Santa Clara County Democratic Party

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2010-03-10T09:14:00.001-08:00

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2010-03-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

EJ Dionne of the Washingon Post wrote a great column debunking the Republican argument that using reconciliation in the Senate to complete health care reform is either inappropriate or unprecedented.

The health-care bill passed the Senate in December with 60 votes under the normal process. The only thing that would pass under a simple majority vote would be a series of amendments that fit comfortably under the "reconciliation" rules established to deal with money issues.

That is a key distinction. A significant majority of the country and of our Senators want to fix the health care system, but even after 60% of the Senate voted to do something about it, Republicans in the Senate think improvements to the bill should require 60 votes, and think they can use that to block the entire thing.

And Republicans are exhibiting hypocrisy in their complaints about using legal parliamentary tactics to improve on health care reform, since they used it several times during the Bush administration.

Hatch said that reconciliation should not be used for "substantive legislation" unless the legislation has "significant bipartisan support." But surely the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts, which were passed under reconciliation and increased the deficit by $1.7 trillion during his presidency, were "substantive legislation." The 2003 dividends tax cut could muster only 50 votes. Vice President Dick Cheney had to break the tie. Talk about "ramming through."

Read the entire article here.

2010-02-26T16:43:00.000-08:00

President Obama hosted a discussion of health care with congressional leaders of both parties on February 25. It was an open, honest, and productive discussion on health reform. While disagreements remain, the meeting exposed many areas where both parties agree, and showed that many Republican ideas are already in the President's proposals. No excuses remain to fail to pass health insurance reform.

If you haven't had a chance to watch the summit, you can see highlights at barackobama.com.

2010-02-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

Republicans are trying to pin blame for the economic meltdown on Obama, when it is clear that George W Bush's tenure is responsible for our economic malaise. Here are two dramatic graphs that illustrate the reality. Sorry, it will take more than 13 months to dig out of the hole created over the previous years.

Wyoming and hate

2010-01-30T09:53:00.000-08:00

It is hard to imagine that hate is not only tolerated, but justified in some areas of our country. Sadly, once again Wyoming is such a place. Wheatland High School, Wyoming, participated in a program called "No Place for Hate," sponsored by the ADL, as well as a number of other organizations including a Gay and Lesbian organization from Colorado.

The school board voted to remove the poster because of the gay and lesbian groups sponsorship, according to the school board the program against hate was condoning gay marriage. In essence the school boards actions are driven by fear and hate, the irony is simply amazing.

You can help by joining the Facebook group, set up by the kids of Wheatland High, who want the posters (and program) back in their school.

And here is a video of the story:

Obama's Q&A with GOP

2010-01-29T14:59:00.000-08:00

Obama mopped up the floor today while engaging the GOP in a Q&A session, watch it for yourself. Enough already with the GOP, we have no jobs because of the previous administration, we have the problems we have now because of Bush and a GOP congress, now it is time for the GOP to move over and let some new ideas and policies take our nation back on track.

So, let us now sit back and watch how Obama takes on the GOP and shows them why they are in the minority:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Celebrating one year of President Obama

2010-01-18T10:26:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, January 20, marks the 1-year anniversary of President Barack Obama's inauguration. It has been a real challenge to clean up the mess in which our country has found itself, but there have been many real accomplishments in just one year.

The economic recovery act that's saved or created two million jobs and helped lift America out of the economic mess the Republicans created
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help ensure that women are paid a fair wage
Lifting Bush's ban on federal funding for stem cell research
Putting us on the verge of historic health insurance reform
A long-awaited Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights
The "cash for clunkers" program that drove the sale of 700,000 vehicles
The Student and Fiscal Responsibility Act - the largest investment in college aid in history
The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act
The SCHIP program to help provide health care to 11 million children
Investments in veterans' health care

In addition, the tone of the United States' posture in international relations has changed. While we still face many overseas challenges, the international community has recognized America's willingness to lead and work together with the rest of the world.

The United States is also finally willing to take a leadership role in the fight against climate change.

Democrats can look forward to a 2010 filled with more accomplishment.

Democrats in Trouble?

2010-01-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

Conventional wisdom is that Democrats are in trouble as midterm elections approach in November 2010. First, it is important to remember that the election is still 10 months away, which is an eternity in politics. I believe the death of the Democratic Majority is greatly exaggerated.

