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Information
Contact Info: Democrats of
North Orange County P.O. Box 6597 Fullerton, CA 92834 Meetings are on: First Thursday of month (unless a holiday) Dinner: 6-7 pm Meeting: 7:00 pm The Sizzler 1401 N. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton, CA 92835 Guests are welcome!
Board Members
President
Monika Broome Vice-President Art Munguia Recording Secretary Peter Anderson Corresponding Secretary Molly Muro Treasurer Nina Johnson Donkey Tales Editor/Webmaster Mike Pierson Committee Chairs By-laws Committee Kathy Schwebs Finance Committee John Greenwood Membership Jeanne Moffit Parliamentarian/ Sergeant-at-arms Dave Musante Voter Registration Ida MacMurray Special Issues (Chair needed)
Welcome
| Welcome to Democrats of North Orange County! A local Progressive Democratic club serving La Habra, Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Orange, Yorba Linda, Brea, Fullerton, and Placentia. Donkey Tales for November 2009 DNOC Meeting Thursday, Nov. 5th7:00 pm at The Sizzler, 1409 No. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton Speaker: Mike Matsuda Mike Matsuda is a member of the California Democratic Party’s Platform Committee, a Trustee of the North Orange County Community College Board, and a member of the DNOC. He will be talking about some things you might want to know, like: How does the CDP Platform Committee work? What topics does the Party Platform address? How do you contribute ideas for the CDP 2010 Platform? When will Platform Hearings be held? What concerns should the State Party be addressing? What are the CDP’s top priorities? In addition to discussing these questions, Matsuda will elaborate on planks addressing education, children and young adults’ issues. The deadline to submit changes for consideration to the 2010 Platform is February 1, 2010. The Platform will be adopted at the April 2010 state convention. We are fortunate to have a member of the Platform Committee in our club. Attend this meeting and let him know your concerns! _______________________________ The 4 Myths About Health Insurance DNOC Guest Speaker Dr. Toni Sullivan Debunks Insurance Lies at October Meeting Dr. Sullivan began her presentation with a basic premise: Health Care is a right, not a privilege. If one begins with that, all the rest of the debate about The Public Option falls into place. There are, according Sullivan, Four Myths which support the status quo in the American health care system today: Myth #1: Health care in America is provided primarily through private insurers. The fact is that nearly 30% of Americans are insured through government programs. These include Medicare, Medicaid, military and veterans plans.Myth #2: There is a health care system in America. The fact is, our health care is “a hodgepodge of systems” which are “expensive and prone to error and corruption.” Myth #3: America has the best health care in the world. Fact is we have the most expensive, and without reform, it will cost an estimated $30,000 premium annually per family in 10 years. One record we do own: poorest record of all industrialized nations in preventative care. Myth #4: The Public Option will ration healthcare. The fact is, the greatest rationing of health care is by keeping the sick out of health care plans, denying care when sickness happens, and cancelling policies without real justification.President Obama has ushered in our greatest opportunity for reform. Grasp it, America! ____________________ CDC Convention By Monika Broome The California Democratic Council (CDC) is the statewide association of Democratic Clubs and County Committees and has about 12,000 members. Its 2009 Grassroots Democratic Convention was held in San Diego on September 26 and 27. Over 400 delegates, from throughout the state, participated. Molly Muro, John Smith, and Monika Broome represented the DNOC and the RFK Club. The convention featured workshops, forums, and networking opportunities. A wide range of topics were addressed including:
___________________________ Introducing Dave Musante By Monika Broome A beach, a mile, and a street…all named after DNOC member Dave Musante! Dave loves municipal government-participating in it, talking about, and encouraging others to be active in it. His perspective comes from twenty-seven years in elected public office in his hometown of Northampton, a city of 30,000 in western Massachusetts. He served six years as a city councilman, nine years as a county commissioner, and twelve years as mayor of Northampton- the longest serving mayor ever.While mayor, he also served a term as president of the Massachusetts Mayor’s Association and was a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council under Governor Michael Dukakis. In 1992, when he decided not to run for a seventh term, he was recruited by the Peace Corps to serve as a volunteer advisor to the mayor of Russia’s third largest city, Nizhny Novgorod, (formerly Gorky). Dave and his wife Janet were given an office across the hall from the mayor in that city’s Kremlin; it was there he wrote Russia’s first city charter. Next, Dave moved on to Kyrgyzstan under a USAID contract to improve municipal governments there. Again he worked with the mayor, city and state officials to strengthen city planning, budgeting and accounting. In 1996 Dave retired and became a baseball umpire in Houston, where wife Janet worked at Rice University. In 2001, he and Janet moved to Fullerton. He has assumed leadership roles at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Cal State Fullerton and was recently elected President. He is currently serving on the Fullerton Planning Commission. Dave was born and lived most of his life in Northampton, MA, is an Air Force veteran, holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, has been married to Janet 20 years, and has six children and sixteen grandchildren. _________________________________ Update: 72nd AD Election The 72nd AD election will be an "open" primary. Although open primaries were ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, according to California law, special rules apply to legislative vacancies. In this election all candidates will be listed and Democrats can vote for Republicans and vice-versa (everyone can vote for anyone on ballot). A winner will be declared if a candidate receives at least 50% of the votes cast plus one vote. If no candidate receives 50% plus one vote, then the top vote getter from each party will advance to a special general election to be held on January 12, 2010.” DNOC members voted to endorse John MacMurray for the 72nd AD . We need to be sure that those registered as Democrats and Decline-to-State get out to vote for John in the November 17 election! Volunteers are going to Democrats during the next few weeks asking them to register to vote by mail in the hopes that we will get a larger voter turnout. Other volunteers are distributing door hangers reminding voters to vote for John MacMurray. Election campaigns are costly. Contribute to John's campaign at: www.macmurray4the72nd.com. Checks can be made out to: John MacMurray for Assembly and send to: MacMurray for Assembly P. O. Box 638, La Habra, CA. 90633-0638. ___________________________ GOTV Activities for MacMurray Campaign UFCW Local 324 Pizza Party October 22, 5:00-8:30PM, 8530 Stanton, Buena Park Corner of Stanton & Crescent Weekend Precinct Walking and Phoning Oct. 20 - Nov. 15 Meeting Location: Chris Fredrickson's home, 610 Laguna Road, Fullerton Saturdays and Sundays: 2 Shifts Call Marion for Information: 949-922-3273, or marionpack@cableone.net _______________________________ Editorial: Time for Cheney to Shut Up! By: Mike Pierson Source: Mother Jones The Long War Journal, a webpage chronicling the War on Al Qaeda, notes that “Predator attacks in Pakistan in 2008 caused 286 al Qaeda and Taliban casualties; this year, through September, the number is 404.” The attacks have killed at least 8 Qaeda senior officers, including Pakistan’s most-wanted Baitullah Mehsud, mastermind of the 2007 Bhutto assassination. The Wall Street Journal reports, "…the strike on Mr. Mehsud was the first such attack not immediately condemned by Pakistani officials. Pakistan's foreign minister and the head of its Interior Ministry both said the killing was a significant success in the battle against militants." In sharp contrast, the Bush Administration, "…had refrained from going after Mehsud,” says U.S. News and World Report. Over the last several weeks, FBI and Homeland Security officials have arrested members of several domestic terrorist cells, including Najibullah Zazi, the Denver airport shuttle driver accused of plotting a series of terrorist acts nationwide. Two weeks into the Obama Administration, Dick Cheney said that terrorists would have a better chance of success under the Obama Administration than under Bush, and his attacks since have been unrelenting. But after looking at reality instead of FOX News, here’s a suggestion for Mr. Cheney: Shut UP! Donkey Tales October 2009 October 1st Meeting: Health Care Financing Reform- A 2009 Imperative! Speaker: Toni J. Sullivan, EdD in Public Health Special Time: 6:45 What is left to be said? Lots, according to our guest! Toni Sullivan is a dynamic speaker who says she needs as much time as we can give, so our business meeting will begin at 6:45 rather than 7. Dr. Sullivan has been a registered professional nurse for more than 50 years, and has received dozens of awards throughout her career. Her graduate degrees are from Columbia University in New York. She was a professor and founding chairperson of the USC Department of Nursing, a professor and dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Missouri, and a distinguished visiting professor at the University of San Diego. She has published numerous papers and research papers, including her best-selling 1998 book, Collaboration: A Health Care Imperative. Her presentation will include information about myths, dirty tricks, terms we should know, current health care finance reform plans, and a bit of an international comparison. A question/answer session will follow the presentation. Join us on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 for conversation and dinner at Sizzler, 1401 No. