Suwannee Democratic Party

We meet on the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 P.M. at the SOS Cafe in the Spirit of the Suwannee on SR129.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. at the SOS Cafe in the Spirit of the Suwannee on SR129 .

Thank you everyone, who voted in the caucus delegate election. Dr. Carolyn Bailey and Phil Giglio will represent our DEC in Tampa Florida on June 2-3, 2012.

It has come to my attention that some voters have been removed from the vote-by-mail list; to check, go to the register to vote link to make sure that you are still on the list and register to vote by mail if you haven't already done so.

If you are registered in Suwannee County and would like to request an Absentee Ballot to be mailed to you please give our office a call at 386-362-2616.

MAY 5, 2012 10:00AM-4:00PM AT THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE, 220 PINE AVE SW, LIVE OAK FL 32064

The Republican-run State Legislature and Rick Scott are trying to dump their $2,000,000,000.00-dollar shortage because they gave tax breaks to big business when they were already losing money due to decreased property values. They now want the counties to pay for Medicaid.

"We, the Democrats of Florida, united in common purpose, hereby dedicate ourselves to the principles which have historically sustained our Party. We recognize that a political party which wishes to lead must listen to those it would lead, that a party which asks for the people's trust must prove that it trusts the people, and that a party which hopes to call forth the best the state and nation can achieve must embody the best of the state's and nation's heritage and traditions.

The Florida Democratic Party, at all levels, shall encourage voter registration without discrimination on grounds of race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin or physical disability.

What we seek for our state and nation we hope for all people: individual freedom in the framework of a just society; political freedom in the framework of meaningful participation by all citizens."

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE-BY-MAIL:

1. Convenient - vote from your own home – no driving required

2. Convenient - vote when YOU want to (no election day 7am to 7pm limitations)

3. Convenient – no confusion about polling place, or times, driving, parking, handicap access, etc.

4. Convenient – no waiting in line

5. Convenient – No need to make arrangements for childcare or time off from work

6. convenient – we won’t be calling you over and over, asking you to vote!!!
7. Easy – just fill in the blanks,

8. Easy - you can take your time, no one behind you to feel rushed or pressured

9. Easy – you get to have any person you want help you, or talk about the candidates or issue
10. Make more informed decisions – research the issues and candidates, at home, or the library, to your heart’s content
11. Ensures your vote counts - avoids last minute complications that might prevent you from voting: weather, illness, errands/problems

12. Ensures your vote counts - creates an automatic paper trail – you can look up your vote, to make SURE it is counted (if you vote on election day, or even early vote, your vote could be invalidated, and you have no way of ensuring your vote is ‘in’)

13. Ensures your vote counts - no ‘last minute’ intimidation or objections that can be filed by republicans, to prevent you from voting – especially important in key D precincts

14. Ensures your vote counts – no confusion about the location of your polling place, etc. Especially important for voters that have moved.

15. Ensures your vote counts – avoids any problems that might occur at the polling place that might cause the polling place to turn away voters – out of ballots, not enough workers, building locked, malfunctioning voting equipment, etc.

16. Ensures your vote counts– Increased election process integrity through signature verification

17. Ensures your vote counts– you won’t get turned away if you forget your I'd

18. Ensures your vote counts– IF Republicans send you a letter or phone call telling you to change polling places, you won’t be fooled, because you have already voted!
19. Lower cost – saves you the cost of gas and wear and tear on your car!
20. Feel better about yourself, because you KNOW you’ve done your civic duty, and didn’t let anything get in your way of voting!

How it helps the Democratic Party

Encourages other Democratic Party members to vote.
Helps the Democratic Party keep track of who voted.
Helps the Democratic Party focus our money and volunteers on those who have not yet voted – one less person to contact!
Increases Democratic Party turnout – far fewer ‘aw, the heck with it’ reasons for not voting.

The Suwannee Democratic Executive Committee supports the efforts of Suwannee Progress to improve our county!

