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YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

 

                                                                                              CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“Americans are deeply concerned about the state of the nation under Bush and eager for progressive leaders who will move us in a different direction.  There is a clear mandate for change at every level of government.”  

(Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY’s List)        

 

JULY 7, 2008

 

DEMOCRATIC FUNCTIONS:

WHERE ALL AMERICANS CAN BELONG

 

Be part of the festivities and have a good time with your Democratic friends.  An enthusiastic turnout for the parades indicates to people that there is a tidal wave coming to elect Democrats in November.

 

Saturday, July 12     Low Moor Parade  --  3:00 P.M.

Line up at 2:30 P.M.

 

Tuesday, July 15 – 7:30 P.M.

The Clinton County Democratic Party Central Committee

will meet at Democratic Headquarters across from Chancy Park in Clinton.

 

Wednesday, July 16 – Sunday, July 20

CLINTON COUNTY FAIR AND 4-H CLUB SHOWPrint  |

Clinton County Democrats will have a table at the County Fair in DeWitt Wednesday, July 16 through Sunday, July 20.  There will be drawings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the prizes being cards for gasoline.  We will hand out campaign literature and be the headquarters for Democratic candidates.  We need volunteers to staff the table.  Please call Jean Pardee at 242-8111or Larry Kness at 242-2062 to get involved.

 

Saturday, July 19  --  LOST NATION RUSTIC DAYS

Theme:  “Honoring the Red, White and Blue”

22nd Annual Rustic Run:  One Mile and Four Mile Runs

Duck Race, Sand Volleyball, Softball Tournament, Horseshoe Tournament,

Music Entertainment, Flower Show, Kids’ Tractor Pull and Water Ball Games,

Lighted Parade (line up at 7:15 P.M.), Street Dance

For more information go to:   www.LostNationIowa.com

 

Saturday, August 9:  CELEBRATION AND PARADE IN WHEATLAND

 

 

 

POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL CORN BOIL

Saturday, August 16 – 4:00 – 6:30 P.M.

Pat Johnson and Cheri Canier’s residence

1800 Deer Creek East

On the shores of beautiful Lake Clinton

(Also known as navigation pool 13 on the Mississippi River above Lock and Dam #13.)

fresh corn on the cob –hot dogs- chips – desserts

Lots of candidates and interesting conversation!

Suggested contribution $10.00

 

Thursday, August 7 – Sunday, August 10

Camanche Days

Saturday, August 9 --  11:00 A.M.

CAMANCHE DAYS PARADE

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

 

DEMOCRATS CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY

 

A large number of Democrats marched in the Riverboat Days parade to demonstrate their patriotism and support for the political process in our democratic nation.  After the parade the group gathered for a social event at Democratic headquarters across from Chancy Park.  Marchers included campaign staffers for our next President, Senator Obama, Maggie Potthoff and Anna Isis-Brown who are the coordinators for the Clinton and Dubuque counties campaign and Ebonee Woods, coordinator for the Frank Wood campaign.  The celebration included State Senators Roger Stewart and Frank Wood, State Representatives Polly Bukta and Tom Schueller, Sheriff Rick Lincoln, candidate for County auditor Eric Van Lancker, Candidate for County Supervisor John Staszewski, and Clinton City Councilman Bob Soesbe.  If you want to visit with public officials, Democratic events are the place to come.

 

IT’S TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF OUR GOVERNMENT!

 

 

STRANGE THINGS ABOUT SENATOR JOHN MCBUSH

 

 

Senator McCain's 4 year property tax evasion:  Newsweek Magazine recently raised questions about an overdue property-tax bill on a La Jolla, Calif., property owned by a trust that Mrs. McCain oversees.  McCains failed to pay taxes on their beach-front condo in La Jolla, California, for the last four years and were in default.  Mrs. McCain is a beer heiress with an estimated $100 million fortune and, along with her husband, owns at least seven properties, including condos in California and Arizona.  Under California law, once a residential property is in default for five years, it can be sold at a tax sale to recover the unpaid taxes for the taxpayers.  Since the Newsweek article appeared, the McCains have paid the bulk of their back taxes, but continue to owe additional taxes. 

