WW4 Dems

Does voting matter?

2010-10-20T05:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

This e-mail is about politics. If you are offended by political
e-mails, I urge you to hit delete now. But I hope you don't do that.
I invite you to read this, think about it, and act on it. It's kind
of long, but I think you will find it worthwhile.

Next month our nation will hold crucial congressional elections.
Although some people claim that these elections don't matter, I
believe that they do – enormously. All elections have consequences
for our lives, and that is true of this fall's contests.

I decided to do some digging about key issues that Congress has been
dealing with, to educate myself before the election. I have finished
my research, and I can now tell you that when I go into the voting
booth, I will enthusiastically vote for Democratic candidates for the
U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. I want the Democrats
to retain their majority, and I want to tell you why. Here are ten
reasons.

1. The Democratic-led Congress enacted major reforms to the federal
student loan program for college students, freeing up an additional
$60 billion for students that would have gone for bank fees and
profits.

2. The Democratic-led Congress enacted a "bill of rights" for credit
card holders that will prevent credit card companies from gouging
ordinary people and wrecking their credit. You are already seeing the
results of that law.

3. The Democratic-led Congress enacted major reforms to the banking
and financial sectors, reining in corporate excesses and restructuring
many things, so that our nation will not soon be wracked by the same
type of recession that hit us in 2008. One part of that law is a new
consumer financial protection agency, an entity sorely needed.

4. The Democratic-led Congress enacted a significant income tax cut
for middle-class and working families last year. The Republicans
don't want you to know about that, so they claim that Democrats oppose
tax cuts. But the Republicans are wrong on this – Democrats cut
income taxes for the middle class. If you don't believe me, please
look it up.

5. The Democratic-led Congress also enacted significant tax cuts for
small businesses – more than once. Republicans enjoy ranting about
how Democrats hurt small businesses, but they are wrong on the facts.
Democrats have taken numerous steps to help small businesses,
including tax cuts. If you don't believe me, please look it up.

6. The Democratic-led Congress enacted legislation to provide better
and more comprehensive health care to combat veterans from our recent
wars, as well as benefits to their caregivers.

7. The Democratic-led Congress raised the minimum wage to $7.25 per
hour. When the Republicans held the majority, they stonewalled any
increase for years and years, exacerbating poverty and homelessness
for working Americans. The Democrats also enacted a law guaranteeing
equal pay for women after the super-conservative, super-activist
Supreme Court said that existing law did not guarantee such equality.

8. The Democratic-led Congress passed a landmark health care bill that
we should all be thankful for. Among its many provisions are these:
32 million people who have been without coverage will soon be able to
have it; insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime expenditure
limits on anyone, even those with major illnesses; no one can be
denied health coverage because of pre-existing conditions; all of us
now have a "patients' bill of rights;" and Medicare is strengthened
for years to come. (Furthermore, everyone can keep their current
health coverage if they wish.) These are huge steps forward for our
nation. Ironically, on the very day that several of these provisions
took effect, Republican leaders declared their fundamental opposition
to such progress and vowed to repeal health care reform, including
these common-sense provisions, if they obtain a majority in Congress.
In addition to the comprehensive health care bill, the Democratic-led
Congress expanded the SCHIP program that provides health care for
at-risk low-income children, and strengthened the Medicaid program for
low-income adults.

9. The Democratic-led Congress faced up to the recession and extended
unemployment benefits for those who are out of work and unable to find
work, while Republicans strenuously opposed such payments to those in
great need.

10. Finally, there is the stimulus package, enacted by the
Democratic-led Congress. Republicans rail endlessly about how
terrible it was, but a majority of unbiased economists declare it a
solid achievement, a real success. Every American should be thankful
for Democrats' thoughtful and prompt action on the stimulus package,
because it helped to halt our steep slide into recession, and put
millions of unemployed folks back to work. The stimulus package was
and is a solid, practical response to difficult times, a true building
block for the economic recovery.

Those are ten significant accomplishments by the Democrats, ten
reasons why they should be entrusted to continue leading Congress.
Not convinced yet? Well, here are ten more.

11. The Democratic-led House enacted a major clean energy jobs bill
that will benefit our nation in numerous ways. Senate Republicans
have so far blocked it in that chamber, but Democrats will keep trying
to achieve bipartisan approval.

12. Democrats have proposed a thoughtful, workable plan to deal with
immigration issues. Republicans have no plan beyond rounding up
millions of immigrants and sending them back, plus placing more troops
at the Mexican border.

13. Democrats in Congress are striving to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell," so that every American who wants to serve in the military will
be permitted to do so. Republicans have blocked repeal because they
fundamentally oppose full freedom for gay people.

14. Republican leaders have pledged to increase the nation's deficit
even further in order to cut taxes for the super-rich. They attempt to
scare the rest of us by suggesting that President Obama's proposal for
somewhat higher taxes on the super-rich will translate into higher
taxes on everyone, even though there is no evidence for that.

15. The Democratic-led Congress enacted an increase in vehicle fuel
standards that will both decrease our dependence on foreign sources of
oil and clean up our environment.

