California Eye » Pahrump’s Meetup

President Obama’s Listening Tour in Pahrump

Featheriver — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:10:38 +0000

President Barack Obama

Organizing for America (OFA) has officially landed in Nevada. Organizing for America is dedicated to forwarding President Obama’s agenda through grassroots action, and to creating a progressive, grassroots movement in the State of Nevada.

In order to best serve Nevada, OFA will visit cities throughout the state to re-engage and mobilize the grassroots movement in support of President Obama.

For Organizing for America to succeed, we need to hear from you – your effort and commitment are the backbone of this movement, and your input will help guide our action in Nevada.

At this meeting, we will provide an overview of what the President has accomplished, describe the mission statement of our organization, let you know how you can get involved, and ask for your thoughts on how we can best organize Nevada going forward. Your ideas will be used to write a Nevada-specific plan for Organizing for America in 2009 and beyond.

Come, and make your voice heard. All are welcome. We look forward to meeting new people and seeing familiar faces. Help us build a progressive movement to improve Nevada and our country!
Time: Thursday, July 16 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Host: Evan Sutton
Location:
Rudd Community Center (Pahrump, NV)
150 N Highway 160
Pahrump, NV 89060
Maps:

* Google Maps
* MapQuest
* Yahoo! Maps

Directions: Join us in Room B at the Rudd Community Center, just north of E Basin Ave.
Associated Groups: Nevada Students for Obama, Southern Nevada for Obama

Young Democrats of Nevada help Liberty University’s Democrats

Featheriver — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:19:25 +0000

Want to do something useful? Want to help out fellow Democrats rather than sit there and watch TV. Heather Brown of the Young Democrats of Nevada sent the following:

YDNV Members,
This is a big week, and we have another opportunity to make a big impact!! Today the members of the Liberty University College Democrats met with Chancellor Falwell. Currently the administration is standing behind their decision from last week to suspend the college democrats from their campus for their affiliation with CDA and the DNC. We are working closely to assist our fellow Democrats through negotiations with administrators. We are asking that you help the College Democrats at Liberty University by sending the following e-mail to Chancellor Falwell. Together we can send a message that democrats come in every shape, size, color, and religion.
Please share this e-mail with your chapter members, friends and supporters of College Democrats. We hope to send as many e-mails as possible to clearly show our support for the College Democrats right to exist at Liberty University.
Please send an e-mail now!
The YDNV Executive Board
————–
E-mail address: chancellor@liberty.edu
E-mail Text:
Dr. Chancellor Falwell,
Last week you suspended the chapter of College Democrats at Liberty University. As a student at ___________ I am deeply concerned by this decision. The students at Liberty University are dedicated to their Christian beliefs, ideals, values, and candidates represented by the Democratic Party. Limiting their participation and the discourse on your campus will diminish the quality of education for students and the credibility of your institution. We hope you decide to rescind your decision, as a student’s right to support a political candidate or cause should not stop at the campus gates.
Respectfully,
(name)

So, do a good deed. Do as Heather asks. It won’t hurt and might help.

Clark County Democratic Black Caucus Meeting

Featheriver — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:09:09 +0000

The Clark County Democratic Black Caucus is holding a meeting May 18, 2009 in Las Vegas. [Facebook]

You are invited to join members of the Clark County community to discuss the grassroots support of a City and County Diversity Plan empowering minority, women owned, and local small businesses. For years many in the community have been discussing the lack of diversity participation within our State. Therefore, a grassroots movement has begun. Community organizations, businesses, associations, and citizens are coming together to preview an award winning diversity “model” that includes the full participation of all citizens, creates jobs, training, mentoring/protege programs, small business development and reinvestment, while empowering community programs that provide much needed services. We want your input and suggestions to make this plan the best that it can be.

A note to our African-American brothers and sisters here in Nye County. You are welcome to join the Pahrump Valley Democratic Party Meetup. Look it over. It is a progressive group.

President Obama asks our help

Featheriver — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:55:58 +0000

President Barack Obama

I just received an email from President Obama. No, he and I don’t email each other like we were bosom buddies. I’m on his email list with a few million others.

Anyway he’s letting us know about some good health care reform information. He wrote,

The Vice President and I just met with leaders from the House of Representatives and received their commitment to pass a comprehensive health care reform bill by July 31.

We also have an unprecedented commitment from health care industry leaders, many of whom opposed health reform in the past. Monday, I met with some of these health care stakeholders, and they pledged to do their part to reduce the health care spending growth rate, saving more than two trillion dollars over the next ten years — around $2,500 for each American family. Then on Tuesday, leaders from some of America’s top companies came to the White House to showcase innovative ways to reduce health care costs by improving the health of their workers.

He added that the Senate and the House are beginning their debate which will determine the health of the economy and our families.

This process should be transparent and inclusive and its product must drive down costs, assure quality and affordable health care for everyone, and guarantee all of us a choice of doctors and plans.

