From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; RETURN to Home page=
= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = RETURN to Newsletter Archive

<= /span> CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETT= ER

“This camp= aign has to be about reclaiming the meaning of citizenship, restoring our sense =

of common purpose, and realizing= that few obstacles can withstand the power of

millions of voices calling for change.” -- Senator Barack Obama

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

March 5, 2007

COMING EVENTS

Thursday, March 8 – 10:0= 0 A.M.

Governor Chet Culver is schedu= led to be in Clinton for the groundbreaking ceremony at the new on-line support center for Ashford University in the Lyons Business= and Technology Park located at 1310 19^th Avenue NW along the Mill Creek Parkway.

Saturday, March 10 – 4:00 – 5:30 P.M.

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA IS COMING= TO CLINTON

We’ll send you an email as soon as we’ve finished = the arrangements for the site.

If you’d like to volunteer to help, phone Derek Eadon at (319) 389-6893.

ST. PATRICK’S PARTY

&nbs= p;

Tuesday, March 13 starting at 7:00 P.M.=

Join the Democrats= for a party at Remington’s honoring our citizens of Irish descent. This is not a fund raiser. I= t is a celebration. Their large screen and other TVs will be tuned to the Celtic Woman, = The Irish Tenors and other Irish programs.&nbs= p; Plenty of draught beer ($1.00), Guiness = and green beer, sodas and a buffet of hors d’oeuvres will be part of a bi= g CELEBRATION for the Clinton County Democrats.

Friday, March 23 – 4:00-= 7:00 P.M.

Tom Schue= ller’s annual mid-se= ssion soup and dessert supper at the Eagles Club in Maquoketa.

<= /span>

Tuesday, March 20 – 7:30 P.M.

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

EVERYBODY IS WELCO= ME TO ATTEND DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEETINGS.

Agenda items will include the = Hall of Fame Dinner and the off year caucuses.

<= /span>

Satu= rday, March 31, 12:00 – 4:00 P.M.

Durgin Center at Ashford University

Off-= year Democratic Caucus

Noon – 1:00 = P.M: Registration and dessert. = 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.: Business and speakers.

We will be voting = to fill vacant positions on the central committee.

2:00 – 4:00 P.M. Table discussions = to write planks for the Democratic Party Platform including =

topics such as health care, the environment, immigration, regaining respect for the United

States in our relations with other nations a= nd building a stronger Democratic Party.

Satu= rday, April 21 - Frontier Inn

= Clinton County <= st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Democrats’ Hall of Fame Dinner=

The social hour will start at 5:00 P.M. Dinner will be served at 6:00 P.M.=

We will have a nationally prominent main speaker.

For reservations please call Jean Pardee at 242-8111 or Dick Kissack at 242-9951.

.

THE PRESIDENCY – NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED?

<= /span>

“He was 10 years a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 10 years a Unit= ed States senator, twice named ambassador - to U.S. embassies in two of the mo= st important European capitals: London and Moscow - and for four years served = as Secretary of State. His name was James Buchanan. He was elected president of the United States in 1856 and, in the eyes of historians, was one of the nation's worst presidents. He dithered as a nation staggered toward civil war; many thought him little better than a traitor because of his passivity in the face of national disintegration. So much for a fat resume as a qualification for the White House.

“Those who chide Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for the slenderness of his curriculum vitae should heed the historical reco= rd, which shows that vast prior experience is no guarantee of a successful presidency and limited previous experience does not portend failure. The re= cord also suggests that there is no particular connection between prior experien= ce and performance in the White House.

“Obama, being an Illinoisan, brings to mind the case of Abraham Lincoln, a one-term member of the House of Representatives and, in 1858, unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate. Even if you add Lincoln= 's eight years in the Illinois Legislature, his experience was dwarfed by that= of Buchanan, his predecessor.” (USA TODAY Editorial | March 01, 2007 by Ross K. Baker)

COMMENT:   Both Vice President Dick Cha= ney and Donald Rumsfeld have had many years of expe= rience in the Federal government. Experience is no substitute for good judgment.

