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Democracy for America group blog for Chicago-Goose Island

Jeff Smith Endorsed for 18th District State Representative

Written by: Sandra Verthein on Aug 9, 2009 6:14 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Northside DFA, Loop DFA, Chicago-Goose Island, DFA-Evanston North Shore

UPDATE: At our September meeting Jeff Smith's campaign was "adopted" with a unanimous vote. An "adoption" means our group will be committing its resources to the campaign.

At the August 6th Northside Democracy for America (NDFA) meeting Democrat Jeff Smith was endorsed for State Representative by a vote of 41 to 1. Jeff is running to represent Illinois 18h District, a seat currently held by Julie Hamos who will not be running for re-election so she can run for Congress.

To sign up for campaign emails go to:
http://www.electjeffsmith.org/

To donate to Jeff's campaign via our Northside DFA Act Blue page go to:
http://www.actblue.com/page/ndfa2010

Jeff Smith is an experienced community leader who has done the hard work of fighting for change. In his decades-long record of activism he has run -- and won -- against a Democratic machine incumbent, helped elect reform candidates like Abner Mikva, Harold Washington, Paul Simon, Barack Obama and Mike Quigley, and worked for causes from habitat restoration to affordable housing. He has volunteered thousands of hours at local schools and with community groups including:

- Sierra Club (Life Member, Air/Energy Committee member; Executive Committee member, Chicago Group, 1985, volunteer)
- Peace Action (formerly SANE/Freeze) (10 years on Board of Directors)
- IVI-IPO (Board of Directors; chapter chair)
- Central Street Neighbors Association (President)
- Evanston Citizens Lighthouse Community Land Trust (Board of Directors)
- Lincolnwood School and Haven Middle School PTA
- District 65 Candidate Nominating Committee
- Skokie Indians Baseball and Evanston Youth Baseball/Softball boys' and girls' teams (manager, traveling team assistant coach)
- Haven Middle School Chess Team (coach)
- AYSO girls' and boys' teams (assistant coach and volunteer)

 

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Watch Countdown with Keith Olbermann on the net at http://liberal.democratz.org

Written by: Dennis Baer on Feb 17, 2009 4:04 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Santa Monica, Democracy for Maryland, Young Democrats of Illinois Booster Support, Prince George's - Democracy for America, Democracy For America - Oklahoma City

Did you miss last night's episode of Countdown with Keith Olbermann? Does your tv system not have MSNBC? If so then you can watch Countdown with Keith Olbermann on the net at

http://liberal.democratz.org and if you can't get to that web page then go to

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2pnn4/dmocrats1/id2.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Send this letter to congress to end Republiklan filibusters and get needed legislation enacted. http://write2congress.buyblue.biz

Written by: Dennis Baer on Feb 17, 2009 1:19 PM EST

Linked to groups: North Seattle DFA, DFA-MC, DFALA, East Bay DFA, DFA HQ Grassroots

Send the following letter by fax to Senate Republican minority leader Senator Mitch McConnell. Tell other people to visit this site and have these people to get other people to visit this site.

Go to http://write2congress.buyblue.biz which will have the letter shown below in the text box and the fax information for Senator McConnell. Just enter your name and email in the left hand box and fill in the captcha code and then click on the button that reads send free fax now.


Dear Senator Senator McConnell

I want the following actions taken and legislation enacted into law.

 

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IL-05 Election Date Set; Tom Geoghegan enters race

Written by: Sandra Verthein on Jan 7, 2009 5:30 AM EST

Linked to groups: Chicago-Goose Island, Democracy for Chicago, Northside DFA, Democracy for Illinois

March 3 will be the primary election to replace Rahm Emanuel as congressman for Illinois 5th Congressional District, with the general election happening on April 7.  But in this heavily Democratic district this will likely be decided at the primary, so there is no time to loose!

