Washtenaw County Democratic Party Blog

Washtenaw County Democratic Party Update

Happy Holidays from the Washtenaw Dems!

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EVENTS

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Roundtable Discussion about John Conyers' Health Plan
Midtown Young Democrats
Thursday, December 22, 7 - 9 pm
Greater Mt. Tabor Church
7345 W. Chicago, Detroit
To find out more about the Conyers plan visit: Conyers website.

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Run, Girl, Run!
Friday-Saturday, January 20-21
Oakland Community College, Orchard Ridge Campus
A non-partisan training program for women who are interested in running for office or helping women run for office. Register by January 13, $60 fee.
For more information, contact Judy Karandjeff at 517-241-2396.

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Ann Arbor Democratic Party
Executive Commmittee Meeting
Saturday, January 21, 10 am
Ann Arbor Community Center, 625 N Main Street
between Felch St and Summit St.
To discuss a report from an appointed advisory committee regarding positions in the party structure--anyone is welcome to attend.

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TAKE ONE ACTION FOR CHANGE

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Write a letter to the editor opposing Judge Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court. Hearings on the Alito nomination will start shortly after the holidays. Now is the time to make your opposition to his nomination heard.

Some reasons to oppose this nomination include:
Alito has ruled against choice, privacy, and workers rights
Alito has not recused himself from cases where he had conflicts of interest
Alito supports the kind of strong executive branch that leads to abuses like the NSA intercepts (see news)

For more background on Alito, see: Save The Court website

Remember, letters should be short (<250 words) and are stronger if they're written in your own words.

Local contact information includes:

All Heritage Newspapers:
Chelsea Standard
Dexter Leader
Manchester Enterprise
Milan News-Leader
Monroe Guardian
Saline Reporter
Ypsilanti Courier

Ann Arbor News

Michigan Daily (UM newspaper) (up to 300 words, note University affiliation)

Eastern Echo (EMU newspaper) (up to 300 words)

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NEWS

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The New York Times has reported--and President Bush has admitted -- that Bush authorized NSA wiretaps of American citizens without a warrant. The NYT scoop contributed to a successful filibuster of the extension of the PATRIOT Act. But the program of NSA wiretaps--which is ongoing -- raises troubling questions about domestic surveillance.
For more information, see: New York Times article Wire release

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The Michigan House unanimously passed Pam Byrnes' bill giving local cities and villages greater control over how they spend transportation funds. This will let local officials to direct transportation funds where they can do the most good.
For more on this bill, see: News release

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GET INVOLVED

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Phone bank in Dexter on Thursday nights
Join Frank Grohnert and Guerin Wilkinson to call western Washtenaw County registered voters as part of the continuing Voter ID project.
Thursdays, beginning at 6 pm
Frank Grohnert's office, 8077 Main Street, Downtown Dexter
Call Frank at 426-4597 if you can make it.

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Volunteer for one of WCDP's committees!
To help on the media committee, contact Marcy.
To help in the precinct organization, contact Jeff.
The campaign to keep Granholm in Lansing and Stabenow in DC is already kicking into gear. We need enthusiastic volunteers from now until election day!

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DONATE

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As the election season gears up again, the WCDP is making a list of its needs for next year. One item at the top of that list is a desktop or laptop computer to help us update our database. If you're discarding a computer you're replacing this holiday season, please consider donating it!
If you have materials to donate, please contact Dave.
If you'd like to make an online credit card donation to support our voter identification efforts, please go to our website.

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Note: This is the weekly update for the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. To get your announcement in future issues of this newsletter, send information to Marcy by Saturday at 5 pm. We reserve the right to refuse or edit submissions. Paid for by the Washtenaw County Democratic Party.

Washtenaw County Democratic Party Update

Congressman John Dingell's 50th anniversary in the US House of
Representatives - and other news!

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EVENTS

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Message Training
Michigan United
Tuesday, December 13, 6:30 pm
Washtenaw Community College
Morris J. Lawrence Building, Rm 101
4800 E Huron River Drive
Learn how to combat the anti-Affirmative Action initiative that may be on next November's ballot.
For more information contact Pete Woiwode at 734-709-1789 or by email.

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Granholm for Governor House Party
Wednesday, December 14, 7 pm
At the home of Carl Rinne and Tamara Real.
411 Fountain St., Ann Arbor
(one block north of Miller, four blocks west of Main St.)
Governor Granholm will speak via telephone conference call, and there will be petitions, literature, stickers, discussion -- and refreshments!
To host your own Granholm for Governor House Party, see this website or contact Doug Kelley at 734-662-1731.

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Statewide Michigan Young Democrats Executive Board Meeting
(meeting open to all Young Dems and Democrats of all ages).
Wednesday, December 14, 7 pm
Michigan Teamsters Joint Council #43, Health and Welfare Building
2700 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 48216 (a few blocks from the "old" Tiger Stadium)
Doors open and registration begins at 6:15 pm, meeting begins at 7.

