From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis.net]
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Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2006 7:35 AM RETURN
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To: DEMOCRATS OF CLINTON COUNTY
Subject: Clinton County Democrats' Newsletter
“Foreign heads of
state are as sensitive to the gyrations of
Presidential job
ratings as are the people of the
(Ross Baker, professor
of political science,
http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
January 2,
2006
WE
HOPE THAT 2006 WILL BE A GLORIOUS YEAR FOR EVERYONE WHEN THE PARTY OF THE
PEOPLE REGAINS CONTROL OF THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
"The Democratic
Party needs a vibrant, forward-thinking, long-term presence in every single
state and we must be willing to contest every race at every level. We will only
win when we show up and fight for the issues important to all of us." (Howard Dean, Chair of the Democratic
National Committee)
THIS IS THE WEEK!
POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL CHILI SUPPER
Thursday,
January 5 - 4:30 – 7:00 P.M.
Fund
Raiser - Donation $10.00
We’re preparing for a tough campaign.
All the chili (mild, moderate or hot) you care to eat plus many toppings,
corn bread, dessert, coffee, milk, beer
etc. Polly will give her assessment of the 2006 Iowa Legislative session which
starts Monday, January 9.
2006 DEMOCRATIC PRECINCT CAUCUSES
Monday, January 16, 2006
We encourage citizen participation to honor the memory of Martin Luther
King. One of our most important
functions will be to write the planks for the 2006 Democratic Party platform
that express the values and beliefs of the Democratic Party. The party platform is the work of ordinary
citizens at the grassroots level. We
suggest that you write your proposals for the platform before the caucus so
that you can present them just the way you want them.
This year the
Locations
and times for the caucuses were in the December 26 newsletter. They will be posted on our website, in the
Clinton Herald and DeWitt Observer and will be run again in our January 16
newsletter.
OUR GIFT FROM THE
BUSH-CHENEY ADMINISTRATION
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
GIVEN US A GOLDEN
HOWEVER, IT MEANS THAT MANY PEOPLE
MUST TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN RUNNING THE PARTY AND NOT SQUANDER THIS TREMENDOUS
Ø The Republicans are fearful that
they may lose their majority in Congress.
We’re going to do our part by electing a Democrat from the First
Congressional District of Iowa.
Ø Privately President Bush told aides
during his Asian trip that he longed for the Asian trip to end so he could
repair to his Texas ranch and escape from his troubles.
Ø Vice President Cheney said that it
is ‘reprehensible’ for critics to accuse Bush of having misled the country into
war. He has been consistent in his
attempt to limit freedom of speech.
Ø Vice President Cheney threatened a
veto of any bill restricting harsh interrogations, cruel and degrading
treatment of detainees by the CIA. (Does
the Vice President have the authority to veto legislation?)
Ø A top Bush Administration priority
since the election of 2000 has been to open the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge
to oil drilling. Fortunately this
provision was omitted from the recent budget bill, but he’ll
keep trying.
Ø The President’s
approval rating fell to the mid-thirties.
The war in
Ø “If this budget bill fails, the
Republican revolution is over.”
(Conservative Republican Congressman Mike Pence of
Ø The Republican Party that has
largely marched in lock step with the President over the past five years
appears to be stumbling to distance them selves from this Administration.
POSSIBLE TOPIC FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY PLATFORM
HURRICANES GROW MORE POWERFUL! The occurrence of more powerful hurricanes is significantly
increasing. Atmospheric scientists at
MIT report that over the last 30 years hurricanes in the North Atlantic and
Much theoretical work has
predicted that hurricane intensity will rise with increasing sea surface
temperatures. Many scientists attribute
the trend to global warming. If it were
a cyclical phenomenon, ocean surface temperatures wouldn’t
rise in all ocean basins at the same time. Because average global ocean
temperatures are predicted to rise 2.5 to 10.4 degrees F by 2100, ocean surface
temperatures will become even warmer, spawning even more hurricanes with the
strength of Rita and Katrina.
The global rise of sea
level will have disastrous effects on coastal and low lying areas. Political leaders need to consider
development policies along coastal areas.
