Mon Sept. 10 MD Budget discussion with Sen. Rich Madaleno and Sec. of Management & Budget Eloise Foster

Written by: Maida Schifter on Sep 9, 2007 10:22 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

Dear DFA Link friends: Democracy for Montgomery County is a co-sponsor of this worthwhile event.


Join Senator Richard Madaleno and Secretary of Budget & Management
Eloise Foster

For an Evening of Shrewd Calculating: How would you solve the State of
Maryland's budget crisis if you were the Governor?

Bring your calculator and pencil! Bring your friends and neighbors!
Budget Worksheets will be provided!

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

7:30 p.m. Monday, September 10, 2007
Kensington Town Hall / The Armory, 3710 Mitchell St, Kensington MD

Public Transportation (bus): http://www.wmata.com/
Google Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3710+Mitchell+St,+Kensington,+MD+20895,+USA&sa=X&o\
i=map&ct=title

Sponsored by:

District 18 Democratic Caucus, Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club, PREZCO

Questions? Contact Deeschofield@...

By authority of D18 Democratic Caucus, Vic Weissberg, Treasurer

Wanna say something to Barbara Mikulski?

Written by: Maida Schifter on Aug 14, 2007 10:59 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

Last week Senator Barbara Mikulski voted to expand Bush and Gonzales'
power to ignore FISA. (The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
(FISA) of 1978 is a U.S. federal law prescribing procedures for the
physical and electronic surveillance and collection of "foreign
intelligence information" between or among "foreign powers". It allows
the government to spy on us without a warrant as long as the court is
notified within 72 hours. Bush would not work within that rule.) She
was one of 16 Democrats who caved to Bush's "demand" that Congress
pass the bill before leaving on their vacation. She was the ONLY
Democrat from Maryland – counting both the Senate and the House – to
give Bush what he wanted. I was stunned and digusted.

I sent her a note saying I pledged to no longer support or vote for
her, after doing just that for many years. I want a senator who is
smart enough to see through Bush's ploy and principled enough to stand
up for the Constitution. When I later read her statement about her
FISA vote, I thought it could have been written by Bush himself. Read
it here:

http://mikulski.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=280609

Instead of parroting Bush about how Al Quaeda is at our doorstep and
how we have to give up our rights to protect ourselves, why isn't
Mikulski asking why Bush, with all the intellectual, technical and
financial resources available to our country, is not protecting the
country effectively? Why has he not found Bin Laden? Why is he
implying that if we don't give up our rights and we are attacked, it
will be our fault? Why doesn't she ask who failed to act to protect
our country when, in August 2001, the Presidential Daily Briefing said
Bin Laden was planning to attack our country by flying airplanes into
buildings? Why isn't she pointing out that Bush is deflecting
attention from his administration's FAILURE TO PROTECT US (rememberKatrina?) by telling us over and over that if we don't do what hedemands, it will be our fault if we are not protected?

The new FISA changes are in effect for 180 days. They allow the
adminstration to listen in on any conversation between someone in this
country and someone outside the country. Bush wants to make
them permanent. Is that OK with you?
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8/14/193823/061

Now's the time to let Barbara Mikulski know where you stand. She
needs to hear from us. She pays attention when we – her constituents
– tell her what we think. Here's how to reach her:

• Call her Capital Hill office: (202) 224-4654
• Call or send a letter to one of her state offices:
http://mikulski.senate.gov/contactme/officelocations.htm
• Send her an e-mail: http://mikulski.senate.gov/contactme/mailform.html

We have the power to affect policy. But it only works if we use it.

-Maida

 

 

DFA Training this weekend! Not too late to sign up!

Written by: Maida Schifter on May 16, 2007 2:26 PM EDT

Edit Post

Hi everyone,

DFA is offering one of its amazing training sessions this weekend in Fairfax.  DFA Chair Jim Dean will be there, and Maryland's own Congressional candidate Donna Edwards will be speaking at the luncheon. Even though the training is in Virginia, Marylanders are not only welcome but encouraged to come!

Please check: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=18302 for details and signup.  Arshad Hasan is DFA Director of Training and he is EXCELLENT - this I know from personal experience.

Take a look and know that this is more than worth putting on your schedule.  Plus it's really fun to get to know in person some of the great DFA leaders whose names you've seen on the screen for a long time now.

http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=18302

-Maida Schifter Tryon

DFA Training this weekend! Not too late to sign up!