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton. Special Time: 6:45 pm _______________________________ OC Democrats Continue On The March! Major Registration Push is ON! Steve Young, the new Region 18 Director for the Southern California area including Irvine, Tustin and several other central county cities, says that this is the time to “turn the OC blue.” He told a story about a coal miners union in Oklahoma that withstood an assault by the union-busting U.S. Army at the turn of the 20th century. Not because they were stronger or better armed- that would have been impossible. It was because of the good will the union had built in the town. The township stood up to the Army, and that's how the union won. It was a community effort.Our guest speaker, Fullerton mayor Sharon Quirk, used this motivational story as the segue into her goals and aspirations for expanding the Democratic agenda in Orange county. “There are 95 elected Democrats in Orange County,” she said, “and Republicans control the County supervisors' seats.” Her solution seems so simple but, like all such ideas, the will to make it work is the hard part. She initiated a monthly “Coffee and Conversation” get-together so that her fellow elected Democrats could network together and discover how they might help other Democrats find their place in elected office. Like Oklahoma a century before, it will be the community that brings Progressive governments to the OCSteve Young pointed to the trends: In Irvine Republicans have lost over 4,000 registered voters to the Democratic registration efforts in the last 2 years; in Anaheim, the difference is even more dramatic- over 5,000 changes in registration losses for the Republicans.Irvine will be the target of the next major registration effort, with Anaheim following the following month.More to follow... ______________ New Leadership Needed! It’s time for someone new to take over the presidency of the DNOC. After three years in this role, I have decided I need to move on to other priorities. I have planned the meetings for October and November, and there are tentative plans for December. In January, we’ll look to someone else to be in charge. I plan to continue being active in Democratic politics and will certainly help whoever takes over. Please contact me if you’d be willing to do so, or know someone you’d like to recommend for the task. ______________ The Year of Service: 34 City Strategy The goal of the Year of Service is to encourage individuals to not just vote Democrat but be Democrats in their daily lives through participating in community service. It is the theme of most of our speakers this year, from Melehat earlier this spring, to Steve Young and Sharon Quirk this past month.Besides voter registration, the strategy is to have two events per month in three regions of the OC: North, South, and Central/West. Events will consist of door-to-door canvassing for food, clothing, and books, working with organizations like Rebuilding Together, and area clean-ups of beaches, parks, and other common areas.For additional information on dates, times and location, contact Art Munguia, Chris Sanchez, or Lindsay@ocdemocrats.org at DPOC headquarters in Santa Ana ___________________ Why Health Care is Different.By Dr. Charles Wheelen, PhDYahoo Finance. http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/economist/187392 Below is an excerpt from Dr. Wheelen's article in Yahoo! News, posted 9/4/09. It's much too long to post. It s concluding thoughts do, however, summarize the themes of the entire essay... I urge everyone to take a moment and read it. Ed ...there is no right answer in terms of striking a perfect balance between providing care and restraining costs. But if your group doesn't have that conversation, you will be bankrupted by expensive treatments in the Caribbean. How does our current system do in this regard? Miserably. We are unable to have a conversation about spending health care dollars in a cost effective way before talk show hosts begin screaming about death panels. Instead, we say "yes" to just about everything medically possible for those lucky enough to have some kind of insurance. Then we sit around and complain about how much our health care system costs. So here is the second no-brainer for health care reform: If we want to restrain the current unsustainable growth in health care spending, then we will have to say "no" to those things that make the least medical sense. We have a health care club in the United States, or more accurately, many of them. For the most part, our rules are outdated. Health care reform will require a thoughtful discussion of who gets into our club and how generous we want to be with our members, recognizing that each of us is both a bill payer and a prospective patient. Until we resolve that, everything else is just noise. _______________ From CDP Chairman John Burton Just a few days ago, the state legislature passed sweeping renewable energy legislation. Democratic Senator Joe Simitian’s SB 14 and Democratic Assemblyman Paul Krekorian’s AB 64 would require that California utilities produce 33 percent renewable energy by 2020, the highest standard in the nation. This mandate would create thousands of high-paying green jobs, slash our carbon footprint, and protect us from being held hostage to fossil fuel prices. And it has incredibly diverse support, from labor to green industry to three of the largest utilities in the state. Unfortunately, Governor Schwarzenegger says he has decided to veto this year’s most significant environmental legislation and pursue a renewable energy requirement via executive order instead. Use our easy online tool to contact the governor now and ask him to sign this landmark bill. An executive order may sound alright, but it’s no substitute for legislation. Executive orders lack the force of law, and they can be reversed at any time without a vote. That’s why the San Francisco Chronicle opined this week that he “should get on board instead of threatening a veto.” Please customize a message to Governor Schwarzenegger and ask him to sign California’s renewable energy standard into law now. __________________ Save These Dates September Monday, September 28, 2009 at 7:00 pm Central Committee Meeting Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 5:30-7:30 pm Jose Solorio Birthday Reception October Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Quarterly CDP Region 18 Meeting Monday, October 12, 2009 at 7:00 pm Central Committee Executive Board Meeting Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Special Meet & Greet: Fiona Ma Monday, October 26, 2009 at 7:00 pm Central Committee Meeting Donkey Tales for July 2009 Donkey Tales Journal of The Democrats of North Orange County Meeting @ 7:00 pm First Thursday of each month The Sizzler 1401 N. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton Chartered by the Democratic Party of Orange County Live! From The Sizzler: The Daly Show Guest Speaker: Tom Daly, Clerk-Recorder for Orange County and Candidate for Orange County Board of Supervisors, 4th District What information can be obtained from the Orange County archives? Why would one want to run for the County Board of Supervisors? What are the prime concerns facing Orange County? Tom Daly will try to answer these and other questions you may have about the Clerk-Recorder’s office and his leadership roles in Orange County. He was elected to the position of Orange County Clerk-Recorder by a countywide vote in November 2002 and was re-elected in June 2006. He’s also a member of the Board of Advisors for the Center for Real Estate and Finance at Chapman University’s School of Business. Daly is a graduate of Anaheim High School and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1976. He has three children and resides in Anaheim with his wife, Debbie. His parents, Bill and Janet Daly, attend DNOC meetings regularly, are loyal participants in DNOC activities and always being willing to help out whenever their support is needed. Bill, a former President of the DNOC, served on the DNOC Executive Board for many years. Come join us for dinner, progressive conversation, and great camaraderie at 6:00, then enjoy our regular meeting at 7:00 and find out how our local government works ____________________________________ It’s In Our Hands: Census 2010 Gil Flores might have come from Texas, but he’s a Californian through and through. He wants our county and city to have every Federal benefit to which we are entitled available to all of us. This, he says, is why the census is so important. From the 2010 census data collected, all new congressional districts will be drawn, all new population data will be resourced, and all new funding for those resources will be allocated. An accurate count can mean, literally, billions of dollars to the cities and county over the next decade. Gil would like DNOC to become a partner in this vital effort; it is a subject about which you will probably hear a lot more over the coming weeks. You can find out more about it at: 2010census.gov ________________________________________ IMPORTANT NOTICE! DNOC August Meeting to be on 13th. On August 6th, Arianna Huffington will be speaking in Anaheim. The program is scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Sheraton Park Hotel, 1855 S. Harbor Blvd. Since many members indicated that they wished to attend, our regularly scheduled meeting has been postponed to Thursday, August 13. Huffington is a frequent visitor on MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann and Rachael Maddow Show. She is a gifted speaker, author, syndicated columnist, and founder of The Huffington Post. More details about the event will be forthcoming. _________________________________ County Supervisors to Cut Health Care By: Reggie Mundekis The Orange County Board of Supervisors will approve their budget on June 23, 2009, barring some unforeseen problem in the next week. They announced that, if State funding is cut, the County will not make up the difference in the health care budget. This will create an "accordion effect" with painful consequences. If State funding is cut or shrunk, the County will cut services to meet the available budget. Teenagers who are depressed and suicidal will receive crisis intervention treatment and, perhaps, several weeks of in-home counseling. They will not receive residential treatment, long term counseling or the long term psychiatric drugs necessary to combat depression and bipolar episodes. Indigent and very low income juvenile mental health clients will continue to be hurt by the cuts. Families who qualified for SCHIP are losing treatment options because the state cannot afford to pay their portion of the program, so Federal funds are being withdrawn, and the program curtailed. All other options for treatment are also running out of funding. The only money left is Prop 63 and Short/Doyle money. This funding gives short term, emergency treatment to get over the immediate crisis but does not give long term treatment to improve the health of the patient When problems like suicidal thoughts and depression are not properly treated, patients can end up in emergency rooms after attempting suicide. Worst yet, other people can become victims if these untreated patients act out. Not treating pushes the problem to the most expensive treatment - the emergency room. If these emergency room patients are uninsured, the bill will be passed to the taxpayers and those with medical insurance. Please contact the County Board of Supervisors and ask them to find the money to fund health care and mental health care services. These people will be treated in the emergency room, costing more money than if they were treated properly. Those who don't make it to the emergency room on time may end up paying with their lives for the cuts made by the Supervisors. _____________________________________ Roll Call! Getting to know DNOC Members Introducing Art Munguia: Perpetual motion, enthusiastic politician, ready smile, persuasive, boundless energy, talented chef….all words that can be used to describe Art Munguia, the DNOC’s current vice president. In addition, as a DPOC Regional Vice Chair, he’s in charge of Democratic outreach activities and candidate recruitment in North Orange County. His positive and pragmatic approach to all he undertakes is refreshing. He believes you can only lose the good fight when you quit. Art attended Montclair High School and is completing coursework at Fullerton College prior to heading on to Cal State Fullerton as a Political Science major. As a Young Democrat at Fullerton College he's received awards for being the Most Active and Most Influential. You will also see him as a waiter at Buca Di Bepo. Last year he had the pleasure and privilege of working as a coordinator with Latinos for Obama on Election Day for California's Presidential primary. He also worked on the Equality for All Campaign. He was the campaign manager for Sharon Quirk’s campaign for Fullerton City Council and now is helping connect local volunteers with Pam Keller and other elected officials. Art describes himself as a “foodie.” He loves to cook and grill from scratch as well as being a bartender. He will be creating his “gourmet hamburgers” and grilling them along with chicken at the DNOC Summer Social and Fundraiser on July 11. We’re immensely pleased that he is willing to direct some of his time and energy to help the DNOC. ____________________________________ Anaheim Democratic Club Meeting June 18th Guest Speaker: Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas speaking about financial fraud, and answering questions on a variety of topics. Meeting at 7:00 pm at Mimi’s on Euclid, just south of the 91 Freeway. Join us at 6:00 for dinner. Contact Ken Burke 714-469-6935 ______________________________________ DNOC Picnic In Jeanne Moffitt’s Beautiful Back Yard July 11th, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm 1661 Agave Ave. La Habra Heights, CA 90631 Jeanne 562.694.4208 Monika 714.992.0276 Come meet local elected officials: ·Senator Lou Correa · Former Fullerton Mayor & current Councilwoman Sharon Quirk· Current Mayor Pro Tem of Fullerton Pam Keller Former La Habra Mayor & current Councilwoman Rosie Espinosa ·For Those Favoring a Fondness for Fantastic Food… Art Munguia’s World Famous Handmade Gourmet Top Sirloin-Pork Tenderloin Burgers · Jeanne Moffit’s scrumptiously delicious Cake Nachos! Casual, comfortable attire_____________________________ From DPOC: State Senator Lou Correa Demands Pay Cut! Source: Sacramento Bee Sen. Lou Correa is the second legislator to voluntarily cut his pay immediately in accord with a recent vote by the state’s independent salary-setting commission. Correa, in his letter to the controller’s office, dated May 20, said he is willing to “step up and share in the personal sacrifices and hardships” caused by the state’s recession and budget-cutting. The Santa Ana Democrat has asked the state controller to slice his salary by 10% to approximately $104,000.. “Given the continuing decline in state revenue and the required upcoming cuts to many vital programs, I believe it is my responsibility to lead by example in reducing my salary,” Correa wrote to the state controller’s office. The California Citizens Compensation Committee voted to impose an 18% percent cut, but the state constitution prohibits midterm salary adjustments for legislators. The last time legislators’ pay was increased, in 2007, Correa and about two dozen lawmakers rejected the $3,110 raise. “We will be asking much of our neighbors to do more with less from the state,” Correa stated, “and I will stand with my neighbors in working through these hardships.” ___________________________________ Drinking Liberally MeetingTable Ten 124 W. Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton CA 92832Join us for Drinking Liberally’s Meeting. We meet every second, fourth and last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Next Meetings: July 9, 23, and 30 _________________________________ Editorial Opinion: Where is the Democrat’s DeLay? One of the men most reviled, most despised, and most disgusting to Democrat in Congress was Rep. Tom Delay (R TX). He was an ideologue without conscience or scruples, a man devoid of thought or ideals. But whether it was Terri Schiavo, tax cuts for the rich, or the War in Iraq, he got done for Bush what he wanted done. Without concern about what was best for the nation or what objections the Democratic minority in the House might raise, he would push through his Neocon agenda with ruthless abandon. We need health care in this nation this year, and not one run by insurance companies and PHARMA. Where is the man or woman who will push this important legislation past the ‘Party of No’. Where is a Democratic Tom DeLay, complete with a conscience and sense of ethics? Donkey Tales for June 2009
Donkey Tales for May 2009 Donkey Tales Journal of The Democrats of North Orange County Meeting @ 7:00 pm First Thursday of each month The Sizzler 1401 N. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton Chartered by the Democratic Party of Orange County ______________________________ DNOC Meeting for May 7: O.C. Democrats Plan for 2009 Guest Speakers: Melahat Rafiei, DPOC Executive Director, and Lindsay Hopkins, DPOC Political Director and Chair. of OC Young Dems. How do we maintain the momentum that November’s election generated? Activities and plans for Orange County are to be discussed at the DNOC May meeting. The Democratic Party of Orange County’s 34 City Strategy is well underway. It is focusing on maintaining the visibility of OC Democrats and continuing our voter registration efforts. Melahat Rafiei and Lindsay Hopkins will tell us about recent accomplishments and will share their 2009 plans with DNOC members. Also, Melahat will explain the purpose of the Progressive Council of Orange County, a DPOC support group that is being formed.. Art Munguia was recently elected North Orange County Democratic Vice Chair. He will explain his new role and let us know how DNOC members can help with activities planned for our area. In addition, John Smith, Regional Director for Region 16 of the CDP, will talk about the CDP State Convention held during the last week in April and do a quick overview of the ballot measures on the May ballot. Come early and have dinner with friends, then bring on your questions and concerns! Lots will be covered. ________________________ Dr. Timothy Naftali: Transforming Visions By Mike Norris Occasionally- in spite of or perhaps specifically because you weren’t paying attention- something wonderful happens.In this case, that bastion of conservatism- our very own local Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum- has been transformed. Located in the sleepy, devoutly religious and profoundly conservative town of Yorba Linda the Nixon Library was until recently more a museum containing photographs, artifacts, Presidential gifts, and a few dusty Vice Presidential papers left over from the Eisenhower administration. Thankfully, that has changed in the last several years for two reasons. First was the conversion of the Library from a privately financed and managed institution to one mainly funded and run by the Federal Department of National Archives. But perhaps more importantly, the National Archivist himself persuaded Dr. Timothy Naftali to leave his cozy home at the University of Virginia to come West and serve as the Library’s Director. Dr. Naftali not only taught there, but had also served as director of the Presidential Recordings Program. This is a seminal event in the Library’s evolution primarily because of Dr. Naftali’s impeccable credentials but also because of his devotion to history and how it needs to be preserved- warts and all- as objectively and comprehensively as possible. And the Nixon Administration's 'warts' are obviously a full accounting of Watergate. History majors… TAKE NOTE! ________________________ A Funny Story: The Democratic Fisherman By Carmine Casucci A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She reduced her altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. “Excuse me,” she called, “can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am.” The man looked at his GPS. “You're in a hot air balloon, about 30 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.'” She rolled her eyes and said, “You must be a Democrat.” “How did you know that?” he replied. The balloonist answered, “Everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me.” The man smiled and responded, “You must be a Republican.” “I am,” she replied, “but how did you know?” "Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are because of a lot of hot air. You made a promise that you had no idea how to keep, and now you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but, somehow, now it's my fault." ______________________ Progressive Women of North OC Meeting Moved From Usual 2nd Sunday Changed to May 17 1-3pm, Monkey Business Cafe, 301 E Amerige, Fullerton progressivewinoc.org ______________________ Governor Packs Ed Board with Charterists By Sharon Brown, President of the Board of Trustees for the La Habra City School District. The idea of the California State board of Education being packed with charter school advocates (and this is not the first one), is very scary. Charter schools, in general, have not proven to be more effective than regularly structured public schools. Although they are primarily publicly funded, they are often influenced by "support" from wealthy individuals or corporations, all of which have their own agendas. They are to public schools what Blackwater is to the armed services: a covert attempt to privatize our public institutions. Many times, charter schools contract with outside private organizations to develop curriculum and/or set up structure. The more tax dollars used to support charter schools, the less tax dollars available for our under funded traditional public schools. We definitely need to rethink and restructure our entire educational system, but in my opinion, charter schools are a diversion and distraction from the massive effort that needs to be put forth to save our entire public school system. And this particular choice for the state board, Jorge Lopez, is particularly disgusting to those of us who believe in the "community" model for our schools. Please take action and contact Darrell Steinberg to express your concern over this nomination. Phone: (916) 651-1529 Fax: (916) 327-8754 1020 N Street, #576 Sacramento, CA 95814 ___________________ Drinking Liberally Meeting Table Ten 124 W. Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton CA 92832 Join us for Drinking Liberally’s Meeting. We meet every second, fourth and last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Next Meetings: May 12th and 26th ___________________ From Talking Points Memo By Josh Marshall An acquaintance from law school, now a partner in one of Washington's biggest and wealthiest law firms, explained to me one day over lunch how he and his partners use tax rules to create offsetting taxable gains and losses, and then allocate the gains to the firm's foreign partners who don't pay taxes in the United States. That way, they keep the losses here and shelter their income abroad. I noticed he had an American flag lapel pin. "You're supporting our troops," I said, referring to his pin. "Yup," he replied, entirely missing my point. One of the great myths on the political Right is: We have a patriotic duty to stand up against Washington taxes! Billionaire Warren Buffett feels differently. "If you stick me down in the middle of Bangladesh or Peru or someplace, you'll find out how much this talent can produce if it’s in the wrong kind of soil. I would be struggling thirty years later." Even President Teddy Roosevelt made the case in 1906 when he argued in favor of continuing the estate tax. Men of great wealth owe “…a particular obligation to the state because they derive special advantages from the mere existence of government." True patriotism isn't cheap. It's about taking on a fair share of the burden of keeping America going. _____________________ Boxer Reintroduces Comprehensive Oceans Legislation On Earth Day On April 22, Earth Day, Dem. Sen. Barbara Boxer reintroduced the National Oceans Protection Act, comprehensive legislation to protect oceans and the Great Lakes. Senator Boxer said, “Our oceans affect nearly every aspect of our lives – our food, our health, our climate, our economy – but they have become increasingly endangered. This bill provides a comprehensive approach to ocean management that will ensure that Americans can enjoy the beauty and majesty of our oceans for generations to come.” Among many important features, Senator Boxer’s bill would create a national ocean policy to protect the health of the oceans and Great Lakes and strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) authority, and create a new presidential advisory committee on ocean policy;Senator Boxer first introduced this legislation in 2005. ______________________ OC AIDS WALK May 16 Saturday 7am-1pm, Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA 92806-6143 More information at aidswalk.org/oc ______________________ Monika Asks a Favor If your e-mail address has been changed, please send the corrected address to monikarb@sbcglobal.net. We send out very few e-mails, but want to be able to forward important notices to you. Thanks, Monika ______________________ LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE If you plan on voting on May 19th, you must register by May 4 Monday 5pm, Statewide ______________________ Donkey Tales for April 2009 Donkey Tales Journal of The Democrats of North Orange County Meeting @ 7:00 pm First Thursday of each month The Sizzler 1401 N. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton Chartered by the Democratic Party of Orange County ______________________________ OBAMA O.C. TOWN HALL MEETING On March 18, 2009 history was made once again for Democrats. President Barack Obama held a town hall meeting at the Orange County Fair Grounds in Costa Mesa. Proving that he is a President for all the people and not just Democrats, tickets were free and easily available to everyone for the asking. For much of the southland, it was amazing that he was in The OC, long considered a fortress of Republican political power. My, how things are changing! The President first touched upon the current issues concerning our country, spending much of his time discussing the housing market and its dire effects on the lives of many Americans. But he noted that California has been hit especially hard by the deep recession he inherited from the Bush Administration. He spoke about the problems with AIG and the outrageous bonuses given to many of its executives. He addressed the stimulus package, emphasizing that it is creating jobs for Americans, even now. Then he relaxed, took off his coat, and started answering questions from the audience. He talked about the economy and its effects both regionally and internationally. He discussed immigration, the problems it brings to us as a nation, and about some possible solutions. Finally, he touched upon the auto industry and the problems faced by both the labor unions and corporate management. Among those attending the town hall were Art Munguia, Monika Broome, Chris Sanchez, Pam Keller, Ken Burke, Steve Weissbart and Rose Espinoza. Art, Monika, and Chris were volunteers and were responsible for outside line control and seating people. For a real sense of the immediacy, check out LiberalOC’s Live Blog of the entire day! _____________________________________ A PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY IN OUR OWN BACK YARD: April guest speaker- Tim Naftai On October, 16, 2006, the National Archives named Dr. Timothy Naftai the first director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, one of twelve in the National Archives system. The library will now become a major center for research and learning. 44 million pages of textual records and more than 3,000 hours of Presidential tape recordings of the Nixon Administration will be available for historians and members of the general public who are interested in the life, legacy and era of President Nixon. His plans are to initiate a Nixon oral history project, a major updating of the library's museum, the creation of a significant multimedia web site for the library, and a fellowship program, so that scholars from around the country can more easily visit the collections in Yorba Linda.Educated at Yale University and Johns Hopkins University, Professor Naftali received a Ph.D. in history from Harvard University in 1993. At that time of his appointment, Naftali was Associate Professor and Director of the Presidential Recordings Program at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center of public Affairs. At the Miller Center's Presidential Recordings Program, Naftali was responsible for overseeing the team of scholars and staff responsible for transcribing, annotating and interpreting hundreds of telephone conversations and meetings secretly recorded by every Presidents from FDR to Nixon. He has also served as an historical consultant to the Nazi War Crimes and Imperial Japanese Government Records Interagency Working Group; they are responsible for the declassification of millions of pages of material on Nazi and Japanese war crimes and war criminals. He will share with the DNOC information about changes that he is making at the Nixon Library and Museum, but will be available to answer your questions on a wide variety of topics. It should be an especially informative meeting _____________________________________ FROM ORANGE JUICE BLOG The only thing I miss about Bush is his tangled syntax, which sometimes inadvertently revealed the truth. Speaking about a book he’s writing about 12 decisions he made about America, he said in a speech in Canada: I’m going to put people in my place, so when the history of this administration is written at least there’s an authoritarian voice saying exactly what happened. He meant to say “authoritative.” But his Freudian slip revealed his real belief in tyranny over the lives of Americans. _____________________________________ Drinking Liberally MeetingTable Ten 124 W. Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton CA 92832Join us for Drinking Liberally’s Meeting. We meet every second, fourth and last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Next Meetings: April 9th and 23rd An informal, inclusive progressive social group. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don’t need to be a policy expert and this isn’t a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it’s not taboo to talk politics. Bars are democratic spaces - you talk to strangers, you share booths, you feel the bond of common ground. Build democracy one drink at a time. While drinking liberally, always remember to drink responsibly, and make liberal use of designated drivers. _____________________________________ CONGRATULATIONS TO ART TORRES From State Senator Dean Florez Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres has been elected as statutory vice chair with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the state’s stem cell agency created through Proposition 71. Art dutifully served in the state assembly and senate for 20 years, and throughout his years of service he has continually stood up for Democratic principles. His leadership and guidance as chairman has strengthened our state party and set a precedent for the future. There can be no doubt that Art will continue his record of leadership and integrity with the stem cell agency. _____________________________________ WOMEN WHO KNOW THEIR PLACE From Carmine Casucci Before war enveloped Afghanistan, Barbara Walters did a story on 20/20 about gender roles in Kabul. She noted that women customarily walked five paces behind their husbands. On a recent return trip, she observed that women still walk behind their husbands, only at 10 paces- and are happy to maintain the custom in spite of their recent liberation from the Taliban. Ms . Walters asked one of the women, 'Why do you now seem happy with an old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?' The woman looked Ms. Walters straight in the eyes and, without hesitation, said, 'Land mines.' The axiom holds true: behind every man, there's a smart woman _____________________________________ THE 23RD ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN WRITE-IN: The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword… From The Liberal OC blog: Saturday April 5, Lakeview Senior Center, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PMMeet representatives of local and national advocacy groups. Take action on vital issues. Raise your voice by writing to elected officials, business leaders, and others who can make a difference in health care, the environment, human and civil rights, peace, and education! Over forty organizations will be tabling for the causes you believe in. You need to bring your own return address labels, but postage, supplies, and refreshments are provided free of charge by Women For Orange County. The Lakeview Senior Center is at 20 Lake Rd., Irvine, at Woodbridge Community Park, near the corner of Lake Road and Alton Parkway. PS: Bring your own coffee mug and help save a tree! _____________________________________ Forum on May 19 Ballot Propositions Fullerton Public Library April 22, 7- 8:30 pm The League of Women Voters and the Fullerton Public Library will be co-sponsoring a forum on the propositions that will be on the May 19th ballot. Two CSUF professors League members will be presenting the issues followed by a Q & A session. Should be interesting! _____________________________________ 34 CITIES STRATEGY CAN WORK! By Chris Sanchez The 34 city strategy is going to be the way we will turn Orange County BLUE!. As most of you might have guessed, there is only one way to do that: CONSISTANT VOTER CONTACT. While this is not the typical campaign season, there are ways that we can bring these changes into Orange County and share our political message. We need to have a strong presence in every city in Orange County. We need to go out as a group and let people know that we are Democrats. Our goal is to have booths at local fairs and commit ourselves to community service in our neighborhoods and cities. We want to show Orange County that Democrats support those values President Obama has so clearly stated: service to our community, our state, our nation, and mankind. Let’s take a page from his book! Donkey Tales for February 2009
