Meeting on January 5, 2006

Paul Lang, www.electlang.com, will speak about his campaign for the PA Senate in 2006.

This past November, Det Ansinn delivered a decisive victory for Democrats in Doylestown Borough. He's dedicated to helping fellow Democrats and progressives to do the same. From candidate petition to election day, Det will be sharing his experiences in running an aggressive municipal campaign. Presentation will include slide show, strategies, and open discussion.

As a dual DFA and PDA chapter, Upper Bucks for Democracy will welcome Kathi Ember and Roger Balson.

Kathi is the PDA chapter coordinator for Pennsylvania, and has been identified by National PDA as the Pennsylvania State PDA contact. She is directly involved with the chapter in Berks County, where she lives, and the Kutztown Area Democratic Club. PDA National has encouraged states to utilize either a caucus model, or to at least find ways to coordinate groups through some kind of state organization.

Roger is working with Kathi to organize PDA in PA. He's also organizing a chapter in Delaware County, Delco Progressives, and is the website editor for the PA Progressives, the statewide networking organization helping to facilitate communication and planning between PDA chapters and other progressive organizations in PA.

In addition to their own two chapters, so far Roger and Kathi have visited two of the eight PDA-related organizations in PA: the Chester County Democratic Coalition in Chester County and Pocono Progressives in Monroe County.

Upper Bucks for Democracy will be celebrating our first anniversary. Jeanne and Mike will talk about our first year and our accomplishments.

Meeting on December 1, 2005

Upper Bucks for Democracy hosted a panel discussion of the 2005 election results. Participants included:
Jeanne and Michael Doyle, Upper Bucks for Democracy Leaders
Pete Wernsdorfer and Jonathan Soden, Lehigh Valley DFA Leaders
Candidates JoAnne Longo, Meg Groff, Robin Rosenthal, and Det Ansinn

Wal*Mart, the High Cost of Low Price

Movie Night: Bucks for Democracy (http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=324) hosted a screening of Robert Greenwald's new film: Wal*Mart, the High Cost of Low Price on November 16. The film takes you behind the glitz and into the real lives of workers and their families, business owners and their communities, in an extraordinary journey that will challenge the way you think, feel . . . and shop.

Forum on the Iraq War November 12

Upper Bucks for Democracy hosted a forum on the Iraq War on November 12, 2005, at the BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Street Road and Route 611 in Warrington. The speakers were from the group U.S. Tour of Duty.

RAY McGOVERN served as a captain in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1964 before working as a CIA analyst for 27 years. From 1981 to 1985 he conducted daily briefings for Ronald Reagan's vice president, George Bush, the father of our current president. Ray now works for Tell the Word, the publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Savior in Washington, DC. He is also a member of the Steering Group of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity. Ray is featured in two ground-breaking documentaries: Robert Greenwald's Uncovered and John Pilger's Break the Silence. He is a frequent guest on many radio programs, and his opinion columns are published widely in various mainstream and alternative media outlets.

NADIA McCAFFREY is known as the Gold Star mom who defied President Bush by allowing reporters to view the flag-draped coffin of her son Patrick, who was killed in Iraq. After Patrick's death, Nadia traveled to the Middle East with filmmaker Mark Manning, who made Journey to Peace, a 30-minute documentary about the trip. They sought answers to what causes wars and met with Iraqi mothers. Nadia explains her purpose: "I wanted to look them in the eye and share their pain."

JEFF NORMAN is the Executive Director of U.S. Tour of Duty (www.ustourofduty.org/), a nonprofit project that supports the anti-war advocacy of Iraq veterans, military families, policy analysts, and performers by organizing public forums, developing communication strategies, and producing video content.

Meeting on Thursday, November 3

Bucks County District Attorney candidate Terry Houck, http://www.terryhouck.com/, will join us to talk about his campaign, as will Andy Warren, http://www.warrenforcongress.com/, candidate for the nomination to run against Mike Fitzpatrick to represent the 8th District in Congress. JoAnne Longo, candidate for Prothonotary, will speak about her experiences as a volunteer in the wake of Katrina.

Mike Doyle will speak on the DLC wars—a brief history and review of current positions of the Democratic Leadership Council.

"Not only are the Dean campaign activists out of step with most Democrats, but they seem intent on purging the party of Democrats who disagree with them."
—Al From (CEO of DLC) in Blueprint Magazine, May 31, 2005

Who belongs to the DLC? And how does their election thinking look vs. that of progressives?

Eric Loeb, Executive Director of GoodWorks-PAC.org, will also speak. In 2004, Republican and Democratic candidates spent$1.7 billion on commercials. GoodWorks-PAC.org works with Democratic Congressional campaigns to get most of that money and effort back into our communities where it belongs. The organization foresees a day when all candidates will demonstrate their leadership skills, show us what issues they care about, and display their approach to problems by devoting much of their campaign time and money to community service projects. GoodWorks-PAC.org identifies and supports Democratic Congressional candidates who will participate in "GoodWorks" projects. JoAnne Longo was set on course for Katrina humanitarian relief in Jackson, MS, and New Orleans, St. Bernard's Parish, with Eric as her initial organizer and leader.

Meeting on Thursday, October 6

Bucks County District Attorney candidate Terry Houck, http://www.terryhouck.com/, will join us to talk about his campaign, as will Patrick Murphy, www.Murphy06.com, candidate for the nomination to run against Mike Fitzpatrick to represent the 8th District in Congress, Tom Lingenfelter, candidate for Bucks County Controller, and Neil Samuels, www.NeilSamuels.com, candidate for State Representative, 143rd Legislative District.

