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               CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

Vice President Dick Cheney believes that pacification cannot be imagined without torture, just as a war of liberation cannot be imagined without terror.   “This is a conclusion that is generally  rejected by Americans.  In Algeria in the 1950s the French defeated themselves by torturing broadly and indiscriminately, inflaming Algerian and French public opinion, and demoralizing their own disgusted army and police units.”

--Based on information from ‘Urban Guerilla Warfare’ by Raymond Aron--

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

August 6, 2007

 

COMING EVENTS

 

Saturday, August 11 -- 11:00 A.M. (Notice the corrected date.)

 

CAMANCHE DAYS PARADE

Line up at the funeral home across the street from the middle school starting at 10:00 A.M.

 

HELP US show widespread support for the candidates and the principles of the Democratic Party by marching with your fellow Democrats.  Wear your patriotic and/or Democratic shirts and hats.  We’ll have a Democratic float, banners and signs for you to carry.  Be part of the festivities and have a good time with your Democratic friends.  So far the enthusiastic turnout for the parades indicates a possible tidal wave for electing Democrats.          

 

 

 Saturday, August 18  Noon – 4:00 P.M.

ALLIANT ENERGY – LUMBER KINGS BASEBALL FIELD

POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL OLD FASHION IOWA CORN BOIL

featuring

State Representative and House Leader Polly Bukta

Congressman Bruce Braley

The Next President of the United States (?)

Senators Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and perhaps John Edwards

The $10. entrance fee is a donation to Polly’s reelection campaign and entitles you to corn on the cob and a beverage.  The Lumber Kings local baseball board will be serving their regular menu at their concession stands. There is no charge for children under twelve.

COME EARLY AND HAVE LUNCH AT THE BALL PARK!

 

Tuesday, August 21  – 7:00 P.M.  Note the earlier time!

The Clinton County Democratic Central Committee will meet at Democratic Headquarters.

 

LABOR DAY CELEBRATION AT THE LODGE

LABOR DAY PICNIC

Sunday, September 2  - noon – 4:00 P.M.

Free beverages!  Free food!  Free prizes!  Fun for the entire family!

Eagle Point Park Lodge. 

Sponsored by the Clinton Labor Congress

 

 

 

 

MEET OUR PRESIDENTIAL STAFFERS

 

Elizabeth Lucas:   Elizabeth is the southeast Iowa regional director for the John Edwards campaign. She is a native of Iowa having attended the University of Iowa with a background in sales and marketing.  In 2006 she was a field organizer for the Jim Davis for Governor campaign in Florida. In 2004 she was a volunteer coordinator for MoveOn PAC in the Central Florida/Tampa Bay area before becoming an event coordinator for the Kerry/Edwards campaign in Pinellas County, Florida.  Elizabeth was born in Davenport and resides with her parents in rural DeWitt.                                                      

 

 

THE ASSAULT ON REASON

 

Al Gore, Academy Award-winner, Nobel Prize-nominee — and former Vice President of the United States — has published a new book, The Assault on Reason.


"Why do reason, logic and truth seem to play a diminished role in the way America now makes important decisions?  Why is the United States unable to take action on global warming, why has it made so many disastrous choices—rushing into war in Iraq, spying on Americans without search warrants, holding prisoners at Guantánamo Bay without due process?

 

“Not long before our nation launched the invasion of Iraq, our longest-serving Senator, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, stood on the Senate floor and said: ‘This chamber is, for the most part, silent—ominously, dreadfully silent. There is no debate, no discussion, no attempt to lay out for the nation the pros and cons of this particular war. There is nothing.  We stand passively mute in the United States Senate.’   Why was the Senate silent?

 

"Why do reason, logic and truth seem to play a sharply diminished role in the way America now makes important decisions?   The persistent and sustained reliance on falsehoods as the basis of policy, even in the face of massive and well-understood evidence to the contrary, seems to many Americans to have reached levels that were previously unimaginable.