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Coffee with State Rep. Pam Byrnes
Friday, January 13, 9 - 10 am
Scio Township Hall, 827 N. Zeeb Road
For more information, contact Pam's office by email or call 800-645-1581.

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Run, Girl, Run!
Friday-Saturday, January 20-21
Oakland Community College, Orchard Ridge Campus
A non-partisan training program for women who are interested in running for office or helping women run for office. Register by January 13, $60 fee.
For more information, contact Judy Karandjeff at 517-241-2396.

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NEWS

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Tuesday, December 13 marks John Dingell's 50th year serving SE Michigan in
Washington DC. Congressman Dingell has been involved in many of the signature laws championed by the Democratic Party, including Medicare, the Endagered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act.
For more on Dingell's 50 years in Congress, see his biography here.
Congratulations to Congressman Dingell on this milestone!

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A group from Bay City, Citizens for Life, is trying to get an initiative on next year's ballot stating that life begins at the moment of conception. This may be (yet another) attempt by the right to raise turnout by placing polarizing initiatives on the ballot.
For more information, see article here.

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GET INVOLVED

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Volunteer for one of WCDP's committees!
To help on the media committee, contact Marcy.
To help in the precinct organization, contact Jeff.
The campaign to keep Granholm in Lansing and Stabenow in DC is already kicking into gear. We need enthusiastic volunteers from now until election day!

---

DONATE

---

As the election season gears up again, the WCDP is making a list of its needs for next year. One item at the top of that list is a desktop or laptop computer to help us update our database. If you're discarding a computer you're replacing this holiday season, please consider donating it!
If you have materials to donate, please contact Dave.
If you'd like to make an online credit card donation to support our voter identification efforts, please go to our website.

---

Note: This is the weekly update for the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. To get your announcement in future issues of this newsletter, send information to Marcy by Saturday at 5 pm. We reserve the right to refuse or edit submissions. Paid for by the Washtenaw County Democratic Party.

Washtenaw County Democratic Party Update

Plan to attend (or hold) a Granholm for Governor House Party -- and more
Washtenaw Dems news.

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EVENTS

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Give Michigan a Raise!
Minimum Wage Campaign Kickoff
Thursday, December 8, 7 pm
Memorial Christian Church (corner of Tappan and Hill Streets in Ann Arbor)
Learn about how you and your fellow activists can get involved.
For more information, call Rick McHugh at 734-426-2181.

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Al Franken Book Signing
Al Franken signs copies of his new book, The Truth (with Jokes)
Thursday December 8, 7 pm
Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty, 7:00 pm, main theater
(NOTE NEW LOCATION)

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Granholm for Governor House Party
Wednesday, December 14, 7 pm
At the home of Carl Rinne and Tamara Real.
411 Fountain St., Ann Arbor
(one block north of Miller, four blocks west of Main St.)
Governor Granholm will speak via telephone conference call, and there will be petitions, literature, stickers, discussion -- and refreshments!
To host your own Granholm for Governor House Party, see this website or contact Doug Kelley at 734-662-1731.

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Statewide Michigan Young Democrats Executive Board Meeting
(meeting open to all Young Dems and Democrats of all ages).
Wednesday, December 14, 7 pm
Michigan Teamsters Joint Council #43, Health and Welfare Building
2700 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 48216 (a few blocks from the "old" Tiger Stadium)
Doors open and registration begins at 6:15 pm, meeting begins at 7.

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TAKE ONE ACTION FOR CHANGE

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It's ELECTION DAY (in California CD48)
Help Democrat Steve Young win the special election for Congress in CA-48.
Call your friends and family in Newport Beach, Irvine, Tustin, and Laguna Beach and urge them to vote for the Democrat -- Steve Young.
For a list of other GOTV activities you can do, see this diary.
For a map of the district see here (PDF).

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NEWS

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Corrupt Republicans in DC are beginning to pay a price. Duke Cunningham, from San Diego County, resigned this week and admitted he had taken bribes from Defense and Intelligence contractors. And in Texas, a judge ruled that Tom DeLay will have to stand for money laundering charges.
For more information, see here and here.

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GET INVOLVED

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Volunteer for one of WCDP's committees!
To help on the media committee, contact Marcy.
To help in the precinct organization, contact Jeff.
The campaign to keep Granholm in Lansing and Stabenow in DC is already kicking into gear. We need enthusiastic volunteers from now until election day!

---

Note: This is the weekly update for the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. To get your announcement in future issues of this newsletter, send information to Marcy by Saturday at 5 pm. We reserve the right to refuse or edit submissions. Paid for by the Washtenaw County Democratic Party.