16. Several Republican candidates for Congress are committed to
privatizing Social Security, while Democrats strongly oppose such an
effort. Imagine what pain and anguish would have set in among our
nation's seniors during this recession if their monthly Social
Security checks depended on the stock market. Democrats will protect
Social Security and make it solvent for decades to come. (In a
further attack on seniors, one Republican candidate has even pledged
to work for the elimination of Medicare.)

17. The Democratic-led Congress worked closely with President Bush in
2008 to enact the TARP bill, which prevented the recession from
becoming much more serious than it was. We hear Republicans routinely
decry that bill, but it was actually a stunning bipartisan success,
saving many American companies and jobs. Although the initial
projection for TARP expenditures was $700 billion, the success of the
program and the rapid rate of repayments now point to a final cost to
taxpayers of less than one-tenth of that amount.

18. Republican leaders announced their goal to remove reasonable rules
and controls on Wall Street, so that investment bankers can return to
their Wild West approach and make themselves richer.

19. The Democratic-led Congress voted to penalize American companies
that ship jobs overseas, while Republicans opposed that legislation.

20. Finally, the Republicans have several candidates who are truly
beyond the pale. A Republican House candidate in Ohio enjoys wearing
a Nazi uniform in public and re-enacting Waffen-SS atrocities. The
Republican Senate candidate in Alaska urged repeal of the 17th
Amendment, which provides for senators to be elected directly by the
people; he wants to go back to the days when state legislatures chose
senators, with lots of backroom horse-trading. The Republican Senate
candidate in Kentucky called for repeal of the Civil Rights Act of
1965. Some Republicans are backing repeal of the 14th Amendment,
which enabled the slaves to become full citizens of this country.

So, there is a summary of the choice that we face. We can re-elect
the Democrats, the party that works to improve our nation and its
people, or we can bring back the Republicans, the party that promotes
fear, opposes progress and undermines liberty. We can re-elect the
strong, thoughtful Congress that has been in place for the last four
years, or we can bring back the party that let business run amok,
creating economic collapse.

Here is another way to think about it: the Democrats in Congress will
do a better job on practically every issue than the Republicans.
Beyond the 20 points above, take a minute to think about: military
spending, nuclear weapons treaties, public education, terrorism,
reproductive choice, farm policy, climate change, stewardship of
natural resources, religious liberty, labor issues, meals-on-wheels,
transportation and Indian affairs. I trust Democrats to handle all of
those matters in a more thoughtful and appropriate way than
Republicans.

As I said at the outset, elections have consequences, and this year is
no exception. Voting for Tea Partyers and their cohorts is gambling
with everything that makes up America – our economy, our health, our
jobs, our infrastructure, our security, our liberty.

Big money is flowing to the Republicans in this election, hoping to
buy a Congress that will ignore the interests of ordinary people.
Earlier this year the conservatives on the Supreme Court dealt a major
blow to democracy when it essentially removed limits and controls on
secret financing of election campaign ads; the result is that tens of
millions of dollars have flooded into Republican coffers. We need to
fight back with people power.

If you agree with this analysis, please consider taking the following steps:
(1) Forward this message widely. Sent it to everyone in your address
book. If you only like parts of it, forward the parts you like. If
you want to cut and paste, feel free. If you want to plagiarize, feel
free. If you want to print it out and distribute hardcopies, feel
free; it is not copyrighted. Just get it out quickly and widely.
(2) Go out and work for Democrats between now and November 2nd. Knock
on doors, host a gathering, work at phone banks, hand out leaflets,
give some money to candidates.

Thank you for reading this and thinking about it. If you have
questions, let me know.

Bob Tiller

Bill Holmes for the PA House

2010-07-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

Bill Holmes is running for the 167th District House seat. I hope you will support him. He is for good government and common sense government. See his website for more or click here for a google doc of his positions in detail.

Stimulus is a disaster

2009-02-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

Our Democratic Party leadership has basically sold us out to the banks. They have stood by while the banks have looted the Treasury (borrowed money) and the Federal Reserve (printed money). By some estimates the cost of bank bailouts has already been enough to have paid off every mortgage in America. And after all this, the banks are still not solvent!

Now they have compromised too much and we have a half-hearted stimulus which will mostly build more roads and help buy more cars, resulting in more oil wars. When this bad stimulus combined with the bank throwaway fails to stop massive pain, the Democrats will get the blame.

The sad news is, as bad as our party is, the other is much, much worse. They are basically aligned with the super-rich, who love the cheap labor and cheap assets that a recession provides them.

Billions For Highways?

2009-01-23T00:51:00.001-08:00

Fw: [PublicTransportationUsersforObama] Re: RE: Billions for Highways?

Thanks Virginia,

I think this could be the sleeper defeat of the decade, a chance like this comes only once in a lifetime. To see how we could do things better, just look at our neighbors' economic stimulus plan across the Pacific over in China:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/22/business/yuan.2-413647.php?page=1

They are spending $88 Billion on intercity rail alone, with other transportation projects totaling $2.6 trillion over two years, almost all railroads. They have built as many miles of High Speed Rail in two years than Europe has in two decades. Though they have some unfair advantages (easy seizure of private property, a war chest of cash, and little or no environmental review), but we can do far better. After all, we built the transcontinental railroad, the most ambitious project by far in the world at that time.