 

COMMENT:  The McCains claim that they didn’t know about the back taxes, yet they were responsible for them.  Do we want another President who claims ignorance when he fails to assume responsibility?


Senator McCain and the price of gasoline:   Senator, w
hen was the last time you pumped your own gas and how much did it cost?   McCain:   Oh, I don’t remember. Now there’s Secret Service protection. But I’ve done it for many, many years. I don’t recall and frankly, I don’t see how it matters.’”

 

“McCain’s cluelessness about gas prices is compounded by the fact that he is clueless about what to do about it. He is promoting a gas tax holiday for drivers because he claims to understand ‘Americans are hurting’. It will provide ‘a little psychological boost’, McCain said of his plan.  In reality, his gas tax holiday would be worth a mere 60 cents a day for Americans and would be a boon for oil companies and foreign oil-producing nations. It would drive up the deficit. Moreover, the proposal would rob $1.4 billion from public transportation and severely restrict the industry’s ability to add and improve transit services for a growing number of Americans.  It seems that gas prices is just one more issue that is not something McCain has understood as well he should.

 

Update FLASHBACK:  Bush:  ‘I'm "focused" on gas prices but unaware of $4 gas.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                  CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“It was not difficult to distinguish between George Bush's recent farewell visit to Europe and a victory lap. True, things have sometimes been even worse: back in 2003 he was greeted by some of the biggest protests in European history. But this time he was being greeted by sullen indifference. Mr. Bush is worse than a failure in European eyes. He is yesterday's failure.”

(from The Economist  --  June 2008)

 

July 14, 2008

“Those who enter the country illegally violate the law.”

(President George W. Bush in Tucson, November 28, 2005.)

ONLY 190 DAYS OF THIS NONSENSE LEFT

DEMOCRATIC FUNCTIONS:

WHERE ALL AMERICANS CAN BELONG

 

Tuesday, July 15 – 7:30 P.M.

The Clinton County Democratic Party Central Committee

will meet at Democratic Headquarters across from Chancy Park in Clinton.

We will have status reports on the Obama, State and County Campaigns and current happenings in the State and County governments.  Business agenda items will include county fair plans, headquarters scheduling and future parades.

 

Wednesday, July 16 – Sunday, July 20

CLINTON COUNTY FAIR AND 4-H CLUB SHOW

Clinton County Democrats will have a table at the County Fair in DeWitt Wednesday, July 16 through Sunday, July 20.  There will be drawings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the prizes being cards for gasoline.  We will hand out campaign literature and be the headquarters for Democratic candidates.  We need volunteers to staff the table.  Please call Jean Pardee at 242-8111or Larry Kness at 242-2062 to get involved.

 

Saturday, July 19  --  LOST NATION RUSTIC DAYS

Theme:  “Honoring the Red, White and Blue”

22nd Annual Rustic Run:  One Mile and Four Mile Runs Start at 8:00 A.M.

Duck Race, Sand Volleyball, Softball Tournament, Horseshoe Tournament,

Music Entertainment, Flower Show, Kids’ Tractor Pull and Water Ball Games,

Lighted Parade (line up at 7:15 P.M.), Street Dance

For more information go to:   www.LostNationIowa.com

 

Saturday, August 9:  CELEBRATION AND PARADE IN WHEATLAND

 

Thursday, August 7 – Sunday, August 10

Camanche Days

Saturday, August 9 --  11:00 A.M.

CAMANCHE DAYS PARADE

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

 

 

 

POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL CORN BOIL

Saturday, August 16 – 4:00 – 6:30 P.M.

Pat Johnson and Cheri Canier’s residence

1800 Deer Creek East

On the shores of beautiful Lake Clinton

(Also known as navigation pool 13 on the Mississippi River above Lock and Dam #13.)

fresh corn on the cob –hot dogs- chips – desserts

Lots of candidates and interesting conversation!

