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"Democrats want opportunities for all Americans."

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

July 18, 2005

FRAMING THE ISSUES WORKSHOP

Tuesday, July 19  7:00 P.M.

Room 116 ClintonCommunity College

Have you had enough of Republican incompetence?  Help us get our message across to the American citizens by developing the art of communication.  Dr. Pat Lennon will be the workshop facilitator.  The program will include an excellent DVD presentation by George Lakoff "Know Your Values and Frame The Debate".  Copies of this DVD 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.  All Democrats are encouraged to attend.

DATES TO REMEMBER

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

Framing the Issues Workshop  7:00 P.M.

July 23 - 27                   ClintonCounty Fair.  We need volunteers to staff the Democrats' booth.

Saturday, August 13      Camanche Days Parade

Saturday, August 13      Polly Bukta's Annual Corn Boil is from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. at the Bukta Ranch.--The price is $8.00.  Contributions will help us elect a Democratic State Legislature for the next Democratic Governor.

BUSH AND BOLTON CONTINUE TO WIN FRIENDS

The Bush Administration had opposed the nomination of Egyptian diplomat Mohamed ElBaradei to a third term as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  There are thirty-five nations on the IAEA board and only the United States would have voted against him.  It became a personal goal of John Bolton and his pal, George Bush, to punishEgypt for not backing U.S. positions on Iraq and Iran. (US News and World Report - June 20, 2005)  Is this the man we want as AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS?

"THE WAR IN IRAQ IS GOING QUITE WELL."

(George W.  Bush - Address to the Nation-Friday, July 2)

"Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy."  -- Excerpt from the "Downing Street Memo"

"George W. Bush has a bad habit of basing big decisions on factual errors.  His basis for the invasion of Iraq weapons of mass destruction  was factually incorrect."  (Iowa Democratic Party)

"I'm here to tell you, sir in the most patriotic State that I can imagine, people are beginning to question and I don't think it's a blip on the radar screen  I think we have a chronic problem on our hands."  (remark by Senator Lindsey Graham Republican of South Carolina to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld)

THE BRITISH VIEW OF THE TWO WARS

"We must acknowledge that by supporting President Bush's extravagances in his ill-named War On Terror and ill justified invasion of Iraq, Blair has ensured that we are in the front-line beside the U.S. whether we like it or not.  There is no purpose in lamenting our predicament, wishing we had not gone into Iraq.  We are there now, for better or worse. The invasion of Iraq was a mistake.  It has helped to radicalize the Middle East and much of the Islamic world against us."  (Max Hastings, veteran British journalist and historian in the London Daily Mail, July 8, 2005)

FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

"The speed of the Taliban's collapse gave the Bush administration the idea that with our military might, we could easily reshape the international landscape to our liking.  Instead of keeping its eye on the ball in Afghanistan and other Al Qaeda hotbeds, it let itself be distracted by Saddam Hussein - a minor-league nuisance who posed no significant threat to our safety and well being.

"We've poured more than $200. billion down the drain in Iraq.  If even a small part of that money had been spent on homeland security, Americans would undoubtedly be safer today.  U.S. soldiers might have been used to hunt down those enemies who want to carry out atrocities here and in Britain.  Instead we are fighting insurgents who merely want us out of Iraq. The war in Iraq was never vital to our security.  The war on terror is."  (Thomas R. Mockaitis, history professor at DePaul University -  Chicago Tribune, Sunday, July 10, 2005)

Hillary Clinton Compares Bush To Mad Magazine Character:  The AP reports that New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, speaking at the inaugural Aspen Ideas Festival on Sunday, "went on the attack against President Bush...accusing him of damaging the economy by overspending while giving tax cuts to the rich." Clinton "also accused Bush of depriving US soldiers of equipment needed to fight the war in Iraq and cutting funding for scientific research." In a reference to the "freckle-faced Mad magazine character," Clinton said, "I sometimes feel that Alfred E. Neuman is in charge in Washington."

David Letterman joked about President Bush's prime time speech on Iraq:-- "How many of you folks earlier tonight saw President Bush's address on television? I was surprised, because apparently, the war in Iraq is going quite well.  Bush highlighted his successes. The Iraqi election was a highlight. The improvement of homeland security was a big moment, and capturing Russell Crowe.  President Bush did admit that there are problems. The war is dragging on, of course. The economy is down. Gas prices are going up. And then, he left on his two-month vacation."

George W. Bush seems to make decisions based upon visions that he has while clearing brush on his Texas ranch.  Do you suppose that he thinks he hears a voice from a burning bush?