 

“A large and growing number of Americans are asking out loud:  ‘What has happened to our country?’  People are trying to figure out what has gone wrong in our democracy, and how we can fix it.

 

“Why has America's public discourse become less focused and clear, less reasoned?  Faith in the power of reason—the belief that free citizens can govern themselves wisely and fairly by resorting to logical debate on the basis of the best evidence available, instead of raw power—remains the central premise of American democracy. This premise is now under assault.

 

“American democracy is now in danger—not from any one set of ideas, but from unprecedented changes in the environment within which ideas either live and spread, or wither and die. I do not mean the physical environment; I mean what is called the public sphere, or the marketplace of ideas.

 

“While American television watchers were collectively devoting 100 million hours of their lives each week to these and other similar stories, our nation was in the process of more quietly making what future historians will certainly describe as a series of catastrophically mistaken decisions on issues of war and peace, the global climate and human survival, freedom and barbarity, justice and fairness.

 

“Hardly anyone now disagrees that the choice to invade Iraq was a grievous mistake. Yet, incredibly, all of the evidence and arguments necessary to have made the right decision were available at the time and in hindsight are glaringly obvious.”  (Excerpted from an article in Time Magazine, May 28, 2007)

 

 

 

 

        CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY BULLETIN

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

August 6, 2007

 

 

ANNOUNCING ONE OF THE BIGGEST POLITICAL

EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF CLINTON!

 

 

SENATORS BIDEN, CLINTON AND EDWARDS

(and probably more)

ARE COMING TO CLINTON

 

to meet the people of Clinton and speak at

 

POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL OLD FASHION IOWA CORN BOIL.

 

Saturday, August 18 from noon to 4:00 P.M.

 

ALLIANT ENERGY – LUMBER KINGS BASEBALL FIELD

 

FEATURING

Congressman Bruce Braley

State Representative and House Leader Polly Bukta,

State Representative Tom Schueller,

State Senators Roger Stewart and Frank Wood,

 other members of the Iowa State Legislature

and Elizabeth Edwards and family.

 

 

The $10. admission fee is a donation to Polly’s reelection

campaign and entitles you to corn on the cob and a beverage. 

There is no charge for children twelve and under.

 

 

The Lumber Kings local baseball Board will be serving

their regular menu at their concession stands.

 

COME EARLY AND HAVE LUNCH AT THE BALL PARK!

 

 

 

 

                  CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“Our nation needs to equip Americans with the skills to make them mobile and give them greater economic security.  Helping Americans learn better job skills will increase salaries, mobility and prosperity. Job training is the sleeper issue of the 2008 presidential campaign. While candidates from both parties are talking about middle-class anxiety and inequality, neither party is addressing job skills. The party that begins to focus on job training and provides real solutions will reap a great political reward.” 

(David Gray, New America Foundation in U.S. News and World Report 7-9-07)

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

August 10, 2007

 

 

CAMANCHE DAYS PARADE

Saturday, August 11 -- 11:00 A.M.

 

Line up at the funeral home across the street from the middle school starting at 10:00 A.M.

 

HELP US show widespread support for the candidates and the principles of the Democratic Party by marching with your fellow Democrats.  Wear your patriotic and/or Democratic shirts and hats.  We’ll have a Democratic float, banners and signs for you to carry.  Be part of the festivities and have a good time with your Democratic friends.  So far the enthusiastic turnout for the parades indicates a possible tidal wave for electing Democrats.          

 

 

 

 

ANNOUNCING ONE OF THE BIGGEST POLITICAL

EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF CLINTON!

 

SENATORS BIDEN, CLINTON, DODD AND EDWARDS

(and probably more)

ARE COMING TO CLINTON

to meet the people of Clinton and speak at

 

POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL OLD FASHION IOWA CORN BOIL.

 

Saturday, August 18 from noon to 4:00 P.M.

 

ALLIANT ENERGY – LUMBER KINGS BASEBALL FIELD

 

COME EARLY AND HAVE LUNCH AT THE BALL PARK!