Suggested contribution $10.00

 

 

BUSH AND MCCAIN CALL FOR OFF-SHORE DRILLING

 

 “The President will call on Congress to pass legislation lifting the congressional ban on safe, environmentally friendly offshore oil drilling.”  - White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, June 17, 2008.  The request was posted on June 24 and filed under the title: ‘Global Warming & Renewable Energy’.

 

“Whew! It’s a relief to hear that only the ban on safe, environmentally friendly drilling is going to be lifted. For a minute there I thought they were going to start allowing the kind that destroys our coasts and puts hundreds of marine and avian species at risk. I just naturally assumed we were talking about the drilling that is serviced by massive oil tankers that are sometimes piloted by incompetent crews. The ones whose hulls breach and spill thousands of gallons of thick oil sludge into pristine waters. No one in their right mind would want that, would they?

 

“The Bush administration is being unintentionally ironic. The fiction that there is such a thing as environmentally friendly oil drilling is right up there with increasing pollution by calling it ‘Clear Skies’ and destroying forest ecosystems under the name ‘Healthy Forests’.  It’s another attempt at Orwellian phrase-making which, at this late date in the Bush era, is falling rather flat.

 

“John McCain, however, seems to be ready to carry this torch and further perpetrate both the substance and style of the Bush attempt to throw a few more bones to the oil companies while there is still time.

 

 “Over the past two years the domestic production of natural gas and oil combined increased at four times the rate that domestic consumption increased and prices still skyrocketed.  Drilling is not the answer. More efficient use of our existing resources is the only way we can be certain that we will spend less on energy.  The oil and gas companies and the blight of international oil politics will continue to drive prices up. We need leadership that looks beyond the energy policies that brought us $4.00 a gallon gas and global warming.  We need an energy economy that does not depend on the tender mercies of oil company executives.  And we need leadership that can see beyond the health of Exxon’s quarterly bottom line when deciding what is best for our country.”  (Information Source:  The New York Times)

 

 

WEAPONS OF MASS OBFUSCATION

 

“What has happened at Guantanamo Bay does not represent the will of the American people.  I’m embarrassed about it, I think it’s wrong.  I think it does give terrorists an unwarranted excuse to use despicable means to hurt innocent people.  I thought it then and I think it now, that the invasion of Iraq was unnecessary and unjust.  And I think the premises on which it was launched were false.”  (President Jimmy Carter to a Birmingham audience in July 2005)

 

 

For more information about Clinton County Democrats’ events

go to our website:   www.clintoncountydemocrats.org/events

 

 

 

 

 

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS THE PARTY OF ALL AMERICANS REGARDLESS OF GENDER, AGE, RACE,

CREED, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ECONOMIC STATUS, DISABILITY OR ETHNICITY.

                                                                                                                       CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“United States’ threats, regime-change rhetoric and efforts to promote democracy only give Iran's leaders an excuse to intensify repression.   Will Obama's foreign policy bring us back to the days of the bipartisan, establishment consensus?  The latest round of Iraq's Shiite vs. Shiite civil war was to have been Bush's defining moment. The result: utter humiliation for the US and the Iraqi government.  Hothead McCain favors unilateralism and ‘rogue state rollback’.”

(Robert Dreyfuss, Nobel Prize-winning activist)

 

July 21, 2008

 

IN MEMORIAM

 

We are greatly saddened by the death of Fred “Bud” Schneck on Monday, July 14.  Fred was a dedicated worker for the Democratic Party for many years and a member of the Clinton County Democrats’ Hall of Fame.  He will be missed by all of his many friends.  Our many prayers will be said for Fred and his family. 

 

Fred served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.  He was active in Prince of Peace Church and the American Legion.  He served on the Pollution Control Commission, the Boy Scout Council, the Clinton High School Band Boosters and served as a volunteer probation officer to help troubled juveniles.  Clinton will miss his many services to the community.

 

Fred knew that his time was near to join Jan, his wife of 56 years, in the next dimension.  He regretted that he and Jan would not be able to cast their ballots for the Democratic candidates in November.

 

DEMOCRATIC FUNCTIONS:

WHERE ALL AMERICANS CAN BELONG

 

Thursday, July 31  --  5:00 P.M.

Deadline for applying to run for local school boards.