Our Time Has Come! Democrats Speak Out at the Truman Dinner From OrangeJuiceBlog.com- Art Pedroza, editor There was a distinct feeling of hope in the air at the 14th Annual Truman Awards dinner, held recently at the Irvine Airport Hilton. There were a few vacant seats but not many; the crowd spilled out into the hallway as Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer gave a stirring keynote address. Some of our own DNOC members took part in the evenings events, among them Stan and Barbara Tinkle, Pete Anderson, Monika Broome, Barbara Chittenden, Bill Daly, Florice Hoffman, Art Munguia, Molly Muro, Dave Musante, Janet McNeill, Marti Schrank, and Esiquio Uballe. Finally, Sharon Quirk bought a table of 10. Schweitzer is a fantastic communicator; several in our DNOC group agree with Pedroza’s observation that you won’t find any like him in the GOP. The governor talked about education, the environment, and health care. He also addressed the issue of immigration, saying that those who come here to build a new future are the strength of this country. To emphasize his point, he told a long story about an Irish girl who, at 17, came here illegally and traveled from New York to Montana. She was given several acres of land to homestead and ended up marrying another Irish immigrant; of course Governor Schweitzer is her direct descendant.Schweitzer also talked about how outgoing President Bush has screwed things up for us all over the world. Pedroza, along with most in the room, felt that it will not only be Americans be relieved when Barack Obama takes over; much of the rest of the world will be quite relieved as well. Donkey Tales for January 2009
A Year Around Headquarters? Dare We Dream! This is the time to make dreams come true. Eight years of darkness are soon to lift, and the antiseptic sunlight of Democracy will once again drench our nation. It is a time for hopes, a time to lift our thoughts to a high plateau, a place from which we must insure we will never again descend. Our first speaker of the New Near- of the new America- will be Rudy Mann, a member of the Claremont Democratic Club. He will be speaking about their club activities, ideas for fundraising events, and the value of having a year round Democratic Headquarters. Are you ready? Please join us- and bring a friend! January 8th, 7:00, at The Sizzler, 1401 N. Harbor Blvd. in Fullerton __________________________________________ Thank you Alexandra Gallardo-Rooker Our December meeting was well-attended, and those in attendance heard about the reality of Democratic Party politics from one of the party’s movers and shakers, Alexandra Gallardo-Rooker. Alex is currently 1st Vice-Chair for Southern California and is seeking to replace retiring Chair Art Torres to become the next Chairperson of the California Democratic Party. She is a true Progressive, in the spirit of Hiram Johnson and Bob LaFolette. Her goal is to move the state political apparatus along a progressive path, to keep it fresh and renewed with new thought and action. She spent much of her time discussing how the Central Committee works, and how one can become a part of the process by becoming a delegate to the Sacramento convention. We were also happy to welcome Charles Taylor, a new member from Buena Park. _______________________________________________ Democrats: We Have Always Held Our Heads High By Dave Earwick After the last election, I noticed something about the defeated Republicans I count as some of my best friends. They didn’t want to be called Republicans, preferring instead to be referred to as Conservatives, all of them having long ago abandoned the Bush brand. Now, when Al Gore and John Kerry lost their respective bids for the Presidency, I was still proud to call myself a Democrat. Though thoroughly demoralized at the moment, the GOP (and their faithful) will regroup and return reinvigorated, and while we can all breath a collective sigh of relief and celebrate the historical significance of the election, this is no time to rest on our laurels. We must sustain the energized commitment that drove us to victory, and if all politics is local, then what you and I do counts; it has meaning and significance. Every organization is sustained by its membership, and those that succeed in growing their membership stand the best chance of survival, and grow their ability to influence. New members bring fresh ideas and energy; they give of their time and money. They are the lifeblood of organizational growth. The DNOC is no different in that regard. Our future, and our ability to influence depend in large part on our success at attracting new members. So bring a friend to the next DNOC meeting. They’re sure to enjoy the delicious Sizzler food, the good company, our interesting speakers and the thrill that comes from actively participating in this great democracy! ________________________________________________ Breaking News: AG Brown Says Prop 8 Should Be Invalidated “Deprives people of the right to marry, an aspect of liberty that the Supreme Court has concluded is guaranteed by the California Constitution,” he declares at press conference. ________________________________________________ From DPOC: The Truman Dinner is Almost Here! The Democratic Party of Orange County's 14th annual Harry S Truman Awards Dinner will take place on Friday, January 16, 2009, at Orange County's newest union hotel, the Irvine Airport Hilton, 18800 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine. This year, we have multiple Harry S Truman Award recipients. We will be honoring Orange County's leading women of 2008 - the Mayors of 2008: * Hon. Debbie Cook of Huntington Beach * Hon. Jane Egly of Laguna Beach * Hon. Rose Espinoza of La Habra * Hon Beth Krom of Irvine * Hon. Sharon Quirk of Fullerton The recipient of the Samuel Gompers Award will be Assemblyman John Perez. Our special key note speaker is the Chair of the Democratic Governor's Association, Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana! Governor Brian Schweitzer is a farmer and rancher who held no elected office prior to being elected as the first Democratic governor to serve Montana in 20 years. Under Governor Schweitzer, Montana has: • Created more jobs at higher wages than at any time in Montana’s history. • Cut more taxes for more Montanans than any other time in the state’s history, including a $400 rebate to Montana homeowners. • Increased Montana’s electrical generation capacity during his administration more than the previous 16 years combined- the state being one of only two states in the country to have increased oil production by a whopping 50%. • Invested more in both K-12 and higher education than any previous administration – while also capping tuition at our state’s colleges and universities, the first such effort in a generation. • Increased the number of children on the Children’s Health Insurance Program by more than 3,000 now providing quality healthcare to more than 16,000 kids and giving the future a healthy start in life. • Montana’s bond rating has been upgraded for the first time in 26 years with Moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor’s Investment Services – a sign of sound fiscal management in state government. He is, as of this writing, considered a possible candidate for Secretary of the Interior in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet, and is currently Chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Tickets levels are: General Admission: $150 per person Sustaining Member Rate: $125 per person Young Dems: $100 per person (must be a member of OCYD) You can purchase your tickets on-line now! Or, mail your checks to: DPOC, 200 N. Main Street, Mezzanine Level, Santa Ana CA 92701. Please make checks payable to Democratic Party of Orange County. _____________________________________ "The teenagers are always left out" By Art Munguia DNOC members, filled with holiday wishes, recently collected gifts for The Orangewood Children's Foundation. Founded 25 years ago with a vision to build a facility to “shelter Orange County children who were the victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment." Orangewood Children's Foundation is located in Anaheim. It brings a wide range of activities including scholarships, support. and programs created to give every child every chance to succeed. A young staffer explained to DNOC member Chris Sanchez as he delivered the array of gifts that "teenagers are always left out." “While the Foundation receives hundreds of gifts, they usually are for the younger children,” she continued, “leaving teenagers with little in their stockings.” She was especially excited about the $200 worth of donated gift cards, explaining that “teenagers could use them to buy I-pod accessories and other electronic gadgets.” Other gifts included scarves, mitten and beanie sets, piggy banks, and a Star Wars Light Saber. We wish to thank the members who gave and praise their charity and remind them that all good deeds are repaid ten fold. _______________________________________________ Humor in Uniform Thanks to DNOC member Carmine Casucci The ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS On January 21, as President Obama got off the Helicopter in front of the White House, he was carrying a baby piglet under each arm. The squared away Marine guard snaps to attention, salutes, and says: "Nice pigs, sir." The