Remember to contact your local representative, and remind them to include public transportation in any stimulus package.

Sean in San Francisco

On Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 5:50 PM, Virginia Fitzpatrick <virginiafitzpatrick@comcast.net> wrote:

Sean

I was heartened to see that the Obama public transportation group was still active. Inspired by your remarks below I sent the following email (in red) to my US House Representative - The Honorable Jim Gerlach (Republican - voted against the TARP)

I appreciate your past support of public transportation and your concern about the TARP spending. Now I understand that Congress will vote on an economic recovery package that bows to the highway lobby by allocating 75% of transportation funding to build NEW roads. Please reconsider that allocation. Use transit expenditures to repair our roads and bridges and then use the rest to upgrade public transit. As our population ages we will become more dependent on Public transportation. We do not really want to compete with the Trucks on the highway. The population of the USA has more than doubled since I first learned to drive and the Auto is much less of a convenience. Parking lots mar our landscape. Runoff from roadways pollutes our Rivers and Streams. Our rural areas are covered with asphalt hills from expended roads.

I lived in Germany for 6 months and never needed an Auto. The city was much nicer without them. Less noise and congestion in the city center. There were small shops where I could pick up whatever groceries I needed when I stepped off the subway to walk to my apartment. Here in the USA we are forced to incur the dangers and expense of owning a car.

Please - We need a change of direction in our development of transportation

I will let you know if Gerlach responds

Virginia Fitzpatrick

From: Sean Hedgpeth [mailto:shedgpeth@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 6:57 PM
To: Public Transportation Users for Obama!
Subject: [PublicTransportationUsersforObama] Fwd: CALPIRG: Billions For Highways?

Only takes a second to send something, this is outrageous, we could build light rail and HSR all day with these funds, instead they are going to build suburban interchanges and new highways through national parks. Send this to your friends!

Hi ,

This week, Congress is set to vote on an economic recovery package. It has the potential to breathe new life into our country's broken public transportation systems.

Yet, shockingly, the current proposal only allocates 25% of its transportation funding to transit projects, while 75% goes into building roads.

We can't let this happen. Speaker Pelosi's input is critical, and she needs to hear from Californians. Tell Speaker Pelosi to allocate more funding to public transportation.

We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the direction of this country, and invest in long-term solutions to the pollution, oil dependency and traffic problems caused by our drive-your-car-or-stay-at-home system.

Our own Transportation Associate Erin Steva put it well in a recent op-ed in the San Diego Union Tribune:

"Federal transportation money should be spent only on projects that advance long-term national goals, by reducing our dependence on oil, curbing global warming pollution, alleviating congestion, improving safety, and supporting healthy, sustainable communities. To reach these goals, emphasis should be placed on expanding light rail, commuter rail, rapid bus service, high-speed intercity rail and other forms of modern public transportation. At least as much money should be allocated to these transportation modes as to roads and highways."

Public transportation not only reduces our addiction to oil -- and the harmful global warming pollution that addiction produces -- transit projects also create more jobs and reduce more traffic than the road-building alternative.

In fact, we know that every dollar invested in transit projects creates 20% more jobs than money spent on road-building.

We already moving on the right track. More than 2.8 billion trips were taken on public transportation in the third quarter of 2008 -- an increase of 6.5 percent over the third quarter of 2007. California voters approved local ballot measures for transit such as Measure R in Los Angeles County, and statewide ballot measures, such as Prop 1A for high-speed rail. Those projects depend on funding from Congress to match California's commitment to improving transit.

The Economic Recovery Package presents an opportunity to make significant progress in building a better transportation future. Increasing funding for public transportation would benefit California greatly, but Speaker Pelosi is under a lot of pressure to allocate funding to roads instead.

She is hearing from road builders and other powerful developers. Now she needs to hear from you:

http://www.calpirg.org/action/world-class-public-transit/pelosi?id=ES

Sincerely,

Emily Rusch
CALPIRG
EmilyR@calpirg.org
http://www.calpirg.org

P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.

Obama on global warming

2008-11-21T09:56:00.000-08:00

WW4 Election Results

2008-11-05T08:59:00.001-08:00

The most important people...

2008-10-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

The most important people in the world: block captains. Why?

We are the local connection to the political system. The political system determines public policy. There are only two powers in politics:

1. Money
2. People

Take responsibility for our future. Be a block captain. And do it your way.

Give me 3 hours and I'll give you 4 great years!

2008-10-09T19:53:00.001-07:00

Dear Neighbors,

We have 25 days to go. That translates to 600 hours. This week, I need 3 of those hours to help change the future of this country. Can you help?

We need people to knock on doors THIS WEEKEND! On Saturday we are meeting at the Exton Post Office in the Exton Square Mall.

