learning about it, they have no trouble getting it," Jaffe says.

She offers these three things every woman should know about their relationship to money:

• Your investment decisions are influenced by your emotional baggage.
We all bring baggage into our relationships, and it's no different with money, Jaffe says. When you're not aware of the baggage operating quietly in the background, you may think you're making smart decisions when you're actually simply reacting to past experiences. And those might not have been even your own experiences! "Whether you or a loved one suffered the consequences of a bad financial investment, it can color your thinking in many ways, from destroying your confidence in your judgment to writing off all similar investments as 'bad.' '' Take time to reflect on the experiences you've had with investing, the decisions you made, and the conclusions you made as a result. What stories do you tell yourself because of these experiences?

•  Understand the emotional response with which you receive money, whether a paycheck, a gift or an inheritance. It's important to receive money with grace - to savor it, to be grateful for it, to be at peace with it. But depending on the circumstances by which it arrives, and lingering emotions from past experiences, we sometimes receive money with anger, guilt, resentment, greed, entitlement or any of a host of other negative emotions. This can lead to self-destructive actions. Jaffe shares a story about receiving a small inheritance from her father at a time when she had no money. She loaned the whole sum to a friend, who promptly vanished. "I was still grieving his death, and I received money that represented his legacy, yet it was only a tiny fraction of his estate - his second wife got everything else. Deep inside, I felt ripped off. Perhaps I thought by loaning my inheritance, I could wash the confusion and grief out of the money making it clean and safe to use. "

• Know your Comfort Zone for risk and stay within it. Investment comes with risks; you can assume a lot for potentially greater returns, or less for lower returns. Understanding your Comfort Zone and staying within it will help you stay committed to your financial plan. Would your best friend describe you as a risk taker? If you got $100,000 with instructions to invest it all in just ONE of these options - stocks, a savings account, a mutual fund portfolio of stocks and bonds, or your best friend's start-up - which would you choose? Knowing whether you're very conservative; happy with a little growth; comfortable with some ups and downs; or in for adventure will help you avoid taking financial advice that makes you uncomfortable.

About Luna Jaffe

Luna Jaffe is a Certified Financial Planner™ and Accredited Asset Management Specialist with more than 10 years of financial advising experience. She holds a master's degree in Depth Psychology and a bachelor's in Bilingual Education. Jaffe is a popular speaker whose creative compassionate approach to financial guidance differs sharply from male-oriented approaches. Securities and advisory services offered through KMS Financial Services, Inc.

??July 29, 2013, DUBUQUE, IA - Better Together Dubuque, Sustainable Dubuque, and 108 Productions announced details of the premiere launch of the I AM Love Campaign's National Tour at Five Flags Theater and Mindframe Theaters Sept 2-8, 2013.  The week-long Campaign events include performances of 108 Productions' internationally acclaimed production of Terrence McNally's CORPUS CHRISTI, screenings of their new documentary CORPUS CHRISTI: PLAYING WITH REDEMPTION, Dubuque Diversity Dialogue open-forum with local leaders, and the I AM Love Awards.

Through a combination screening of the film, performances of the play, and educational outreach, The I AM Love Campaign's Vision is to facilitate a conversation on acceptance and tolerance of all creeds, ages, races, orientations, and genders by allowing a deeper connection to self-love, knowing from this place of awareness real change will manifest.  Said McNally: "Fifteen years after CORPUS CHRISTI premiered in New York, I am thrilled that 108 Productions continues to perform the piece all over the world.  PLAYING WITH REDEMPTION and the I AM Love Campaign add a new dimension to the conversation that my play continues to provoke, and I look forward to CORPUS CHRISTI starting many more conversations around the country."

Said Nic Arnzen and James Brandon, Co-Founders of 108 Productions and the I AM Love Campaign:  "Our tour aims to bridge differences and diversity to empower community collaboration, knowing that through connection, we can learn to become more tolerant and ultimately celebrate, that which we may not understand.  As the voices of intolerance around the world continue preaching ignorance and hate, we will keep raising our voices from a place of Love."

CORPUS CHRISTI conceived as a modern passion play by McNally (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Master Class, Ragtime), which imagines Jesus as a gay man living in modern-day Texas, ignited a firestorm of unintended controversy upon its debut in 1998. Beginning in 2006, 108 Productions launched a resoundingly successful revival production directed by Nic Arnzen and was lauded by critics, continued to sell out for months at Los Angeles' Zephyr Theatre, and went on to tour across America. In Europe, the play was an Amnesty International Freedom of Expression nominee at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and was awarded the Intercultural Dialogue Award at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in 2008.  After, the company celebrated the show's 10th anniversary Off-Broadway at the Rattlestick Theatre, benefiting the Matthew Shepard Foundation and New York's Gay Community Center.  The show continued to tour through 2011 nationally and internationally, while a documentary crew followed their travels to less tolerant communities.

Now, seven years later, CORPUS CHRISTI: PLAYING WITH REDEMPTION will begin a tour across the country. The Religious Right meets the 'gay Jesus play' in this documentary film inspired by the play, which continues to face censorship, protests, bomb threats and religious condemnation.  Mirroring the reflections of change in society today in regards to freedom of speech, civil rights, marriage equality and separation of church and state, this production has become a vehicle for a community struggling to find its voice. Meanwhile, the company of actors finds itself on a journey that would forever change their lives.

The I AM Love Awards honors notable advocates who have helped shape the positive dialogue in the LGBT and allied community.  The I AM Love Awards shine a light on local individuals and organizations that use their own love and light to help the community find a clearer path of respectful dialogue and understanding in the face of diversity and fear.  Leading up to the weekend, Dubuquers will have a chance to nominate locals they think should be recognized for embracing diversity, encouraging dialogue, and challenging progressive movement.  Submissions will be taken via Facebook, the campaign/film website, as well as a team of committee members made up of Dubuque residents.  Official announcement of recipients will be August 19, 2013.

