Redlands Area Democratic Club Vol. 3, Issue 25: August 2016 http://www.redlandsdemocrats.org
To us it seems so obvious.
We don’t take Donald Trump seriously. When he
speaks we hear the silliness in his words. Through
his bombast we hear the hate he stirs. To us it’s
laughable to even listen to him.
In my recent calls to Hillary Clinton supporters,
I’ve noticed a certain confidence in their voices, a
giddiness almost; a feeling that no one could
possibly consider voting for Trump at this point.
The public arguments with the parents of a fallen
Muslim war hero certainly
torpedoed that ridiculous Trump
campaign, they assume.
I’m not so sure. While we laugh
at the idea of a President Trump,
plenty of people still intend to
vote for him in November. We
probably even know some of those determined
voters: a next door neighbor, a colleague at work, a
beloved uncle. Instead of arguing with them, we roll
our eyes or walk away, calculating that it’s not
worth the bother to explain why a narcissist like
Trump creates a unique threat to our democracy.
President’s message
President’s Message 1
RADC Voices 2
Recap of July Meeting 3
August 21 Meeting: “A Tale of Two Conventions” 3
In Memoriam 3
RADC Representative Contacts/RADC Leadership 4
In This Issue
Or why a man so enamored with a person like
Russian strongman, President Vladimir Putin, is
not someone who belongs in the White House.
Perhaps the determined, hard-core Trump
supporters aren’t worth arguing with. They may
never be convinced. The independents and the
undecideds, though, are a different story. This
year, maybe more than any other, they need to
understand why casting their vote for the
Republican presidential candidate would be
wrong. It doesn’t seem like a problem now, but
today’s plunging poll numbers could turn into
those pesky after-Labor Day
rebounding numbers. Voters like us
who see the danger of a Trump win
are an important defense against
any sort of surge in the polls. We
understand the issues and are
willing to help educate the
undecideds. We can do that while still laughing at
Trump (laughter, after all, is healthy for us!).
From now through election day you will receive
many invitations to assist the campaigns of local
and national candidates. Whether it’s making
phone calls or canvassing in a battle ground state
like Nevada, there will be many opportunities to
inform and educate voters. Your voice is needed
to help stop Trump from gaining any ground. In
this topsy-turvy election year, and we can help
ensure Hillary Clinton comes out on top by taking
advantage of those volunteer opportunities and
engaging in those conversations.
Kristin Washington, President Redlands Area Democratic Club
2
RADC Voices Club member Bruce Daniels offers his take on
Bridges and Walls
and
Convention Contrasts: An E-Ticket Ride
Clinton and Trump represent a partisan political chasm
domestically and abroad. Symbolized by secular Muslim Turkey’s
aborted coup, government blocked its bridge over the Bosphorus to
Istanbul linking Asia to Europe; a
reminder of the Cold War, NATO’s
Brussels, Russia and Ukraine. A radical
Islamic War is underway in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, North Africa
and a smoldering Israel/Palestinian
confrontation, all infiltrating America affecting the most bizarre
political campaign I have ever experienced. This is not just an
ideological war with limited supporters. Rather, it’s a reaction to a
“rigged” system overriding character, judgment and performance.
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Your “E-Ticket Ride”
vents
Security threats get attention. Black and blue lives matter as Trump
lines up law and order while Hillary takes a village. Radical Islamic
terrorism is underscored by U.S. casualties, disabled vets and Syrian/
Muslim refugees.
go
“I alone can fix it.” In the midst of a movement, outsider maverick
Trump upset the Republican establishment/Tea Party insurgency
whereas insider independent Democrat Bernie Sanders was swept
aside. Could a “revolution” be underway?
Media Misfire. Trump, master media manipulator, outmaneuvers
opposition. CBS executive Les Moonves: “It may not be good for
America, but it’s damn good for CBS…Bring it on, Donald. Keep
going!”
Crass commercialism, political bias and shopworn thinking filter
reporting already focused on calamities and sound-bites instead of
impartial analysis.