Saturday 11am- http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/canvass/gshvbx

Saturday 3pm- http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/canvass/gshvs9

AND we are meeting on Sunday at Kerr Park in Downingtown (Wallace Ave)

Sunday 12:30- http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/canvass/gshvly

We also need phonebankers at the office! Please reply to this email to schedule!

Mon-Sat 10-1, 1-5, 5-9

Sunday 12-5, 5-9

Thanks!

Eddy K. Foster - Field Organizer

Barack Obama's Campaign for Change
(c) 610-306-0672

Paulson profited from rule change that led to collapse

2008-10-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

...Many events in Washington, on Wall Street and elsewhere around the country have led to what has been called the most serious financial crisis since the 1930s. But decisions made at a brief meeting on April 28, 2004, explain why the problems could spin out of control. The agency’s failure to follow through on those decisions also explains why Washington regulators did not see what was coming.
On that bright spring afternoon, the five members of the Securities and Exchange Commission met in a basement hearing room to consider an urgent plea by the big investment banks.
They wanted an exemption for their brokerage units from an old regulation that limited the amount of debt they could take on. The exemption would unshackle billions of dollars held in reserve as a cushion against losses on their investments. Those funds could then flow up to the parent company, enabling it to invest in the fast-growing but opaque world of mortgage-backed securities; credit derivatives, a form of insurance for bond holders; and other exotic instruments.
The five investment banks led the charge, including Goldman Sachs, which was headed by Henry M. Paulson Jr. Two years later, he left to become Treasury Secretary.
A lone dissenter — a software consultant and expert on risk management — weighed in from Indiana with a two-page letter to warn the commission that the move was a grave mistake. He never heard back from Washington.
One commissioner, Harvey J. Goldschmid, questioned the staff about the consequences of the proposed exemption. It would only be available for the largest firms, he was reassuringly told — those with assets greater than $5 billion.
“We’ve said these are the big guys,” Mr. Goldschmid said, provoking nervous laughter, “but that means if anything goes wrong, it’s going to be an awfully big mess.”... NYTimes

Credit crunch scare used to steal more taxes

2008-10-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

Have you had enough of supply-side economics yet? Think about it. Which is the reason that a business expands?

a. someone gave the boss a bunch of free taxpayer money.
b. customer orders exceed production capacity.

The answer is that our economy is demand driven. When Reagan first campaigned in primaries on supply-side economics, George H. W. Bush called it "voodoo economics." The wall street "geniuses" have run off with billions of investor money, now the institutions are failing, and they want the taxpayer to pump more money to the top (see choice a. above). If we don't give them our wallet, "there will be a credit lockdown! Just look at the crunch now! " Read on for more perspective on this:

...The bottom line is that we have badly over-leveraged banks who are on the edge of collapse and we have a credit tightening due to an economic downturn. These problems are related, but even if we could snap our fingers and make the banks healthy again tomorrow, we would still have a serious credit problem due to the recession. In other words, many of the businesses and people who have been appearing on news shows because they could not get credit would still not be able to get credit. (Although they probably will not be appearing on the news shows once the bailout passes.)
Just to remind everyone the cause is the loss of more than $4 trillion in housing equity due to the collapse of the housing bubble. The collapse of this bubble has not only devastated the construction and real estate market, it also has forced consumers to cut back. Tens of millions of homeowners no longer have any equity against which to borrow. Even those who still have equity realize that they will have to increase their savings to support themselves in retirement.
And all this came about because the experts who are now insisting that we need a bailout had previously insisted that there was no housing bubble and that everything was just fine. It is always important to keep things in context. -- Dean Baker on Huffington

Bush stokes fears, Marcy Kaptur: "calm down"

2008-09-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

Bailout is for Wall Street, not Main Street.

2008-09-29T16:52:00.000-07:00

Bailout will make things worse

2008-09-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

If this bill passes, it will be a profound referendum on the dominance of money over democracy in America. That - and that alone - would be the only thing an objective observer could take away from the whole thing. David Sirota

Bailout - Listen to Marcy !

2008-09-25T01:19:00.000-07:00

Finance Fatcats Live Large as Firms Crumble

2008-09-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

Thousands of employees are prepping their resumes and many more people are left to contemplate their dwindling nest eggs. But for the companies' executives, men who months ago were given multi-million dollar bonuses despite peering the devastation on the horizon, there is little to worry about. ABCNews

Now is the time. Get involved.

2008-09-09T19:19:00.001-07:00

Hi neighbors,

West Whiteland is a swing township, in a swing county, in a swing state. The world is watching us. What will we do?

We have to organize and get out the vote. No one will do it for us.

Take responsibilty for our future - sign up on the Obama site - or email me. We will find some way that you can be effective.

bill eddy - block captain - colwyn terrace - http://ww4dems.blogspot.com

Jim Gerlach: Largest FEC Fine in Pennsylvania History

2008-08-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

In April 2007, Jim Gerlach agreed to pay a $120,000 fine to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for violation of Federal Campaign Finance Laws. This penalty constituted the largest federal fine ever imposed on a member from Pennsylvania, and, according to the FEC, the third largest issued against a sitting U.S. lawmaker since 1980. more...