The past couple of days have been particularly strange as far as conventional wisdom is concerned. Senators Dodd and Dorgan announced they will not seek reelection, but they are the first two Democratic Senators to do so. Meanwhile, *six* Republican Senators announced their retirements last year. If the number of retirements is a measure of the health of a party, it appears that the Republicans are in worse shape.

Also note that several of the Republican vacancies are in swing states; Florida, Ohio, Missouri, and New Hampshire. Democrats are likely to be very competitive in these states, meaning that it is even possible for Democrats to pick up seats in the Senate in 2010. Yes, Senator Dorgan's retirement was a surprise and likely means a lost seat, but the Democratic Party should be very happy to enter this year's election with the current vacancy landscape.

Republican plan for California

2009-09-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

The Republicans are pulling out their old playbook as their candidates campaign for Governor. They continue to blame working people and environmental protection for our economic problems.

Meg Whitman articulated the Republican strategy for California when she officially kicked off her campaign last week. Her approach starts with two immediate actions if she were to be elected.

Immediately lay off 40,000 employees. There is no word on what services would be eliminated to accommodate that loss of 17 percent of the state workforce. The Republican party seems unable to make the connection between services and employees.

Suspend AB32, California's landmark legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, on her first day as governor. Once again, Republicans do not recognize that we are on a path to sustainable living, whether they want to go there or not. Returning to irresponsible use of resources is not the answer to our problems.

We need to make sure people know what we are up against in 2010. It is extremely important, no matter who you support at this early stage, that we unite in the goal of electing a Democrat as Governor. That's the only way we will get back on the path of returning California to prosperity.

Republican Health Care "Plan"

2009-09-23T10:25:00.001-07:00

Seek out a charity. That's the plan of Republican Congressional Whip Eric Cantor when asked at a public forum what he would suggest to a woman who has cancer and needs surgery, but due to losing her job, has no insurance. Cantor says there must be a number of government programs (which presumably his party opposed creating in the first place) or a charity that can help her.

This is the Republican Party in a nutshell. No compassion for those who can't afford health care. No regulation to make sure those with pre-existing conditions are covered. Because even if this woman gets the treatment she needs and survives, she is uninsurable under the current system.

Why doesn't this surprise me?

2009-09-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

It seems that a certain GOP Assemblyman, Mike Duvall, has been caught on tape in Sacramento discussing his sexual conquests. Oh, and he was making his statements during a committee meeting. Seems Assemblyman Duvall likes to spank his girlfriends (who by the way are lobbyists). One has to wonder what his wife would like to do to him.

It is no wonder our state is such a mess.

Health Care Reform: Go It Alone

2009-09-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

Professor Lincoln Mitchell of Columbia University writes a very cogent argument that Democrats ought to go it alone in passing health care reform with a public option. While Republicans and their supporters say it would be a big mistake to do so, they are more likely trying to prevent it from happening since the only losers if it happens will be the GOP.

"If the Democrats pass this bill alone, and are able to do it with a public option, not only will the Republican Party have been proven beyond a doubt to be irrelevant in Washington today, but they will have once again put themselves on the opposing side of groundbreaking legislation." Read the complete article at Huffington Post.

Republican Congressman Supports "Right-Wing Terrorism"

2009-08-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

At a town hall meeting in Redding, a man stood up and identified himself as "a proud right-wing terrorist." Instead of denouncing him, Congressman Herger called the man "a great American." No member of the US Congress should glorify the idea of terrorism. And this Congressperson is from the state of California. Watch the video and see the outrageous rhetoric coming from the right-wing.

Editorial by CEO of Whole Foods: No to meaningful Health Care reform

2009-08-13T11:31:00.001-07:00

The CEO of Whole Foods has written an editorial for the WSJ denouncing the current Health Care changes proposed by President Obama and congress:

While we clearly need health-care reform, the last thing our country needs is a massive new health-care entitlement that will create hundreds of billions of dollars of new unfunded deficits and move us much closer to a government takeover of our health-care system. Instead, we should be trying to achieve reforms by moving in the opposite direction—toward less government control and more individual empowerment. Here are eight reforms that would greatly lower the cost of health care for everyone:

Whole Foods can be emailed here, you can register for their website here (top right hand corner) and post a thread in their "Food Politics" section (every thread which was posted stating opposition to the editorial has been deleted.)