Written by: Maida Schifter on May 16, 2007 1:53 PM EDT

Hi everyone,

DFA is offering one of its amazing training sessions this weekend in Fairfax.  DFA Chair Jim Dean will be there, and Maryland's own Copngressional candidate Donna Edwards will be speaking at the luncheon. Even though the training is in Virginia, Marylanders are not only welcome but encouraged to come!

Please check: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=18302 for details and signup.  Arshad Hasan is DFA Director of Training and he is EXCELLENT - this I know from personal experience.

Take a look and know that this is more than worth putting on your schedule.  Plus it's really fun to get to know in person some of the great DFA leaders whose names you've seen on the screen for a long time now.

http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=18302

-Maida Schifter Tryon

DFA Training this weekend! Not too late to sign up

Written by: Maida Schifter on May 16, 2007 1:44 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

Hi everyone,

DFA is offering one of its amazing training sessions this weekend in Fairfax.  DFA Chair Jim Dean will be there, and Maryland's own Congressional candidate Donna Edwards will be speaking at the luncheon. Even though the training is in Virginia, Marylanders are not only welcome but encouraged to come!

Please check: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=18302 for details and signup.  Arshad Hasan is DFA Director of Training and he is EXCELLENT - this I know from personal experience.

Take a look and know that this is more than worth putting on your schedule.  Plus it's really fun to get to know in person some of the great DFA leaders whose names you've seen on the screen for a long time now.

http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=18302

-Maida Schifter Tryon

FINAL PUSH for DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

Written by: Maida Schifter on Oct 25, 2006 10:54 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

Come to a rally on SUNDAY, OCT. 29 to prepare for the FINAL PUSH before the November 7 Election Day.

The big GOTV push will be Friday-Monday, Nov. 3-6. Volunteers will contact infrequent voters (those who typically do not vote in non-presidential years) to urge them to vote - and vote Democratic - on November 7. This rally is the leadup for that effort.

THIS IS AN "ALL HANDS ON DECK" moment. We all need to do our part. I know you know what that means.


Montg. Cty. GOTV Rally in Silver Spring at 2:30pm
Date: Sunday October 29, 2006
Time: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Type: Other
Location: Blair High School in Silver Spring
Street: Blair High School
City/State/Zip: Silver Spring, MD
Phone: Please call Ashley at 410-366-1900

Joined by statewide candidates, we will begin at 2:30pm.
After listening to our speakers, we encourage you to join us after the rally to canvass and phone together!

Support the Democrat challenging the only REPUBLICAN Delegate from Montgomery County

Written by: Maida Schifter on Oct 13, 2006 5:25 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

Craig Rice is running for Delegate from Montgomery County District 15. He is challenging the ONLY Republican in the Montgomery County Delegation, Jean Cryor - a good friend of Gov. Bob Ehrlich.

On SUNDAY OCT. 15 at 1:00 pm there will be a reception for Craig Rice in Rockville, including invited guests: County Executive Candidate Ike Leggett, former Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Senate candidate/Rep. Ben Cardin, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Albert Wynn, Gubernatorial candidate Martin O'Malley, Attorney General candidate Doug Gansler, Comptroller candidate Peter Franchot, MD Democratic Party chair Terry Lierman, MCDCC Chair Karen Britto, Montgomery County Council members...

LET'S SHOW CRAIG RICE WE SUPPORT HIS CHALLENGE!

Won't you join us?


Please RSVP to me at mstryon@patriot.net for details.


Read about Craig Rice: www.riceformaryland.com/...

THANKS!

TWO IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO for the upcoming NOV 7 election

Written by: Maida Schifter on Sep 28, 2006 11:47 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

1. sign up as a pollwatcher or election judge. Get paid to do it!

2. do phone banking or canvassing for the MDDems Coordinated Campaign, to get voters to use PAPER absentee ballots and to get dropoff voters - who don't usually vote in non-presidential years - to vote this year.
TURNOUT IS CRITICAL

HERE's HOW:


2. HELP THE COORDINATED CAMPAIGN: contact Nick Sukachevin: nsukachevin@....
[I am phone banking this evening at 7832 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 20814) in the Cardin campaign office, just south of the NIH. Join me? 7-9:00)



1. INFO ON POLLWATCHING or BEING AN ELECTION JUDGE

From: "Naomi B."
To: dodgebloch@...
Subject: FW: Update: Get Paid to Protect the Election in Maryland.
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:49:07 +0000

Please consider stepping up for this opportunity. It is wonderful that "Working Assets" has partnered with Maryland to assist in such an important cause.

Even if you can't make it on election day yourself, would you please help by forwarding this information on to others you know who may be able to help with this critical need?

