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Thursday, April 25, 2019


               


Neighborhood Buzz
A Blog for Democrats and Independents
Editor  - Jerry Meyer
jerrymeyer.meyer1@gmail.com


The Mueller Report makes my head hurt.
 I am not reading it, I am listening to people who read documents for a living, and the more I listen the more I confirm every concern I have about Donald Trump.  He is the biggest mistake ever made by voters.
It seems to me there is more than enough to impeach him, but I don’t think it's wise to start that process.  Impeachment winds up in the hands of the Senate, where it would take 67 votes to find the President guilty. (There are 51 Republicans, 47 Democrats and 2 Independents in the Senate). 
If the Senate did return a finding of guilty and remove him from office, he would be replaced by Mike Pence. If he is found not guilty that will allow him to continue the claim the whole thing was a hoax, there was no collusion, no obstruction and it was several years of “fake news.”  More fodder for his base.
The strongest decision is the one that will come from the ballot box (assuming the Russians don’t control the results.)
The investigation should continue in the House, because as more information is revealed it becomes more and more apparent how far the Trump administration wanders from the truth.   Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was caught flat footed in a lie by the Mueller investigation, and insisted her wording was a mere “slip of the tongue.”
The people to whom I am listening, much smarter than I am, have clearly outlined a path of deception by Attorney General William Barr. His press conference prior to release of the redacted Mueller report was a blatant attempt to “spin” the understanding of the information.  Fortunately no one fell for his machinations, and he has made it obvious he is just another Trump sycophant.
One of the most telling indications about how “tribal” our nation has become came in a comment to a TV reporter who asked a man on the street for his opinion of the President following release of the Mueller report.  The man said, “I think Trump is despicable, but he has done so many good things for the country.”
The House needs the un-redacted report and must continue to reveal the information it contains.
And, we must give some attention to our voting process, which everyone agrees was invaded in some States.  Even with that information, nothing has been done to deal with the interference that took place.

Jerry Meyer
(as the saying goes, my opinion and $2.75 will get you a cup of coffee)

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Commentary by Florida Democratic Party Chair in the Orlando  Sentinel 

Democrats working to protect Florida voting rights 

 
Terrie Rizzo - FDP Chair
 
 Florida has a history of razor thin elections.  Unfortunately it also has a long history of voter suppression.
     With more than 8 million votes cast  in 2018, only 10,033 votes separated Rick Scott and Bill Nelson in the race for U.S. Senate.  In that same election, fewer than 33,000 votes separated Andrew Gillum and Ron DeSantis for governor. Barack Obama won the state by less than 1 percent in 2012, and after almost six million votes were cast in 2000, the final vote difference between Al Gore and George W. Bush was 537 votes.
     In Florida, when we say every vote counts, we really mean it.  Protecting the right to vote and increasing voter participation should have broad bipartisan support. Yet, a divide has emerged in Florida:  on one side, Republican politicians are trying to make it harder for Floridians to vote; while Democrats are registering voters and working to protect voting rights.
     Last November voters from both parties overwhelmingly supported expanding voting rights in Florida by approving Amendment 4, which restored the rights to ex-felons after they completed their sentences.
     That fact hasn't stopped GOP state Rep. Jamie Grant, who sponsored a bill to redefine the terms of finishing a sentence and legal reentry into society.  Rep. Grant's bill would mandate that transportation and medical fees be paid to get back the right to vote.  These kinds of fees are not part of the sentence, they are not imposed by  a judge and not everyone can afford to pay them immediately upon reentering society.  Grant's bill in the House passed with solely Republican support and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has hinted he may sign anti-Amendment 4 legislation.  This bill would serve only one goal: to suppress the vote by overturning Amendment 4 and blocking returning citizens from voting.
      Florida had a poll tax once and we must ensure nothing remotely like it ever becomes law again.
      But, Florida Republicans aren't content to stop with a modern poll tax that requires citizens to pay fees to the government for the right to vote.  Florida Republicans also are pushing another anti-voter bill, HB 7101.  This bill would restrict the number of dates Floridians can vote by mail.  If the bill had been law in 2018, more than 53,000 votes could well have been invalidated.  This bill has already made it out of committee and could very well become law.
     Floridians don't support these blatant attempts at voter suppression, and we all expect better from our elected leaders.
     As Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, I am determined to fight, at every step, Republicans' efforts to suppress the vote, strip Floridians of their constitutional rights, and disenfranchise voters---in particular voters of color.
     That's why the Florida Democratic Party is investing $2.8 million to register 200,000 new voters before the Florida presidential primary. We are also launching a paid student organizing program called Organizing Corps 2020, that will train over 200 students to organize and register new voters beginning in the summer of 2019.  The program is simple:  provide paid training and mentorship to Florida college juniors who will organize their communities this summer, at their college campuses in the fall and join a Democratic campaign as a trained field organizer in 2020.  And it's targeted at lifting up the voters whom Republicans have tried hardest to disenfranchise:  young people and voters of color.
     But, with the history of voter suppression in our State, we cannot simply register new voters and leave them to fend for themselves in 2020.  If this legislative session has taught us anything, it is that voter suppression happens well in advance of an election.
     It pains me to see Republican leaders working so hard to restrict voting rights in Florida. It begs the question:  when Democrats are working so hard to lift up our democracy and ensure more people vote, why are Republicans doing the exact opposite?

