Democracy for New Hampshire - Democrats

Waxman takes control of House Energy and Commerce Committee

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:13:43 -0500

SOURCE:

Democrats Oust Longtime Leader of House Panel By JOHN M. BRODER

WASHINGTON — Representative Henry A. Waxman wrested the chairmanship of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee from Representative John D. Dingell on Thursday in a coup that is expected to accelerate passage of energy, climate and health legislation backed by President-elect Barack Obama.

Democratic Pressure on Obama to Restore the Rule of Law

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:22:49 -0500

New York Times
By ADAM COHEN
Published: November 14, 2008

In a Senate hearing room in September, weeks before Barack Obama won the election, a series of law professors, lawyers and civil libertarians outlined one of the biggest challenges that will be facing the next president: bringing the United States government back under the rule of law.

Over the past eight years, they testified, American legal traditions have been degraded in areas ranging from domestic spying to government secrecy. The damage that has been done by President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and others is so grave that just assessing it will be an enormous task. Repairing it will be even more enormous.

This was not a new complaint. Civil liberties advocates have been sounding the alarm for years. The difference now is that a Democrat is about to assume the presidency, and one of the most ardent defenders of civil liberties in his party — Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin — is dedicated to putting the restoration of the rule of law on the agenda of the incoming government, with the support of the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups.

News from Denver

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:27:41 -0500

SOURCE:Denver Post

Undercover cops were among the unruly at DNC
By Felisa Cardona
The Denver Post

When a Jefferson County deputy deployed pepper spray into a crowd during the first night of the Democratic National Convention, he did not know that his targets were undercover Denver police officers.
During a melee that occurred Aug. 25 between protesters, police and bystanders near Civic Center Park, undercover Denver detectives staged a struggle with a police commander in order to get out of the crowd undetected.
A Jefferson County deputy, unaware of the presence of undercover police, thought that the commander was being attacked and deployed the pepper spray, according to a police use-of-force report obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado.

DNC Chair Howard Dean's statement on 2008 election results

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:39:36 -0500

For Immediate Release
November 4, 2008

Statement by Howard Dean
On the 2008 Election Results

Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on tonight's election results:

"This has been a truly historic, transformational election. Tonight, our country chose hope over fear, the future over the past, unity over division. This election also reflects the passing of the torch to a new generation. Barack Obama inspired young voters across this country to answer the call and get involved. They responded to his promise to put partisanship and divisiveness aside and come together as one nation to find solutions. They turned out. They made calls. They knocked on doors. And they helped change our country.

"The American people have given all of us - Democrats, Republicans and Independents - a simple mandate: to work together find big solutions to the big challenges facing our country. We must work together to change the direction of our wonderful country and to restore America. With the help of strong Democratic majorities in Congress, President Barack Obama is going to set this nation on a course to provide the change we need.

Democrats Caused Wall Street Crisis

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:09:10 -0400

You can thank your Democratic Party for the current financial crisis.
The Democratic Party(through Democratic dominated organizations such as ACORN, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac and Democratic inspired laws such as the Community Reinvestment Act) intimidated banks into lending money to poor minorities and whites who could not possibly pay the money back.
The resulting bad loans were packaged into mortgage securities which(since they were based on fraudulent loans) had no significant value. Nonetheless, many of these securities were rated AAA(which is what enticed many banks and entities to buy these securities). Had not the underlying loans been risky, however, the current crisis would not have happened. And the Democratic Party heavily promoted these “affordable housing” risky loans to people who weren’t credit worthy. It is no accident Obama and Dodd are the top two recipients of Fannie Mae campaign contributions and that Obama chose Jim Johnson(former Fannie Mae executive) to select his vice presidential nominee. It is no accident Obama represented ACORN and that he and Ayers donated to ACORN while they were on boards together. It is no accident Democrats included a grant to ACORN in the initial draft of the bailout bill. It is no accident Obama’s campaign gave $800,000 to ACORN. It is no accident Democrats such as Frank, Dodd, Reid, Pelosi and Obama did not join John McCain when John McCain called for reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2005. It is no accident Democrats like Obama, Dodd, Reid, Pelosi, and Frank resisted President Bush’s numerous calls for reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Obama’s claim Bush “deregulation” caused the current crisis is utterly demagogic. There was little financial “deregulation” under Bush and Gramm Leach Bliley(1999) was not only under Clinton but, by its breaking down of barriers between commercial and investment banks, has helped to alleviate the current crisis by facilitating recent mergers between commercial and investment banks. Moreover, saddled with the Democratic Party’s refusal to reform Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Community Reinvestment Act, what could regulators realistically have done to prevent the current crisis(even if there had been more “oversight”), check the credit ratings of homebuyers? Some media and Obama can cover up the above truths but the above truths can not legitimately be denied. The current crisis is directly traceable to your Democratic Party.

Democratic Policies Promote High CO2 emissions

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:30:49 -0400

It is the Democratic Party that is responsible for savaging the World’s climate with high CO2 emissions, not Republicans. Yes, you heard that correctly.
First of all, through its longstanding and continuing opposition to nuclear power, the Democratic Party has forced and will continue to force this country to rely on coal and oil for much of its energy needs for the foreseeable future. Nuclear power is safe and emits next to nothing in terms of greenhouse emissions, but your Democratic Party will have none of it. And anyone who thinks Barack Obama and the current cast in your Democratic Congress will build nuclear power plants is dreaming.
Secondly, the Democratic Party is also responsible for high CO2 emissions because its anti business policies have driven more businesses overseas to China and India(where the businesses can pollute the environment as they wish). Your Democratic Party seems to have forgotten that, as far as the greenhouse effect is concerned, the world’s environment is not helped simply by moving polluters from one spot to the next.