The money being offered would be, I'm sure, enough to pay a
babysitter....or help defray a day off from your regular job.

Thanks for your help!

-Naomi
P.S.- Working Assets is an amazing company, btw and I urge you to check them out.

They, long ago, came on to the citizen activism scene and have been enabling citizens to "have a voice" in very important social issues for many years now. Plus, they are based in my hometown, San Franscisco.... which comes as
no surprise to me, personally! ;-)

Please help with this effort... either by stepping up yourself... or asking someone you know to, ok?

www.workingassets.com/Marylandpo... Details below.....

......................................................................
..........
..........................................................
September 28, 2006

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY

Deadlines Looming; Support Election Integrity -- and Get Paid!

Every year, thousands of people in Maryland help make it
possible for citizens to exercise one of their most fundamental
rights -- the right to vote. This year, new voting machines may result in serious problems at the polls. The best way to ensure that every voter's rights are respected is for you to be there -- working at the polls and helping protect voters' right to cast their ballots -- on Election Day.

Deadlines to get hired as a pollworker are approaching fast -- click here for information on how to sign up in your county:
www.workingassets.com/Marylandpo...

In order to support our democracy, Working Assets and our
partner organizations have created the "Pollworkers for Democracy" project -- a nonpartisan effort to get more people involved in supporting our elections. We'll provide you with information to supplement your pollworker training -- and also a system to report and track any problems on Election Day.

Click here to find out more about the Pollworkers for Democracy Program:

www.workingassets.com/Marylandpo...

Almost all Maryland counties are still in need of pollworkers for
the November 7th general election. By s igning up as a pollworker, you can support our democratic system...and get paid at the same time!

There are many long-time pollworkers in Maryland waiting for
the opportunity to pass on their wisdom and experience to the
next generation of citizen pollworkers. As our voting systems become more complicated and less transparent, it behooves us as citizens to step in and help our democracy work.

Click here to get more information about being a pollworker in
your county:

www.workingassets.com/Marylandpo...

*** Please share this email with all of your friends and
neighbors in Maryland!!!***


THANK YOU for working to build a better world.

Will Easton
Working Assets

DETAILS on the MARYLAND DEMOCRATIC PARTY POST PRIMARY PUSH

Written by: Maida Schifter on Sep 11, 2006 8:26 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

No time to waste!
Join the Maryland Democratic Party on September 13th and 14th for our phone bank kickoff!

Fact: Voter turnout decreases when there is not a Presidential Election.
Fact: The more often a voter is contacted, the more likely that voter will
turn out in November.
Fact: Infrequent Democratic voters are the key to victory in November.

Solution: Infrequent Democratic Voter Direct Connect Phone Banks!

When: Wednesday and Thursday, September 13 & 14, 5-9pm
and every Sunday through Thursday, 5-9pm.
Shifts from 5-7pm and 7-9pm each night

Where: Sundays - 962 Wayne Ave., Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20910
One block east of the Silver Spring Metro station, on the corner of Georgia Ave. and Wayne Ave.
*free parking available

Mondays through Thursdays - 4340 East West Highway, Suite 206
Bethesda, MD 20816 (Bethesda Towers)
Two blocks east of the Bethesda Metro station, across the
street from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.
*free parking available

Can't phone bank?
Help us canvass your neighborhood! The Maryland Democratic Party will be having a canvass kickoff on Saturday, September 16th from 10 am to 1 pm. and every weekend thereafter. Help gather volunteers in your neighborhood!

To volunteer, please contact:
Nick Sukachevin at (301) 562-4009, nsukachevin@mddems.org
Lakshmi Sridaran at (301) 562-4155, lsridaran@mddems.org

Please help Keep Maryland Blue! This election will determine the future of Maryland. Any amount of time you can volunteer is very valuable!

Edwards/Wynn in Washington Post Sat., Sep. 9

Written by: Maida Schifter on Sep 9, 2006 9:40 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Montgomery County

Edwards Runs Tough Race Against Wynn

By Ovetta Wiggins
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 9, 2006; B02



Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.) has not faced formidable opposition since he was elected in 1992. He has trounced challengers, returning to office with no less than 80 percent of the vote in a primary or general election.

But Wynn is facing the political challenge of his career in Tuesday's Democratic primary against Donna Edwards, a lawyer and community activist who has mounted a vigorous and well-organized campaign to represent Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Edwards drew little attention when she filed campaign papers in April to run against Wynn, but she has raised her profile in part with the help of Internet bloggers, who support her positions on the environment, campaign finance reform and Iraq. Edwards opposes the war; Wynn voted for the resolution authorizing it.