What you can do NOW:

 

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Oil Crisis: Oil Industry's method of raising prices and cutting their own taxes

Written by: James Dunn on Jul 8, 2008 11:15 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Decatur DFA/GfD, Portland Area Democracy for America, Change For Louisville, Falls Church Area DFA Link-Up, West Seattle DFA

Regarding opening environmentally protected areas for mining and pumping oil:

There is over 200 years of oil in the 48 contiguous States that are capped up by oil companies to monopolize world energy. There is no need to violate our environmentally protected areas, just to allow oil companies to further monopolize their strangle hold over our lives.

They are creating a media frenzy just to increase the price of oil; very successfully I might add. However, there is no immediate threat for an oil shortage !!! The oil companies have ONLY created the perception that there is a shortage !!!!

I personally believe that ALL mineral rights belong to the American People, NOT souless corporations!!!

I applaud Venezuela for nationalizing the oil assets in their country!!!!

We should be doing the same thing here in the United States !!!!

Ethically Eliminate ALL Political Corruption

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/jamesbdunn?p=57

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Which Aldermen voted 100% with Mayor Daley?

Written by: Sandra Verthein on Jun 2, 2008 8:52 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Chicago-Goose Island, Northside DFA, Greater Lincoln Park DFA, Loop DFA

UIC Political Science Professor Dick Simpson just came out with a new report on Aldermanic voting scores since the 2007 election.  Here's how some of our north side Aldermen scored in a recently released report (percentage reflects agreement on the 13 divided roll call votes in the past year):

- Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) - 85% agreement with Daley
- Margaret Laurino (39th Ward) - 85% agreement with Daley
- Patrick O'Connor (40th Ward) - 92% agreement with Daley
- Vi Daley (43rd Ward) - 92% agreement with Daley
- Tom Tunney (44th Ward) - 100% agreement with Daley
- Helen Schiller (46th Ward) - 100% agreement with Daley
- Eugene Schulter (47th Ward) - 85% agreement with Daley
- Mary Ann Smith (48th Ward) - 100% agreement with Daley
- Joe Moore (49th Ward) - 38% agreement with Daley
- Bernard Stone (50th Ward) - 67% agreement with Daley

One of those aldermen, political new-comer Scott Waguespack, will be one of our guest speakers at our NDFA meeting this Thursday.  In 2007 Scott defeated 32nd Ward Alderman Ted Matlak, who for years had also voted 100% with Mayor Daley.  Also in 2007 NDFA candidate Michele Smith narrowly lost to 43rd Ward Alderman Vi Daley, but Michele then went on just a few months later to win as 43rd Ward Democratic Committeman.

How did they do it? What was the key to their success? Find out at our next
meeting where Scott and Michele will be our guest speakers:

Northside DFA June Meeting: "How I Beat The Machine"
- Thursday, June 5th
- 6 pm dinner (optional) and socializing, 7 pm meeting
- Furama Chinese Restaurant, upstairs, 4936 N. Broadway
- sign up at our website: http://democracyforamerica.com/groups/247-northside-dfa

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Hear Five Cook County candidates Thursday Night

Written by: Sandra Verthein on Jan 2, 2008 2:08 PM EST

Linked to groups: Chicago-Goose Island

You are invited to hear five of the six Dem candidates for Cook County State's Attorney at this Thursday's Northside DFA (Democracy for America) meeting.

From Jesse Jackson Jr. on State's Attorney race:

"Voters beware. The historic forces who rob taxpayers and call tax opponents "racist" are now gearing up to keep control of […] the office of state's attorney. Voters must note who the Democratic machine is backing for this key post—and then reject him or her. A dinosaurus-erectus with the power to determine right and wrong, with the power to threaten, subpoena and/or indict people on trumped-up charges is more than most homo sapiens in Cook County can stomach."

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Attend NDFA Iraq Forum w/ Christine Cegelis

Written by: Sandra Verthein on Dec 11, 2007 8:00 AM EST

Linked to groups: Chicago-Goose Island

You are invited to attend a forum THIS THURSDAY at the Edgewater Library with guest speakers Christine Cegelis and Jeff Leys on "Getting OUT of IRAQ: What can one person do?"

