In This Issue

• Upcoming Meetings
• Chair's Corner: Power, Arrogance, and Greed
• 2005 - The Year of Bush Fatigue
• Democracy and the "War" on Christmas
• Recommended Reading List
• 2006 Membership Drive

Upcoming Meetings

The Berkley Democratic Club (BDC) meets on Thursdays at 7:30pm with the following schedule:

• Jan 26, 2006
• Feb 16, 2006 - Annual Meeting/Election of Officers
• Mar 23, 2006
• Apr 27, 2006
• May 18, 2006

Each meeting is held at Anderson Middle School, 3205 Catalpa, Berkley, Michigan, in the Media Center. All are welcome to attend our open meetings!

- Steve Baker

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Chair's Corner

Power, Arrogance, and Greed

Remember the name: Lobbyist Jack Abramoff. He is a one-man crime wave and the poster child for the culture of corruption that the Republicans have unleashed on Washington. Their phobic insistence on secrecy has provided the veil of cover that permits such corruption to thrive. This one has the potential for being the biggest scandal in U.S. history.

Lavish gifts, campaign contributions, and jobs for congressional wives have been exchanged for specific votes. Many members of Congress and other highly placed Republican operatives are now having sleepless nights in anticipation of being exposed. Abramoff is turning witness for the prosecution in a bid to reduce the 30-year sentence he faces. His greed and arrogance had become so brazen that e-mails were used to offer and request money in exchange for votes.

But who is Jack Abramoff? He is a lawyer and Washington lobbyist who was once the Director of "Citizens for America," a pro-Reagan lobby group. He served as Chair of the "College Republicans" and in the mid-1980s was a member of the Executive Committee of the National Republic Party. These credentials gave him the inside track on influence peddling when the Republicans took over both houses of Congress and the Presidency.

There was little risk of being exposed because no oversight was taking place. Secrecy ruled and became the measure of loyalty. Basically, Abramoff extorted more than $20 million from Native American tribes in six states, purporting to lobby on their behalf to secure casino licenses in their respective locations. All of this distills down to the preliminary changes of a) Tax evasion, b) Conspiracy to bribe public officials, and c) Mail fraud. Multiple comparable charges are pending.

Now there is a rush to return the ill-gotten bribes by way of charitable donations. First in line was President Bush "giving back" $6,000 and House Speaker Dennis Hastert returning $70,000. Others involved in this web of corruption include former Majority Leader Tom Delay and a host of others including two Democrats. An interesting figure netted in this scandal is the former Director of Moral Majority, Ralph Reed, who is a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in Georgia.

Make no mistake: at issue here is not an occasional free meal or a golf trip. It is bribery and corruption that Civil Courts and the court of Public Opinion must adjudicate. This is another price our country is paying for handing over both houses of Congress and the Executive Branch to power-hungry zealots who now have 10,000 Americans under secret surveillance. Do Democrats need any more motivation to work hard in the 2006 elections? The tentacles of the Abramoff corruption could easily touch Michigan before the dust settles.

- Phil O'Dwyer, Chair

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2005 - The Year of Bush Fatigue

Looking back, 2005 was not a great year for the president. Sure, he was sworn in with "political capital" after supposedly being elected in late 2004 (since he technically did not win in 2000, does that mean he can run again in 2008?). Bush chose to spend his self-declared political capital on privatizing Social Security (which went nowhere) and on a very unpopular midnight intervention into Terri Schiavo's plight on behalf of extreme fundamentalists. This is how a strong leader leverages his position of authority on behalf of the people?

As the horrors and tragedies of Hurricane Katrina unfolded, we learned that Bush's staff argued over who would have to tell him that he needed to cut short his vacation. Furthermore, they had to compile a custom DVD of television news reports covering the disaster since Bush had no interest in watching the news on his own. This is how a strong leader behaves in times of national crisis?

In September, Bush congratulated FEMA-failure "Brownie" for his "heckuva job" (who was subsequently removed from his position for his incompetence, yet remained on the payroll for some time). And in October, Bush nominated his "plenty smart" personal cheerleader Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court (who withdrew her nomination a few weeks later). This is how a strong leader judges the character and performance of others?

On the last day of November, Bush embarked on his "Plan for Victory in Iraq" tour, complete with large banners and little substance. Too bad this plan comes over two years after the "Mission Accomplished" aircraft carrier publicity stunt. Those who speak of alternate plans, such as withdrawing our troops into surrounding regions to quiet the insurgents, are branded as traitors and anti-American. This is how a strong leader rallies support and commands our brave soldiers?