Let me repeat that, in case you didn’t hear me the first time. The GAO says that our Government HAS HANDED OUT $16 TRILLION TO THE BANKS. That little gem appears on Page 131 of GAO Report No. GAO-11-696. A report issued two months ago. A report that somehow seems to have eluded the attention of virtually every network, every major newspaper, and every news show.

How much is $16 trillion? That is an amount equal to more than $50,000 for every man, woman and child in America. That’s more than every penny that every American earns in a year. That’s an amount equal to almost a third of our national net worth -- the value of every home, car, personal belonging, business, bank account, stock, bond, piece of land, book, tree, chandelier, and everything else anyone owns in America. That’s an amount greater than our entire national debt, accumulated over the course of two centuries. A $16 trillion stack of dollar bills would reach all the way to the Moon. And back. Twice. That’s enough to pay for Saturday mail delivery. For the next 5,000 years. All of that money went from you and me to the banks. And we got nothing. Not even a toaster. I have been patiently waiting to see whether this disclosure would provoke some kind of reaction. Answer: nope. Everyone seems much more interested in discussing whether or not they like the cut of Perry’s jib. Whatever a jib may be.

In the next few weeks, I’m going to be writing more about this. But right now, I wanted to keep this really simple. Just give folks something to talk about when they’re standing next to the coffee maker. The Government gave $16 trillion to the banks. And nobody else is talking about it. Think about it. Think about what that means.

I am a disabled veteran of Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom (OEF/ OIF). I have seen and served our great nation during peace time, and during war. I have been to many far away and distant lands and placed in harm’s way for what we all hold dear as Americans - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As I watch civil unrest sweep across the nation and world I see one truth that has become self-evident. That truth is that the very freedoms that I have sworn to defend and protect whether it be during peace time, a national tragedy (September 11, 2001) or at war have been taken away by local police who have become in essence simple thugs. These thugs, be it Wall Street or the local police, have stolen our hard-earned liberties like thieves in the night, and the treatment of peaceful protestors has made this more apparent than ever.

I have seen peacefully protesting veterans holding American flags dividing law enforcement and Occupy Wall Street protesters being knocked down and toppled, all while police stomp and soil the American flag during apprehension in Boston, Massachusetts. I have seen a protester New York City holding an American flag asking authorities “Is this what you represent?” as he is forcibly thrown to the ground, gasping for air with an officer’s knee on the young man’s neck, prior to arrest. And finally a fellow veteran of the Iraq War asking the police, “Why are you doing this to non-violent protesters?” Stating “This is not a war zone,” and that “There is no honor in this,” referring to police in riot gear assaulting peaceful protesters. After seeing this unacceptable and egregious abuse on peaceful protesters, I can no longer stand idly by entrusting New York City's “finest” and other cities' law enforcement to “protect and serve” for the common good.

I as well as your appointed office have taken a sacred oath to America to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; and bear true faith and allegiance to the same. To do anything less would be criminal and a disservice to our nation, your constituents and the Bill of Rights. That is why I am STRONGLY requesting that you ensure the safety and security of the protestors and their First Amendment rights by activating the National Guard. By activating the National Guard you will preserve the rights of peaceful protesters and prevent the uncontrolled and unlawful abuse of protesters from local law enforcement. This simple act will show all Americans that our government is listening and its system of representation remains guided by the unalienable rights of its citizens and the Constitution.

I ask for your immediate call to action, and ask that you answer the call of liberty in these difficult and dire economic times!

A tax activist group has urged Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich to suspend his Secret Service protection to save taxpayer dollars.

“For a guy who for all intents and purpose, and isn’t doing a lot of campaigning, needs to suspend his Secret Service detail,” said David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance in Alexandria, Va. “He needs to do what’s right for the taxpayer and say, ‘I’m done with Secret Service protection.”

Gingrich, who has had secret service for about a month, has vowed to stay in the race until presumptive nominee Mitt Romney reaches the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the nomination. Gingrich has the “Camp David” package of Secret Service, which includes but is not limited to six cars, six federal agents, four state troopers at a campaign stop, four local agents when the candidate arrives and a press agent if there is a press bus, a person with knowledge of the Gingrich campaign said. Although the cost to keep the Secret Service detail on the Gingrich campaign couldn’t be determined, it includes agents’ meals, hotel stays, transportation and salary. The person with knowledge of the Secret Service and the campaign said Gingrich’s protection might be helping him stay in race because the cost is borne by taxpayers.

