CommonDreams.org

Dear Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel:

We, the undersigned alliance for a robust public option, write to request that President Obama heed the will of the people and the organized progressive grassroots and take a strong leadership position in support of a robust public option. The public has spoken and the majority of members of Congress have spoken: Health care reform must include a robust public option.

With Gazans closed off to the world, underground tunnels increasingly serve as their overpriced lifeline for everything from food and Coke to ovens and cars chopped into pieces. Over 30,000 Palestinians work in 1,500 tunnels that have spawned their own secondary economy; the industrious tunnel owners make money, but are still trapped.

"They have never seen beyond Gaza," said Abu Mohammed, 57, of the younger generation. "They think like they are in a tunnel."

Despite public outrage over bailouts and bonuses, Congress' $410 billion budget was awash in pork-barrel spending, says Citizens Against Government Waste. Their 2009 Pig Book finds 10,160 questionable projects costing $19.6 billion, with Alaska topping the list. Projects range from $1.8 million for swine odor research to, within a defense budget that jumped 53.5 percent, $6,430,414,000 for 142 anonymous projects and $465,000,000 for an F-136 engine deemed "not necessary and not affordable." Details here. Other CAGW actions here.

On $4,545,000 for "wood utilization research" that has cost taxpayers $95.3 million since 1985: "One would think that after 24 years of research all the purposes for one of the world's most basic construction materials would have been discovered."

Random Pleasures Dept: Improv Everywhere, a troupe of New York performers whose motto is "We Cause Scenes," pulled off their latest at mid-day in a grocery store in Queens, using cameras hidden in the produce. The best part: watching the shoppers watching the show - or, as in the guy buying melons, not.

"Whoah. Life! They just turned life into a musical!" - guy entranced by performance.

A study by New York Rep. Anthony Weiner shows that 55 Republican members of Congress who steadfastly oppose the public option get Medicare - ie: government-funded, single-payer health care. And probably like it. Weiner has called on them to give up their Medicare. The list is here.

"Even in a town known for hypocrisy, this...deserves some sort of prize."

Another mindless, name-calling Republican – Pennsylvania State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe – has blasted a group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are advocating against climate change as "traitors...promoting the leftist propaganda of global warming." Jeez, can't the GOP find any thinking conservatives? Part of Operation FREE, the veterans are on a 21-state bus tour to educate people about the links between global warming and national security. Their schedule is here.

"I'm here to stand up and say as a member of Operation FREE that I'm a veteran and I ain't no traitor," said combat veteran and Pennsylvania Rep. Bryan Lentz. "This is not a partisan issue."

Over 23 million people in East Africa face critical shortages of food and water after years of worsening drought. In a report marking the 25th anniversary of a famine in Ethiopia that killed a million people, Oxfam has asked for emergency help to both feed people now and prepare communities to prevent future disasters. For more go here. To help go here.

George W. Bush, the worst president in the history of the universe, is launching a new gig. He will speak at a GET MOTIVATED Seminar, a "world famous, star-studded, fun-filled, spectacular stage show" that "packs more inspirational firepower than a stick of dynamite!" $4.95 per person, or $19 for "your entire office." Along with Colin Powell (?!) W will appear with other weird people, including Tamara Lowe, who runs this thing with hubby Peter and will "reveal the secrets to MAXIMIZING your sales potential!" and "how to prosper for a lifetime - in virtually ANY economy!" Even one W trashed! At this rate, who needs fiction?