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS:   Tuesday, September 9

 

Saturday, August 9  --  10:00 A.M.

CELEBRATION AND PARADE IN WHEATLAND

Line up at 9:15 A.M. north across the tracks at Williams Street.

 

Thursday, August 7 – Sunday, August 10

Camanche Days

Saturday, August 9 --  11:00 A.M.

CAMANCHE DAYS PARADE

Line up at the funeral home across the street from the middle school starting at 10:15 A.M.

 

 

 

 

POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL CORN BOIL

Saturday, August 16 – 4:00 – 6:30 P.M.

Pat Johnson and Cheri Canier’s residence

1800 Deer Creek East

On the shores of beautiful Lake Clinton

(Also known as navigation pool 13 on the Mississippi River above Lock and Dam #13.)

fresh corn on the cob –hot dogs- chips – desserts

Lots of candidates and interesting conversation!

Suggested contribution $10.00

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JULY CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING

 

At the Tuesday, July 15 Central Committee meeting State Representatives Polly Bukta and Tom Schueller and State Senator Roger Stewart gave their assessment of State affairs and accomplishments and challenges of the State Legislature.  Sheriff Rick Lincoln reported on current events in County law enforcement.  John Staszewski reported that his campaign is going very well and that he is receiving tremendous support.  The Central Committee discussed plans for the coordinated campaign and possible candidates for House District 83.  It looks as if the Democrats will have a clean sweep in November.

 

Participation in the parades has been impressive.  The enthusiasm of so many people demonstrates clearly that they are tired of the Republican Party policy of ignoring problems that need to be solved. 

 

CONSERVATIVES HAVE CONSISTENTLY OPPOSED NEGOTIATIONS

 

“Conservatives agitated for the rollback of communism, and they opposed all negotiations with the Soviets. When Eisenhower welcomed Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev to the United States in 1959, William F. Buckley Jr., the right's leader, complained that the act of ‘diplomatic sentimentality’ signaled the ‘death rattle of the West’.


“Conservatives agitated for the rollback of communism, and they opposed all negotiations with the Soviets.   Conservatives opposed negotiations in one of the most dangerous moments in human history: the Cuban missile crisis, during which the United States and the Soviet Union nearly came to nuclear blows over Moscow's deployment of missiles 90 miles off the American coast. When President Kennedy successfully negotiated a peaceful conclusion to the crisis, conservative icon Barry Goldwater protested that he had appeased the Soviets by promising not to invade Cuba if they backed down.

“The Soviets withdrew their missiles in what was widely seen as a humiliation to Khrushchev, but Goldwater believed that Kennedy's diplomacy gave ‘the communists one of their greatest victories in their race for world power that they have enjoyed to date’. To Goldwater, it was far preferable to risk nuclear war with the Soviets than to give up our right to roll back Fidel Castro.”


(By J. Peter Scoblic executive editor of the New Republic, is the author of "U.S. vs. Them: How a Half Century of Conservatism Has Undermined America's Security.")

 

 

LATE SUMMER EVENTS

 

            Tuesday, August 19                   7:30 P.M           Central Committee Meeting

                        Saturday, August 23                  6:00 P.M.          Charlotte Celebration and Parade

            Saturday, August 23                                          Van Lancker Party in Charlotte               

                        Sunday, August 31                                Labor Congress Picnic at Eagle Point Lodge

                    Monday, September 1                  11:00 A.M.         Labor Day Parade in Andover

 

 

“Roughly one-third of all eligible Americans, 64 million people, are not registered to vote. This percentage is even higher for African-Americans and Hispanics.  Shockingly, for those between the ages of 18 and 24, it climbs to 50 percent.”  (Katrina vanden Heuvel in The Nation)


 

 

 

 

If you know somebody who should receive the Clinton County Democrats’

Email Newsletter, send their email address to Dick Kissack at rkissack@mchsi.com

                                                                                          CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“We want 100 percent registration. We want increased participation. We want full representation with majority rule. We want the right to vote. We want to vote without fear that our votes will not count, or be counted by hacked machines. It is long past time to place democracy at the center of our politics, where it belongs. We don't exist just to curse the political darkness but to craft solutions to make America a more perfect union.”

