Pat Quinn Helps Dog Get Adopted

Pat Quinn

Pol Light Moment #89 happened on August 19, 2014, when Pat Quinn went on the Steve and Steve Pet Adoption Segment on WGN Radio and helped a dog named Marvin get adopted. Pat Quinn was the Governor of Illinois from 2009-2015. From 2003-2009 he was the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.

Marvin was a dog being cared for by the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago and was in need of a loving home. Dog lover Steve Cochran started a monthly Steve and Steve Pet Adoption Segment on WGN Radio in August and Pat Quinn came on the first show to help Marvin get adopted on live radio (Chicago Now, Steve Dale's Pet World, August 19, 2014). The program was successful and Marvin was adopted.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

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The photo of Pat Quinn is in Wikipedia Creative Commons and taken by Chris Eaves.

Mitt Romney Helps Rescue Boaters

Mitt Romney

Pol Light Moment #88 happened on July 5, 2003, when Mitt Romney and his sons helped rescue boaters whose boat had taken on water. Mitt Romney was the Governor of Massachusetts from 2003-2007 and has been a candidate for President of the United States in 2008 and 2012.

On the July 4th weekend in 2003, Mitt Romney and his sons were at their home in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. On Saturday, July 5, 2003, they noticed a family in Lake Winnipesaukee who was in the water and had been forced to abandon their sinking boat.  Romney and his sons boarded a Jet Ski and went out in the lake to help rescue the family members, which included a family dog.

According to BuzzFeed.com, the situation was resolved in this way:

The Governor heaved the youngest two women onto his Jet Ski, a three-seater, and raced back to shore. The two Romney sons stayed with the rest of the family until the Governor returned to ferry the rest of the family, and their dog, safely to dry land (Andrew Kaczynski, February 27, 2012).

The following are some news articles on the Independence Day weekend in 2003, when Mitt Romney helped rescue stranded boaters.

• Massachusetts Governor Helps Rescue Boaters
• The Heroic Romney Rescue That, For Some Reason, The Campaign Doesn't Talk About
• Did You Know Mitt Romney Rescued NJ Family in Sinking Boat using a JETSKI? - K38 Water Safety

Mitt Romney has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Mitt Romney posts search with Mitt Romney label at Pol Light.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

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Photo: The photo in this post is used from Wikipedia and is attributed to Cage Skidmore.

John Kasich Declares Scarlet Letter Saturday

John Kasich

Pol Light Moment #87 ocurred on November 29, 2013, when John Kasich made a resolution declaring Saturday, November 30, 2013 as 'Scarlet Letter Saturday' in Ohio, urging that the letter 'M' not be used whenever possible.  John Kasich is the Governor of Ohio, serving from 2011-the present. From 1983-2001, John Kasich represented Ohio's 12th District in the House of Representatives.

On November 30, 2013, the Ohio State Buckeyes played their annual rival football game with the Michigan Wolverines.  In order to show their support for Ohio State, John Kasich, himself a 1974 graduate of Ohio State University, and Lt. Governor Mary Taylor, made a resolution, saying, "We do hereby recognize Saturday, November 30, 2013 as 'Scarlet Letter Saturday' throughout Ohio. We encourage all Ohioans to avoid using the letter 'M' when possible (ESPN, November 29, 2013)."

The following is a tweet that John Kasich made about the resolution on November 30, 2013.

Re*e*ber, it's Scarlet Letter Day in Ohio. Go #Buckeyes! http://t.co/TA2NSzU9x2
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) November 30, 2013

The following are some news articles on John Kasich urging Ohioans to refrain from using the letter "m" on November 30, 2013.

• ESPN, Ohio Urged to Boycott Letter 'M'
• USA Today, Gov. Kasich has fun with Ohio State vs. Michigan game
• Fox News, Governor Kasich Declares "Scarlet Letter Saturday" ahead of Ohio State-Michigan game

The text of the entire resolution for Scarlet Letter Saturday is available on the State of Ohio website.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Photo: The photo of John Kasich is in the Public Domain.

Bill Clinton Convinces Fleetwood Mac To Reunite for Inaugural Ball

Bill Clinton

Pol Light Moment #86 is when Bill Clinton brought the rock music band known as Fleetwood Mac together for his Inaugural Ball on January 19, 1993. Bill Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States and served from 1993-2001. He also served as the Governor of Arkansas from 1983-1992. The Fleetwood Mac song "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" had become the unofficial campaign song for Bill Clinton in his 1992 Presidential Campaign.

Because of some conflicts in the group, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Steve Nicks of Fleetwood Mac had not been on the same stage performing since 1982 (Ultimate Classic Rock, 20 Years Ago: Fleetwood Mac Performs at President-Elect Clinton's Inauguration). Bill Clinton was able to convince the group to put aside their differences and reunite to do a live performance together of their song Don't Stop for his Inaugural Ball  on January 19, 1993, the evening before he was sworn in as President (History.com, This Day in History).

Here is a video of Fleetwood Mac performing at Bill Clinton's Inaugural Ball.

Quote Light: Bill Clinton has a page on the Quote Light blog.

Bill Clinton has been featured in other Pol Light moments and can be found by searching this blog with the Bill Clinton Label.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Bill Clinton is in the public domain.

Harry Truman Shares His Life's Prayer

Pol Light Moment #85 is when Harry Truman shared his life's prayer on August 15, 1950. Harry Truman was the 33rd President of the United States, serving from 1945-1953.

According to President Truman: "The prayer on this page has been said by me--by Harry S. Truman--from high school days, as a window washer, bottle duster, floor scrubber in an Independence, Mo., drugstore, as a timekeeper on a railroad contract gang, as an employee of a newspaper, as a bank clerk, as a farmer riding a gang plow behind four horses and mules, as a fraternity official learning to say nothing at all if good could not be said of a man, as public official judging the weaknesses and shortcomings of constituents, and as President of the United States of America." (8/15/50)

Oh! Almighty and Everlasting God, Creator of Heaven, Earth and the Universe :-

Help me to be, to think, to act what is right, because it is right; make me truthful, honest and honorable in all things; make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and honor and without thought of reward to me. Give me the ability to be charitable, forgiving and patient with my fellowmen - help me to understand their motives and their shortcomings -- even as Thou understandest mine! Amen, Amen, Amen

(Source: Truman Library Website).

Harry Truman has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Harry Truman posts search with Harry Truman label at Pol Light. Also, Harry Truman's grand son was featured in the Pol Light post Clifton Truman Daniel Visits Japan.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

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Photo: The photo of Harry Truman is in the Public Domain.

Ronald Reagan Writes Letter to 7th Grader With Messy Bedroom

Ronald Reagan

Pol Light Moment #84 occurred on May 11, 1984, when Ronald Reagan sent a letter to a 7th Grader named Andy Smith who had a messy room and had written the President to ask him to provide funds to clean up his room since his mother had declared it a disaster area. Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981-1989.

Andy Smith, a seventh grader in 1984, had written to Ronald Reagan saying, "Today my mother declared my bedroom a disaster area. I would like to request federal funds to hire a crew to clean up my room (Letters of Note)."

Ronald Reagan responded back to Andy Smith's note with this letter.

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Andy Smith
Irmo, South Carolina 
May 11, 1984 

Dear Andy,

I'm sorry to be so late in answering your letter but as you know I've been in China and found your letter here upon my return. 

Your application for disaster relief has been duly noted but I must point out one technical problem: the authority declaring the disaster is supposed to make the request. In this case your mother. 

However setting that aside I'll have to point out the larger problem of available funds. This has been a year of disasters, 539 hurricanes as of May 4th and several more since, numerous floods, forest fires, drought in Texas and a number of earthquakes. What I'm getting at is that funds are dangerously low.

May I make a suggestion? This administration, believing that government has done many things that could better be done by volunteers at the local level, has sponsored a Private Sector Initiative program, calling upon people to practice voluntarism in the solving of a number of local problems. 

Your situation appears to be a natural. I'm sure your mother was fully justified in proclaiming your room a disaster. Therefore you are in an excellent position to launch another volunteer program to go along with the more than 3,000 already underway in our nation—congratulations. 

Give my best regards to your mother. 

Sincerely, 

Ronald Reagan 

(Source: Reagan: A Life in Letters, 2004)

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This letter above by Ronald Reagan was also featured on the Letters of Note website on June 19, 2012.

Ronald Reagan has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Ronald Reagan posts search with the Ronald Reagan label at Pol Light.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

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Photo: The photo of Ronald Reagan is in the Public Domain.

Ted Kulongoski Lives on Food Stamp Diet for a Week

Ted Kulongoski

Pol Light #83 is when Ted Kulongoski lived on a food stamps budget for Hunger Awareness Week in Oregon during the week of April 23, 2007. Ted Kulongoski served as the Governor of Oregon from 2003-2011.

The practice of temporarily living on a food budget equal to what the needy receive in the form of food stamps is sometimes referred to by groups as a food stamp challenge. As a sitting Governor, at the time Ted Kulongoski became one of the highest profile political figures in the 21st Century to publically take a food stamp challenge.   The average person on food stamps in Oregon in 2007 received $3.00 per day, so in keeping with that Ted Kulongoski and his wife Mary Oberst decided to jointly live on $42.00 worth of food for the week of April 23, 2007 to raise Hunger Awareness.

Here are some articles about Ted Kulongoski living on food stamps for a week.

• Ore. governor starts week on food stamps - USATODAY.com
• A Governor Truly Tightens His Belt

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

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Photo: The photo of Ted Kulongoski is in the Public Domain.