It involves you and me. He wants us all to become informed and involved. How do you do that? Easy. Get on his email list and he’ll keep you up to date. Just go here.

We spend more on health care than any country, but families continue to struggle with skyrocketing premiums and nearly 46 million are without insurance entirely. It is a priority for the American people and a pillar of the new foundation we are seeking to build for our economy.

There is a lot of opposition to President Obama over reforming health care. I remember him telling us here in Pahrump that he won’t be able to achieve these reforms unless we back him up. So, don’t let him or yourself down.

Cindy Trigg opens campaign for Nevada District #2

Featheriver — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:09:00 +0000

Cindy Trigg announces her campaign for election in District #2. Following is her initial campaign speech in Reno, Nevada. She is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to run as the Democratic candidate to oppose the current incumbent, Republican Dean Heller.

Paul Reeves, resident of Pahrump, Nye County, Nevada is also seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination.

I am unaware of anyone else expecting to run on the Democratic side, though it is early and District #2 is one large district.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CFiZ6SNXuM

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQHrFnnDSu4

Behrens Suggestions to Nye Democrats

Featheriver — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:48:00 +0000

Margery Kay Behrens is a very active Nye County Democrat. I don’t know when she finds time to sleep, she’s everywhere, particularly on Facebook. And she is a fountain of good information and advice and suggestions for Nye County Democrats and how to keep up with all that is going on. She just put out the following in an e-mail:

Here is a list of good places to join for news, events and to get active or just to let everyone know how you’re doing … click each link and join then subscribe to updates to keep current for all political news and events …

This is a group that all democrats ought to belong to … here you can leave messages for Nevada congresspersons, senators and politicians from our great state in general as well as viewing upcoming democratic events and getting notifications for events … click the link and join
Nevada State Democratic Party ~ http://www.nvdems.com/

This is a nationwide group of activist training based on Paul Wellstone’s concept of what activism is and how to organize locally … they offer free training, political job resources as well as real time interaction with instructors and is endorsed by Howard Dean … click the link and join … then find Paul Reeves for Congress and sign up as a supporter
Democracy for America ~ http://democracyforamerica.com/

This is the place to join to become a part of online petitions … for instance they started the "Impeach Jay Bybee" petition to remove Jay Bybee the author and authorizer of several torture memos whom Bush gave a lifetime position to on the 9th Circuit Court as a perk … click, join, let the people on the Hill know how you really feel

Netroots Nation ~ http://www.netrootsnation.org/
I think we’ve all heard of MoveOn.Org, this is the place to really get involved. Move On has more nationwide members than just about any other political organization in America on the net … click the link and get involved
Move On ~ http://www.moveon.org/
This is the place for all of us to stay connected … I’m sure you’ve heard of the underground political movements or wondered how there was an event that happened and you weren’t informed … this is the place where it all happens … I will be happy to make friends suggestions for you if you choose to send me a friend invitation … look up Margery Behrens and send a friend request and I’ll hook you up with Howard Dean, Harry Reid, and even Tom Daschle … they talk to me … they should talk to you too … groups to look for on face book if you want to get involved in local activism … Organizing for America National Chapter and Organizing for America Nevada Chapter … click the link and create a profile then send me an invite
Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/
Twitter is a very interesting site because you can sign into Twitter once a day and post a short update and anyone who is following you (friends, family, politicians) will know exactly what you’re up to … it’s a great place for news announcements too … the entire world knows about our swine flu epidemic because of Twitter … sign up and if you follow me I’ll follow you too … on Twitter I’m TurboKitty
Twitter ~ http://twitter.com/
See you online
Margery aka TurboKitty@twitter.com

It is such things as Margery has shown us in her e-mail that I was thinking of last nite when I brought up forming a communications committee at the Nye Central Committee meeting. If all Nye County Democrats engaged in such web sites they’d soon become personally acquainted with each and a cohesive political force in Nye County.

I’ll write more about ways I think the new Central Committee can improve membership and interest in helping the Central Committee in reaching the necessary goals in Nye County to become a political force to be reckoned with.

Sonoma County’s Energy Efficiency Program

Featheriver — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:32:00 +0000

Just read a tweet from Paul Reeves which, in turn, provided me a link to the Sonoma Press Democrat in California.

Looks like Sonoma is far ahead of Nye County. Property owners in Sonoma County will be able to borrow money from their county government for energy-efficient improvements, the pay it back in installments on their tax bills over 20 years at 7% interest. The loans will be for things such as solar panels, double-paned windows voltaic units, solar thermal devices, tankless water heaters, attic and wall insulation. Water efficient technologies to conserve water (i.e., low-flush toilets) are also eligible.

Their program will create energy improvements, jobs and kick their economy into gear. People can apply for loans this coming Wednesday.

More than half of homeowners found it “motivating” to participate, along with an equal number of commercial property owners.