“Those damned -mails!”
Candidate Clinton, plagued by an independent FBI investigation,
castigating her “extremely careless” handling of top secret and
classified emails while Secretary of State, is now besieged by Wiki-
leaks revelations of cloaked, hacked DNC emails; prompting another
FBI investigation of suspected Russian cyber-security breaches.
Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigns, re-enforcing
Sanders’ allegations of a “rigged” system confirmed by Senator
Elizabeth Warren and Trump. This deadly diversion undermines the
Democratic Party and President Obama’s pledge of transparency and
impartiality.
International interlopers. Trump seeks Russian president Putin’s
spies to uncover DNC’s deleted emails. President Obama lobbied Britain
on Brexit. Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu politicked Congress on Iran.
leanor and llen
The Year of the Woman. Profiling and political correctness are alive and
well. Smartly outfitted throughout the campaign, heir-apparent Hillary
conveys a purposeful image onstage. Echoing Eleanor Roosevelt, she
appeared dressed in a white pants-suit emulating television star Ellen
DeGeneres with Oprah-type appeal, symbolizing critical LGBTQ, black
and feminist voting blocs. Barack and Michelle Obama are also
generation bridges for children who can’t vote.
If elected, Hillary will join other female world leaders such as EU
leader, Germany’s Angela Merkel and UK Brexit Prime Minister, Theresa
May. The San Bernardino National Forest has its own minority female
champion, Congresswoman Judy Chu and the San Gabriel Mountains
National Monument.
conomy and Immigration
Angry displaced workers hear Trump’s charges of foreign seizure of
jobs, illegal Mexican border crossings, bad trade deals, drugs and crime.
astern stablishment
New York, New York. Clinton, Trump, Sanders, former mayors Rudy
Giuliani and billionaire business tycoon Michael Bloomberg all hail from
the Big Apple, home of the 9/11’s World Trade Center. Bloomberg
blistered Trump’s business credentials. Giuliani condemned Clinton’s
security qualifications. Is somebody trying to sell the Brooklyn Bridge?
lection
“No third term!” Is Hillary following Obama’s second term or as a
partner to re-elected President Bill Clinton?
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Veep Peep: Tim Kaine and Mike Pence provide executive/legislative
experience offsetting celebrities, wonk Hillary and promoter Donald.
Joe Biden may regret not running for president given Hillary’s
drawbacks. Kennedy/Johnson or Reagan/Bush are nowhere in sight.
Bernie, Monument or Movement? Seventy-four-year-old insider
Sanders led a political “revolution” as a Democrat and lost
to 68-year-old Hillary’s Clinton dynasty. Seventy-year-old
outsider Trump upended the Bush dynasty, Tea Party and
the Republican establishment. With limited attention span,
who will lead the millennial movement?
3
At our July meeting we heard from Margot Bennett, Executive
Director of Women Against Gun Violence (WAGV), which was founded
23 years ago by Betty Friedan and Ann Reiss Lane.
Margot spoke about gun policies and efforts to end
gun violence, noting that the recent many mass
shootings in the US and abroad have created a lot of
excitement, but US House of Representatives
continues to delay any action. She distributed fliers containing the
names of of Senators up for re-election and of Representatives that
did not participate in the recent House sit-in.
We were encouraged to get involved in local sit-ins at these
official’s offices, as well as to have family discussions about guns,
suicides, and as gun
owner responsibility and
gun locks, which is
required by California
law, though not in all
states. Recently a law
governing ammunition
sellers and gun sellers
has been signed into law by our governor. California’s Lieutenant
Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed an initiative covering gun locks
being stolen and reporting same, as well as a database to be
maintained in California of who is allowed to own or not own a gun.
She further noted the California has an “A” rating for gun laws and
an “F” rating from the NRA . We were encouraged to help turn out the
vote for this initiative that is on the November ballot.