Better protection from hurricanes will require much more research on how
to predict storm intensity. The
troubling trend points to the need for new strategies to deal with threatened
coastal communities. (Based on an
article in Chemical & Engineering News, November 28, 2005)
SUGGESTED DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM PLANK: The Democratic Party recognizes that global warming and its
consequences are world wide problems. We
pledge to work with all nations as equal and respected partners in research and
to reduce the effects of atmospheric and oceanic changes on population centers
throughout the world.
IT’S TIME FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE TO
TAKE BACK THEIR NATION.
From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis.net]
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 7:24 AM
To: DEMOCRATS OF CLINTON COUNTY
Subject: Clinton County Democrats' Newsletter
“In a Democratic republic we must be willing to vote
for a leader who tells us the truth about hard choices we must make rather than
one who offers easy but false solutions that we can have everything without cost.
Courageous political leaders do exist.”
(Ed Griffith in U.S. News & World Report 11-14-05)
http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
January 9, 2006
COMING EVENTS
The 2006
Iowa Legislative session starts Monday, January 9.
2006 DEMOCRATIC PRECINCT CAUCUSES
Monday, January 16, 2006
We encourage citizen participation to honor the memory of Martin Luther
King. One of our most important
functions will be to write the planks for the 2006 Democratic Party platform
that express the values and beliefs of the Democratic Party. We hope to have the caucus kits Sunday and
have training sessions Wednesday and Thursday, January 11 and 12 in Clinton and
DeWitt. We will inform central committee
members as soon as possible.
Tuesday, January 17 The Central
Committee will meet at Democratic Headquarters.
THE PROCESS OF
DETERMINING THE VALUES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BEGINS WITH THE PRECINCT
CAUCUSES. WE HOPE YOU’LL BE PART OF THE PROCESS.
FROM THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
“Republican control of the
White House and Congress has been a disaster -- for our economy, health care,
education, the environment, civil rights, our national security and so much
more. And polls show that millions of Americans are realizing that we simply
cannot afford Republican control of our government any longer.
“That's why it's up to us
to build a party that can compete and win in all 50 states, to win back control
of Congress in the upcoming mid-term elections -- and get us in position to win
back the White House in 2008. People are ready for change -- but we have to be
ready to fight for their votes and make our case.
“We will not concede a
single state, a single district, or a single voter to the Republicans. But we
have to start right now -- we can't wait until a few months before the election
to build a powerful organization to communicate with voters and get them to the
polls.
“It's not business as usual
for the Democratic Party -- we are changing the way we operate so we can win.
That means investing significant resources in the states at every level, from
precinct to precinct, setting up field operations and providing professional
canvassing and voter-data “
“We saw the results of this
investment when House Republican Leader Tom DeLay,
the hub of the GOP's money-for-influence machine, was indicted for money
laundering and conspiracy. State parties immediately identified Republican
Members of Congress from their state who took money from the DeLay machine, generating coverage on local television and
in local papers. (Tom McMahon, Executive Director, Democratic National
Committee)
“Despite the Bush
administration's adamant resistance, nearly every industrialized nation agreed
early Saturday to engage in talks aimed at producing a new set of binding
limits on greenhouse gas emissions that would take effect beginning in 2012.
“Foreign negotiators have
concluded they must press ahead without the Bush administration's assent on the
assumption that a burgeoning grass-roots movement will eventually bring the
"There is growing
recognition of the costs of not taking action and of the opportunities that
come with taking action itself.
Prominent scientists such as James Hansen, director of NASA's Goddard
Institute for Space Studies, warn that nations may need to make deeper
emissions cuts in the coming decade if they hope to avoid even more damaging
warming. Action must be prompt to avoid a buildup of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere that will make it impractical to keep further global warming within
sustainable limits.
“Most scientists agree that
carbon dioxide and other gases that accumulate in the atmosphere as byproducts
of fossil fuel burned by automobile engines, power plants and industry
accounted for part of the temperature increase of global warming. The warming
has melted glaciers, heated oceans and shrunk the Arctic ice cap.
“One hundred fifty-seven
countries, including every major developed nation except the
SUGGESTED DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM
PLANK: The
WHAT SUCCESSES GIVE
THE BUSH/CHENEY ADMINISTRATION GREAT PRIDE?