(Katrina vanden Heuvel in the July 21, 2008 edition of The Nation)

 

July 28, 2008

 

DEMOCRATIC FUNCTIONS:

WHERE ALL AMERICANS CAN BELONG.

 

Sunday, July 27 --  1:00 P.M.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP ELECT BARACK OBAMA?

The ‘Elect Obama’ team will meet at Democratic Headquarters for a Sunday afternoon canvass.
This day is important across the nation because it marks 100 days before the election.  We are holding canvasses at this time statewide!  In particular we'll be visiting Democrats who are registered to vote, but don't vote regularly, to talk to them about the importance of this election and the opportunity to Vote By Mail!  (Maggie Potthoff, Clinton County Coordinator for the Barrack Obama campaign)

 

Thursday, July 31

Deadline for applying to run for local school boards.

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS:   Tuesday, September 9

 

Thursday, August 7 – Sunday, August 10

Camanche Days

Saturday, August 9 --  11:00 A.M.

CAMANCHE DAYS PARADE

Line up at the funeral home across the street from the middle school starting at 10:15 A.M.

 

Saturday, August 9  --  10:00 A.M.

CELEBRATION AND PARADE IN WHEATLAND

Line up at 9:15 A.M. north across the tracks at Williams Street.

 

POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL CORN BOIL

Saturday, August 16 – 4:00 – 6:30 P.M.

Pat Johnson and Cheri Canier’s residence

1800 Deer Creek East

On the shores of beautiful Lake Clinton

(Also known as navigation pool 13 on the Mississippi River above Lock and Dam #13.)

fresh corn on the cob – hot dogs – pork loins - chips – desserts

Suggested contribution $10.00

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:  How many people could Senator McCain attract to one of his speeches if he gave it in the heart of Berlin?  His comments seem to be a little envious of Senator Obama’s ability to inspire enthusiasm among more than 200,000 Germans.  Senator McCain might be able to do it if he spoke at a soccer match.

 

LATE SUMMER EVENTS

 

Tuesday, August 19                   7:30 P.M           Central Committee Meeting

            Saturday, August 23                  6:00 P.M.          Charlotte Celebration and Parade

            Saturday, August 23                                          Van Lancker Party in Charlotte               

            Sunday, August 31                                Labor Congress Picnic at Eagle Point Lodge

            Monday, September 1              11:00 A.M.         Labor Day Parade in Andover

            Sunday, September 14              Senator Harkin’s steak fry in Indianola

 

For more information about Clinton County Democrats’ events

go to our website:   www.clintoncountydemocrats.org/events

VOTING EARLY BY MAIL OR AT THE AUDITOR’S OFFICE

 

Ø       If you are unable to go to the polls on Election Day, you may request an absentee ballot.

Ø       Also, you may vote early at the auditor’s office.  You don’t have to have a reason.

Ø       Applications are being accepted now.  Forms may be picked up at the County Auditor’s office or printed out from the County Auditor’s website:    auditor@clintoncountyiowa.com

Ø       Many Democrats filled out forms at the caucuses in January. 

Ø       Ballots will be mailed from the Auditor’s Office forty days before the September 9 school board elections and the November 4 election.

Ø       State law does not allow the Auditor to accept requests for absentee ballots by e-mail.

Ø       When your request is received, a ballot and instructions will be sent to you.  Whether you vote the ballot or not, it must be returned to the Auditor's Office.  If you return your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received before the official canvass or it will not be counted.  You may also return your ballot in person to the Auditor's Office before the polls close on Election Day.

Ø       If you still have the ballot on election day, bring it with you to your polling site.

Ø       The Auditor may mail ballots to college addresses or to winter homes.

Ø       There are many advantages to voting early:

§         If you are traveling and are going to be away from home on election day.

§         If you have difficulty leaving work on election day.

§         You can avoid lines.

§         You will have plenty of time to complete your ballot.

§         The Democrats receive a list daily of people who have voted so that your name will be taken off the calling lists.  It’s a great way to avoid all of those irritating reminders.

 

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA