CLINTONCOUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER    --    RETURN to Home Page

"We should do for ourselves collectively through our government the things the market system does not do at all or as well."  (Abraham Lincoln)

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

Sunday, July 3, 2005

GOOD MORNING!

Today is the Family Fun Fest Festivities parade in DeWitt.  The parade starts at 4:00 P.M.  Meet at the High School no later than 3:30 P.M.  Walt Knapper will have the issue signs, banners and the Democratic four wheeler in his truck.

Saturday, July 9            Low Moor Days Parade. The parade starts at 3:30 P.M.  Line up at 3:00 P.M.

Tuesday, July 19           Central Committee Meeting         6:30 P.M.

Framing the Issues Workshop  7:00 P.M.

ClintonCommunity College - room 116 (the Chemistry lecture room)

Dr. Pat Lennon will be the workshop facilitator.  We will have an excellent DVD presentation by George Lakoff  "Know Your Values and Frame The Debate".  Copies of this presentation will be available from Tom Gibbons.

We'll have time to write and discuss our own political slogans that effectively communicate the values and programs of the Democratic Party.

July 23 - 27                   Clinton County Fair:  We'll need volunteers to work at the Democrats'booth.

Saturday, August 13      Camanche Days Parade

Saturday, August 13      Polly Bukta's Annual Corn Boil:  4:00-7:00 P.M. at the Bukta Ranch

We extend our deepest heartfelt sympathy to the family of Linda Rae Ralston of Delmar who died Wednesday.  We will miss her. Linda and her husband Jim have been loyal hardworking Democrats who have served as precinct committee members for many years.  Both Jim and Linda were inducted into the Clinton County Democrats' Hall of Fame.

The family of Pat Outzen is celebrating her 75th birthday this week.  Pat represents the 2nd precinct of Clinton's 1st ward on the Democratic Central Committee.

DEMOCRATS ARE ON A ROLL!!!!!

The Clinton County Democrats had two more very successful events Friday.  We had a large number of walkers, convertibles, elected officials, candidates, banners, issue signs, Walt Knapper's four wheel bicycle and a float in the Riverboat Days Parade.  When people see so many Democrats participating, they know we're the Party of the people.  After the parade a large group gathered at Democratic Headquarters for hamburgers, hot dogs and all the other food that makes a great 4th of July celebration.

CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE OPPOSES CHILDRENS' PROGRAMMING

Congressman Jim Nussle voted against an amendment to restore $100 million funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting-money that had been scheduled to be cut from the 2006 budget year appropriation.  Nussle demonstrated his opposition to a national treasure that not only provides excellent programs for children, but balanced and in depth news reporting and many cultural programs that will never be aired by commercial corporations.  I don-t know why Mr. Nussle voted this way.  It won-t gain him many votes in Iowa.  It must be that he-s another victim who has caved in to threats from the Tom DeLay - Karl Rove fanatics.  This man wants to be Governor of Iowa?

Meanwhile, Congressman Jim Leach was thinking for himself.  He joined two Democrats in proposing the amendment.  Mr. Leach did an excellent job in defending public broadcasting.

"Public broadcasting simply was not to be the microphone of the government.  Perspectives reflected are expected to be honest and of the highest quality, hopefully reflecting a variety of views.  But all governments, Republican or Democratic, all government officials, left, right or center should expect to be criticized and find views reflected that they do not agree with."

"It is simply better for society to have a questioning, skeptical press and, most particularly, a skeptical, questioning public broadcasting system than one that is slavishly supportive of any perspective, especially a perspective that might be considered a government one. There have probably been no journalists in the last several generations who have uplifted public discourse more than Bill Moyers and Daniel Schorr."

"Public broadcasting is about increasing the civility level of public discourse.  It is about increasing the appreciation level for the American arts.  I cannot think of any publicly funded endeavor that has done more for uplifting what we consider to be the values that underpin public policy rather than simply reflect perspectives on public policy itself."

The above information is based on an article that appeared in the Sunday, June 26 Des   Moines Register.  It's unfortunate that Mr. Leach faces the greatest punishment from his own Republican Party.  The Democratic Party supports Mr. Leach's defense of freedom of speech.

LIMITING PERSONAL FREEDOM

IS FLAG BURNING A PROBLEM IN TEXAS?

Mr. Leach again bucked the Republican leadership by voting against a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning.  Every other member of the Iowa delegation in the House backed it including Democrat Leonard Boswell and Republican Jim Leach.  Such an amendment is absolutely unnecessary and a frivolous treatment of the constitution.  I admire elected officials who follow common sense.

The Conservative Fundamentalist Extreme Fanatics who have gained control of the Republican Party think that it's very important that we have a constitutional amendment that prohibits flag burning.  Is this a problem in Texas?  This same group is always declaring that they want to get government off their backs.  Yet, when it comes to freedom of speech or limiting personal freedom, they propose all kinds of prohibitions based upon their strange interpretation of religion or patriotism. Remember the 18th amendment and that disastrous experiment? One way for the "big men" in the White House to demonstrate their patriotism might be to have Donald, Dick, George and their wealthy contributors sign up for combat in Iraq.

Most of these issues are a smoke screen to hide their attempts to trash social programs, create chaos in the schools and destroy the environment.  If I become enraged, I might burn the TexasState flag, except they might have the death penalty for that in Texas.