 

HELP NEEDED:  We expect this to be a huge event.  If you would like to help call Polly Bukta, Art Ollie, Carol McGuire or just come to the ball park and volunteer.  We’ll start shucking corn at 8:00 A.M. at Alliant Field.

 

 

 

 

POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL OLD FASHION IOWA CORN BOIL.

 

FEATURING

Congressman Bruce Braley

State Representative and House Leader Polly Bukta,

former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack,

State Representatives Tom Schueller and

Pat Murphy, Speaker of the Iowa House,

State Senators Roger Stewart and Frank Wood,

 other members of the Iowa State Legislature

and Elizabeth Edwards and family.

 

The $10. admission fee is a donation to Polly’s reelection

campaign and entitles you to corn on the cob and a beverage. 

There is no charge for children twelve and under.

 

The Lumber Kings local baseball Board will be serving

their regular menu at their concession stands.

 

LABOR DAY CELEBRATION AT THE LODGE

LABOR DAY PICNIC

Sunday, September 2 - noon – 4:00 P.M.

Free beverages!  Free food!  Free prizes!  Fun for the entire family!

Eagle Point Park Lodge. 

Sponsored by the Clinton Labor Congress

 

 

DEMOCRATS HAVE A VISION FOR A NEW AMERICAN ERA

 

If by accident there is a redeeming characteristic of the Bush Administration, it is to demonstrate the need to return to a government that represents the values, wishes and interests of the American people.  It’s time for a new beginning for our nation.  The Bush Administration has been guilty of a level of arrogance, corruption, ignorance, incompetence, indifference and financial irresponsibility that is unprecedented in American history.  They are guilty of a secretiveness that borders on subversion.

 

The Bush Administration has been guilty of distorting intelligence reports and making decisions based on ignorant personal feelings.  They have bullied foreign nations including our friends and violated the rights of our citizens.  They have used scare tactics as excuses to violate human rights.  They have disregarded the interests of all Americans in our Federal lands by allowing private companies to cheat on their use of natural resources.  Vice President Cheney has behaved as if he and his wealthy friends have superior rights in our federally owned resources.

 

The Bush Administration has reduced its backing for humanitarian programs.  We have the power to sponsor good programs around the world.  We can help save children, families and entire communities.  We can sponsor programs that bring water to farmers and help raise crops that will supply good nutrition to everyone on Earth. We can help end child labor and get kids into school.  We can stop exposure to toxic chemicals.  We can ensure that children gain access to healthcare and education and pull themselves out of a life of poverty.  We should be promoting peace and justice.  We can ensure that all our citizens have an opportunity to achieve their maximum potential regardless of family or economic background.

 

During the Republican Forum on August 5 Congressman Thomas G. Tancredo of Littleton, Colorado echoed a widely accepted Republican belief that as a nation we have little responsibility for the well being of our fellow citizens.  Congressman Tancredo professes to be a very religious man.

 

 

 

CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“The economic uncertainties facing the nation's ‘bottom’ 90 percent have worsened since Ronald Reagan's administration. The obvious conclusion is to reinstate the 70 percent tax rate that Reagan slashed along with the universal notion that paying taxes is a patriotic duty.”   (Joseph Chianese in U.S. News & World Report 7-9-07)

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

August 17, 2007

 

Saturday, August 18 from noon to 4:00 P.M.

 

THE BIGGEST POLITICAL EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF CLINTON!

 

SENATORS JOE BIDEN, HILLARY CLINTON, CHRIS DODD AND

JOHN EDWARDS, MINNESOTA CONGRESSMAN BRAD CARSON REPRESENTING SENATOR BARACK OBAMA AND BRIAN CONDIT, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON

 

ARE COMING TO CLINTON FOR

 

POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL OLD FASHION IOWA CORN BOIL.

 

ALLIANT ENERGY – LUMBER KINGS BASEBALL FIELD

 

COME EARLY, HAVE LUNCH AT THE BALL PARK AND MINGLE WITH ALL OF THE POLITICIANS AND OFFICE HOLDERS.