And make sure that you tell everyone you know about Whole Foods, this is not the first time they have showed what they are about, they are also strongly anti-Union.

Whole Foods is building a new San Jose store, and I can assure you that my feet will never venture into their store, and I will do all I can to make sure that everyone I know understands what Whole Foods is really about.

Women of color impacted by inadequate health care

2009-06-12T13:14:00.001-07:00

Yet another sad and completely unacceptable situation for women of color:

The Kaiser Family Foundation recently released a new and extremely important study that documents the health disparities that exist between white women and women of color. Entitled, "Putting Women's Health Care Disparities on the Map: Examining Racial and Ethnic Disparities at the State Level," the report's findings show that women of color are disproportionately affected by a range of health issues including diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, AIDS, and cancer. Women of color also experience high rates of inadequate health care, no health insurance and no prenatal care. National average data shows that 27.9% of women of color don't have any health coverage, compared to 12.8% of their white counterparts.

You can read the entire report by clicking here.

As congress discusses how to overhaul access to health care, one hopes that this report, and others like it, will be brought to their attention. Affordable, good health care has increasingly become a privilege in our nation, and those who do not have health care insurance are suffering because they have no financial means to access health care.

Make sure to keep track of the discussion in congress and be ready to call or write those who are determining the future for our nation.

South Pasadena School Children Sing About Budget Cuts

2009-06-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

As a school board member in Berryessa Union School District, I am sickened by what is about to happen to public schools in California. The additional round of cuts being proposed in Sacramento will have a devastating effect on kids in our state. This video is heartwarming and serious at the same time. What a testament to the future, if only we provide them the resources to achive their potential.

Help save the county Office of Women's Policy

2009-06-09T15:13:00.000-07:00

Our county has been fortunate to have an office dedicated to the advocacy for women and girls, the Office of Women's Policy (OWP). Sadly, there is a current proposal to merge this office with two other departments as well as cut the entire operating budge for OWP.

OWP has been instrumental in raising and addressing issues that most affect women and children in our county, including economic conditions for women, predatory lending practices and housing issues. Additionally, in 2008, OWP worked with the Commission on the Status of Women and the Department of Corrections in creating the ground-breaking report "Breaking Cycles, Rebuilding Lives."

Supervisors Shirakawa and Gage are requesting that OWP be kept as a stand alone entity and that funding be restored to OWP. Click here to read their memo.

You can help save the OWP by calling or emailing your County Supervisor and indicating your support for the proposal by Supervisors Shirakawa and Gage.

District 1: Supervisor Don Gage

Phone: (408) 299-5010

E-mail: don.gage@bos.co.santa-clara.ca.us

District 2: Supervisor George Shirakawa

Phone: (408) 299-5020

E-mail: george.shirakawa@bos.sccgov.org

District 3: Supervisor Dave Cortese

Phone: (408) 299-5030

E-mail: dave.cortese@bos.sccgov.org

District 4: Supervisor Ken Yeager

Phone: (408) 299-5040

E-mail: ken.yeager@bos.sccgov.org

District 5: Supervisor Liz Kniss

Phone: (408) 299-5050

E-mail: liz.kniss@bos.co.santa-clara.ca.us

Women lose advocate and clinic

2009-06-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

Just a few short weeks ago Dr. Tiller was assassinated while attending a church service. Today we learn that the clinic he operated will now close:

WICHITA, Kan. - The family of slain abortion provider George Tiller says his Wichita, Kan., clinic will be "permanently closed."

The Tiller family says in a statement released by his attorneys on Tuesday that it is ceasing operation of the clinic and any involvement by family members in any other similar clinic.

This clinic was one of only a few in our nation that provided late term abortions for women, and according to a WP story last week:

A survey of 1,819 providers found that at the time, 18 clinics and 12 hospitals performed abortions at 26 weeks. Because the overall number of abortion providers has dropped since 2001, the number offering procedures that late has probably fallen, too, and the number performing abortions even further along in the pregnancy is probably much smaller, Henshaw said.

The closing of this facility is a blow to the health and safety of women and reminds us all that our fight for the reproductive rights of women is far from over.