By Terrie Rizzo, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party

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   WASHINGTON  -- Karen Seal Stewart is rich. And she wants to pay more in taxes. YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT.
      Stewart is one of the Patriotic Millionaires, a group of about 200 wealthy individuals -- worth billions combined -- who say they should be taxed more, and as soon as possible.
     "It's a matter of equity, fairness and the fact that we have the money to pay the taxes and we're not being asked to pay them," Stewart, a former real estate executive, told NBC news.  "My sense is we are really at a cusp.  We better get our act together because......the lack of fairness and opportunity is growing."
Morris Pearl
Patriotic Millionaires  Chair
     "We see how the system is skewed in our favor and that's really hurting our country, and in the long run, hurting us too,"  Morris Pearl, Patriotic Millionaires chairman and a former BlackRock managing director, said last week at a gathering for the group in Washington.  
     For Pearl, it's about his kids and grand kids being able to "grow up in the same kind of country where I grew up, to have the same opportunities I did.  And...(they) are not going to have the same kind of opportunities I had if we continue in the direction we're going."
    Asked about the best ways to fix the tax system, Pearl notes there are "a lot of possibilities out there."
     Many of those ideas are being floated on the Democratic campaign trail, where 2020 hopefuls are putting the wealth gap front and center.
     For some, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., taxing wealth -- as opposed to income -- is the answer, a proposal that sets her apart in a democratic field that largely agrees on rolling back the tax cuts for corporations and top earners that were backed by President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.
     Others in the field, like former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, support a wealth tax but have not released specific plans.  And the Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed hiking the estate tax, something he estimates would hit the small fraction of Americans who inherit more than $3.5 million.
    The idea of taxing the rich more isn't just popular among the Patriotic Millionaires.
     In fact, 63 percent of voters think higher-income people pay too little in taxes, according to a Politico-Morning Consult online poll.  And Warren's plan plays well across party lines -- with 74 percent of Democrats backing her proposal and half of Republicans in that same poll.
     The millionaires aren't backing any specific candidate -- though they say Warren is right on taxing wealth. They just want action.
     "Important things" like infrastructure and health care require money, Stewart said.  "You need to get the money where it is. It's with the wealthy...Do not feel sorry for us.  We will still be fine.  And the country will be better off."

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Sumter Co. Democrat Headquarters

staying busy in off election year.


Democratic Headquarters
in Wildwood
     When the Sumter County Democrats decided to continue their lease on a building at 300  S. Main in Wildwood for their Headquarters, there was some question about the need with the 2020 election seeming far into the future.
     When a request for financial support from members easily raised enough money to pay the rent, they pressed forward.   Today the the office is manned by volunteers on weekdays and the building is often a beehive of activity with workers addressing mailings, answering inquiries on the phone and from walk ins and committees meeting to deal with the many facets of the coming election. The 2020 election activity is roaring to life with even more vigor than many had predicted.

