In This Issue

• Bulletin Board
• Welcome New Members
• Chair's Corner: The Dems are Angry
• A New Membership Year
• My Quest to Become a National Convention Delegate

Bulletin Board

Berkley Democratic Club Meeting
March 25, 2004
Anderson Middle School
Media Center
Beginning at 8:00pm

• Annual Meeting with the Election of Officers
• Guest Speaker State Representative Andy Meisner

A Special Invitation is extended to the new members who joined our ranks at the February 7, 2004 caucus.

- Ralph Conklin

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Welcome New Members

More than 40 new members joined the Berkley Democratic Club the day of the Caucus. Our Club provides a venue to meet local representatives and influence public policy. The monthly meetings are cordial and offer an opportunity to both "talk politics" and work on local or national campaigns.

We are delighted to welcome each new member to our club and encourage you to maximize your membership by attending our meetings. While few of us agree on every issue, we all share a general Democratic perspective and we value your commitment to that vision.

- Ralph Conklin

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Chair's Corner

The Dems are Angry

Exit polls show a deep and pervasive anger among Democrats. There is a new awareness that the administration is awash in lies, distortion, and deceit, and it seems the nation has just caught on. Howard Dean made it acceptable to challenge our appointed leader. Al Franken also helped with his excellent book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right - it is worth reading!

After three years of Bush we have more patriotism and less freedom; more corporate profits and less jobs; more war and less security. The surplus is gone, we have an unprecedented national debt, and the trade deficit is staggering. Bush is like the proverbial one trick pony, the answer to all economic issues is "cut taxes." Beyond that, consider these assorted items:

• In 2000, the mean US salary was $44,375 and by 2003 it was $35,410 -a 21% decline.
• The Administration has "reclassified" those who work at McDonalds, Wendy's etc. as "manufacturers." Why? To make it seem that the loss in manufacturers jobs isn't too bad.
• They have "redefined" the top four sources of pollution and reduced them to three. That change improved the environment by 25%. It is all in the "Big Blue Sky" policy which is similar to the "no child left behind" policy - a great slogan designed for curb appeal.
• Eight million people will loose their overtime - they include Nurses, Police and Firefighters.
• From 2002 to 2003 there has been a 60% increase in jobs going offshore to get cheap labor. Are the prices of cars etc. going down because of these savings?
• Iraq, Halliburton, John Ashcroft, Medicare, Cuts to Veterans Benefits while praising the troops, No WMD found, Social Security undermined... it is an unbelievable list.

We will have a good candidate in the fall and he will need our full support. The Berkley caucus returns, like the 9th congressional district were almost identical to the State results: Kerry 51%, Dean 16%, Edwards 13%, Clark 7%, Sharpton 4%, Kuchinich 3%, and others.

Each candidate in their own way contributed to revealing the failures of the Bush administration. We must do the same in our own social circles. All we need to do is cast doubt on the credibility of this President in gentle but firm ways. We welcome the many new members that joined our Club recently. Together we can restore our national optimism and regain the worldwide respect our country once enjoyed.

- Phil O'Dwyer, Chair

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A New Membership Year

Our club has just completed a very successful caucus experience. As a result many new members have added to our club roster by paying dues for new membership year.

Many of the individuals who were on our mailing list did not vote in the 2004 Caucus. Perhaps some people on this list may have voted by a written ballot or the internet. To date, our club has not received the names of those using these means of voting.

If you are a member of this group and want to continue receiving the newsletter, you need to pay CLUB DUES for the member year of February 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005. A membership form is included with the newsletter. Complete the form and send it and your check to Secretary/Treasurer Ralph O. Conklin.

By adding your membership to the roster, our club will become stronger. The officers and members urge you to continue your commitment to support Democratic Party structure.

- Ralph Conklin

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My Quest to Become a National Convention Delegate

I have applied to be one of the 9th Congressional District's three female delegates, If chosen, I will travel to Boston for the July 26-29th Democratic Convention. Michigan will send 153 delegates, 22 alternates, 18 Convention committee members, and four pages.

Delegate selection all started with the February 7th Presidential Caucuses. Delegates are apportioned based on the total vote each presidential candidate received that day. Any Democrat wising to be part of the Michigan delegation filed a "declaration of candidacy" form by March 4th with the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP).

Delegate applicants must pledge support for one of the presidential candidates or "uncommitted." I have declared for John Kerry. Between now and the April 3rd Congressional District Conventions, I will contact my local legislators, district and county chairs, and the Kerry campaign, and "lobby" to be part of the 9th District's delegation.

In our 9th District, we are allotted five delegates - two males, three females, and one female alternate. The 2004 Delegate Selection Rules state the 75% of a state's base delegation must be from the state's Congressional Districts and as much as possible evenly divided between male and female. A district's delegates and alternates are allocated based on population and Democratic strength. The party also attempts to have a delegation that represents the party's ethnic make-up.

Statewide on April 3rd 84 delegates and 15 alternates will be elected. Then at the May 15th Democratic State Central Committee Meeting 47 more delegates, seven alternates, the Convention Committee members, and pages will be determined. These 130 delegates will join our 23 super-delegates: our Governor, two U.S. Senators, six U.S. Congressional members, and 14 Democratic National Committee Members to complete the Michigan Delegation.

In future issues of this Newsletter, I will provide our Berkley Democrats updates on my quest to become a delegate.

- Cathy King, Berkley 2nd Precinct Delegate, 9th District State Central Delegate

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