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Information
Contact Info: San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club
P.O. Box 28095 Fresno, CA 93729 Meetings are on: Third Wednesday of every month Denny's 1110 E. Shaw Ave. 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Board Members
President James Williams Vice President Diane Mowery Secretary Connie Peterson Treasurer
Denise Morris Communications Chuck Krugman
Welcome
| Welcome to the San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club! The San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club is a local Democratic club serving Fresno County and surrounding areas. We are a club that is dedicated to social justice and basic human rights for all. We belive that grassroots organizing, neighbor talking to neighbor, is essential to spreading the message of the Democratic party and the San Joaquin Valley Democratic club. Our members are encouraged to be active in the community with voter registration, precinct walking, tabling and phone banking. Breakfast with Tom July 29- Dear Friend: I am honored to have qualified for the November run-off election for the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction! I am so thankful to all of my supporters from throughout California who helped to make this possible.
I am running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction because I want to fight for our kids and to restore our state's public education system to its rightful place among the top ranks of the nation. I will work each day to ensure every one of our neighborhood schools has the resources required to give every one of our students a top-quality education in a safe and healthy environment. The first part of the race is done. Now I hope you will join me and my team as we sprint towards November's finish line! There are only 99 days left until Election Day. So please join me in Fresno on Friday, July 30, for a breakfast fundraiser to support my campaign. I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail!
Best regards, You are cordially California State Assemblymember Tom Torlakson Candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Click here to purchase your tickets With Special Invited Guests For a Fresno Breakfast/Fundraiser at the $50 Per Person ~ $2,500 Event Sponsor For additional information, or to R.S.V.P. Click here to purchase your tickets  DFA Grassroots All Stars, Vote, Get involved July 23- There are 4 California candidates in the DFA contest below. Only one of them, Bill Hedrick, has been nationally endorsed by PDA (Progressive Democrats of America) & by Peace Action West and publicly states on his website that we need to bring our troops back home from Afghanistan & Iraq (Hedrick has 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law in the military) and to establish the right of states to adopt single payer systems if they choose to do so (like California's SB 810). In fact, two of the other candidates, Ami Bera & Beth Krom, do not even mention the Iraq or Afghanistan wars on the "Issues" pages on their websites. Really? With most Americans opposing these wars, these candidates don't even think they are important enough to list them as important issues? The fourth candidate, Steve Pougnet, supports the "war" in Afghanistan and makes no mention of withdrawing our troops from there (he does support withdrawing them from Iraq though). Imagine that, Bill Hedrick, a Democratic candidate who is not afraid to state that he supports two of the most important issues of our time (bringing our troops home and establishing a single payer, not-for-profit, truly universal, health care system). While it will be great if all four of these candidates beat their pro-war, pro-insurance corporation Republican opponents in November, only one of them can win the DFA Grassroots All-Stars contest. It is time that we stand up for candidates who stand up for our values! By showing candidates like Bill Hedrick that we will support them if they publicly support our values, we will get more candidates who are not afraid to stand up for true, progressive issues. You can vote for the candidates here, but voting ends Sunday, so vote right now: http://www.grassrootsallstars.com/ Here is a link right to a vote for Bill Hendrick And you can research the issues of each candidate to find out for yourself which one truly represents your values. Ami Bera: http://www.beraforcongress.com/pages/issues/ Bill Hedrick: http://www.hedrickforcongress.com/issues/ Beth Krom: http://bethkrom.com/media/?page_id=386 Steve Pougnet: http://www.electpougnet.com/?page_id=19 July 4th Independence Day July 3- Happy July 4th Independence Day When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands. He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature. He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation: For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states: For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world: For imposing taxes on us without our consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury: For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses: For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies: For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments: For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation. He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends. We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton OTRA POLÍTICA DE INMIGRACIÓN ES POSIBLE July 2- ¡ OTRA POLÍTICA DE INMIGRACIÓN ES POSIBLE ! Por David Bacon Recientemente, algunos miles de activistas de la izquierda se volvieron a reunir durante una semana en el Foro Social de los Estados Unidos, en