Property owners will also be eligible for additional rebates, as well as state or federal tax credits once they make the improvements.

The energy-saving measures are intended to help achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and cut water consumption during the drought.

Shouldn’t Nye County Commissioners be taking a look at the Sonoma County program?

More information is at www.sonomacountyenergy.org.

Special Meetup Scheduled

Featheriver — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:10:00 +0000

Please join us for our next monthly meeting. Apr 6 Mon 6:30 PM

Where? Rubalcaba’s Taco Shop – 270 Dahlia St Pahrump, NV 89048

A formal invitation is extended to all the candidates that willing ran for a leadership position on the Nye County Central Committee. Please come to the Meetup so that we can formally thank you.

Their willingness to be a candidate needs to be celebrated. All democrats, no matter how they describe their affiliation, are also encouraged to attend. Each and every one of us should extend our hand to these people and give our personal ‘THANKS’ for stepping forward.

Those individuals that will be honored are: Bonnie Swadling, Don Rust, David Bennett, Cynthia ‘CJ’ Ross, Fran Rust, Laurayne Murray, Brian Nelson, and Joyce Smith-Call.

We all owe you our commitment to help you in anyway to bring unity, strength, wisdom, fairness, and heart to the Nye County Democratic Central Committee of Nye County.

Election of a new Central Committee is just a beginning. What then? We’ll talk about that and any other subject those that attend want to address.

· How can lines of communication be established to achieve a dialogue between all 9,400+ Nye County Democrats and the new Central Committee?

· What steps are necessary to bring a united base together with a committed leadership?

· What should be done about establishing an ongoing program for funding our efforts?

· What steps should the new Central Committee take in securing "Precinct Captains" in each precinct in Nye County?

A Revolutionary Change in America

Featheriver — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:56:00 +0000

As I write this I am witnessing an historic occurrence. President Barack Obama is addressing the nation answering questions asked by Americans directly to him. These aren’t questions being asked by reporters of the national media, but rather by ordinary people from every nook and cranny in the United States.

CNN is broadcasting this event live right now. Simultaneously, I’m watching the same event, live, online, on my computer.

Why is it historic? It is historic because never before in history has a President personally interacted with so many ordinary people. The Obama administration has launched this technique so that the President can keep in almost intimate contact with the voters. It is called “Online Town Hall.”

The President is holding a new kind of online town hall where he will answer the questions you submitted and voted on for him. The event begins here at 11:30am ET. You can read the most popular questions submitted on the economy below.

That quote is the introductory paragraph of the White House’s website which introduces this significant technique with which Obama seeks to maintain a dialogue with us. It continues:

The White House is open for questions.
We invite you to participate in our community-moderated online town hall. Submit your own question about the economy and vote on submissions from others. We also encourage you to include a link to a video of yourself asking your question (ideally 30 seconds or less), but text submissions are all you need. Come back on Thursday to watch the President answer some of the most popular submissions live at WhiteHouse.gov.

Most of us that keep up with politics know that the only time we even have a chance to have personal contact with our elected representatives is when they show up in our communities stumping for our vote. Even then most of them give speeches and never really talk with us.

Then they return to Washington or Carson City or wherever and we are basically ignored until they want either some money or our vote. Meantime they seem to spend their time looking out for their own interests, or the interests of their major campaign money contributors.

President Obama is a different breed of cat. He has found a way to get out of Washington D.C. and mingle with us common folks and talk with us. He is one unique individual and I think we owe him our thanks for striving to maintain an ongoing dialogue with each of us.

But, let me take this one step further. Consider, if you will, those of you who are Democrats living in Nye County, Nevada. Those of you who live in Nye County that keep up with Nye County Democratic Party affairs know about the disconnect of the Nye County Democratic Central Committee with the rank and file members of the Nye County Democratic Party. In summary the autocratic attitude of the Central Committee toward the rank and file and the determination to ignore the grievances of the rank and file members of the party.

If you don’t then go to the website of the Pahrump Valley Democratic Party Meetup and find out. In order to get inside the site you will, if you aren’t already a member, have to register on the site to gain access to learn all the sordid facts, but it will be worth your time.

That disconnect I refer to came about over the years because of the failure of both the Central Committee and the rank and file Democrats to communicate with each other.

Just imagine, if the Nye County Democratic Party maintained a communication technique such as being used by President Obama, was used by the Nye County Democratic Central Committee and the rank and file Democrats of Nye County. There is no real reason why it could not be. If such communication method was used the current furor now existent between the two groups could have been avoided, probably Nye County would have turned blue, and more Democrats would be elected to local, state and federal offices.

Fortunately, on April 4 a new Central Committee will come into existence. The new Central Committee will have an opportunity bring the Nye County Democratic Party into the 21st Century using modern means, technology and techniques to conduct its business. All it will take is some new fresh ideas and the willingness to implement them.