Let's elect Obama!

2008-08-26T18:55:00.001-07:00

I just came back from an Obama organizing meeting for our 3-township area. There were 7 people signed up to come, but more than 20 showed up!

There are a lot of events coming up. Everyone should go to the Obama site and sign up. On the site you will find many ways to help win this election. There is something for everyone.

We have 10 weeks to turn this country around. Now is the time to get involved.

bill e - block captain - colwyn terrace - http://ww4dems.blogspot.com/

Palmaccio Campaign

2008-08-24T18:35:00.001-07:00

Attention West Whiteland block captains!

We have an excellent chance to get another Democrat seat in the PA house. We lost the 167th PA house seat by only a handful of votes last time. Now we have an excellent candidate, Carol Palmaccio.

Carol's campaign asked for a list of our block captains and they will be contacting you.

Carol is an inspiring and dedicated candidate. She has already knocked on thousands of doors in our district and the election season is just starting to heat up. Please welcome Carol's call or visit and help if are willing and able.

bill e - block captain - colwyn terrace

Fw: Save the Date!

2008-08-12T17:50:00.001-07:00

SAVE THE DATE!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IT'S A PARTY - SAVE THE DATE - Thursday, August 28, 2008 - 8:00PM-10:30PM

Please join us as we celebrate the official nomination of Barack Obama as the Democratic Party's nominee for U.S. President. Beginning at 8:00PM we will be gathering for a party at Carrabbas Italian Grill in Frazer.

The Carrabbas Italian Grill restaurant is located at 245 Lancaster Avenue in Frazer. (It is the same location we gathered in the fall of 2006 to celebrate Joe Sestak's and Barb McIlvaine-Smith's victories.) The party food will include appetizers: mozzarella marinara, pizzas, fried zucchini, bruschetta, and raviolis along with soda and iced tea to quest your thirst. Libations are also available at the cash bar. The cost is $20/per person. Tickets are available in advance at this Wednesday's CCDC Executive Committee meeting, the CCDC Office or at the door.

However, we need to provide a head count to Carrabbas in advance of our party, so please RSVP to chair@chescodems.org or at the Chester County Democratic Committee Office at 610-692-5811. Look forward to seeing you! Best Regards, Michele -- Michele Vaughn, Chair Chester

County Democratic Committee 37 South High Street West Chester, PA 19382

mvaughn125@comcast.net

The economic military draft

2008-08-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

The U.S. is fighting oil wars that benefit only one section of corporate America. I don't want want my son enticed into signing and then being forced into criminal acts to save a carbon-auto system that should be dismantled, not saved.

The Army recruiter has convinced my 19 yr old son that he is his friend. He is tempting him with a $15,000 signing bonus and full college scholarship.

I love my son. I will fight to keep him. The uncertainty and worry is wearing me down.

It's too hot

2008-07-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

Had enough of the heat?
Had enough of traffic and road-work?
Had enough of oil wars?

What is the common denominator? Our subsidized system auto-and-sprawl. How subsidized? We pay for the problems, oil and auto companies take the profits. Why? They have too much influence on public policy. Why? Too many people are staying home and not voting.

Want to do something about it?

1. Become a block captain.
2. Get a voter list of your block.
3. Talk to dems who have not voted.
4. Get absentee applications for college students.
5. Register voters.
6. Log on to BarackObama.com and organize an event.

22 Obama field offices to open in PA on July 22nd

2008-07-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

JULY 22 ~ 22 OBAMA OFFICES OPEN IN PA!!
SPREAD THE WORD TO ALL YOUR
LISTS, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, ORGANIZATIONS!!
Grand Opening: Chester County Headquarters of the Pennsylvania Campaign for ChangeWhen: Tuesday, July 22, 2008. 6 ~ 9pmWhere: 543 E Gay Street, West Chester PAPlease bring food & drinks to share, BYOBWe still are in desperate need of office furniture, supplies, chairs, etc. the office will be open from 9-9 daily
Now through Monday. Please bring a tables, chairs, supplies, so that we are prepared for our opening on TuesdayDan Gabor Campaign For Change - PA Field Organizer312.805.5797 mobile dgabor@barackobama.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Roggio impressive in person

2008-06-30T11:53:00.001-07:00

Bob Roggio gave a talk at the reception last Thursday and took some questions. I was impressed. Bob focused on education, health insurance, and the Iraq war.

He reiterated what even Republicans admit to be true. That investment in early childhood development pays dividends many times over. He also advocated more public support for higher education.

He likes the idea of single-payer health insurance, but feels it is not feasible politically right now. He would support a universal plan in the interim.

Bob is refreshingly honest about the Iraq war. He does not have a solution, but explained that after meeting with some of our wounded armed services people, he is highly motivated to work to bring the war to an early end.

Bob is engaging and soft-spoken. His remarks were focused and organized. He has the guts to say we cannot drill our way out of high gasoline prices. It will be hard for Gerlach to accuse him of waffling or pandering.

The campaign seems in good shape as well. Bob recognizes the importance of Berks voters and has a plan to win them.