QUOTATIONS CONCE= RNING THE IRAQ WAR

Ø&nb= sp;      “President Bush demonstrated that he has learned little if anything f= rom history when he said that the main lesson of Vietnam is, ‘We'll succeed unless we quit.’ The Vietnam War was lost af= ter 58,000 American troops and millions of Vietnamese civilians died over 14 ye= ars. More bombs were dropped on that tiny country than were used by all sides in= all of World War II. That's giving up? The lessons of Vietnam are many, but chief among them are that invading forces cannot subdue a nat= ive population fighting a guerrilla war; that Americans will not support endless costly wars of choice; and that humility, caution and planning are essentia= l in military operations.” D= aniel Brezenoff, Long Beach, Calif.

Ø&nb= sp;      “Bush’= ;s plan is the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam.” --Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a Vietnam War veteran—<= /o:p>

Ø       A MoveOn<= /span> member whose son is a soldier preparing to go to Iraq explained the Bush plan this way: " 'Escalation' is just a word for more people dyi= ng. They're going to be more American people, and they're going to be more Iraqi people, and they're all going to be innocent people.”

<= /span>

<= /span>

<= /span>       CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETT= ER

“This camp= aign has to be about reclaiming the meaning of citizenship, restoring our sense =

of common purpose, and realizing= that few obstacles can withstand the power of

millions of voices calling for change.” -- Senator Barack Obama

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

March 7, 2007

SPECIAL BULLETIN=

Senator B= arack Obama will be at the Clinton Community College Auditorium

1000= Lincoln Boulevard

Saturday, March 10 -- 4:00 – 5:30 P.M.

Doors will open at 3:00 P.M.<= /p>

THIS EVENT IS FREE!

  &nb= sp;         ALL DEMOCRATIC EVENTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

The= re will be a sign making party at the Clinton Democratic Headquarters at 5:30 = p.m. on Wednesday to build excitement for the visit and the local party. We are also looking for volunteers for the event, so please contact Derek by e-mail at deadon@barackobama.com<= /a> if you are interested.

-Derek Eadon

Linn County Field Organizer
Obama for America
deadon@barackobama.com
Cell: 319-389-6893

=

<= /span>               CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETT= ER

“The war on terror involves S= addam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein,

the history of Saddam Hussein and his willingness to terrorize himself.”<= o:p>

--Pre= sident George W. Bush in 2003--

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

March= 12, 2007

(680 = days remain until we’ve cleared the Brush.)

=

=

COMING EVENTS

<= /span>

    ST. PATRICK’S PARTY

Tuesday, March 13 starting at 7:00 P.M.

The Democrats are having a party at Remington’s at the Frontier Motor Inn honoring our citizens of Irish descent. This is not a fund raiser. It is a celebration. Their large screen and other TVs will be showing spectacular dancing, singing and scenes of = Ireland. There’ll be plenty of draugh= t beer ($1.00), Guiness and green beer, sodas and a bu= ffet of hors d’oeuvres.

Join this big Democratic celebration! Bring your friends.

Tuesday, March 20 – 7:30 P.M.

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

EVERYBODY IS WELCOME TO ATTEND DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEETINGS= .

Agenda items will include the Hall of Fame Dinner and the off year caucuses.

<= /span>

Friday, March 23 – 4:00-7:00 P.M.

Tom Schueller’s annual mid-session= soup and dessert supper

at the Eagles Club, = 1102 East Platt Street in Maquoketa.

Saturday, March 31, 12:00 – 4:00 P.M.

Durgin Center at Ashford University

Off-year Democratic Caucus

Noon – 1:00 P.M:&nbs= p; Registration and dessert.        =        1:00 – 2:00 P.M.:   Business and speakers.

We will be voting to fill vacant positions on the central committee.

2:00 – 4:00 P.M.&= nbsp; Table discussions to write planks for the Democratic Party Platform including

topics such as health ca= re, the environment, immigration, regaining respect for the United

States in our relations with other nations and building a stronger Democratic Part= y.=

Saturday, April 21= - Frontier Inn

Clinton County <= st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Democrats’ Hall of Fame Dinner=

The social hour wi= ll start at 5:00 P.M. Dinner wil= l be served at 6:00 P.M.

We will have a nationally prominent main speaker.

THIN= GS YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE TO BE A REPUBLICAN TODAY...

Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science,

but<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> creationism shoul= d be taught in schools.

Jesus= loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary.