In 1998, President Clinton was formally impeached by the House of Representatives for personal indiscretions. In 2005, Bush boasted of circumventing the law to spy on U.S. citizens. Yet this nation cannot seriously talk of impeachment with a Republican-led Congress. Some reasonable Republicans (yes, there are a few) speak out against Bush's overt abuses of power. But they will not break ranks to hold Bush accountable for his crimes. Instead the Republican-controlled Senate recommended $39.7 billion in budget cuts that slash Medicare, Medicaid, and student loan support for our college-bound youth. This is how a strong representative system cares for its constituents?

But Republicans are not entirely to blame. Many Americans all but ignored the "Downing Street" memos that document how the Bush Cabal manipulated pre-war intelligence. Few did more than mutter when Scooter Libby was indicted for his involvement in the CIA leak while Cheney, Rove, and Novak remain at-large. Most of us have lost focus on the countless crimes committed by Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff, who are now foot-dragging their way through the legal system. Many are mildly distressed about this "National Security Agency domestic spying on U.S. citizens" business, but have not reached that tipping point where the erosion of our civil liberties exceeds our desire for safety. This is how a strong nation of informed citizens holds its elected officials accountable?

The president's year-end approval rating remains in the upper-40s (the Rasmussen Reports pegs his approval rating at 48% as of December 30, 2005). Given all that has happened in 2005, we have every right to be outraged at the continued displays of incompetence and blatant pandering to special interests. Instead, this great nation has all but forgotten bin Laden, no-bid Halliburton contracts, secret overseas torture facilities, the effects of global warming, exuberant oil profits, and malfunctioning electronic voting machines. This is how an informed population looks out for itself?

Perhaps we are tired. Not tired as in "fed up" but tired as in "exhausted." Maybe we are becoming numb to the repetition of lies, the abuses of power, the corruption and greed, and the never-ending stream of news that seems so unbelievable that it could not possibly be true. Given the terrible string of natural disasters over the past year, many charities attribute their declining contribution levels to "donor fatigue." Perhaps the U.S. population suffers from "Bush fatigue."

We in the Berkley Democratic Club care about our nation and the direction we are headed. As conscientious citizens, what can we do? The year ahead provides us with a tremendous opportunity to make a difference. In November we may voice our opinions in key elections - contested positions include the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, and seats in the U.S. Senate and Congress, among others. Each of us may decide who will speak on our behalf and represent our best interests at the state and federal level.

What else can we do? Continue to read about current events, ask questions, and demand answers. Attend a meeting. Write a letter to an editor. Call in to a talk show. Meet an elected official. Become involved in the community. Volunteer to help. Even small actions have a positive impact. We love this country and together we can shake off the Bush fatigue, one united step at a time.

- Steve Baker

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Democracy and the "War" on Christmas

Sarcastically speaking, we should be pleased that Christmas miraculously survived the vicious attacks of "secular Scrooges" in the so-called liberal media and people who dare to say "Season's Greetings." Thanks to Bill Gibson's supposedly best-selling book, The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought, the slumbering religious majority was awoken just in time. And thanks to Bill O'Riley on the national front and Eric Czarnik in nearby Clawson, the civilized world was again free to celebrate one of its most holy days. They railed against the insolent "Happy Holidays" mantra and saved us from a bland, non-offensive winter vacation.

In these post-Politically Correct times, the "war" on Christmas has several implications - and now being afraid to say "Happy Holidays" is not one of them. The word "war" has a different meaning in this post-9/11 world. Under the guise of "war" our civil rights have been degraded and right-wing extremists are now pushing for a true democracy - instead of our long-respected republic liberties - here in the United States.

Mr. Bush claims that it is his constitutional right to eavesdrop and spy on American citizens without a warrant because we are at war. Specifically, we are in a vague yet authorized "war on terrah." A war against an idea is itself not new (how's that war on drugs going, Mr. President? How about the war on poverty?). Yet this war is more than hyperbole: lives are shattered or lost, citizens are detained and tortured; Bush has expanded this "war on terrah" to a terrifying new level.

I am no scholar, but I do own a handy pocket-sized edition of the U.S. Constitution. And you know what? Bush, et al., might be right - Article II, Section 2, does not explicitly prohibit a wartime president from monitoring Internet traffic, email messages, and cellphone conversations. Perhaps George is thinking, "who's yer Founding Daddy now?" (Just for fun I also re-read one of my new favorites - Article II, Section 4 - which describes the Impeachment process. I hope our wise Founding Fathers will have the last laugh.)