Connecticut businessman Ned Lamont's Democratic primary defeat of longtime incumbent Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman -- a vocal supporter of the Iraq war -- boosted enthusiasm about Edwards's campaign among bloggers. She continued to hammer Wynn on his vote to go to war in Iraq, calling the seven-term incumbent "Maryland's Joe Lieberman."

Wynn says he was misled by the Bush administration and notes that he was not the only Democrat who was. He has apologized for the vote and now believes the troops should be withdrawn.

"My opponent will say, 'Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have voted for [the war],' " said Edwards during a recent NAACP candidates forum. "Well, sorry is just too late."

Wynn has spent little time campaigning in past elections but has increased his number of public appearances in his district, which includes parts of Prince George's and Montgomery counties. And he said he is "reaching deep into the playbook" as the campaign goes into the final stretch.

"We take this campaign very seriously," Wynn said. "But let's not make it seem like I'm campaigning against the second coming of Huey Long."

Edwards is a newcomer to Maryland politics. She has worked on Capitol Hill as a lobbyist for groups such as the Center for a New Democracy, where she was the executive director. On a national level, she has pushed for funding for domestic violence victims and reforming the campaign finance system. Locally, she and a community activist group fought against the building of National Harbor, a multibillion dollar resort along the Potomac River, until developers agreed to add a residential component to the project. She has received endorsements from Progressive Democrats of America, the Sierra Club and the National Organization for Women's political action committee.

"I'm not in this as a joke, and I'm not in this to make a statement," Edwards recently told a group of residents during a meet-and-greet at a Mitchellville home. "I'm in this to win it."

Edwards supports a withdrawal from Iraq but has declined to say what the timetable should be. She wants to raise the minimum wage and thinks the country's energy policy should be weaned off of fossil fuels.

But the cornerstone of her campaign is portraying Wynn as out of step with the district's voters.

She points out that Wynn broke ranks with the party to vote in favor of the Bush administration's energy bill in 2003, which authorized tax breaks for energy producers. Wynn also supported the repeal of the estate tax, which would benefit the wealthiest Americans.

These votes, Edwards says, betray the constituents in the solidly Democratic district that runs from Clarksburg in Montgomery to Fort Washington in Prince George's.

Wynn says Edwards, who worked in his law office when she first got out of law school, has mischaracterized his record.

His campaign literature touts the backing of about 40 left-leaning groups, including the AFL-CIO and Planned Parenthood, as evidence that he remains a true Democrat, despite Edwards's attempts to cast him otherwise.

"I consistently vote with pro-choice, I consistently vote with labor unions," Wynn said during a recent interview. "This is a bunch of rubbish of the worst sort."

He makes no apologies for his vote on the Republican-sponsored energy bill. "I'm happy to stand behind the energy bill," he said, noting that the legislation included a $3 billion increase in energy assistance for low-income residents. "I'm more concerned about getting money for low-income residents. She's more concerned about having a partisan fight."

Wynn said he supports repealing the estate tax because business owners in his district and wealthy first-generation African Americans across the country requested it and because he believes people should be taxed when they are alive.

But he is not used to having to explain his position. In the past, he has faced opponents such as Republican John Kimble, who once said he was running because "the salary seems good." Kimble perhaps was best known for offering to pose nude in Playgirl magazine in a stunt to raise campaign money, and he recruited Wynn's ex-wife to do a radio ad six years ago.

Wynn described the contest with Edwards, who has support from Barbra Streisand, Danny Glover and Gloria Steinem, as "the liberal elite versus the pragmatic Democrat."

Although many political observers applaud Edwards's aggressive campaign, they say she has little chance of defeating the seven-term incumbent.

"She's put together a very energetic campaign," said Matthew A. Crenson, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "But he's firmly entrenched."

Edwards said that when she became disillusioned with Wynn's record, she began asking elected officials about running against him. "No one would do it," said Edwards, who has not campaigned for office since high school. "They said, 'He can't be beaten, he has a machine.' "

Wynn continues to wave signs on busy intersections in Prince George's and Montgomery, and Edwards continues to try to penetrate Wynn's popularity, holding meet-the-candidate events in living rooms and basements across the district.

Nakia Nicholson, a teacher and Wynn supporter who recently attended one of Edwards's events, left impressed.

"I think she's a very knowledgeable, very capable candidate," Nicholson said.

But was she swayed?

"I'm in the middle right now," she said.

© 2006 The Washington Post Company