WORK= ING FOR CHANGE: IMMIGRATION ̵= 1;A HUMAN ISSUE

“The New Ame= rican Pioneers: Why Are We Afraid of Mexican Immigrants?”

“We are an immigrant nation, and the immigrants of today are just as important as those who founded this nation.” Juan Hernandez, a cabinet member to former Mexican President Vicente= Fox during Fox’s administration. Hernandez founded the Center for U.S.-Me= xico Studies at the Univer= sity of Texas at Dallas.

Hernandez cites a poll, conducted by both Republican and Democratic pollste= rs, and commissioned by the National Immigration Forum. Some 75 percent of like= ly voters favored specific aspects of legislation:

<= /span>

Ø       Registration of undocumented workers as temporary guest workers;

Ø       Temporary work vis= as for seasonal and temporary workers;

Ø       Provide newly regi= stered workers with a multiyear process for legal residency and eventual citizensh= ip;

Ø       Penalties for empl= oyers who break the law;

Ø       Priorities to reun= ite close family members.

There are about fi= ve months left before it becomes too late for comprehensive immigration reform= to be considered by Congress. Th= e 2008 presidential election process will make it too difficult to discuss the sensitive topic. We hope to have a thoughtful and deliberative discussion of immigration as one of our topics = at the Clinton County Democratic Caucus at Ashford<= /u2:PlaceName> University on March 31.

=

PRES= IDENT BILL CLINTON EMPHASIZES THE CRITICAL ROLE

OF EDUCATION IN OUR NATION’S FUTURE

“President Clinton's many accomplishments in office include increasing investment in education, expanding access to technology, encouraging<= /span> investment in underserved communities, protecting the environment, and achieving the highest college enrollment rates in history.

“President Clinton has demonstrated a commitment to the young people of this country throughout his career. His be= lief in education as the key to future prosperity, for all children and our nati= on, has resulted in major initiatives to improve student achievement. During the first six years of his presidency, his policies increased participation in the Head Start child de= velopment program by 30%. Clinton also increased the accessibility of higher education opportunities by implementing tuition tax credits, education IRAs, increasing Pell grants and creating innovative college financing options such as allowing students to = pay for college through community service.

“Since leaving office, Presid= ent Clinton has been involved in a number of humanitarian efforts throughout the world, including the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS initiative which works to assist countries in implementing large-scale, integrated care treatment and prevention programs. Following Hurricane Katrina, President Clinton worked = with former President George H.W. Bush on a nationwide fundraising effort to help Hurricane Katrina survivors in the rebuilding effort. In 2005, he served as a special en= voy for tsunami recovery to help victims of the Indian Ocean= tsunami.” (FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WILL B= E A FEATURED SPEAKER AT THE N= ATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION 2007 CONFERENCE APRIL 1= 5)

<= /span>               =      CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“Too many young people t= oday do not have the same hope for the future that I did when I was growing up. When I was a child, I was full of = hope and expectation. Today, there are far too many children in this country who feel trapped in hopeless poverty. They have no expectations”   --Bernard Rapoport--

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

March= 19, 2007

=

March 19, 2003 -- THE IRAQ WAR BEGAN

COMING EVENTS

=

Tuesday, March 20 – 7:30 P.M.

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

Agenda items will include the Hall of Fame Dinner and the off year caucuses.

Friday, March 23 &= #8211; 4:00-7:00 P.M.

Tom Schueller’s a= nnual mid-session soup and dessert supper

at the Eagles Club, 1102 East Platt Street in Maquoketa.

SENATOR TOM HARKIN LISTENS

Saturday, March 24= , 2007 – 9:30 A.M.

= North Scott High School= Cafeteria

<= st1:address w:st=3D"on">200 South First Street, Eldridge, Iowa

“As we begin drafting the 2007 Farm Bill, it is important to hear your comments and suggestions. The best ideas c= ome from my constituents who are directly affected by farm and rural policies.”

---Senator Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committe= e--

SENATOR HARKIN REP= RESENTS ALL THE PEOPLE OF IOWA.=

EVERYBODY IS WELCO= ME AT HIS LISTENING SESSIONS

Saturday, March 31, 12:00 – 4:00 P.M.

Durgin Center at Ashford University

Off-year Democratic Caucus

Noon – 1:00 P.M:&nbs= p; Registration, coffee, colas and dessert.