----------------------------------------------------

Iraq Flyer

 

A forum sponsored by
Northside Democracy for America

Thursday, Dec. 13th, 7:00 pm
at the Edgewater Library
1210 W Elmdale Ave, Chicago
(1 block north of Thorndale and Broadway)
RSVP at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=25758


We've elected a Democratic majority in Congress. We've protested, and we've marched. We've written letters, sent emails, and made phone calls. Yet -- we are still in Iraq.

What now? What can we as individuals do to get us OUT of Iraq and to prevent immoral events like this from happening in the first place? This important question will be the topic of this forum.

Speakers:

  • Christine Cegelis, former congressional candidate, is a founding member of the Greater Chicago Caucus, a political alliance of like minded people of conscience who work for the advancement and protection of human and civil rights, economic justice for everyone, and a sustainable peace for our world. The caucus promotes debate on public policy issues, and works to support and elect officials that reflect the core values of the caucus.

  • Jeff Leys, Co-Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, traveled to Iraq in February 2003 with the Iraq Peace Team project of Voices in the Wilderness to nonviolently oppose the impending U.S. led invasion. He returned to Iraq in November 2003 to learn first hand the impact of the U.S. invasion upon Iraqi citizens. In May 2004 Leys moved to Chicago to work full time with Voices for Creative Nonviolence. His current work includes analyzing, and organizing opposition to, the various Iraq - Afghanistan war spending proposals before Congress.
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    Wednesday Oct 25th! DFA call with Durbin, Schakowsky & Duckworth

    Written by: Charles Chamberlain on Oct 23, 2006 1:26 PM EDT

    Linked to groups: Chicago-Goose Island

    We are just days away from an historic election. And what happens in Illinois could make all the difference. I want to bring you the latest on the races -- and we've lined up three of the best to share the news: Senator Richard Durbin, Representative Jan Schakowsky and Democratic nominee for the 6th Congressional District Tammy Duckworth.

    Join us all on a special Democracy for America conference call on Wednesday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m. Central:

    www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=148...

    In the next two weeks the Republicans are going to throw everything -- including the kitchen sink -- at our candidates. But we've never been more prepared for their negative campaigning. And we've never been more ready to lead America in a new, more hopeful direction.

    That we're in a position to recapture the United States House of Representatives and Senate is in no small part because of Illinois activists like you. Your passion, your time, your money have put Democrats in a position to win. But the last two weeks are absolutely critical. Senator Durbin and Congresswoman Schakowsky will tell us how to be strategic and effective in the final days. Join the call and find out how:

    www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=148...

    Thanks for everything you do,

    Jim Dean
    Chair

    P.S. One of the most exciting opportunities we have in Illinois is the opportunity to claim Republican Henry Hyde's seat for Democrat Tammy Duckworth. She's cut a new on-line announcement with Senator Barack Obama. We'll be talking about this ad and more on Wednesday. Check it out the new ad here:

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QHwa0o7...
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    HEALTH CARE POLICY IN ILLINOIS

    Written by: Jeff Waldhoff on Jun 9, 2006 10:59 PM EDT

    Linked to groups: Chicago-Goose Island

    I'm Jeff, a member of DFA Edgewater. Just a heads up on an upcoming event sponsored by another Dem Group:

    HEALTH CARE POLICY IN ILLINOIS
    A Panel Discussion sponsored by
    DL21C and GSB Government and Politics Group

    Tuesday, June 20, 2006, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

    University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business
    Gleacher Center, Room 600
    450 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, Illinois

    Come hear experts and leaders share their political and policy-related ideas for reforming healthcare in Illinois

    Distinguished Panelists

    Barry Maram
    Director, Illinois Healthcare and Family Services

    The Honorable Mary Flowers
    Member of the Illinois House of Representatives

    John Bouman
    Director of Advocacy, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

    Dr. Quentin Young, M.D.
    Founder, Health and Medicine Policy Research Group

    Ian Doughty (Moderator)
    Director, Office of Professional Development at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago

    Refreshments: Appetizers, non-alcoholic drinks, and a cash bar.

    Free to members of the GSB Government and Politics Group and the DL21C
    $5 for non-members, payable at the door.

    RSVP at gdiephou@chicagogsb.edu by June 18, 2006
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