Detroit, bajo la consigna de " Otro Mundo es Posible ". Varios cientos de ellos le agregaron un nuevo sub- título : " ¡ Otra Política de Inmigración es Posible ! " Este tema adquirió mucha simpatía, especialmente, entre las organizaciones de base de las comunidades inmigrantes, allí presentes. Hoy en día, los centros para trabajadores no tradicionales se están propagando a través de todo EE.UU., incluyendo aquellos para los jornaleros, las trabajadoras domésticas, los trabajadores agrícolas y otros, para los inmigrantes de bajos ingresos. La mayoría de los inmigrantes son de habla hispana de México y Centro América; pero muchos también provienen de Filipinas, India, Paquistán, China y el Caribe. Si algunos debieran estar en favor de la reforma migratoria, deberían de ser ellos. Sin embargo, ellos las rechazan, en lugar de aceptar las propuestas presentadas en Wáshington por el Diputado Luis Gutiérrez, y por el Senador Charles Schumer. Una semana después de la finalización de este Foro Social, el Presidente Barack Obama pronunció su discurso acerca de la Política de Inmigración; por lo que es posible, que también haya recibido el mensaje de este Foro. No se encuentran diferencias significativas entre las ideas de Obama y las de Gutiérrez, o las de Schumer. Estas organizaciones de base no aceptan las propuestas de los nuevos programas de trabajadores huéspedes. Durante varios años, ellos han venido luchando contra las redadas de las autoridades migratorias, los despidos, y el aumento de la imposición por la fuerza de la ley de inmigración, y están en total desacuerdo con las propuestas de Wáshington que son más implacables en la aplicación de esta ley. Ellos también quieren la desmilitarización de la frontera. Y creen que habrá una reforma migratoria racional cuando EE.UU. cambie su política de libre comercio que está produciendo el desplazamiento de las personas hacia otros países. Todas las propuestas de reforma migratoria de Wáshington tienen una estructura similar. Aseguran que los empleadores cuenten con un flujo manipulado de mano de obra inmigrante de bajos salarios, mediante el amplio despliegue de contratistas que los recluten directamente en sus países de residencia, como México. Los inmigrantes deben trabajar para permanecer en EE.UU., y los que no estén trabajando deben regresar a su país. Para obligar a que el flujo de trabajadores indocumentados ingrese a este programa, todos los proyectos de ley de Wáshington elevan los castigos por trabajar, o cruzar la frontera sin visas. Y como un incentivo engañoso y tentador, proponen una legalización muy restringida para las personas indocumentadas que actualmente se encuentran en los EE.UU. Estas propuestas, inicialmente, las hicieron las grandes corporaciones agrupadas en la Coalición de Inmigración del Trabajador Necesario, (EWIC, siglas de su nombre en inglés: Essential Worker Immigration Coalition), las que posteriormente fueron apoyadas por algunos sindicatos y grupos de derechos civiles.Estos grupos pensaban que las corporaciones nunca estarían de acuerdo con una legalización, si no se les aseguraba la afluencia de las personas desplazadas, en el futuro. En Wáshington, es muy frecuente escuchar razonamientos, tales como " Los mexicanos preferirían venir a los EE.UU. como braceros en vez de morir en el desierto o en la frontera"; o, también " Los mexicanos están tan desesperados para emigrar, que no les importa el tipo de visa que tengan". En Detroit, se hizo evidente que a los inmigrantes sí les importa. Ellos no quieren ser utilizados como mano de obra barata, y quieren los derechos y la igualdad con las personas que viven a su alrededor . " Necesitamos una mejor alternativa " dice Lilian Galedo, directora de Filipino Advocates for Justice. Renée Saucedo, nacida en México y actual directora del Day Labor Program de San Francisco, dice que el mayor problema en el criterio de Wáshington es que continúa con el erróneo concepto de que la inmigración es un asunto " criminal ", o " ilegal ", en lugar de considerarlo como una consecuencia de los acuerdos de libre comercio y la represión política que ha desplazado a millones de personas. Los empleadores quieren se mantenga este consenso para asegurarse en disponer de mano de obra barata, vulnerable y explotable. El Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales, con una membresía indígena de ambos lados de la frontera México/EE.UU., siempre se ha opuesto, históricamente a los programas de contratación de mano de obra y de trabajadores huéspedes. " Los inmigrantes necesitan el derecho para trabajar; pero estos trabajadores no tienen derechos laborales ni beneficios " dice Gaspar Rivera Salgado, Coordinador Binacional del FIOB, Y agrega " Es como la esclavitud ". Muchos miembros del FIOB son trabajadores agrícolas y algunos rememoran los abusos del antiguo programa "bracero". Al mismo tiempo, Rivera Salgado advierte, " En México necesitamos lograr el desarrollo que haga de la migración una opción, en lugar de una necesidad -- el derecho a no emigrar. Ambos derechos son parte de la misma solución. Pero el derecho a no emigrar tiene que suponer más que el derecho a quedarse pobre, o el derecho a permanecer con hambre y en el desamparo". Por esta razón, después de un prolongado proceso de consultas, FIOB anunció iba a "Trabajar para renegociar el Tratado de Libre Comerciode América del Norte (TLCAN) a largo plazo por ser una de las causas de la migración ya que crea pobreza y desigualdad dentro de México en las comunidades de origen ". En Detroit, los activistas de los inmigrantes exigieron una amplia legalización que dará papeles a todas las personas indocumentadas. Ellos quieren que EE.UU. aumente la disponibilidad de visas de