In This Issue

• Bulletin Board
• Chair's Corner: Happy New Year
• Oakland County Democratic Party Executive Committee
• George W. Bush and the Expatriate Community

Bulletin Board

Berkley Democratic Club Meeting
January 16, 2003 (3rd Thursday)
Come and meet your new Oakland County Commissioner Vincent Gregory

Berkley Democratic Club Meeting
March 27, 2003 (4th Thursday)
Club Annual Meeting - Election of Officers

All club meetings will be held at Anderson Middle School in the Media Center beginning at 8:00pm.

- Ralph Conklin

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Chair's Corner

Happy New Year

The promise and the pitfalls of the New Year await differential distribution. It is our hope that democrats will embrace the promise of 2003 while avoiding its pitfalls. A new resolution is needed if we are to learn from the mistakes from the year just ended.

The primary lesson of 2002 teaches that when an electorate is given a choice between a Republican and a Republican-lite they will choose the Republican. In other words, Democrats that are no different than Republicans can expect to lose. We are being marginalized because we run on the margins. Oh! We did win the Governors race yet many observers noted, "one more landing of Air Force One in Michigan could have turned it." They mean two weeks before the Republican Party withdrew its money from the Posthumous campaign.

The problem is a simple lack of leadership in Washington, a failure of courage and a platform that speaks to splinter groups and ignores the nation as a whole.

It's no fun losing the White House, both houses of Congress, both State Houses, not to mention the Attorney General's Office and the Supreme Court. The Treasury has been emptied and the Democrats to date have had little to say, the economy is in a free fall and we have no alternative plan, and we are on the brink of war and it seems only Republicans and a few Democrats are willing to ask critical questions.

Were it not for the Black Caucus, Trent Lott would still be the leader of the Senate. Where are all the Democrats? Tom Daschele could only say "we all make mistakes like that." An honest appraisal leads to an unhappy conclusion with regard to our Party.

It's time to look to people like John Kerry, John Edwards, or the Gov. of Vermont to offer new ideas. The party needs fresh ideas. It needs clear, solid and reasonable plans, and the courage to stand for something. We cannot be relegated to the margins because we are perceived to be an amalgam of splinter groups that are themselves at the margins of American Society.

We must have an economic plan, a health care plan, an education plan, a national security plan and an environmental plan.

I believe that people like Edwards and Kerry can inspire us and awaken the nation to rethink its drift to the right. Reasonable people will come to appreciate what has occurred in two years under Bush when they are informed. The pitfall of the past has been our silence. May you have a Happy New Year as you embrace the promise of brighter days ahead.

- Phil O'Dwyer, Chair

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Oakland County Democratic Party Executive Committee

The County Chair, Gary Kohut, had announced in April that he would not seek re-election. On November 12th the Oakland County Democratic Party held its Fall Convention to elect members to the Executive Committee. That committee met on December 10 to elect the officers: chair, four vice-chairs, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, and treasurer. There was no "simmering battle for the soul of the party" as the fall convention of the Oakland County GOP was described in a Free Press article, "Right Wing Stages Coup of Oakland GOP." No coup occurred, but there was a contest.

The Executive Committee of the OCDP consisted of candidate members sand an equal number of non-candidate members. Current office holders and candidates for federal, state, and county offices in 2000 and 2002 elections comprise the candidate group. Precinct Delegates, who were elected in the August Primary, qualify to elect the non-candidate members at the OCDP Fall Convention November 12, 2002.

The Berkley Club is entitled to one member on the Executive Committee. Representation is based on the number of votes cast in the past election (3232 votes or fraction thereof = 1 seat). Since the candidate member total is 55, the number of non-candidate members is also 55. The proceedings of the convention are conducted in accordance with Michigan Statutes and the Rules of the Michigan Democratic Party.

Precinct Delegates from Berkley, who attended the November Convention, included Cathy King, Laura Gogola, Polly Haggis, and Marilyn Stephan. They elected Marilyn to represent Berkley on the Executive Committee.

Those who were elected to the Executive Committee and the candidate members met December 10 to elect the Officers of the OCDP. It was a lively and lengthy meeting. Two slates of candidates were announced for the eight positions. State Representative David Woodward was elected chair, defeating Debbie Goldberg of Farmington Hills. Six more members of the Woodward slate were elected. Marilyn Stephan, from the Goldberg slate, was elected corresponding secretary. At the next meeting of the Executive Committee on January 21, seven Officers-at-Large will be elected. Four U.S. Congressional District Chairs will also be included on the roster of Officers of the party. They will be elected at meetings of the 8th, 9th, 11th, and 12th Congressional Districts. Berkley is now in the 9th Congressional District.

ED. NOTE: Since Marilyn has been elected as an officer, she has resigned as Berkley's representative to OCDP Executive Committee. Our club will need to recommend a replacement. Cathy King would be a good recommendation. - ROC

- Marilyn Stephan

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George W. Bush and the Expatriate Community

I was watching the news a week ago and saw the reports about Anti-American protests in Seoul, South Korea. I was a bit shocked about the report. Having lived in Korea for more than two years, I have learned a few things about the country. The major cities are crowded and dirty, but the people always showed that they liked Americans.

Since George W. Bush became President, their appreciation has dwindled. The reason for this decline has been caused by the dispute with North Korea over nuclear materials being used to make additional Atomic weapons. They fear that they will be the biggest loser if a war is the result of the conflict.

They are also unhappy about the penalties given to some military personnel, who in a traffic accident killed some Korea civilians. Now many shops have signs that read, "no Americans wanted here". It is a sad thing to see written in the newspapers and to see on TV.

It got me to think about what has changed in Europe since George W. Bush was elected by a court vote of five to four. In Germany, my boss Terry and I saw the man from whom we bought our car. He asked us if we talking to him or if we were even allowed to talk to German citizens. We had no idea what he was talking about. Later we discovered that after the German National election, President Bush did not call the leader of the German Republic and give his congratulations. Such a courtesy should be offered even to a leader who is not a declared Ally in the war against Iraq.

The thing I think I see most everyday is the state of the American economy and the weak American Dollar. I feel it when I buy bread or shop for the holidays. It is bit of a shock to see the Euro is worth more than the dollar. Now I know how the folks from Windsor feel when they come over to our side of the river to make purchases using Canadian currency. It seems that President Bush likes to borrow to pay the country's bills.

The Democrats pave the way for this method of finance by providing a surplus and strong dollar. Hopefully our party will regain control of our government in future elections and restore our prestige with other nations of the world. When that occurs, "liberal" will no longer be an unspeakable word.

- David A. Marriott

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