President replies "These are not pigs. These are authentic Arkansas Razorback Hogs. I got one for ex President Bush and one for ex Vice President Cheney." The squared away Marine again snaps to attention, salutes, and says, "Excellent trade, sir." ____________________________________ Thank You Monika Broome By Mike Pierson Donkey Tales editor Thank you for taking me by the hand as I attempt to match your stamina and efforts as the new editor of Tales. Your precedents are well established and you have set the bar high. I can only hope to meet the standards of your leadership. _____________________________________ A NOTE FROM CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN ART TORRES Dear Orange County Democrats, In 2008 California grassroots activists changed the nation! California Democrats from up and down the state volunteered their time, made phone calls, donated money, and knocked on doors in California and across the county as part of our largest grassroots effort ever. Now it’s time to make sure we keep our fight for CHANGE alive here in California! Can you keep our efforts going by running to be a delegate to the 2009 State Convention? The California Democratic Party’s Assembly District Election Meetings will be held on January 10th & 11th, 2009. At these meetings, registered Democrats will elect 12 delegates from each Assembly District to be members of the California Democratic Party State Central Committee. WILL YOU BE THE CHANGE CALIFORNIA NEEDS and run to be an Assembly District Delegate for the California Democratic Party? Now is your opportunity to help direct the future of Democrats in California! Delegates approve the platform of the Party, elect Party officers and endorse candidates for congress, state legislature, and executive office. Now is your opportunity to focus the grassroots efforts that changed the nation here in California. Run to be an Assembly District Delegate. If elected, you will automatically become a delegate to the California Democratic Party’s State Convention, which will be held April 24-26, 2009 in Sacramento, as well as the Convention in 2010. If you are interested in running you must file with the State Party by 12:00 noon, Wednesday, December 31, 2008. Be a part of change and run for Assembly District Delegate. We have got to keep our energy going! 2008 was a historic year, and if we keep it up, our energy will drive us to victories in 2010 and beyond! Editor’s note: Additional information is available on the California Democratic Party web page: http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.947937/k.CC3A/Home.htm __________________________________________________ Obama House Parties and a Special Prosecutor for Bush From Democrats.org, Bob Fertik This weekend, Barack Obama's campaign is organizing "Change is Coming" house meetings to transfer the amazing energy and enthusiasm of the campaign over to the hard work of governing. You can search for a meeting near you: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/changeiscoming/ We support all of Obama's top priorities, starting with economic growth based on green jobs, and universal health care. But we do not want him to give in to pressure from Republicans and the corrupt Washington Establishment to sweep the heinous crimes of the Bush Administration under the rug. This week we asked President-elect Obama to appoint a Special Prosecutor - ideally Patrick Fitzgerald - to independently investigate the gravest crimes of the Bush Administration, including torture and warrantless wiretapping. Our question came in 6th for all questions submitted to Obama: http://change.gov/page/content/20081211_openforquestions If you want to help promote a Special Prosecutor, please attend a "Change is Coming" meeting near you: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/changeiscoming/ Share your experiences in the comments here: http://tinyurl.com/5bxe3e
Donkey Tales for December 2008 DNOC Meeting In April, former Senator Art Torres will be stepping down from his role as chair of the California Democratic Party. At that time, Rooker will be one of three candidates hoping to be elected to that position.Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008 7:00 pm The Sizzler 1401 N. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton Come early and have dinner with friends at 6:00 pm Guests welcome! Speaker: Alexandra Gallardo-Rooker 1st Vice-Chair (Southern California) California Democratic Party Alex Rooker intends to tell us about her current role in the CDP, changes she would like to make, and her goals for the Democratic Party statewide. In 1997, Rooker was elected to the position of Second Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party. Then in 2001, she became the first Vice Chair. In addition to these positions, she has been a valuable member of the Democratic National Committee and Governor Howard Dean’s Transition Team. During the past two decades, Rooker has taken on a variety of roles with the Communications Workers of America, Local #9400, ranging from shop steward to vice president. Currently, she is a legislative advocate for the CWA. In recognition of her commitment to Democratic values and continuous effort to fight for a better quality of life for hard-working Californians across the state, the Los Angeles Chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement presented her with the “Si Se Puede Award for Distinguished Service.” The other two candidates for CDP Chair will be Eric Bauman, chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, and former Senator John Burton. Election of DNOC Officers for 2009-10 The election of officers will be held at the December meeting. The nominees are: President: Monika Broome Vice President: Art Munguia Recording Secretary: Peter Anderson Corresponding Secretary: Molly Muro Treasurer: Nina Johnson These officers will be expected to serve a two-year term. Additional nominees will be accepted at the meeting. Bring Gifts! Now that the election is over, let’s show others that we are willing to help our communities in a variety of ways. The DNOC is having a gift drive for the Orangewood Foundation. Orangewood is an Orange County home for children and teens who have no families. The DNOC has decided to work with the Orangewood Foundation to collect gifts to give their teenagers. We’ve been told that when donations are made, the teenagers are frequently forgotten. We are suggesting that gifts be less than $20. $10-$15 would be very appropriate. All items should be new, unwrapped and age appropriate. Gift cards are also appreciated. So please bring an unwrapped gift for a teenager to the December DNOC meeting. If you have any questions, please e-mail Chris Sanchez at -email- Our thanks to those who volunteer! Members have volunteered for the following important positions: Membership Chair: David Earick Issues Chair: Karen Haluza Donkey Tales Editor: Chris Sanchez The following committees still need to be formed: Voter Registration Committee Bylaws Committee Fundraising Committee We’ve had a great year with almost 200 members, good attendance at meetings, and a very successful election headquarters. Please volunteer to help maintain the enthusiasm. DNOC Executive Board Meeting Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 7:00 pm (all DNOC members are welcome) at Banco Popular 1701 No. Euclid Ave. Fullerton Need a ride to DNOC meetings? Please contact Monika Broome at 714-992-0276 or Art Munguia at 909-767-2198 and we’ll try to make arrangements for someone in your area to pick you up. Time to pay annual dues for 2009! $20.00 General membership $15.00 Seniors and full time students DNOC Headquarters Closed After a successful two-month existence, our North Orange County Democratic Headquarters office was closed on November 6, 2008. Located at the corner of Harbor and La Habra Blvds. in La Habra, the headquarters was a huge success. The Ed Chau campaign, which shared the office, enlisted countless volunteers for phone banking, precinct walking, and sign hanging for Ed, and DNOC members and others also made calls for the Yes We Can campaign on behalf of the Obama/Biden ticket. Local candidates also came by and left campaign literature and other materials. But mostly we became a neighborhood haven for local North Orange County Democrats. Many people came by just to “hang out” with their fellow Democrats, and to discuss the upcoming election and the disastrous past eight years.By Sharon H. Brown Our most pleasant surprise came from the great demand for Obama/Biden materials including yard signs, bumper stickers, buttons, T-shirts, and even a few Obama bobble-head dolls. We could hardly keep these things in stock and made numerous trips to a large Democratic Party headquarters in Claremont to renew supplies. Trips were also made to Irvine, Santa Ana, and Anaheim for additional items. Through donations for these products, which netted us about $3,800, we were able to pay many of the office expenses . We also discovered a new treasure, the Pizza Club, which was only two doors from our