Guest blogger Josh: The never-ending threat against us

2009-05-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

President Obama just ordered another 4,000 troops to Afghanistan. This is in addition to the 17,000 troops he recently sent over. In addition to these troops, he has sent hundreds of civilian specialists as well. And he plans to ask Congress to pass a bill that triples U.S. aid to Pakistan.

The troops are being sent over to help with training and building the Afghan army and police force. This is part of a new plan to focus on the growing threat in Afghanistan and now Pakistan. In a briefing, one official made this statement: “Al Qaeda’s central leadership has been moved from Kandahar, Afghanistan, to a location unknown somewhere in Pakistan. And in that location they’re plotting against the United States. They are working with their friends and partners, the Taliban, against American interests.”

I understand and support Obama’s decision to send more troops over because of the threat to the United States that is clearly becoming more evident. However, I have to ask, when will this end? When do we decide that the cost is too high? We are spending so much money on equipment and supplies, and not enough on our country which is in debt.

Josh – a high school senior

Guest blogger Josh: Cash for Clunkers - We'll all benefit

2009-05-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

Congress is considering a proposal called “cash for clunkers”. This proposal will pay people to get rid of their old fuel in-efficient cars and buy vehicles that get better gas mileage or use vouchers to ride public transportation. Senator Dianne Feinstein said the bill “would be an important part of helping get America’s struggling automobile industry back on its feet, and help consumers who are concerned about covering the cost of buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle.”

The program could run for 4 years, and it is hoped that it will retire a million older cars per year! This could save between 40,000 and 80,000 barrels of motor fuel a day by the end of the last year.

The program makes good sense to me, and I see benefit all around. What a boost for the automobile industry – to encourage people to buy cars in this struggling economy! This will help save the industry, and thus jobs for countless people.

In addition, by encouraging people to trade in their older cars for models that get better gas mileage, people will not only benefit from the initial rebate but also will benefit from the savings on gas mileage over the years. Finally, we’ll all benefit from a cleaner environment using less motor fuel.

What’s the downside to this proposal? I, for one, can’t think of any…..

Josh, high school senior

Guest post by Josh: Marriage replaced by Civil Union?

2009-05-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

Two law professors have issued a call to re-examine the role the government plays in marriage. They believe that “the best way out of the intractable legal wars over gay marriage is to take marriage out of the hands of the government altogether", according to Michael Lindenberger's article.

An interesting idea == Keep the term "marriage" as a church term rather than a governmental term. The result of this will be that anybody could be recognized by the government as a family in a "civil union". If they want to make the term that defines their family into the word marriage, all they have to do is go to a church and get married. This takes it out of the hands of the government and keeps it biblical for those for whom this is important.

This proposal makes tremendous sense because it given everyone equal rights to be a family under the law -- and it keeps the "marriage" label on for those for whom this is an important aspect of their religious beliefs.

Everybody should be equal, regardless of their race, gender, religious, or sexual preference. This includes the making of a family, whether it be marriage or otherwise. Everybody should have the right to have a family and be happy. Some people may have the incorrect assumption that gay people don’t make good parents, but I beg to differ.

I happen to have 2 moms and they are extremely good parents. Everybody in my family, my brother, my sister and I each have a good life with my 2 moms. That’s something that should be available to everyone.

Yet for those for whom insist that "marriage" is a term with a biblical definition as the union of a male and a female, they can add this label as part of a religious ceremony, like a bar mitzvah or a first communion. These ceremonies should take place in a church and not be required by the government. This makes it fair and equal for all types of families to come together legally in a "civil union". Why did it take so long for someone to come up with this ingenious idea? It would have saved a lot of grief over Prop 8........

Josh -- high school senior

Local Democrats leading the California Democratic Party

2009-05-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

From April 24-26, Democrats from across the state gathered in Sacramento at the annual Democratic State Convention – including a remarkably diverse delegation from Santa Clara County. Our local delegation included a wide range of Democratic activists eager to elect new party leadership and to conduct party business critical to electing more Democrats at every level of government.

At this year's Democratic State Convention, two local Democrats earned significant recognition for their remarkable commitment and passion for grassroots Democratic organizing. Regional Director, Emy Thurber, honored James Kim with the Region 5 Award and Darcie Green was given the John F. Kennedy Award for Outstanding Public Service.