The Lumber Kings local baseball Board will be serving their regular menu at their concession stands.

 

The $10. admission fee is a donation to Polly’s reelection

campaign and entitles you to corn on the cob, watermelon and a beverage. 

There is no charge for children twelve and under.  We’ll be selling tickets at the two windows starting at 11:45 A.M.  One ticket will be for watermelon and corn.  The second ticket will be for a drink.  Write your checks to the Polly Bukta Campaign Committee.

 

SPECIAL GUESTS:   Congressman Bruce Braley, former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack,  Elizabeth Edwards and family, State Representatives Tom Schueller and Pat Murphy, Speaker of the Iowa House,  State Senators Roger Stewart and Frank Wood and other members of the Iowa State Legislature

 

HELP NEEDED:  We expect this to be a huge event.  If you would like to help, call Polly Bukta, Art Ollie, Carol McGuire or just come to the ball park and volunteer.  We’ll start shucking corn at 9:00 A.M. at Alliant Field.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, August 21 – 7:30 P.M. 

 

The Clinton County Democratic Central Committee will meet at Democratic Headquarters,

224 22nd Place, Clinton.  Precinct committee persons are elected at the precinct caucuses and have the responsibility to represent the Democrats of their precinct at meetings of the Central Committee.  They have the responsibilities of governing the County party organization, promoting party membership, encouraging people to vote and chairing the next caucus held in their precinct.  The success of the Clinton County Democratic Party depends on the fulfillment of these responsibilities.

 

HILLARY CLINTON’S OFFICIAL CLINTON COUNTY KICKOFF

AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Saturday, August 25 - 1;30 – 3:30 P.M.

Clinton Community College Auditorium

Senator Roger Stewart is an Iowa co-chair of the Clinton campaign.

 

LABOR DAY CELEBRATION AT THE LODGE

LABOR DAY PICNIC

Sunday, September 2 - noon – 4:00 P.M.

Free beverages!  Free food!  Free prizes!  Fun for the entire family!

Eagle Point Park Lodge. 

Sponsored by the Clinton Labor Congress

 

Representative Tom Schueller’s

ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Friday, September 7 – 4:30 – 7:00 P.M.

Maquoketa

 

SENATOR TOM HARKIN’S STEAK FRY

Sunday, September 16 – 1:00 – 4:00 P.M.

Indianola Balloon Field in Indianola

Special Guests:  Senator Joe Biden, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Chris Dodd,

Senator John Edwards and Governor Bill Richardson

 

 

LANCE ARMSTRONG’S LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION PRESIDENTIAL FORUM

U.S. Cellular Center -- Cedar Rapids

Monday August 27, 2007 – 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.


I would like to personally invite you to attend an historic event. It is the first presidential candidate forum focused solely on cancer. We hope you can attend, learn and then vote based upon what you learn.  I will be there moderating the discussions with the candidates.  Chris Matthews from MSNBC's Hardball will be co-hosting the two-hour forum.
 
The 2008 presidential elections will offer Americans a unique opportunity to push for a national strategy for fighting cancer.  The LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum will provide candidates an opportunity to detail their respective policy plans for fighting cancer, a disease that kills 560,000 Americans every year.   The 2008 Presidential election will offer Americans a unique opportunity to push for a national strategy for fighting cancer.  


Sincerely,

Lance Armstrong

FREE tickets for the event can be obtained through the LIVESTRONG website: http://www.ambassadorsevents.com/livestrong/index.htm

 

 

 

 

                                                                                             CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“We live in a society in which the build up of wealth is constantly drummed into us as an ultimate value.  We need to figure out how to use our resources in ways that balance the need to ensure a future that provides us with life’s necessities with the  mandate to live a life dedicated to making this world a better, more just place.” 

--A Christian teaching!  Hardly a value shared by the Republican Party!--

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

August 24, 2007

 

COMING EVENTS

 

HILLARY CLINTON’S OFFICIAL CLINTON COUNTY KICKOFF

AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Saturday, August 25 – 1;30 – 3:30 P.M.