office and where we had two successful “debate watching” parties and a marvelous election-night “watch party.” Those of us who were together there on November 4th, and who shared tears of joy at 8:01 when the election was called for Obama, will never forget the moment. Our club most certainly will have future events at this welcoming location, with its most generous owner. All of us involved in this effort to set up, finance, and maintain the headquarters truly believe we did a great service for our community, our local candidates, and the Democratic Party. There is no question that the residents of North Orange County now know there is an active Democratic club in their area. Thanks to those who helped at the headquarters Mary Alice Blaydes Jackie and Jerry Brown Ken and Lindy Burke Bill Daly Rose Espinoza Merrijo Hatfield Molly Muro Stanley and Barbara Tinkle Del Velasco Pete Saputo provided six long tables that were in constant use. In addition to making the arrangements for our watch parties, Jeanne Moffit provided a round table and four chairs.The RFK Club of La Mirada loaned us the life-size Obama that Drexel Stephens had obtained. Annie Clement, who served as our office manager, recruited numerous volunteers from the surrounding communities. Orange County Voters Registration 511,641 Democrats 713,986 Republicans 319,293 Declined to State 56,437 Other Senator John McCain carried Orange County by less than four percent over Senator Barack Obama. As of November 22, 2008, 576,076 (50.4%) OC votes were for McCain and 545,373 (47.7%) were for Obama. It is the best performance by a Democrat in Orange County in 72 years. Not the result you would expect from what local GOP leaders have branded “America’s Most Republican County.” Twenty-one states provided Senator John McCain with a greater margin of victory. Electoral College The California Electoral College will be meeting on December 15 at 2 pm in the Assembly Chambers in Sacramento to select California’s choice for president. DNOC member Aaruni Thakur will be an elector . CDP State Central Committee Get elected to represent your Assembly District! In January, each Assembly District will elect 12 members to the CDP State Central Committee. Members elected to the State Central Committee must be as equally divided as possible between men and women. If less than six of one gender are candidates for election, they are automatically elected and the balance of the delegation is elected from the opposite sex. Also, each County Central Committee will elect four representatives, plus one member for each 10,000 registered Democrats or fraction thereof in their respective counties. The delegates elected in January, 2009 will be expected to attend the 2009 and 2010 state conventions. The 2009 CDP convention will be on April 24, 25, and 26 in Sacramento. While at the convention, delegates sit with other delegates from their own Assembly Districts. New party officers will be elected at this convention. Also, those who will be running for governor in 2010 probably will be beginning their campaigns. The DNOC is usually well-represented. If you want more information about the convention, contact one of the DNOC officers. Welcome New DNOC Members! DeLoris Altman Alan and Desiree Baker Ann Foster Iris Mene Congratulations The following DNOC members were elected: Rose Espinoza - La Habra City Council Molly McClanahan - North OC-Community College Board of Trustees Sharon Quirk - Fullerton City Council In the 72nd Assembly District, John MacMurray ran a strong campaign and received 63,071 votes (44.8%). Our congratulations to all Democrats who ran hard-fought campaigns in North Orange County! Thanks, Max! DNOC member Max Hara emerges during each campaign season. Sometimes he focuses on phone banking. This year, he set up a card table in front of Fullerton Community College and, on his own, registered a total of 52 voters! Hara received a law degree from USC and has had a law office in Fullerton since 1964. We thank him for taking time from his schedule to help our voter registration efforts. The North Pole Is Sinking! Ethan Matsuda has donated copies of the book he wrote when he was in second grade. It’s a charming book on global warming that can be shared with children of any age. Copies will be available at our December meeting. A donation of $10 is suggested. On planet earth we are out in space We can’t get off, there is no place. Let’s hope with God’s redeeming grace We’ll do what’s right for man. by Bob Crescenti Bob Crescenti, a long-time member of the DNOC, passed away on November 6, 2008. He and his wife Clara have been strong supporters of the DNOC, attended DNOC meetings for years, worked at our election headquarters, and until recently helped each month to get the Donkey Tales ready for mailing. It doesn’t surprise us to learn that when in school, he excelled in academics and loved sports. He graduated from USC with a degree in mechanical engineering and went on to head Naval Engineering at General Dynamics. He was a gifted writer, wrote editorials for the Donkey Tales and did not hesitate to share strong opinions at our meetings. He always wanted more time for open mike. He will be missed. Our thoughts are with his wife Clara and other family members. Donkey Tales for November 2008 DNOC Meeting Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008 The Sizzler 1401 N. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton –7:00 pm – Come early and have dinner with friends at 6:00 pm Guests welcome! Thank you VOLUNTEERS! Many have contributed to the success of our Headquarters. Volunteers have come from throughout the area. Two Young Democrats, Jonny Barba and Dhaval Patel have given us hours of their time and we hope will become regulars at our meetings. Paul Goldenberg, former owner of Paul’s TV, has been a generous friend. He has loaned the headquarters a refrigerator, has provided submarine sandwiches, cookies, and water for the workers. At the October 15th Debate Watch Party, he insisted on picking up the tab. Pete Saputo has loaned us 6 long tables and Jeanne Moffit brought in a round table and chairs that are in continual use. Sharon Brown has taken over the role of supply sergeant. She has made numerous phone calls and five trips to Claremont to obtain items to offer at the headquarters...a total of 700 Obama/Biden yard signs, 700 bumper stickers, 500 buttons and 132 T-shirts. In addition, she’s traveled to Irvine to obtain No on 8 yard signs. Nina Johnson has had to meet with Sharon a couple of times each week to document expenditures and income for the monthly reports that have gone to the state and federal government. Annie Clement, our office manager, has worked hard at keeping things organized, making phone calls to volunteers and taking donations for the items available. In addition, her mother Sandra Clement has been doing phoning on a regular basis and helping with clean up. During the week, most efforts have been for the Ed Chau for Congress campaign, while on the weekends we’ve done phoning for the Yes We Can Statewide Coordinated Campaign. Ed is a highly qualified candidate running against Gary Miller in the 42nd Congressional District. We’ve had very positive comments from those who’ve visited the Headquarters. Sincere thanks to all who have helped to make it possible. Speaker: Dr. Bill Honigman, California State Coordinator, Progressive Democrats of America Topic: De-briefing the Nov 4th Election: ”California's progressive Democrats getting ready to move America forward!" Doctor Bill Honigman is an emergency room physician, a long time progressive activist, chairman of the Orange County California PDA and the Southern California PDA state coordinator. Because of people like Dr. Bill, PDA has grown in California from seven chapters in 2006 to over twenty chapters in 2007. "It's about my passion and values of course," says Dr. Bill, "but it's also about the fundamental goodness of the American people, as well as living out my belief in the American democratic ideal.” The Orange County PDA chapter meets monthly and works on topics such as the war in Iraq, single-payer health care, immigrant rights, and other cornerstone progressive issues. They get out to organize when they can, and to protest when necessary, including a recent sit-in by PDAers at a local Congresswoman's office. According to Dr. Bill , the Progressive Democratic Movement is growing across the country, but has a long road to travel if the work of PDA chapters is to complement and in some instances supplant local Democratic clubs and caucuses. Come to hear this view of where we go from here! Election Return Watch Party Election Day, November 4th, 8-10 pm. Pizza Club 1279 E. La Habra Blvd. (corner of La Habra and Harbor Blvds.) DNOC Executive Board Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008 7:00 pm (all DNOC members are welcome) at Banco Popular 1701 No. Euclid Ave. Fullerton North OC Democratic Headquarters 1259 E. La Habra Blvd. La Habra Phone: 562-690-3040 Go to page
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