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Abigail Medina, candidate for 40th Assembly, paid us a visit last month
and was accompanied by her husband and all of her
children. She briefly spoke and brought us up to date on
her campaign. She noted that although she received more
votes than her opponent, Marc Steinorth, we need to not
only keep up but pick up the pace on getting the vote out for her.
Recap of last month’s meeting presentation
~ PROGRAM ~
“A Tale of Two Conventions”
James Albert (Bernie delegate) and Club President Kristin
Washington (Hillary delegate) will present. Both represented
Congressional District 31 at the Democratic National
Democratic Convention, but their experiences there were
wildly different.
If you followed the convention, then you know that the
California delegation was at the forefront of the struggle to
present a united delegation. It should be a good discussion.
After the meeting, all attendees are welcome to stay for
phone banking for Pete Aguilar right there at Redlands Family
Services.
New to RADC’s meeting place, Redlands Family Services is
located at 612 Lawton Street in Redlands. Parking is available
on lot and on the street. As you enter the parking lot, there is
a gate on the right that leads to a courtyard and the meeting
room. Come join us for a lively meeting and stay for phone
banking afterwards. Charge your phone and bring your
charger!
August 20 RADC Meeting
In Memoriam
Ande Spencer—July 19, 2016 Community Activist
RADC Board Member
Past RADC Secretary
Past Newsletter Editor
RADC Representative Contacts
Redlands Area Democratic Club
1554 Barton Rd #227 Redlands, CA 92373 http://www.redlandsdemocrats.org
- - - “The Progressive”
Carole Coley, Editor and Newsletter Design; Les Greenberg, Club Photographer [email protected]
REDLANDS AREA DEMOCRATIC CLUB LEADERSHIP
“All the world over, I will back the masses against the classes.” ~William Ewart Gladstone~
President/Vice President Barak Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC Web: http.//www.whitehouse.gov (Email the President and VP though the Website) Follow President Obama on Twitter at @POTUS U.S. House of Representatives, 31st CD Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) 1233 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Tel: 202-225-3201 Fax: 202-226-6962
District Office 685 E. Carnegie Drive, Suite 100 San Bernardino, CA 92408 Phone: (909) 890-4445 Fax: (909) 890-9643 Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown, Jr. State Capitol, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA 925814 Tel: 916-445-2841; Fax: 916-558-3160 Web: http://www.gov.ca.gov/home.php State Senate, 23rd District Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga State Capitol Room 3056 Sacramento CA 95814 Tel: 916.319.2040; Fax: 916.319.2041 State Assembly, 40th District Marc Steinorth State Capitol Office P.O. Box 942849, Room 2111 Sacramento, CA 94249-0040 Tel: 916-319-2040
District Office 10604 N Trademark Parkway Suite 308 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 Tel: 909-466-9096
Redlands City Council 35 Cajon Street, Ste 200, Redlands Mail: PO Box 3005, Redlands 92373-1005 Tel: 909-798-7533; Fax: 909-798-7535 Website: www.cityofredlands.org Paul Foster, Mayor [email protected] Jon Harrison, Mayor Pro Tem [email protected] Pat Gilbreath, Council Member [email protected] Paul Barich, Council Member [email protected] John James, Council Member
[email protected] San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors James Ramos, 3rd District Supervisor San Bernardino CA 92415-0110 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., 5th Floor Tel: 909-387-4855; Fax: 909-387-3018 Email: [email protected]
OFFICERS Kristin Washington, President
Roger Bell, Vice President Richard Tully, Assistant Secretary
Carole Coley, Treasurer Les Greenberg, Assistant Treasurer
TRUSTEES Nancy Blastos
John Coley Frank Garcia
Ron Hattis
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If you wish to participate, please email your
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RADC address at 1554 Barton Rd #227, Redlands, CA
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later than the 10th of the month.
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ATTENTION:
Unless otherwise noted, editorials and/or
articles that appear in ‘The Progressive’ are the
opinions of named contributors and not
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nor its membership.