I recommend we get out the vote and put him well over the top in West Whiteland.

Roggio for Congress !

2008-06-20T02:16:00.000-07:00

Tired of oil wars? Tired of being called a traitor because you think we should stop fighting and drilling and start conserving? Well, we need a congress to back up Barack! Support Roggio for Congress!

Our District 167 Leader, Bill Holmes, is hosting a reception for Bob Roggio:

Where

McKenzie's Brew House

240 Lancaster Ave,

Malvern, PA 19355
When
Thursday, June 26, 6:00PM

Email me if you want more info: wre1027 at yahoo dot com

Roggio v Gerlach - comparison

2008-06-09T11:40:00.001-07:00

Roggio on fossil fuels:

"Will be a leader in fighting the causes of global warming. Will not accept campaign contributions from oil and gas companies. Would vote to end taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil."

Free bus to the rail stations

2008-05-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

We could take dozens of cars off the road and alleviate the parking problems at the Whitford and Exton SEPTA rail stations with one simple solution. We need to revive the circulator bus that takes people to and from the stations during rush hour.

Public transportation is only successful when it is dependable. This time we should insist on a committment to success. The buses should be consistently on-time. They should also be fare-free. Fare-collection is an unnecessary burden on drivers and slows down operation. In addition, there is a lot of expense and frustration associated.

This service, combined with the DVRP Emergency Ride Home Plan . Would solve transport and parking problems for many. SEPTA would save by not having to invest as much in parking expansion and maintenance. Everyone would benefit from the reduced traffic.

For more info on public transit see the excellent TMACC site.

Volunteer Recruitment?

2008-04-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

I was more than a little aggravated when I went to our polling place today [4/22]. A table was set up with a sign that said, "Support the Democratic Party in November." The table was filled with Hillary Clinton pamphlets. There was nothing for Obama. The message that gave me was, "If you're an Obama supporter don't bother signing up." I was really annoyed but didn't want to get into it with the person there because [my son] was with me. Very very disappointing. Why would they want to drive away potential supporters? - M.K. WW4 Dem

Election Results WW4

2008-04-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Our blog is back!

2008-04-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Hope you didn't forget to vote today. Good job!

Our blog was attacked, but we survived and we are back in business.

Check our numbers box on the right... we are up to 1,093 Dems from 919 last fall. And we have two new block captains in the last couple weeks. In addition, I may have found a committeeperson to replace me when I move to Philly sometime in the next few months.

Don't be afraid to be a block captain! Who is going to criticize you? If they can do better, let them step up!

Current block captains. I will be sending out updated lists. This may take weeks. If you are in a hurry, let me know. Also, I have a lot of notes from canvassing that will never make it into the database... like who is nice and who is not. I will be happy to come over and go over your list and compare notes if you like.

Obama's Pennsylvania Speeches

2008-04-20T12:25:00.000-07:00

If you missed Barack Obama as he passed through Chester County, you can see his speeches on youtube... click here.

Obama in Chesco Saturday

2008-04-18T06:08:00.000-07:00

All events free and open to the public.

11:30 a.m. -- Wynnewood Whistle Stop
Wynnewood Rail Station
East Wynnewood Rd. and Penn Rd.
Gates Open: 9:30 a.m.

2:00 p.m. -- Paoli Whistle Stop
Paoli Rail Station
13 Lancaster Ave.
Lancaster Pike and North Valley Rd.
Gates Open: 12:00 p.m.

3:45 p.m. -- Downingtown Whistle Stop (not 1:30 as previously advertised...)
Downingtown Rail Station
West Lancaster Ave. and Stuart Ave.
Gates Open: 1:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m. -- Lancaster Whistle Stop
Lancaster Rail Station
53 McGovern Ave.
Gates Open: 4:00 p.m.

All events free and open to the public.

Your neighbor's voice

2008-04-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

Before Obama came on the scene I was really looking forward to Hillary running. I just really hated her campaign tactics from the get-go. Having her people infiltrate other candidates public forums to put them in a bad light seemed unneccessarily underhanded to me so early on. I really liked Edwards but it just wasn't his time.

I was concerned about Obama's lack of experience but despite Clinton's claims, she doesn't have a lot more experience than he does. Frankly, none of the candidates has experience being a president so the next question for me is leadership and connections. Obama has proved he can pull people together. I'm reading his first book now and it's a little bit self-serving but insightful into his good character nonetheless.

I kept going back and forth, reading as much as I can about both candidates but the continued negative campaign tactics and the Bosnia under fire thing really pushed me over the fence and squarely into the Obama camp. As a woman who had to struggle to be successful so my daughter doesn't have to, Hillary still resonates with me and if she turns out to be the popularly selected Democratic candidate than I'll wholeheartedly support her.

I just think there's more to selecting a candidate than being a woman or being a minority. The bottom line is that we have been crying out for leadership with integrity and I think we're most likely to get that from Obama so unless I see otherwise from him, he's getting my vote in the primary.