Miriam Hanock & Bob Janson
  On Monday, April 22nd the Democratic Executive Committee met for their regular monthly meeting, hearing reports on pending legislation in Tallahassee, updates on the Grill and Chill outing on April 28th and administered the oath of office to new precinct captains Miriam Hanock and Bob Janson, among other agenda items.
     Main Street in Wildwood is also Highway 301 and 300 S. Main is in what is often referred to the Save A Lot shopping center.   The center also includes Ace Hardware and the Wildwood Post office and is a busy segment of the Wildwood retail community.
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Congratulations Mary
     Mary Scheiner, who just completed her term as interim President of the Villages Democrats, will be in Tempe, AZ April 27th to participate in Pat's Run, an annual event honoring Pat Tillman, an NFL football star who stepped away from his career at his peak to serve in the military and died when his unit was ambushed in Afghanistan in 2004.
        Mary, who comes from a military family, first ran the race in 2012 and now returns every year.
        She drew the attention of the Daily Sun, which ran an extensive story on her in the April 23rd issue.
        Congratulations and thank you Mary.
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     The Democratic Women's Club has issued an invitation to attend their Eleanor Roosevelt Tea and Luncheon on Saturday, May 18th from 11-2 at the Sumter County Democrat Headquarters at 300 S. Main in Wildwood.
      The speaker will be Pat Farley, President of the Democratic Women's Club of Florida.  Her topic will be "History of the Women's Movement, the right to vote and the Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment."
    The cost is $10.00 for members and $20.00 for guests, due by May 10th.  No checks will be taken at the door.  Make checks payable to DWCV and mail to : Sharron Chiodo, Treasurer, 3447 Ridgewood Path, The Villages, FL 32163.

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Thursday, April 18, 2019


Neighborhood Buzz
A Blog for Democrats and Independents.
Editor Jerry Meyer



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Grill & Chill Pool Picnic
April 28, 2019  3:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Sea Breeze Rec Center
2384 Buena Vista Blvd.
The Villages, FL
Earlier this year the Sumter Co. Democratic Executive Committee decided that since this was an off-election year it would be fun to hold a relaxed event where Democrats countywide could get together for food, fun, and relaxation before the campaign chaos kicked in.  And then the campaign chaos kicked in.  BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE FUN AND RELAX!

If you haven't signed up, the cost is $20.00 per person and  tickets are available by going to

Play Water Volleyball, Pickleball, Pool, Shuffleboard and Bocce, or just relax and chat.
Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Baked Beans, Chips, Cookies, Water, Soft Drinks, BYOB no glass allowed.

Open to all Democrats - NO VILLAGE ID REQUIRED.

A great committee has worked hard to make this an event open to all, we hope to see you there.

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Some Links you may find interesting.

First -an unexpected response to an insurance question during the Fox News Town Hall meeting with Bernie Sanders.  Watch the video HERE   
The look on the Fox hosts faces when their audience cheered Medicare for All is worth the time!



Next--observations on FLORIDA'S PUBLIC EDUCATION



And some bad ideas about public education from the Governor.
You'll want to read all of this, including the proposals from Senator Dennis Baxley
that schools teach creationism and off alternative views on climate change.

"Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals" of Gov. DeSantis. 



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He should have listened!

Harry R. Truman
     Harry R. Truman (not the President) was an eccentric curmudgeon who avoided most of civilization at the lodge he ran at the foot of St. Helens Mountain in Oregon for 52 years.
     In 1980 geologists warned the long-dormant volcano was rumbling back to life, but Truman dismissed the predictions and refused to leave or take precautions.  After reporters made risky trips into the area, stories of Truman’s stubbornness and defiance made him something of a national folk hero.  When earthquakes knocked him out of bed he moved his mattress to the basement.
     On May 17, 1980 state officials tried one last time to convince Truman to move, and again he refused.  On May 18th, Mt. St. Helen erupted, with the entire Northern flank collapsing.  It destroyed the lake adjacent to Harry’s lodge, burying the site under 150 feet of volcanic landslide debris.  It took only a minute.


Maybe we should listen!

 
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
and Senator Ed Markey
    In February of this year, New York Congresswoman  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey introduced a resolution outlining the scope of a “Green New Deal.”
It proposes a switch to renewable energy sources for the entire country, with a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.  It also calls for major investments in clean energy technology research and development.  To be added are a federal jobs guarantee, basic income, and universal health care.
     David Levine, President of the American Sustainable Business Council sees the Green New Deal as a bold, new opportunity.  He says, “We can build our nation’s infrastructure and tap America’s business innovation, while addressing climate change and broadening economic prosperity.  Investing in clean manufacturing, energy efficiency, renewable energy, quality water, transportation and agricultural systems will create more resilient communities, better jobs and a thriving economy.”  Levine calls the proposal a road map, rather than specific legislation.
     Critics say dubbing the proposal World War G would be more accurate, because, they claim, the plan commits the US to an endless, unwinnable global quagmire.  This war, they say, is not one where we beat the enemy and bring the troops home, but is a constant never-ending struggle against humanity’s basic impulse to raise itself from poverty, with growth tied to continuing increases in greenhouse gas emissions.      
     Ronnie Cummins, International Director of the Organic Consumer Association, takes issue with that view.  He says we know what to do.  “The best practices and practitioners in alternative energy, infrastructure rebuilding, and regenerative food and farming are already visible in or near our local communities. We simply need to mobilize politically, to scale up these practices, utilizing the power of a Green New Deal.  But, we are running out of time unless we can quickly build a massive, united front, elect new GND supporters to Congress and the White House and pass federal legislation for a GND starting in 2021, as Ocasio-Cortez puts it, similar in scale to the mobilization efforts seen in World War II or the Marshal plan.”