Ø They passed tax cuts that benefit mostly
the wealthiest people in the country.
Ø They passed a prescription drug bill that
is extremely confusing and benefits mostly the big pharmaceutical and health
care companies.
Ø They championed an under-funded “No Child
Left Behind Act” that has resulted in chaos in our schools. Then they reduced the funding even further in
the current budget bill.
Ø They extended the Patriot Act that
further erodes individual freedom
WE NEED YOUR
HELP! ATTEND THE PRECINCT CAUCUSES ON
JANUARY 16.
From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis.net]
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 8:04 AM
To: DEMOCRATS OF CLINTON COUNTY
Subject: Clinton County Democrats' Newsletter
“The irony is that most veteran
intelligence officers say that torture is
simply not an effective method for extracting reliable information.”
http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
January 16,
2006
CELEBRATING
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Monday,
January 16 is a national holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. This observance has become much more than the
recognition of Dr. King. It is a chance
to celebrate the cultural diversity that makes
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRECINCT CAUCUSES
Saturday, January 14, 10:00 A.M. There will be a caucus training
session at
Democratic Headquarters in
If you don’t know which is your township or precinct, check the maps on our website or call the county auditor’s office,
244-0568.
Phone Jean Pardee at 242-8111 for other questions. Caucus registration begins at 6:30 P.M. The caucuses will convene at 7:00 P.M. We hope to be finished by 9:00 P.M.
Caucus Sites
Bloomfield and Welton = Delmar
Depot
Camanche 1 and 2 and Camanche
and Eden Townships =
Center, Elk River, Hampshire and Deep Creek =
City of
1-2
= Democratic Headquarters
2-1
and 2-2 =
3-1
and 3-2 =
4-1
and 4-2 =
DeWitt 1 and 2 and
Olive,
The purpose of the
caucuses this year
is to discuss and adopt resolutions for a county platform which will then go on
to the District and State platform committees, elect delegates and alternates
to the county convention and elect precinct committee people for the county
central committee.
THE PROCESS OF
DETERMINING THE VALUES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BEGINS WITH THE PRECINCT
CAUCUSES. WE HOPE YOU’LL BE PART OF THE PROCESS.
BRING YOUR FRIENDS!
POLLY BUKTA’S CHILI
SUPPER IS A HUGH SUCCESS
A record
crowd of enthusiastic Democrats gathered at the
The Iowa
Caucuses are pretty unique in this day and age. The town hall meetings of the
early days of our country are the basis of today’s
caucuses. The community came together and discussed its problems and worked
through how they would handle them. January in
GOVERNOR MARK WARNER SEEKS TO BOOST
FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN
Governor Mark R. Warner has
announced a plan to earmark $255 million in new state money for scientific
research at Virginia's state colleges and universities over the next two
years. Warner's proposed funding would
be combined with $300 million from the state's colleges and universities,
raised largely by federal and other matching funds, to create a broad spending
package of more than a half-billion dollars.
The governor said the new
spending is crucial because
"This is putting a
very significant marker down in terms of the long-term economic future of
The initiative includes
money for a new bioscience facility at
Warner said the new
spending would be focused on hiring 100 "world-class" researchers and
faculty members at the state's institutions, while also building facilities,
purchasing modern equipment and increasing money for graduate students. He said
that developing a "research and development engine" at
SUGGESTED DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM PLANK: The Democratic Party recognizes that it is absolutely
essential, if we are going to continue economic prosperity, that we invest in
intellectual capital to significantly increase our ability to attract and keep
top researchers and augment their existing programs.
From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis.net]
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 7:49 PM
To: DEMOCRATS OF CLINTON COUNTY
Subject: Clinton County Democrats' Newsletter
“I have watched with
increasing alarm as the Christian Coalition and other religious right groups manipulate
religion to further their intolerant political agendas.”
(Walter Cronkite)
http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
January 23,
2006
THE POLITICAL PROCESS OF 2006 CONTINUES
Sunday,
January 22, 1:00 P.M. Clinton County Convention committees
meet. The platform committee arranges
the resolutions from the precinct caucuses to produce the platform for a vote
at the county convention. The
committee on committees plans other parts of the county convention.
Saturday,
March 4 9:00 A.M.