Thanks for sharing your thooughts with me. All in all this whole thing has been so good for Democrats and the election process, hasn't it?

from L.R. - ww4 democrat

Who wants to Canvass?

2008-04-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

Obama canvassing is going great! We are meeting the newly registered voters. As block captains, we are building ties with voters so we can have a strong party for the future.

Last night we skipped about seven houses because they are already on our email list. So get on the list and we won't interrupt your dinner!

We have covered the neighborhoods of two block captains - time is short - who is next?

Clinton attacks are wrong

2008-04-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

The negative attacks on Obama by Clinton are the wrong way to promote the Democratic Party.

Now, to get back to the issues:

Tired of traffic congestion?
Tired of oil wars?
Tired of tax money being given to the wealthy?
Tired of corporate money controlling politics?

Take action. Get Involved.

More Obama Canvassing

2008-04-11T08:01:00.001-07:00

We will be canvassing for Obama in WW4 again on Monday night - 6 pm. Let me know if you want to go with us.

How to post on this blog...

2008-04-10T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while canvassing with one of our block captains, we had several very interesting conversations with voters about the Clinton/Obama race.

Say what you think!

Send your post to bill_eddy dot ww4dems at blogger dot com.

Your email will become a draft post. I will then post it. Be sure and say if or how you want to be identified. I won't post any names unless explicitly told to do so.. !

If you just want to comment on a post, click on "comments" at the bottom of the post.

Vote for Obama

2008-04-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

The human race is fighting wars over natural resources and energy and at the same time wasting them.

We can do better.

The Democratic party can be a vehicle for policy change. We will have to overcome the power of corporate money by getting voters motivated and active.

Let's start by electing Barack Obama. Join the campaign.

Obama HQ

2008-04-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

The Obama campaign is busy in Chester County with many events scheduled this weekend and beyond. To get involved, sign up on the website or call or email the office in West Chester.

Chester County Headquarters - West Chester

543 E. Gay Street

Gay Street Plaza

West Chester, PA 19380

610-430-0400

Email: PA@BarackObama.com

Canvass for Hillary Clinton

2008-03-31T19:07:00.001-07:00

Hello all:

for any and all who are available, we will be canvassing West Whiteland on Sunday, April 6 in conjunction with the Clinton campaign. Please meet at the Clinton campaign headquarters at 1pm located at 138 E. Gay St., West Chester. We will find out exactly what area to cover and get lit. then too. Please pass this message along to anyone you think might be interested. Hope to see you Sunday.
Jo Ann

Bob Roggio on the Environment

2008-03-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

The Bush administration has ignored the imminent threat posed by Global Warming. I believe that America should lead the global fight against this environmental peril. We need aggressive domestic policy to reverse the devastating trends, and must cooperate and lead on the international stage. Clean air, water, and the preservation of our natural environment must become a priority. We all share the responsibility of protecting our environment for the future generations.
Roggio Website

House Party with Anne Lewis 3/31

2008-03-22T15:12:00.001-07:00

Friends and Hillary Supporters:

Paulette Yost, resident of Westtown Township and Hillary supporter, is hosting a house party on 3/31 from 7-9 PM

with Anne Lewis < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Lewis >

and Judy Lichtman < http://www.count-me-in.org/about/judith.html >
as the special guests.

Paulette would like to encourage undecided voters to come hear about Hillary Clinton from the people who know her best.

If you know friends and neighbors who are still undecided, please let them know about this opportunity to hear about Hillary and ask questions. This is not a fundraiser, it is a chance to learn more about Hillary Clinton.

Please recommend this event to your friends and ask them to RSVP to Paulette at (610) 399-0596 or at pauletteyost@gmail.com

Thanks so much
Lani Frank
610-505-9115

Obama Excitement

2008-03-20T18:04:00.001-07:00

About 250 people showed up tonight in West Chester at the opening of an Obama campaign office. Former Senator Harris Wofford spoke and gave some historical perspective.

The Obama campaign is bringing new voters, independents, and some Republicans to our party. We should welcome them and keep them active for the long term. During the excitement we should be recruiting block captains and volunteers.

Remember - March 24th is the deadline to postmark a registration. You can download and print the form from our blog.

March 24th Deadline

2008-03-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

Anyone who wants to vote for Clinton or Obama in the PA Primary on April 22nd must be a registered Democrat by March 24th.

There are many people, unregistered, or, registered other than Democrat, who would like to do this. Please let them know about this deadline.

Obama - Clinton

2008-03-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

Are you involved in one of the presidential campaigns? Post your event info here! If you are a registered Dem in WW4 you can post directly (let me know and I will send you an invitation to be a blog author). Or you can send me the info and I will post it. wre1027 at yahoo dot com.

Bob Roggio on Iraq

2008-02-26T08:30:00.001-08:00

The war in Iraq was a mistake. Over the past 6 years, almost 4,000 brave troops have been killed, and close to 20,000 more injured. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars, while ignoring the very real domestic needs of our country. President Bush continues to ask for more money, and more troops, but has no new ideas to win the peace. I will fight to end this war, and bring our troops home responsibly, and with
honor. - Bob Roggio

Films That Make You Think

2008-02-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

FTMYT - Films That Make You Think! The Chester County film and discussion group that meets monthly to view and discuss films about current issues of justice, peace and sustainability.