Maybe we should listen!

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This space reserved for you!
It has been suggested  I provide some space to recognize Democrats who are getting things done. In other words, your friends and neighbors who are doing nice things and probably getting little or no recognition.  So this space is reserved for you to send me a picture and a short paragraph about individuals who deserve to be recognized.  I'll leave it to you to decide who should appear in this spot. This will be fun.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Communicate with me at:
jerrymeyer.meyer1@gmail.com

Thanks,
Jerry
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Sunday, April 14, 2019


Neighborhood Buzz
A blog for Democrats and Independents
Editor-Jerry Meyer


sumterdemocrats.com



Helen Kelly - LWV
Helen Kelly of the League of Women voters explained the National Vote Proposal (NVP) to the Villages Democrats at the monthly meeting April 13th at Colony Cottage.

The proposal would guarantee the winner of the popular vote would become President.  The current system allows the winner of the Electoral College vote in a limited number of large states to win the Presidency while losing the popular vote.


Americans elect all officials, from mayors to governors and state legislators to U.S. senators, via popular vote, except two—the President and Vice President of the United States.

The LWVFL believes it is time electors are guided by the majority of Americans who agree on the person who should lead the nation. Acting in concert with the electoral system, they are working to educate the public and legislators about the benefits of legislation that would instruct our electors to vote for the Presidential candidate who captures the most votes in all 50 states. In the current Electoral College system, the presidency is awarded to the candidate who wins at least 270 of the 538 available electoral votes. 

The Constitution gives state legislatures the right to choose how presidential electors are chosen. Since the 19th century, each state (with the exceptions of Maine and Nebraska) has awarded its electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in that state. But under the NPV system, states would commit to awarding their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote instead.


The Compact will go into effect only when states controlling at least 270 electoral votes have joined. In the election after that threshold is reached, the NPV states would ensure that the winner of the national popular vote becomes President. While the Compact would not abolish the Electoral College, it would guarantee that the winner of the Electoral College vote and popular vote are the same

Oregon could become the next state to join the compact pledging to devote its electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in future presidential elections if enough states sign on.
 The State’s Senate passed a bill calling for Oregon to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which more than a dozen States and the District of Columbia have already entered into. The States will not shift their vote allocations until their combined electoral votes equal 270, enough to decide a presidential election.
 Currently, the number stands at 189, and Oregon has seven electoral votes. The bill, which passed the State Senate 17 to 12, now heads to Oregon’s House for consideration. Should it pass, it would be up to Democratic Gov. Kate Brown to either sign the bill into law or veto it. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, Brown’s office has said she supports the measure.
 Last week, New Mexico joined the compact, which was already adopted by California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington State and the District of Columbia.

An excellent presentation on this issue can be found on YouTube by entering "Vikram Amar should the President be elected by the people?"  This is a 21 minute TED talk.

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Villages Democrats President Chris Stanley
in the center, chats with members prior to the
April 13th meeting
Chris Stanley stepped up to the podium and received an enthusiastic welcome when she took over the reins as President of the Villages Democrats on April 13th.

Following a brief summary of the club's origin in 2001 and growth since then, she reminded members of the goal of the organization is to elect Democrats.    She advised them to avoid diversions, saying we can't handle every outrage flowing from Washington.

Taking note of the large and talented field of candidates for President,  she advised members to support their favorites, but to speak in positive terms of all of them.  as the front runners emerge.  "Keep your eye on the ball," she counseled.
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Interested in running for office?

Deanna Dean, former Chair of the Sumter County Democrat Executive Committee, now a resident of Lake County, invites potential Democratic office seekers to attend a seminar on how to run for office on Saturday, May 4th.

The location is the LCEA Building, 1713 South Street in Leesburg.  It will last from 9 am to noon.