Santa Clara County has long been the home of many key leaders in the California Democratic Party (CDP). Led by County Chair Steve Preminger and CDP Regional Director Emy Thurber, our local Democrats serve as elected members of the CDP Executive Board, caucus leaders, representatives to the Democratic National Committee, appointed members of CDP standing committees and elected statewide leaders of the California Young Democrats.

Following is a list (partial) of local Democrats serving in key leadership or high profile roles within the California Democratic Party:

Steve Preminger, County Chair

Emy Thurber, Regional Director, 5
Shawn Bagley, Regional Director, 9

CDP Executive Board
Hope Cahan
Jim Thurber
Omar Torres
Anne Mack
Adrienne Grey
Darcie Green
Steve Chessin

Chris Stampolis, DNC member

CDP Caucus Leaders
Clark Williams (LGBT Caucus)
Steve Chessin (Children’s Caucus)
Alyson Abramowitz (Business and Professional Caucus)

CDP Standing Committee Members
Steve Preminger (Resolutions)
Emy Thurber (Resolutions)
Peter Chiu (Rules)
Jim Thurber (Rules)
Chris Stampolis (Voter Services)
Carolyn Curtis (Voter Services)

California Young Democrats
Julie Lind, Political Director
Omar Torres, Parliamentarian
Darcie Green, Regional Director

Democratic organizations throughout California are benefiting from the bold contributions of so many of our local Democratic leaders as they engage in the governance and strategic planning of our California Democratic Party. Be sure to thank them for their volunteer public service!

Water boarding, ancient practice not suitable for modern times

2009-05-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here is the second guest post by the amazing Josh! Thanks for your insights and writing Josh, you are great!

President Barack Obama considers water boarding torture and an act that violates the nation’s ideals and values, and he has decided to ban the practice. He believes that banning torture enhances the U.S. position worldwide. The banning of torture will put the US in a better position with our allies.

Scott Shane reports in his New Youk Times article that CIA interrogators used water boarding, a near-drowning technique, 266 times on two prisoners from AlQaeda. It appears to have been used much more than was originally thought. Although Obama has banned the torture of waterboarding, he has said that CIA officers who used it and other harsh interrogation methods with approval of the Justice Department would not be prosecuted.

I quite agree with Obama in this matter. I don’t believe that any kind of torture is justified, no matter what information is acquired. The Germans during WWII used a method of obtaining information without causing harm to the person they needed information from. They were nice to their POW’s thus making the POW more comfortable.

The Germans used camaraderie to get useful information. I believe that is the best way to acquire information. As for prosecuting CIA agents who used harsh methods of interrogation legally under a previous administration, it doesn't seem right. Happily, the current administration actually has our nation's best interest at heart. I am proud to say that I am a high school student who cast a vote (for the first time) for Obama.

Josh, high school senior

Cheney supports torture

2009-05-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

Former VP Cheney just can't get enough of torture:

Cheney took his one-man all fear, all the time show on the road to CBS studios, appearing yesterday on Face the Nation where he assured Bob Schieffer we'll all be murdered in our sleep if President Obama is allowed to shut down Guantanamo.

Does anyone doubt that Cheney is Darth Vadar?

Please welcome our newest blogger: Josh

2009-05-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

Josh is a high school senior and he is volunteering to write articles for our blog. You will be amazed at the talent this young man has, and I am most pleased to post his very first article:

Obama on Right Track for Teen Pregnancy Prevention

President Obama is considering cutting teen abstinence programs and replacing them with pregnancy prevention programs. Obama stated that he did not see the abstinence programs making a dramatic difference in the sexual behavior of teens. Obama is proposing to delete 100 million dollars worth of current teen abstinence programs and would redirect some of the money to a teen pregnancy initiative. This would include funds for comprehensive sex education programs. The goal of these programs is to reduce teenage pregnancy.

As a teenage guy, I agree with what Obama is trying to do. From my experiences, abstinence programs don’t really work. Most teenagers, like me, consider listening to these abstinence presentations as a waste of time. Because a lot of teens have already had sex, It would be better to focus these presentations and programs on pregnancy prevention tips so that the risk of teenage pregnancy is reduced. Since a lot of teens are going to have sex regardless of what people say, they might as well be equipped with tools to prevent them or their partner from getting pregnant.

Josh, high school senior