Clinton Community College Auditorium

Chaired by Senator Roger Stewart, co-chair of the Iowa Hillary campaign.

Assisted by the Clinton campaign staffers.

You don’t have to be committed to a certain candidate to attend this meeting.

 

LANCE ARMSTRONG’S LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION PRESIDENTIAL FORUM

U.S. Cellular Center -- Cedar Rapids

Monday August 27, 2007 – 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.


This is a historic event.  It is the first presidential candidate forum focused solely on cancer.  Lance Armstrong will be there moderating the discussions with the candidates.  Chris Matthews from MSNBC's Hardball will be co-hosting the two-hour forum.
 
The 2008 presidential elections will offer Americans a unique opportunity to push for a national strategy for fighting cancer.  The LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum will provide candidates an opportunity to detail their respective policy plans for fighting cancer, a disease that kills 560,000 Americans every year.  

 

FREE tickets for the event can be obtained through the LIVESTRONG website: http://www.ambassadorsevents.com/livestrong/index.htm

 

LABOR DAY CELEBRATION AT THE LODGE

LABOR DAY PICNIC

Sunday, September 2 - noon – 4:00 P.M.

Free beverages!  Free food!  Free prizes!  Fun for the entire family!

Eagle Point Park Lodge. 

Sponsored by the Clinton Labor Congress

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO SERVE FOOD:

Phone Bob Krajnovich or Charlie Smith or just show up at 11:30 to work.

 

 

 

 

Representative Tom Schueller’s

ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Friday, September 7 – 4:30 – 7:00 P.M.

To be held at the Schueller home

503 West Platt Street, Maquoketa

 

SENATOR TOM HARKIN’S STEAK FRY

Sunday, September 16 – 1:00 – 4:00 P.M.

Indianola Balloon Field in Indianola

Special Guests:  Senator Joe Biden, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Chris Dodd,

Senator John Edwards and Governor Bill Richardson

            Clinton County Democrats are planning to charter a bus.  We receive a discount on tickets when they’re purchased with a group.  If you would like to go on the bus, phone Jean Pardee at 242-8111 or email her at jmpardee@mchsi.com

 

HARVESTING CLEAN ENERGY

RENEW ENERGY EXPO 2007

Saturday and Sunday, September 8 & 9

Solon High School

600 West Fifth Street, Solon, Iowa

Learn about solar energy, wind power, community-based energy development, green building, renewable energy, renewable fuels, financing your home energy project, energy efficiency and technology.  Learn more about the Expo by going to the website of Iowa Renewable Energy Association  www.irenew.org  email:  irenew@irenew.org or phone 319-643-3160.

 

 

 

MEET OUR PRESIDENTIAL STAFFERS

 

Travis Levitt is from Kansas City, Missouri.  He has been working for Democratic campaigns since graduating from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois in 2005.  In 2006 he worked for Congressman Brad Ellsworth's successful campaign defeating a thirteen year Republican incumbent in southern Indiana.  He was drawn to Governor Richardson because of his wide range of experience and because he feels that the Governor is ready to lead our country forward from day one in office.  He is excited to be a part of this historic Iowa Caucus. When not at work you can find him at a Davenport Swing or Clinton Lumber Kings game because he loves to catch a baseball game in his limited free time. He looks forward to meeting and working with everyone in Clinton County."

 

THANKS TO THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED AT THE CORN BOIL

 

Last weekend a large crowd attended Polly Bukta’s annual corn boil at Alliant Energy Field.  The event drew four candidates for president and two highly respected representatives for two additional candidates.  The event received national media coverage and drew a lot of favorable attention to this City on the Mississippi.  All who attended were impressed by Clinton’s beautiful baseball field and riverfront.  The number of Democrats who volunteered to work was impressive.  The work of so many is what continues to strengthen the Clinton County Democratic Party.  Recently our First District and Clinton County party received high praise in a column titled “Democrats court Iowa, row by row” in the August 10 edition of the Los Angeles Times.  We have a link to this article on our website.