Mike Hardy is heading candidate recruitment in Sumter County and persons interested in exploring their options can contact him by calling the County Headquarters and asking to have him call back.   The Headquarters is located at 300 S. Main in Wildwood and the phone number is 352-794-1351.
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Want to dine with Dems? 
Want to play golf with Dems.?
Want to have breakfast with Dems?
Want to play board games with Dems?
Want to know when Club and affiliated groups meet?
go to

Click on calendar and then click on the picture of the calendar.
You'll find lots of good stuff.

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 Ann Wade, newly elected Vice President of programs, was on the job at the April 13th Club meeting, learning the ropes from Heather Rabinowitz, who is stepping back from this key
position with the Club.




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sumterdemocrats.com

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Saturday, April 6, 2019


Neighborhood Buzz
A Blog for Democrats and Independents
Editor Jerry Meyer

thevillagesdemocrats.org

Want to keep up to date with affiliated club activities?
Want to dine or play golf with other Dems?
Want to be updated on key issues?
Click on the link above.

sumterdemocrats.com

Want to know what's going on at the county level?
Click on the link above.

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FDP Legislative update


On April 3rd over a hundred Parkland survivors, students and gun control advocates stormed the State Capitol to protest House Bill 7093 which would arm teachers.

House Speaker Jose Olivia delayed the hearing.

State Party chair Terrie Rizzo has called the action a new low and a sad day for our democratic process and urged the speaker to listen to the voice of Parkland survivors who traveled to Tallahassee to urge legislators to drop the plan.  She added, "nothing matters more than keeping our kids safe and Florida Democrats will do all they can to block the legislation.

SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER AUDREY GIBSON SEEKS CLARIFICATION ON SB 1272

TALLAHASSEE – Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson (D-Jacksonville) on Tuesday (4/9) called for clarification on legislation that would leave the Jewish community vulnerable to hate crimes in Florida:

“SB1272 may be well-intentioned, but it fails to protect the very constituencies that have been the subject of hate crimes in Florida, and in this country. My goal yesterday and going forward continues to be ensuring that all religions are protected. That’s why I raised the questions I did during the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Monday. But the bill currently falls short in guaranteeing that equal protection.

“As it currently stands, this legislation fights the wrong battle, and targets the wrong enemy. It restrains school children from making anti-Semitic statements, but removes culpability for those who actually carry out anti-Semitic hate crime attacks.


“The legislation has additional committee stops before it’s presented to the full Senate for a vote. I hope that the guarantees that are needed - as the bill sponsor alluded to - will be provided before it comes before me again in the Rules Committee. I look forward to a meeting on this bill with stakeholders this afternoon.”

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The Villages Democrats Monthly Meeting
Saturday, April 13th at Colony Rec. Center

The program is a League of Women Voters presentation on the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact by Helen Kelly.   The compact would ensure the candidate  for President getting the most votes would be elected to office.   (What a concept!)

Doors open at 9:00 am, the meeting starts at 9:30 am. Don't forget your food bank donation and leave time to visit the display tables.

Food Bank Donation

This week's collection is for the Christian Food Pantry of Lady Lake.
In addition to the usual food items, they particularly need:  canned fruit, canned mixed vegetables, stewed or diced tomatoes and peanut butter and jelly.

The usual items needed are:  canned meats, including tuna,  soups, vegetables, pork and beans, canned or boxed rice, canned or boxed potatoes, sauces.
Boxed items:  pasta, mac & cheese, cake mix, tea and coffee.
Paper goods, toiletries.

Thank you
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Earth Day on the Lake Sumter Market Square
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Starts at 8:00 am
Villagers gather to celebrate Earth Day
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Democratic Women's Club of the Villages
Meets Saturday, April 20, 2019 
at the Moyer Recreation Center (3000 Moyer Loop)
Doors open at 9:30 am - The meeting starts at 10:00 am


In honor of Earth Day the speaker is R. David Walker,President of the South Florida Audubon Society.  David is a fifth generation Floridian with a great love for our state and its' natural resources.  He knows Florida's economy depends on the strength of our environment. His talk will focus  on the many water quality and water supply challenges that face the state and what can be done to address them.  Audubon Florida has been at the forefront of almost every successful effort to protect wetlands and water resources.



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What a wealth of Presidential Material

If you are confused by the many candidates seeking our party's nomination for President, you're not alone.  The field is too large, in my opinion, but attrition will eventually take place.

But what great ideas are emerging. After months of enduring Donny Dimwit the demagogue and his conservative minions destroying democracy, it is wildly refreshing to hear bright people speak intelligently about climate change, how to meet the coming job losses created by automation and other real issues.