The campaign has no intention of changing course, however. “Where does he not qualify for secret service? Has Mitt Romney secured the nomination?” Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond asked. Hammond said the Secret Service spends the same amount of money to cover Romney. “As a government, we provide protection to our candidates, visiting dignitaries, presidential families,” Hammond said. “There are a lot of people who would like to see him not in the race. There’s an entire class of pundits who make a living offering up their opinion, but pundits don’t pick the president, people do.”

The costs associated with several components of a campaign are covered when it is under the veil of Secret Service protection.

With Secret Service, the campaign doesn’t have to pay for vehicle transportation, which includes gas, drivers and staff. Before receiving Secret Service, the campaign had to rent cars, pay for gas and also keep staff members on the road to drive the vehicles. With Secret Service, the campaign also does not have to pay for private security for Gingrich. Private security alone can total $50,000 a month. Even after receiving Secret Service, the campaign did keep private security for Gingrich’s wife, Callista, who is not covered by the Secret Service detail for the candidate.

Another big cost saver for campaigns with Secret Service is that the campaign doesn’t have to pay advance staff to travel ahead of the group and secure the site to ensure it is acceptable for Gingrich’s arrival. There are usually two Secret Service agents who are at the site before the candidate’s arrival. Even after receiving Secret Service, the campaign did pay a private advance staff to prepare the sites. The advance staff was cut when Gingrich released one-third of his staff to save money. Gingrich has seen his share of “Occupy Wall Street” protestors while campaigning, one of whom leaped toward him and was tackled by Gingrich’s private security team in Iowa. And a student stood up and shouted at Gingrich as he spoke in North Carolina last week.

There have been other incidents, several sources said, although Hammond said the campaign does not comment on security matters.

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Commentry follows: The whole basis for Republican and Tea Party arguments is saving money. Then why does Gingrich and company insist on spending $40,000.00 a year of public money when he is not even a viable candidate? Most Americans, including me consider that a fantastic salary. Go home Newt, and quit compaining about Democrats, when you are the real Ugly American! I thank Ms. Elicia Dover for bringing this to the public's attention.

There is a solution to all of our healthcare problems! That is single payer health insurance. It is what I now have, it is called Medicare and it works very well. It doesn't cover 100% of expenses but usually 80% of everything is covered. It costs me for one year less than Fred will pay for one month of coverage. Fred didn't say what his policy covers but I'm sure it doesn't cover 100% of expenses and I'm willing to bet he has a deductable in his policy. Medicare already exists; if we just extend it to everyone nobody will be left behind. We can then improve on it to cover 100% of expenses with vision and dental coverage. Please check out the myths about Single Payer.

Since 1989 my husband, Bill, and I have worked for equitable single-payer health care for all Americans. We had hoped we could get it under Clinton, but that was not to be. On a personal level I now have a dear friend who is dying of breast cancer; she is stage 4. Her health insurance had a $3,000 deductible and since she worked two or three jobs cleaning office suites, motel rooms, etc, just to pay her daily bills it was difficult for her to pay for the yearly mammograms required for women over the age of 55. So, after raising handicapped twin sons with NO government help, Virginia will die a miserable death. Nineteen of her lymph nodes were positive for cancer. One of the worst parts of her illness came when her son took her to the chemotherapist's office to have a "central line" inserted into her heart to have the chemicals inserted. As she exited she was informed that she owed them $1,900.00 for the procedure, which would have to be paid in cash before they could begin her "chemo." She asked if she could make payments and was told "no." It wasn't until her son made inquiries and found out that they HAD to give her treatment because her disease was considered "life threatening" that this situation was resolved. Her son, who is her only "caretaker," has full-blown AIDS and recently (Wednesday) had surgery and thus is dealing with his own problems. This isn't the America I grew up in. I am only one person and have these two tragedies in my life. How many more are there out there? Far too many, I'm afraid.