residencia, que permita a los inmigrantes escoger donde vivir dejando de ser vulnerables a los empleadores. Ellos se opusieron a los acuerdos comerciales como NAFTA. Pero, la mayoria abrumadora de todos ellos exigieron poner fin a la criminalización de los inmigrantes, tanto por la infame ley SB1070 de Arizona, como por los despidos de miles de trabajadores por la falta de papeles para trabajar. El año pasado han sido encarcelados más de 350,000 inmigrantes indocumentados en centros de detención privados. Saucedo declara "Nunca debemos luchar por los derechos de algunos a expensas de los de otros", y que "La legalización sería una victoria superficial si la mayoría de los inmigrantes siguieran enfrentando enorme explotación, despidos y redadas ". Patriotic Picnic June 29- When: Thursday, July 1, 2010 6:00 pm. Where: Bicentennial Park corner of Sunnyside and Sierra in Clovis. The picnic area is just behind the Bicentennial parking lot on 100 N. Sunnyside Ave. A map to the park can be seen here: Sponsored by the Clovis Democratic Club Hot dogs, Buns and Drinks, - soda, as well as picnic supplies (plates, plastic ware, cups, napkins, etc.) provided by the club - Please bring a covered dish or dessert to share. The evening will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance - led by our Mayor Harry Armstrong The Uncle Ephus Band will provide patriotic music - also singing led by Helen Wilson We will have several local politicians - so come and hear what is happening in the world of politics to make our community, county and state a better place to live. Larry Johnson, Michael Esswein, Representatives from the California Central Committee, the Democrats in Action office, and probably a visit from Uncle Sam. There will be a few others so come and enjoy the evening for the kick off for the July 4th weekend. There will be drawings for some great prizes (Be sure to bring along a couple of dollars to buy raffle tickets). This is a "DON'T MISS IT" event! Blessings and God Bless America. Please RSVP to Lucy Elgin, President Clovis Democratic club 322-8525 Vote Summary June 9 Thank you to all that voted in Tuesdays elections. We did so so on ballot measures and candidates. Congratulations to all those candidates that won their races, and this is day one for those doing it again in November. Prop 13 passed, as a party we supported that, yeah us. Prop 14 passed and that was one we were against. Prop 15 did not pass, that is one we wanted so far we are one for three. Prop 16 did not pass, yeah us we are batting .500 again. Prop 17 did not pass, now our average is up to .600, we should be pro baseball players with those numbers. Measure A passed and that was not what we wanted so we are back to playing 500 ball here at the club. We have several races that will need our help, we are in runoff situations and we need to pick up those seats for the Democrats. We will also need help with candidates running for school board. VOTE!! May 11- Today is the day, the one we have waited for. VOTE!!! It is that time of the year and it is important to do. VOTE!!! If you are a vote by mail person then you get the honor of doing it early. VOTE!!! The California Democratic Party recommends Prop 13 Yes Prop 14 No Prop 15 Yes Prop 16 No Prop 17 No Click here to see all of their endorsements The Fresno Democratic party has made the local recomendation of voting to support the following candidates Carole Laval - Assessor Recorder Michael Esswein - Assembly District 29 Larry Johnson - Senate District 14 Lillian Koenig - City Council District 7 (write in) and on the local ballot measure: Measure A No Statewide ballot measures/propositions: Prop 13 Neutral Prop 14 No Prop 15 Yes Prop 16 No Prop 17 No San Joaquin Valley Democratic club has endorsed the following candidates: Jerry Brown - Governor Janice Hahn - Lt. Governor Kamala Harris - Attorney General Dave Jones - Insurance Commisioner Tom Torlakson - Superintendent of Public Education Barbara Boxer - US Senate Romelia Castillo - AD 31 Gary Shinaver - Superior Court Judge Les Marsden - CD 19 Fran Florez - AD 30 Steve Haze - CD 20 Louise Bauer Davoli - city council 5 Oliver Baines - city council 3 Cynthia Sterling - county supervisor 1 Ruben Macareno - CD 21 (write in) VOTE!!! If you don't vote your punishment is to be governed by your inferiors VOTE!!! Myths and falsehoods about Elena Kagan's Supreme Court nomination May 10- Our friends over at Media Matters have done their research again and we appreciate them for it. Here is a list of myths that are already blowing around the country, yes she is being accused of being a socialist. Here is another great myth: Kagan is unqualified because she hasn't been a judgeHave a read and enjoy the myths and rumors here The Demon Sheep are back May 9- They are back, the Demon Sheep! See them all here, Chuck Devore, Tom Cambel and Carly Fiorina. See them all in sheeps clothing Click here for Demon Sheep the movie Mostly come on out and vote for Sen. Barbara Boxer Go Democrats May 8- The Sacramento Bee has been reading the Secretary of State voter registration summary, that is more research then the local Bee and it's writer do. Of course if they did any kind of research it would make it hard to schill for the Republican party with a clean conscious here in Fresno. DEMS GAIN, REPS LOSE IN VOTER REGISTRATION That is the headline and that is the fact, all of the rightwing bluster, and time spent by the rightwing lying to the people is finally paying off. Democats have picked up 2% in regisrtation, Republicans are down 4% and the Decline to State are up 2%. Here is the Secretary of State report |
Cost of Iraq War
US Military in Iraq
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