Technology has always been our friend, but if driverless vehicles, self check out at stores and using your phone to scan bar codes, and even more shopping at Amazon continue, jobs will disappear.  Some of the candidates see new jobs appearing and I look forward to hearing more from them.

The first Democratic presidential primary debate, to be broadcast on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo, will originate from Miami on June 26 and 27th.  Line ups will be determined at random, with each candidate given a fair opportunity to make  her or his case.  The debate will be streamed for free on NBC News' digital properties, including NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, NBC News Mobile App and OTT apps in addition to Telemundo's digital platforms.

Party Chair Terri Rizzo says, "when our candidates take the stage, they're going to show the American people the Democratic party is the party of ideas."

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 I'm not OK with that!
The remarkable comments of Adam Schiff




“My colleagues might think it’s OK that the Russians offered dirt on the Democratic candidate for president as part of what’s described as the Russian government’s effort to help the Trump campaign. You might think that’s OK.

“My colleagues might think it’s OK that when that was offered to the son of the president, who had a pivotal role in the campaign, that the president’s son did not call the FBI; he did not adamantly refuse that foreign help – no, instead that son said that he would ‘love’ the help with the Russians.

“You might think it’s OK that he took that meeting. You might think it’s OK that Paul Manafort, the campaign chair, someone with great experience running campaigns, also took that meeting. You might think it’s OK that the president’s son-in-law also took that meeting. You might think it’s OK that they concealed it from the public. You might think it’s OK that their only disappointment after that meeting was that the dirt they received on Hillary Clinton wasn’t better. You might think that’s OK.

“You might think it’s OK that when it was discovered, a year later, that they then lied about that meeting and said that it was about adoptions. You might think that it’s OK that it was reported that the president helped dictate that lie. You might think that’s OK. I don’t.

“You might think it’s OK that the campaign chairman of a presidential campaign would offer information about that campaign to a Russian oligarch in exchange for money or debt forgiveness. You might think that’s OK, I don’t.

“You might think it’s OK that that campaign chairman offered polling data to someone linked to Russian intelligence. I don’t think that’s OK.

“You might think it’s OK that the president himself called on Russia to hack his opponent’s emails, if they were listening. You might think it’s OK that later that day, in fact, the Russians attempted to hack a server affiliated with that campaign. I don’t think that’s OK.

“You might think it’s OK that the president’s son-in-law sought to establish a secret back channel of communication with the Russians through a Russian diplomatic facility. I don’t think that’s OK.

“You might think it’s OK that an associate of the president made direct contact with the GRU through Guccifer 2.0 and WikiLeaks, that is considered a hostile intelligence agency. You might think it’s OK that a senior campaign official was instructed to reach that associate and find out what that hostile intelligence agency had to say in terms of dirt on his opponent.

“You might think it’s OK that the national security adviser designate secretly conferred with the Russian ambassador about undermining U.S. sanctions, and you might think it’s OK that he lied about it to the FBI.
“You might say that’s all OK, that’s just what you need to do to win. But I don’t think it’s OK. I don’t think it’s OK. I think it’s immoral, I think it’s unethical, I think it’s unpatriotic and, yes, I think it’s corrupt – and evidence of collusion.”

“Now I have always said that the question of whether this amounts to proof of conspiracy was another matter. Whether the special counsel could prove beyond a reasonable doubt the proof of that crime would be up to the special counsel, and I would accept his decision, and I do. He’s a good and honorable man, and he is a good prosecutor.

“But I do not think that conduct, criminal or not, is OK. And the day we do think that’s OK is the day we will look back and say that is the day that America lost its way.”

“And I will tell you one more thing that is apropos of the hearing today: I don’t think it’s OK that during a presidential campaign Mr. Trump sought the Kremlin’s help to consummate a real estate deal in Moscow that would make him a fortune – according to the special counsel, hundreds of millions of dollars. I don’t think it’s OK to conceal it from the public. I don’t think it’s OK that he advocated a new and more favorable policy towards the Russians even as he was seeking the Russians’ help, the Kremlin’s help to make money. I don’t think it’s OK that his attorney lied to our committee. There is a different word for that than collusion, and it’s called ‘compromise.’
“And that is the subject of our hearing today.”

Each of the factual points the chairman raised are supported by evidence, and as best as I can tell, none of the factual assertions have been contested by Trump, any of his allies, or the contents of Attorney General Bill Barr’s memo.


In theory, this should represent the end of the Republican tantrum over Adam Schiff.

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Sumter Democrats The Villages Democrats Neighborhood Buzz A blog for Democrats and Independents Editor  -  Jerry Meyer ...