blogs
Jefferson Jackson Dinner - Sat. June 16 - Invite a Tableful of Friends
Save the evening: Saturday, June 16 for the JJ Dinner, our annual fund-raising auction/dinner/funfest. The JJ Dinner committee is already finding table captains, working on procurement of one-of-a-kind auction items, and inviting very special guest speakers. We're hoping to nail one of the presidential hopefuls... who knows?
If you want to be a table captain (and we know you do!) contact Dan Ogden (254-8886). If you've got something wonderful to donate for the live or silent auction (and we know you do!) email Joy (overjoy@comcast.net). We hope to have a live link to our auction software up soon, so you can make dinner reservations or auction donations directly from BlueDonkeys.
If you'd like to help in any way, contact Sandra Hoyt, event chair (sehoyt59@aol.com).
Visit to Olympia
Yesterday I spent the day in Olympia getting acquainted with our state government. The trip was arranged by Leadership Clark County, and our tour guides were former state legislator Dean Sutherland and Gov. Gregoire's local aide, Jim Jacks.
We met with many of our local elected officials, three lobbyists for our community, our Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the State Auditor, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General. Each described his or her job and their top priorities for this year. All of us were impressed by the obvious commitment these folks have to doing their best for the citizens of Washington. By all accounts they work 80+ hour weeks when the legislature is in session, often crossing party lines to get things done. And the work doesn't stop when they finally come home.
Governor Chris Gregoire Releases "Washington Learns" Final Report.
A few minutes ago the Governor released the Washington Learns Final Report. Below is a letter from the Governor describing the Washington Learns process. It also contains a link to the 60 page Final Report.
The Final Report has strategies and recommendations for a ten-year plan that will create a world-class, learner-focused, seamless education system for Washington. It focuses on five major initiatives: the early learning years, math and science, personalized learning, college and workforce training, and accountability.
-------
Dear Washingtonian,
Education is the most important investment we can make for our economy, our state and our future. An integral part of The Next Washington plan, Washington Learns is a comprehensive review of our entire education system, from early learning through K-12, higher education and workforce training. The goal is to educate more Washingtonians to higher levels.
Political sign pick-up by Tuesday
If you've worked on a Democratic campaign or put Democratic signs up yourself in your yard, please take the signs down to the Teamsters Hall at 2212 Andresen Road, Vancouver. Any Democratic signs may be deposited there for pickup by candidates who wish to retain them. They can also be recycled or put into the dumpster at that location. (While you're at this, please don't leave a mess.) The dumpster will be hauled away on Tuesday.
Many candidates are keeping their signs for their next campaign. These candidates include Deb Wallace, Steve Stuart and more -- so do them a favor and bring t
Great Election Victory
From every corner of our county, members of the Democratic community like you gave their time, their energy, and their hard-earned money on the faith that together we could change this county and our country. Our faith has been rewarded by the American people who sent a resounding, unmistakable message of change and a new direction for America.
This was not just a victory for a party, but an opportunity for our country on a national level.
To clean up our broken budget and broken politics.
To promote policies that make it easier for hard-working Americans who are struggling with the costs of health care, college, prescription drugs and retirement security.
Staying in your comfort zone or making a difference?
If you've never called prospective voters as a phone-banker or rung doorbells to give last-minute voters a face to the Democratic Party while you hand out literature you probably are afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Afraid a voter might bite or yell or ?? But they don't. Really. GOTV is painless.
And the best news is you get to feel like you're MAKING A DIFFERENCE. Think of how terrible you'll feel if your favorite candidate or ballot measure loses by just a handful of votes... votes you might have influenced if you'd been willing to stretch a little.
US Generals Call for Democratic Take-over of Congress
This morning at the gym I saw President Bush on TV insisting that we were winning in Iraq. Then I saw this article in Salon.
Oct. 25, 2006 | WASHINGTON -- Two retired senior Army generals, who served in Iraq and previously voted Republican, are now openly endorsing a Democratic takeover of Congress. The generals, and an active-duty senior military official, told Salon in separate interviews that they believe a Democratic victory will help reverse course from what they consider to be a disastrous Bush administration policy in Iraq. The two retired generals, Maj. Gen. John Batiste and Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, first openly criticized the handling of the war last spring, when they called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Brian Baird Tells it like it is
Check out this video of Congressman Baird being interviewed on MSNBC. During the interview, he discusses his strong concerns with the Bush Administration and its failed policies on Iraq and national security.
All hands on deck! It's crunch time.
So much to do, so little time! What could be more important than getting out the Democratic vote?
Republicans may be staggering under the weight of their own messes, but we can't rest on the hope that their scandals and screwups automatically mean our candidates are shoe-ins. We have hundreds of people to call and many doors to knock on to get out the vote.
DON"T JUST SIT AT HOME AND WHINE. Phoning is easy and painless - do it at headquarters or take a list home with you.
Stop by headquarters at 1717 Broadway (corner of McLoughlin) downtown or give us a call at 695-0821 to sign up for phone time.
Thanks for your vote
Thank you for voting in the primary.
The Democratic slate is set for the general election and we're on a roll. Pick up the phone and call to volunteer. (360) 254-9116. Get the word out to your neighbors. Local politics is important and there is a lot we can win -- and a lot we can lose.
All the local Democratic candidates can use help getting their messages out to the public. Play a part yourself in getting good Democrats into office. What you do locally today will benefit our entire state.
Primary votes determined many of the judicial contests -- and showed a decisive victory for the people of Washington state, and yet another defeat for corporate-backed candidates trying to buy their way onto the bench. The state and local Democratic parties paid a big part in getting out the vote in the primary. Accolades to our coordinated campaign: "Job well done!"