1:00 – 2:00 P.M.:   Business and speakers.

2:00 – 4:00 P.M.&= nbsp; Table discussions to write planks for the Democratic Par= ty Platform.

<= /span>

Saturday, April 21 - Frontier Inn<= /p>
= Clinton County <= st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Democrats’ Hall of Fame Dinner=

The social hour will start at 5:00 P.M. Dinner will be served at 6:00 P.M.=

We will have several prominent speakers.

QUOTATIONS CONCE= RNING THE IRAQ WAR

(Was there ever a master plan?)

Ø  &nb= sp;    “Sending mo= re Americans to Iraq would undermine our strategy of encouraging Iraqis to take the lead in this fight. Sending more Americans would suggest that we intend to stay forever.” (President George W. Bush in a June 28, 2005 address to the nation.<= /span>

Ø<= /span>  &nb= sp; “Bush’s legacy, l= ike his presidency, will be defined by his ill-advised, ill-fated war in Iraq. Over time the truth will become co= mmon knowledge: Bush deliberately = misled the American people in order to rally support for an unnecessary invasion so poorly planned that it turned into a humiliating fiasco. He has jeopardized our military, o= ur foreign relations and our reputation, not to mention our budget. History is not likely to be kind, especially considering that those who will write it are getting stuck with = the bill.”   (Michael S= teely, Medford, Oregon in U.S. News & World Report 2-= 19-07)

=

CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AT ASHFORD’S DURGIN CENTER

I.= Registration and Refreshments: 12:00-1:00 P.M.

II.= Business Meeting:                =             <= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>       1:00-2:00 P.M.

A. State o= f the County Party Report

B. Nominat= ions for Central Committee Vacancies

C. Elected Officials’ Reports

III= . Issue Discussions and Reports    2:00-4:00 P.M.

        = A. The process of brainstorming, list= ing, organizing and prioritizing.

            B. Actions: letters to the editor, community s= ervice projects and informational forums.

        =    C. Developing platform planks for the January, 2008 caucuses.

D. Discuss= ion topics: immigration, health c= are, the environment (water, air, parks, hog        =

lots etc.), energy, veterans’ benefits, developing a positive international image of America<= /u2:country-region><

= E.    = Building the Democratic Party:= (communication, events, projects, expanding participation.

VOUCHERS REMAIN = A BAD, WASTEFUL IDEA

= 220;Don't waste energy and money on yet another plan. Although voters widely oppose them= and research shows mixed results, school voucher advocates won't let the concept go. Even studies that prove family income and stability have the greatest affect on learning don't deter them. That disregard for public opinion and = data raises questions about the true goal of the voucher movement: Is it to help students or dismantle public schools?

&qu= ot;Last month, a group of Congressional Republicans and Department of Education lea= ders announced a $100 million plan to give vouchers to low-income children to le= ave their struggling public schools. Called "Opportunity Scholarships,&quo= t; the plan would give parents $4,000 per year to put toward private school tuition or another public school outside their district. In another example of not letting = facts get in the way of their plan, the idea was resurrected the same week an Education Department-commissioned study showed that public and private scho= ol students do equally well on standardized tests when they come from similar backgrounds. It is ironic that Republicans propose spending millions to help students leave schools even as they under-fund ‘No Child Left Behind’ -- the very approach they recommended to improve public schoo= ls.

= 220;While frustration with poorly performing schools is understandable, the solution = does not lie in abandoning public programs. Public schools are doing a good job = for millions of students. The question is how to best invest public dollars to expand that success. Because = it's clear that family stability and income are predictors of academic success, = why not devote more federal dollars to anti-poverty measures like job training, employment and affordable housing?

‘Raising living standards for= the poor would have a lasting and widespread effect upon student learning -- a = much greater impact than encouraging a few thousand students (out of millions) to leave public programs.” (Editorial in the St. Paul= , Minnesota, Star Tribune, Tuesday 15, 2006)

COMMENT: Regardless of the wishes of the majority of the American people and what research statistics show, t= he Bush Administration and the Republican Party continues to advocate public support for vouchers to private schools.&n= bsp; Along with the “No Child Left Behind” law it is an attem= pt to destroy public education and foster an English style class system of pri=