Saturday,
April 29 First
Congressional District Convention
Tuesday, June 6
Saturday,
June 17 State
Democratic Convention
November 7, 2006 National and
State Elections
RESPECT FOR LIFE INVOLVES HELPING EXPECTANT MOTHERS
“Most Democrats are not
pro-abortion. I don’t
know anyone who is proud of having had an abortion or looks forward to having
another. Democrats are for personal
rights and responsibilities. Who do you
want making personal decisions for you, you or Tom DeLay
and his gang? They tried to make a very personal family and medical decision in
the Terri Shiavo case. Choices of living and dying are everyone’s nightmares.
They are deeply personal choices.
Our goal is to reduce abortions. Let’s strengthen the programs that will actually accomplish
that.” (Governor Howard Dean on ‘Meet the
Press’ May 22, 2005)
“The Democrats initiative promotes families, promotes adoption and provides education and support for new mothers. You don’t have to be a Yale graduate to understand which program actually will effectively reduce the number of abortions.
“The Republicans want to criminalize
abortion and send mothers and physicians to jail. Their plans are intolerant, discriminatory,
prohibitive and punitive. Besides, they don’t work. The abortion rate in the
“For George
Bush and the Republican leaders in Congress, focusing on their power and their
reckless agenda is a subject of endless fascination. But, we can't let them
totally ignore
“It's time to talk about
what matters most to
SINCERE PEOPLE OF FAITH PROMOTE
TOLERANCE, RESPECT
AND THE INHERENT DIGNITY OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS.
“I am
deeply disturbed by the dangerous and growing influence of people like Pat
Robertson and Jerry Falwell on our nation’s political leaders.
Robertson and Falwell both shamefully blamed
“Over the
years Robertson and Falwell have gained considerable
influence on local school boards, in the administration and in Congress. They have shrewdly twisted the traditional
healing role of religion into an intolerant, political platform.
“Using religion
as a tool to push their personal political beliefs – especially in a time of
national tragedy – not only insults people of faith and good will, it also
diminishes the positive, healing role religion can and should play in public
life. It is time we challenge those who
equate religious beliefs with partisan politics. (Walter Cronkite, writing
for The Interfaith Alliance.)
POVERTY RATES CONTINUE
TO RISE
The Bush
Administration recently reported glowing numbers and statistics concerning the
economy. “Reports such as these lull
people into a false sense of complacency about the number of our fellow
citizens who are impoverished. Actually
poverty remains an issue of utmost urgency.
Behind the numbers and statistics there are many families desperately
struggling to make ends meet under increasingly difficult circumstances.
“Every day
more and more families are being trapped in sub-standard housing or becoming
altogether homeless. In the most
prosperous nation on the planet 12.5% of the population cannot even meet their
most basic needs. There are now 7.6
million children (17.6%) living below the poverty line. Poverty rates increased from 31.6 million in
2000 to 35.9% in 2003. That’s an increase of 4.3 million in 36 months.” (Habitat for Humanity International)
Comment:
It has been reported that the tragic conditions in
Is President George W.
Bush listening to anything besides your phone calls?
“President Bush invited all the living secretaries of
defense and state to the White House to advise him on
PUBLIC AND
CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT IS SLIPPING AWAY!
International support and respect has declined! Much of the President’s
swagger is gone! Bush is a failing
President who had his own agenda, refused to compromise, appointed incompetent
campaign contributors to high office, disregarded international agreements,
prided himself on being stubborn and refuses to admit that he has made
mistakes.
(The information
above is based on an article in U.S. News & World Report, November 28,
2005.)
From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 2:33 PM
To: DEMOCRATS OF CLINTON COUNTY
Subject: Clinton County Democrats' Newsletter
“Sometimes I think Republican
leaders in Congress forget why they're here.
Let's make sure they know it's not
about them and efforts to tighten their
grip on power. It's about the American people and efforts to use the
power of our
government to improve people's lives.”
(John Kerry)
http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
January 27,
2006
WANTED
We need volunteers who are willing
to be alternates to the Democratic County Convention on March 4 and then be
seated as delegates. If we want to elect
a Democratic majority to the Iowa Legislature, a Democratic Governor and a Democratic
Congressman, we must continue to be involved.