Obama Health Plan Disaster Awaits

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:29:34 -0400

In a speech before the AFL-CIO in 2003, Obama stated he favored a single payer system once “we took back the White House, the Senate, and the House.” Private insurers will be crowded out by Obama's government plan (because Obama’s government plan will be subsidized and private insurers will be subjected to unfair, costly mandates that will force them to charge higher premiums). Once the conversion to the dark side of single payer is achieved, you, the public, will only have one option for your insurance and if you don’t like it, too bad. Further, the cost of Obama’s plan will be staggering and, therefore(as has happened in Canada) care will be rationed and the government will be forced to cover less. Also, like in Canada, quality doctors will leave the system(because they will be paid less) and(because demand will increase) waiting times for surgeries and diagnostic tests will increase dramatically. We need to deal with the 10% of this country who are uninsured(a quar

Obama Energy Policy Prescription for Disaster

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:28:06 -0400

The Democratic Party has routinely and historically railed against nuclear power, more oil drilling, and coal plants. Obama says he “favors nuclear power”(even though he said a year ago he doesn’t favor nuclear power), “more drilling”(even though he said we can save just as much energy from inflating our tires as we can from drilling for more oil) and “clean coal”(even though his running mate Biden shouted emphatically at an individual recently at a campaign rally that he and Obama will not build any “clean coal” plants).
Are we really dumb enough to believe this cast of characters will seriously bring about “energy independence” for this country

Democrats Caused Wall Street Crisis

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:23:33 -0400

Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire To Endorse Kathy Sgambati

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:36:14 -0400

Londonderry, NH – The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire will hold a campaign rally and press conference Tuesday to announce their endorsement of Kathy Sgambati for re-election as State Senator for District 4.

“The PFFNH and its affiliates are the most bipartisan labor union in the NH AFL-CIO, and their endorsement of Sgambati in her State Senate race is just another example of how NH’s 1st Responders support candidates that support our issues and are committed to maintaining a relationship to work together to properly staff/equip our Fire Departments, train our 1st responders and work towards finding solutions to the current pensions problems,” said Dave Lang, President PFFNH.

“As our State Senator, Sgambati has been a long-time supporter of fire fighters and public safety and our members in the 4th District and throughout the Granite state,” Brad Ober, President of IAFF Local 4659 Tilton/Northfield Fire Fighters said.

Senator Sgambati and Dave Lang, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire will speak at the event.

Democratic Visibility

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:07:37 -0400

Join us to alert the motoring public to all our great Democratic candidates.

Just an hour of your time. No need to bring signs.

Obama Information Night

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:10:09 -0400

Still undecided? Seacoast area residents can learn more about Presidential candidate Barack Obama at an informational session featuring Matt Kennedy on Wednesday, October 22, at 7 p.m. at the Bow Lake Grange Hall in Strafford. Admission is free and open to the public. The event is being hosted by the Town of Strafford Democratic Committee.

For more information on the Obama Information Night, call 603-664-9974 or visit http://www.StraffordDems.org.

Thanks for helping spread the word about this event! -- Jane Vachon, Town of Strafford Democratic Committee

Jean Shaheen offers an object lesson in why Democrats lose elections

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:19:56 -0400

You all probably recently received the same email funding solicitation that I did from Jean Shaheen. The question it raises is whether her campaign is clueless or whether, in fact, Ms. Shaheen really wants to harm the presidential chances of Barack Obama. Either way, the Shaheen campaign has some explaining to do.

The worst kind of political treachery for a fellow democrat is to pick up an opponents negative frame for a Democratic candidate and run with it, validate it and support it. That's exactly what Shaheen has done.

Almost immediately after the convention, the Republicans added to their talking points the notion that community organizing was some radical commie enterprise and that Barack Obama was its dark prince. The term "radical commmunity organizer" was on every Repiblican hacks lips. Never mind that community organizing represents the best of American values - empowerment, grassroots leadership development, local democratization

So what does Jean Shaheen do to raise money. she maks for your sympathy because the Republicans have been calling her a radical community organizer. Here's the text of that part of her solicitation:

Exeter Canvass

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:46:55 -0400

We need volunteers for our Saturday, October 4th canvass in the mobile home parks in Exeter to identify unregistered voters and to distribute a voter motivation piece entitled "Why Bother to Vote ?". Please call/email Herb
> Moyer 772-6910 herb.moyer@comcast.net or Pat Yosha 772-3782
> pyosha@comcast.net to help Saturday. You know how important these
> elections
> are...from the bottom of the Democratic ballot to the top.

Democratic Party Tour

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:50:04 -0400

Oct 1st New Hampshire Democratic Party Road Tour: This may be the only time in the History of New Hampshire that the Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, The Hon. Terri Norelli, The Senate President, Ms.Sylvia Larsen, our own State Senator, Maggie Hassan and the Chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party will be in the Exeter Town Office at 11:00am.
> If they all are returned to the House, we will have the largest women State
> Senate in the History of the US since the Civil War.