All films are at Grove United Methodist Church, 490 West Boot Road, West Chester, PA 19380. They start at 7:00 pm.

Remaining films for this season:

Outfoxed on March 18 Examines how media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, have been running a "race to the bottom" in television news. This film provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangers of ever-enlarging corporations taking control of the public's right to know, including their influence on elections. 77 min. Discussion will be led by Dr. Philip Thompsen, media expert and professor of communications at West Chester University.

China Blue on April 8 Follows the production of a pair of blue jeans from the cotton fields to the store, using hidden cameras to expose the truth about where our clothing comes from. 88 min.

Theologians Under Hitler on May 5 "During the darkest days of the 20th century, three of the church's greatest teachers - Paul Althaus, Gerhard Kittel, and Emanuel Hirsch - gave their full support and allegiance to Adolf Hitler," says the narrator at the beginning. This program will examine their stories in an attempt to discover what went wrong. 64 min.

More voters registering as Dems

2008-02-18T21:04:00.000-08:00

According to numbers released by Chester County Voter Services last week, 2,108 new Democrats have been added to the county’s voter roles since Jan. 1, 2008, as compared with just 495 new Republicans and 453 new independents during the same time period.

Block captains... you can download a registration form via the link on the right. Talk to your independents and see if they want to vote in our primary.

Money corrupts politics

2008-02-13T17:42:00.000-08:00

George Monbiot spells it out. Big money controls a great deal of our democratic process.

That is why we need block captains and email addresses. Last week we added four names to our email list. With an electronic network, we can cut down on phoning, TV, and mailing. These expensive techniques require extensive fundraising. Fundraising puts the voter in a passive role and makes the candidates vulnerable to big money control.

If you want to get the money out... get the people in. We will be canvassing again soon. Join us.

Get our candidates on the ballot !

2008-01-30T22:36:00.001-08:00

Please take a minute to sign nominating petitions when we come to your door. Candidates and volunteers will be circulating petitions in the next few days. The deadline is approaching fast.

Sign and then print your name as it appears on your voter registration, and in the address field please put West Whiteland Twp., not West Chester or Exton. And please, no ditto marks.

Thanks!

Roggio corrects a misquote...

2008-01-27T04:37:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the link. However you have a quote on your sight from the Phoenixville News quoting me as saying I would vote to "repeal the Bush tax cuts." What I actually said is that I would vote to "repeal the Bush tax cuts for individuals making over $300,000 per year. Dan Kristie has admitted this mis-quote and has printed a correction. I am sure he will verify this. There is a significant difference between the 2 quotes.
Thanks for anything you can do to correct this.
Bob

New Block Captain on Tall Pines

2008-01-22T05:53:00.000-08:00

Another democrat has stepped up and agreed to be a block captain. This is great news. Being a block captain is easy and fun.
First, since most streets do not have one, there is no way you can do less than what is being done now. If a block captain gets one democrat to vote who would not have otherwise, then he/she has made a big difference. Recently, we dems have won local races by margins of seven votes and twelve votes.
Second, block captains are the most important people in the world. Why? because they remind people to vote. They connect their neighbors with our email networks. If we want to reduce the grip of big money on our party, we have to reach the voters without annoying and expensive TV, mail, and phone banking.
Third, talking with neighbors is a lot more interesting than watching the corporate pundits on TV. Our neighborhood canvassing parties are good exercise and lots of fun.

Mike Liebowitz in the race against Gerlach

2008-01-16T11:27:00.000-08:00

“...I know the 6th District needs a change,” said Mr. Leibowitz, who also sought the Democratic nomination in 2006. “I believe many voters in the district have grown weary of Republican policies and have become more open to Democratic values...”

“...I learned a great deal from talking to the citizens of the district,” said Leibowitz, a graduate of Villanova Law School. “To beat Jim Gerlach we really need a candidate who has not been poisoned by the political process....”

Bob Roggio in the race against Gerlach

2008-01-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

...Roggio described himself as a fiscal conservative....If elected, he said, the first thing he would do is throw his support behind efforts to get President Bush’s tax cuts repealed. He said he would also look at ways to cut redundant and inefficient government programs....

Carol Palmaccio in the race for State Rep

2008-01-16T10:20:00.001-08:00

Carol Palmaccio of Willistown is running for the PA House in the 167th Legislative District which includes West Whiteland.

Carol came to the monthly WWDems meeting Sunday, Jan 13th, and was well-recevied by all present.

We talked about property taxes, health care, transportation, emergency services, and other issues in our district.

Posts coming up....

2008-01-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

new block captain on tall pines!
we have a candidate for the PA house!
we have two candidates for congress!
WW Dems are meeting monthly now!
WW Dems have a new professional website!
canvassing parties a big success in 2nd precinct!
January county dem meeting sparkled with energy

Our November Results

2008-01-10T12:53:00.000-08:00

Click Here for more from the County Board of Elections