If you were unable to attend the precinct caucuses and would still like
to contribute to a Democratic victory in November, this is your chance. However, you must respond right away so that
we can send the list to the state organization.
Please contact Jean Pardee at jmpardee@mchsi.com, phone her at
242-8111 or reply to this email.
COMING EVENTS
Saturday, January 28 9:00 A.M. Senator Roger
Stewart Public Forum
Saturday, March 4 9:00 A.M.
Saturday,
April 29 First
Congressional District Convention
Tuesday, June 6
Saturday,
June 17 State
Democratic Convention
November 7, 2006 National
and State Elections
IT’S ESSENTIAL THAT WE KEEP ROGER
STEWART IN THE
Senator Stewart has provided
outstanding leadership in the Iowa Senate.
He is highly respected by members of both parties. It’s extremely important that we reelect him to be part of a Democratic
majority. Regardless of who runs
on the Republican ticket, if they won they would just become part of an
ineffective group of Republicans who for years has blocked important
legislation. With the 50-50 split in the
present Senate we are finally seeing good things happen. With a Democratic majority in both houses and
a Democratic Governor,
Senator Stewart was instrumental in funding a new veterans’ appreciation program to help military veterans seriously injured in combat, obtaining an appropriation for the Home Ownership Assistance Program for eligible members of the armed forces and increasing the National Guard education assistance program. He has been a leader in developing programs for improving Iowa schools by raising Iowa teachers' salaries to competitive levels, boosting per-pupil spending to the national average and raising standards for all high school students. He is working to create a comprehensive renewable fuels plan including both ethanol and biodiesel. You may email Senator Stewart at Roger.Stewart@legis.state.ia.us
LET’S BE POLITICALLY REALISTIC
Senator Stewart’s
Republican opponent in the November election is a very gracious lady who has
made a reputation as a peacemaker and has been a friend to most of us. However, if she were to be elected regardless
of her political philosophy she would just become part of an ineffective
Republican minority in the Iowa Legislature.
For many years the Republican majority has opposed progressive
legislation for education, healthcare, mandating living wages for workers,
economic development and environmental improvements. Under their leadership
The state, district and county
constitutions of both political parties require that members
who hold offices in the party, such as on the Central Committee, may not
publicly support a candidate of the opposition party while they are holding
that office. Let’s
be realistic! Regardless
of friendships it’s a top priority that we send an
effective Democratic majority to
MINIMUM WAGE
Iowans who work hard and
demonstrate personal responsibility deserve a fair wage. But the minimum wage
hasn't been increased in over ten years. It is still $5.15 an hour. A worker
putting in 50 hours a week at the minimum wage only earns $13,000 a year.
That's not enough for a responsible Iowan who is trying to make enough to get
off welfare. We should reward hard work by raising the minimum wage in
Don’t Forget Your Democratic Party Tax Check-off!
The best
part of filing your Iowa tax return is knowing that
you can support the Iowa Democratic Party in this critical election year—at no additional cost to you—simply by marking an “x” on your
form!
When you fill out the standard Iowa 1040 Long Form, make sure to check the
contribution boxes for yourself AND your spouse to the Democratic Party in Step
11 of the form. Checking the contribution boxes will direct $1.50 from
you and $1.50 from your spouse to the Iowa Democratic Party. Best of all,
your tax check-off contribution does not increase the amount of taxes you
owe or decrease your refund! If you are filing an Iowa Form 1040A
(short form), the Political Check-off can be found immediately above the
signature on the left side of the form.
Monies received from tax check-off are a critical portion of the Iowa
Democratic Party’s budget for overhead and operational
expenses. Please take a moment to make sure you check the boxes for you and
your spouse. It’s a painless way to help ensure
that Iowa Democrats will have the resources we need to hold the governorship,
pick up congressional seats, and take back the Iowa House and Senate this year.
Health Care
”A strong
community recognizes that access to health care remains a right and should
never be recognized as a privilege. As a result of our work, more of our
children, more of our seniors, more of our veterans, more of those struggling
to make ends meet and more of those coping with mental illness receive health
care as their right and not as a result of privilege.” (From Governor Tom Vilsack’s
State of the State Address)