Dubuque Diversity Dialogue, facilitated by Better Together Dubuque and 108 Productions, is our community symposium that will give voice to diverse viewpoints and explore peaceful solutions. This dialogue explores issues affecting the community, filtered through themes addressed in the play such as bullying, marriage equality, racial discourse and civil rights.  These leaders, who serve as resources and mentors, are catalysts in assuring the dialogue continues after the Campaign leaves.  The community dialogues are filmed and shared on website and social media forums to strengthen local and national outreach.  Panel members will be announced throughout the month on the campaign/film website.

Praise for 108 Productions' Tour of CORPUS CHRISTI:

?   "Without the noise of controversy, the play can finally be heard. Staged with admirable delicacy, this 108 Productions revival has moments of hard-won sentiment that will win over the biggest skeptic."  -New York Times

?   "Recommended!  In director Nic Arnzen's heartfelt take, a multiracial, gender-bent ensemble lands its core message ..."-Los Angeles Times

?   "This film is not an attack on any organization or organized religion. Rather, It invites the viewer to embrace spirituality This film will have an impact on everyone that sees it, not just on people who are gay."  -Christine Brown, Bijou Theatre, Bridgeport

?   "The documentary affirms a deeply profound and spiritual truth that love conquers hatred, even homohatred. As a Pastor of a Christian Church this is a must see for those who wish to teach God's unconditional Love for all."  -Rev. Joseph Shore-Goss, Metropolitan Community Churches

 

Schedule of Events:

Monday, September 2- Sunday, September 8- various times TBA:  Screenings of CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYING WITH REDEMPTION at MindFrame Theaters

Thursday, Sept 5- 7:00pm- VIP/Sponsor Reception Gala at Eronel on Main St.

8:00pm-  the I AM Love Awards at Eronel on Main St.

Friday, Sept 6- 8:00pm- CORPUS CHRISTI play performance at Five Flags Theater

Sunday, Sept 8- 1:00pm- CORPUS CHRISTI play performance at Five Flags Theater

3:30pm- Dubuque Diversity Dialogue- Free Open Forum at Five Flags Theater

Suggested Donation Tickets, Reservations, and more info can be found at

www.corpuschristi-themovie.com

The I AM Love Campaign in Dubuque is partnered with Better Together Dubuque and sponsored by Sustainable Dubuque, Five Flags Center, Mindframe Theaters, Radio Dubuque, Dubuque 365, Holiday Inn, and Eronel.

Corporate Thought Leader Architect Shares Tips

Plug "thought leader architect" into the title field of a LinkedIn search and only one name pops up: Mitchell Levy, CEO of THiNKaha and author of the new book, "#Creating Thought Leaders Tweet," (www.thinkaha.com/experts2gurus).

"The truth is, a lot of people are trying to become viewed as 'thought leaders' because they recognize that being a well-publicized, well-respected expert in their field is good for business," Levy says.

"But most people have a hard time figuring out how to do it on their own."

Levy, who works with corporations to develop thought leaders among employees, says CEOs recognize that the wide availability of information on the internet has changed how customers do business.

"Customers are quite knowledgeable, and they get that way by using the resources available online," Levy says. "It doesn't take long before they know enough to spot a true expert - someone with vision; someone with a strong track record of success; someone who knows their field so well, they can tell you where it's going, and where it should go."

When we had only the traditional media and its well-guarded access, our thought leaders tended to be people who were already in vaulted positions, such as elected officials, CEOs of major corporations and entertainment personalities, Levy notes.

Today, thanks to the egalitarian nature of social media, anyone can become one. But many people don't know where to begin.

Levy offers these suggestions for developing your reputation as a thought leader.

• Start by zeroing in on an area of your field in which you excel. Focus on one area of your business or profession that excites you. Rather than stepping out as the consummate expert on a broad range of topics, choose one slice of your expertise that you enjoy - that you love to talk about. The beautiful thing about social media is that it caters to niche interests, which is a great way to start building your following. The more focused you can make the space you want to be a thought leader in, the easier it will be for you to reach your audience.

• Develop your own message and share it in a distinctive style. Think about who your audience is and what they want and need - remembering that they don't care about you, they care about themselves. Are there better ways to do something that everyone has been doing the same way for years? Can you solve problems or foresee trends that others seem to be blind to? Craft a message that will resonate with your audience. Share it in a distinctive, authoritative voice. Don't be afraid to show some personality. Do you need to be bigger, tougher, louder, stronger, wiser? You don't need it all, but you do need to set yourself apart.

• Create useful, valuable content that people can use. Online, you can write a blog; create video tutorials on YouTube; share nuggets of information on the various social media sites. Write a book on your topic! By constantly sharing information that solves problems for users and readers, you begin developing a reputation as knowledgeable, helpful and reliable. This should be an ongoing process - which is why you need to be passionate about it! Thought leaders make it look easy, but they work at it every day.

About Mitchell Levy

Mitchell Levy, Thought Leader Architect and CEO at THiNKaha, has created and operated 15 firms and partnerships since 1997. Today, he works with companies who are active in social media to leverage their IP and unlock the expertise of their employee base to drive more business. He is also an Amazon best-selling author with 18 business books, including the new "#Creating Thought Leaders Tweet." Levy is a frequent media guest and a popular speaker. In addition to the companies and joint ventures he has started, he has provided strategic consulting to more than 100 companies, has advised more than 500 CEOs on critical business issues through the CEO networking groups he's run, and has been Chairman of the Board of a NASDAQ listed company.