The Republican Party's right wing priorities are way outside the mainstream. Afterwe elect a new Democratic Senate in 2006, we'll be able to shift the nation's focus to issues that truly matter: restoring our nation's honor abroad, securing quality,affordable health care for every American and protecting our precious naturalenvironment.
(Illinois Senator Dick Durbin)
;http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
;September 19, 2005
COMING EVENTS
THE CLINTONCOUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE WILL MEET Tuesday, September 20 at 7:30 P.M. in the Democratic Headquarters at 224 22nd Place. One of the highlights of this month's Central Committee meeting will be a report byState Senator Roger Stewart. Senator Stewart was a member of an eight day good willtrade trip to Taiwan from August 26 - September 2. Taiwan is a major customer for Iowa pork.
Sept. 21 Headquarters' Work Day - 2:00 P.M.
A PEACE BUS has been reserved by the Quad City Progressive Action Group for September 23 to travel from Davenport to WashingtonD.C.for the Anti-War Rally on September 24.
Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson/Jackson Dinner is Saturday Evening November 5th at the Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
A CLEAR RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT FROM IOWA'S DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
EDUCATION:& Reducing class sizes, leading to increased test scores
Creating an early childhood initiative to increase access to high qualitypre-school programs
Increasing funding for teacher salaries to keep the best and the brightestteachers in Iowa's classrooms
Providing the highest levels of funding for community colleges in more thanten years
HOW WE FINANCE THE WORK OF THE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
;The two largest sources of funds that support the activities of the ClintonCountyDemocratic Party are the annual Hall of Fame Dinner and club memberships.
Those who join the Jefferson Club make a $100 contribution to the party. They receive a special Democratic donkey pin, a certificate and a ticket to the Hall ofFame Dinner.
The Jackson Club membership is a donation of $50 and has an attractivepin and a certificate.
The third club is the "Give 'em Hell Harry Good Old Boys andGirls Club. This is, of course, named after Harry Truman defender of the commonman.
This is our basic club membership of $25. It amounts to a two dollar permonth contribution (plus one dollar).We believe when Democrats think of it that way, they understand they can support their party with this amount even if they needto make it a couple of donations to fit into their budgets.
HOW THE FUNDS ARE SPENT
Our expenses include a year-round headquarters where we can hold monthly CentralCommittee meetings, small fundraisers, party committee meetings and receptions forcandidates. During campaigns the headquarters is a bee-hive of activity withcomputers, copy machines and telephones. We also store campaign materials at theheadquarters and rent it to like minded groups for monthly meetings. Our expensesinclude the cost of newspaper and radio ads that promote Democratic events such ascaucuses, workshops, receptions and other Democratic Party events. Voluntary contributions to our party clubs make us one of the most note-worthcounties in the State. Only six counties have permanent headquarters and three ofthem are in the First District. Our ability to provide a 60% margin of victory inClintonCounty for Senator Harkin, as he noted, is in large part due to the yearround headquarters that makes it possible to maintain our operation continuallythroughout the year.
REBUILDING THE GULFCOAST - DISPLACED DESERVE JOBS
Hiring New Orleans residents to work on hurricane cleanup and rebuilding efforts intheir hometown should become the federal government's highest priority. This is an opportunity to take people out of poverty and give them paychecks. You'd better train some of these people immediately. They don't want charity. They don't wantpublic aid. They want jobs. -- (Chicago Mayor Richard Daley as reported in the Chicago Tribune, September 11, 2005)
Rather than being relocated to faraway states, hurricane victims should be keptcloser to their hometowns so they can be part of the rebuilding process. We mustrebuild the Gulf Coast and people who have lived there ought to have the firstoption on those jobs and contracts to help rebuild where they have lived. Thewording in the government's latest $51.8 billion emergency spending package discriminates against local businesses by not allowing them to compete for contractsin reconstruction plans. -- (Rev. Jesse Jackson in the Chicago Tribune)
The President responded with a detachment unsuitable for a leader of a nation facing war, natural disaster and economic uncertainty. -- (the conservative Union Leader of Manchester, N.H.)
President Bush's Press Secretary said, "It's not the proper time for an 'inquest' -'playing politics' " However, some questions are inescapable. Dodging questionsis precisely what got us into this appalling mess. It is not hindsight to say the flood system was inadequate. Many publications have warned for years of a disaster waiting to happen in the event of a category 4 or 5 hurricane. The tepid initial response of the Bush administration was a disappointment. Americans should demandan intense review of the breathtaking lack of planning before the storm and the flawed response by Washington after. It is time for leadership -now. -- (Mortimer B.Zucherman, Editor-in-Chief, U.S. News &World Report, September 12, 2005.)
TRAGIC PRESS RELEASE (LEAK) FROM THE WHITE HOUSE Crawford, Texas (UAP) A tragic fire this morning destroyed the personal library of President George W.Bush. The fire began in the presidential bathroom where both of the books werekept. Both of his books have been lost. A presidential spokesman said the President was devastated, as he had almost finished coloring the second one. -- (ananonymous leak)