Meeting on Thursday, September 1

Paul Lang (www.electlang.com), candidate for the nomination to run against Mike Fitzpatrick to represent the 8th District in Congress, will speak about his campaign.

Jeff Garis, Field Director for Pennsylvanians United to Protect Social Security, will provide up-to-date information on the ongoing struggle to protect Social Security and present strategies for local mobilizing in the context of this statewide and national campaign. Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick still refuses to take a clear stand on Social Security privatization and continues to avoid publicly facing his constituents on this issue. With a U.S. House vote on the McCrery-Shaw bill likely to occur in early fall, it is critical that visible and vocal opposition be organized expose this shabby repackaging of the Bush-Santorum privatization scam, and to increase the pressure on Rep. Fitzpatrick to represent his constituents rather than his party's elites. Join us and participate in mapping out a Bucks County strategy to save Social Security from those who despise our American principles of mutual support and human dignity for all.

Rich Kotchmar will join us from www.walmartwatch.com.

“Perhaps no other group is scrutinizing the company more thoroughly than Wal-Mart Watch. Since it was founded in March, Wal-Mart Watch has unleashed a torrent of news releases, advertisements and statements meant to change the way Wal-Mart does business.” --Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 6, 2005

In April 2005, Wal-Mart Watch launched a nationwide campaign to challenge Wal-Mart, Inc., to become a leader in corporate responsibility toward its workers and host communities. By supporting the many efforts already underway across the country, Wal-Mart Watch will serve as a catalyst for coordinated action and a unifying voice to counter Wal-Mart’s multi-million dollar media and public relations blitz. We invite your ideas, your participation and your commitment to establishing higher standards for corporate behavior at home and abroad. Wal-Mart Watch is a joint project of The Center for Community & Corporate Ethics, a 501c3 organization devoted to studying the impact of large corporations on society, and its advocacy arm, Five Stones.

Cyril Mychalejko, journalist and assistant editor of Upside Down World, http://www.upsidedownworld.org/index.htm, an online magazine covering politics and activism in Latin America, will also speak. A graduate of Council Rock High School and Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, he writes for numerous online and print publications.

Meeting on Thursday, August 4

Ruth Matheny and Mike Doyle will speak about the Voting Integrity Forum. JoAnne Longo has also been a part of this effort, which has been very successful in calling attention to this important issue. The Coalition for Voting Integrity is led by Ruth Matheny and Mary Ann Gould.

John Norvaisas will tell us about the campaign he is managing for Paul Lang (http://www.electlang.com/), candidate for the nomination to run against Mike Fitzpatrick to represent the 8th District in Congress.

Fred Viscovitch will share his impressions of the Democratic Party training session he attended. DFA is holding a two-day training course in Gettysburg on 9/10 and 9/11. Three of us have signed up for it so far.

Charles Lenchner of Progressive Democrats of America is going to try to get there in time to discuss doing a town hall meeting about politics. Further refinement of this idea will take place at the meeting with everyone participating.

Mike and Jeanne Doyle will also be working on a public forum on depleted uranium sometime in the fall. For more information, please email upperbucksfordemocracy@yahoo.com.

Two Speakers at Our July 7 Meeting

Our July 7 meeting at the Plumstead Township Building, 5186 Stump Road, at 7:30 p.m. will feature two speakers, JoAnne Longo, Democratic candidate for Prothonotary, and Gus Linton of the Bucks County Green Party.

UpperBucksforDemocracy has voted to endorse JoAnne Longo's candidacy for Prothonotary on the Democratic slate (www.BucksDemocrats.com). JoAnne is the former Vice President of a Fortune 100 corporation specializing in financial services with U.S. and international scope. JoAnne’s expertise encompasses legal compliance and surveillance of a $105 billion capital markets portfolio, establishment of dynamic operational infrastructure, development of software applications to increase efficiencies and ensure accurate and timely information dissemination, data analytics, and departmental management.

Gus Linton of the Bucks County Green Party (www.pa.greens.org/bucks) was invited to speak on behalf of the local chapter, which, according to their website, is comprised of "a group of active citizens in and around Bucks County, PA, who have come together to promote Green values in our communities and in the world." For more information, please email us at upperbucksfordemocracy@yahoo.com.

UpperBucksforDemocracy Endorses Chuck Pennacchio for U.S. Senate

UpperBucksforDemocracy voted to endorse progressive, pro-choice Chuck Pennacchio in his campaign to win the Democratic senatorial primary and unseat Rick Santorum in 2006. For more information about Chuck and the positions that won our support, please visit www.Chuck2006.com.

About UpperBucksforDemocracy

UpperBucksforDemocracy was founded in January 2005 as a Democracy for America (DFA) Meetup serving Central and Upper Bucks County, Pa. We generally meet on the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m., so far in Plumsteadville. For more information, please email us at upperbucksfordemocracy@yahoo.com

Our June 2 Meetup

Upper Bucks for Democrary Meetup
June 2, 7 p.m.
Plumstead Township Building
5186 Stump Road (a little east of 611 on right)
Plumsteadville, Pa.

Our guest speaker, Charles Lenchner, talked about Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), one of the fastest-growing political organizations in the country. PDA is currently active with more than 40,000 members in all 50 states. PDA has a national policy board of noteworthy leaders and grassroots activists who are formulating the true Progressive position on issues of national security, economic progress, shared prosperity, sustainable ecology, equality for all, and a peaceful, just future. Learn more about Progressive Democrats of America by visiting http://www.pdamerica.org/.