Perhaps Mr. Bush will join the religious right in fighting against the "war" on Christmas. For instance, Santa Claus makes his list and checks it twice. Maybe Mr. Bush could lend a hand with the paperwork so Santa can focus on his toy factory. The President could double-check if we and our children are naughty or nice. He could also verify that our Christmas wishes are not those of would-be terrorists. If Mr. Bush can monitor emails and phone calls, why not read letters to Santa?

With the "war" on Christmas apparently being waged by religious minorities, the "liberal" media, and organizations such as the ACLU, members of the religious majority are finally taking a stand. With 85% of the population professing to be Christian, enlightened thinkers like Mr. O'Riley insist they speak for the majority and proclaim that they ought to start acting like a majority.

Many emboldened fundamentalists have answered the call:

• They tell us that our society should "protect the minority but respect the majority." They mean although religious minorities have a right to celebrate their beliefs, those in the minority should mind their place and not take offense as the majority flaunts their power. (Not that equality matters around here anymore...)
• They inform us that "society suffers when it tries to please everyone," meaning we cannot make omelets without breaking a few eggs. But as we continue to crack the shell of our society, all of Bush's horses and all of Bush's men won't be able to put our country together again. (Not that they would want to anyway...)
• They remind us that when they visit countries where Christianity is in the minority, the dominant religion is rightfully displayed all around them; why should we not do likewise here? (Not that our country was founded as a secular nation or anything...)

The U.S. has a declared and (usually) observed separation of church and state. This simply means our government must not endorse any religion. Our Constitution does not prohibit religious believers from peacefully gathering and celebrating. But in this country minority religions should not feel like outsiders nor be pressured to comply with the practices of the majority. In the U.S. all religions should be equal.

Those who argue that the majority should have its way and the minority should mind its own business are describing a pure democracy. Democracies are in fact rather repressive; after all, a simple majority of 51% carries the day - if you are part of the 49% you are on the outside looking in. (Is that what Mr. Bush really wants in Iraq and around the world?) The good news is the U.S. is not a democracy - this country is a constitutionally limited republic. Otherwise, we would not need the First Amendment to protect the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition for individuals and minorities.

Certainly, Mr. Czarnik is correct in his December 1, 2005, article in the local Mirror newspaper ("If 'Season's Greetings' replaces Christmas, what's next?") when he wrote, "respect is a two-way street." But if one side of the street has an 85 MPH speed limit while the other side has a 15 MPH speed limit, we ignore many opportunities to learn about, respect, and embrace our differences. This great nation was founded on equality and tolerance for all. Hopefully we have enough time to remind ourselves and act accordingly - after all, we have less than 350 days until Christmas!

- Steve Baker

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Recommended Reading List

Want to curl up with a good book this winter? Have you just finished watching a thought-provoking film and would like to share your experience with others? Are you looking for a recommended newspaper or magazine that covers a particular topic? Wouldn't it be great to have a forum to share these ideas with like-minded folks?

Starting with our next newsletter, we will maintain a Recommended Reading List featuring books, magazines, websites, DVDs, and other items that we find to be of particular interest. The recommendations will reflect our progressive values, our community of sharing, and our passion for truth and knowledge.

You may easily recommend your favorite book, magazine, website, DVD, or other item - simply email, write, or call us with your suggestions! To help others decide on their next "good read," please provide a sentence or two for each suggestion explaining what you found to be most interesting or memorable. Thank you!

- Steve Baker

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2006 Membership Drive

The Berkley Democratic Club (BDC) is a thriving community of progressive citizens that cares about our city, state, country, and planet. With your support, we will continue to meet, publish our newsletter, and actively participate in local, state, and federal events.

On February 16, 2006, we will have our Annual Meeting and elect our officers. As our by-laws require that only members in good standing may participate (by running for club office and/or voting for candidates), join today so your voice may be heard!

Please complete and bring the enclosed form and your check ($8 Individual; $12 Family) payable to "Berkley Democratic Club" or cash to our January 26th or February 16th meeting. Or, simply mail your completed form and check to: Berkley Democratic Club, c/o Ralph Conklin, 3477 Prairie Avenue, Berkley, MI 48072. Thanks!

- Steve Baker

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