District 10 Democrats

Issue # 45

To: All Interested District 10 Democrats

From: Rivko Knox, Secretary, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 602-942-6436

Although he only became a PC at the September meeting, Bill has already been attending our Drinking Liberally gatherings and coming to Stanton events. More info about him in a future E-letter. And thank you Bill for your activism!!!

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Upcoming Events in 2011 – Get Your Calendars Out!!!

*** The AZ Independent Redistricting Commission. Get on www.azredistricting.org to receive e-mails re meetings etc. etc. (SEE ARTICLE BELOW ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING INVOLVED!!)

*** The AZ Competitive Redistricting Coalition is dedicated to encouraging Arizonans to work toward the most competitive districts possible (30 Legislative & 9 Congressional) by getting actively involved in the process. http://azredistricting.com/redistricting-contest/

*** ADP Volunteer Awards Night, Sun., Oct. 9, 2011, AZ Science Center, Featuring Mark Kelly, 6 p.m. For more information, contact Nick Holder, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 602-234-6820.

*** D 10 Monthly Meeting, Tues., Oct. 11, Cholla Middle School Library, 3210 W. Cholla (NW corner of Cholla and 31^st Avenue). Cholla is about half way between Cactus and Peoria. There is parking in front on 31^st as well as on Cholla, behind the school.

*** Drinking Liberally Metro Center (D 10). Thurs., Oct. 13, 4-7 p.m., Finnegan’s Irish Pub, N of Dunlap into Metro Center, 9201 N. 29^th Ave. Inexpensive drinks and half price appetizers and a good time will be had by all!!!

*** NW Democratic Breakfast Club, Sat., Oct. 15, Breakfast at 8 a.m. for $11. Speaker at 8:30 a.m. RSVP to hredwine#DLRGroup.com or 602-258-3221. Board Room at the Beatitudes, 1620 W. Glendale, Phx., 602-995-6100

*** AZ List (AZ version of Emily’s List—to elect pro choice Democratic women), Fri., Oct. 21, 2011 – AZ LIST, featuring Donna Brazile. Cocktail, Keynote address plus Q and A, 5-7 p.m. in the PV area. for more info 1-520-327-0520 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

* ‘City of Phx. Mayoral Election, Sat, Mon. & Rues, Nov. 5, 7, 8, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 603-435-9117 for detailed info

*** Phoenix (vs. LD 10) Drinking Liberally - every other Thurs,; current location in flux; 7 pm on. Look for the red, white & blue sign “Drinking Liberally”. http://livingliberally.org/chapter/blog/5656 for details about the location and to get on their e-mail list.

*** Vets & Military Families Caucus – meets at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month at MCDP office; LD Vets reps should plan to attend along with any other vet or military family member.

*** Candidate Training (sponsored by Planned Parenthood, Center for Progressive Leadership and AZ Education Association, Oct. 29-30, Nov. 12-13, Dec. 3-4; for info contact M. Steinberg at 602-263-4226 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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SOS = Support our Stanton

As I’m sure you are all aware, the first runoff in the City of Phoenix history will take place on Tues., Nov. 8 (or really over a three day period ending on Tues.) Even if you don’t live in Phx., per se (some of LD 10 lies in Glendale), I want to convince you to come out & work for Greg Stanton. He was born & raised in Phx. & his parents till live around 35^th & Peoria in the same house in which he grew up (while out canvassing one day, I happened to knock on their door!!!). After getting a law degree, he came back to Phx because that’s his home!! Greg is a very strong supporter of public schools, pre school & after school programs….and feels the City needs to be involved with all three plus with a 21^st century transportation system. He believes Phx’s future lies with supporting existing neighborhoods & existing businesses plus bringing in new businesses that will create high paying quality jobs (which is why he worked so hard to get TGen and the medical school in downtown Phx). While working as an Assistant AG for Terry Goddard, he was a key figure in the major case against payday lenders. Greg has been endorsed by Terry Goddard, the firefighters, police & border patrol groups, Equality AZ & Planned Parenthood, to name a few. AND he believes in working with all the cities in Maricopa County to attract high paying jobs vs. making it a rivalry!! To top it all off (looking into my crystal ball), Greg is already & will continue to be a young rising star in the Dem Party which will be a plus for all Dems in AZ!!! To get involved (there are only a few weeks left to make phone calls, enter data & knock on doors OR to get a Stanton yard sign), please contact Nate Levinsky This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 603-435-9117 OR go to http://www.gregstantonformayor.com/

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IMPORTANT PHOENIX ELECTION DATES

Oct. 10 — last day to register to vote: Oct. 28 — last day to ask for a PEVL (vote my mail)

Oct. 5, 7, 8 – POLLS OPEN!!!

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Why Redistricting Matters to You!!!

Have you ever felt as if it wasn’t really worth voting because your District had something like 60% R’s & so what difference would your vote make?? If so, you are NOT alone. And why do both Legislative & Congressional Districts often look like that? Because of the way they were designed in the 2000 redistricting process. For years & years redistricting (mandated by law after every Census) was overseen by the Legislature that ….guess what?? …wanted to protect their own seats & party’s advantage. Then AZ voters created an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) with 5 members, two D’s, 2 R’s & an Independent Chair. The law creating the IRC set out 6 criteria the IRC must consider. Equal population & compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act (ensuring some majority minority districts) are mandated; the others are compactness/contiguity, geographic barriers, communities of interest & competitiveness, i.e., to reflect the registration in the state, which is currently about 1/3^rd R, D and I. Some ‘unnamed’ folks are pushing to make competitiveness the least important of the 6 criteria; and others are defining ‘communities of interest’ as those who attend a particular church, shop at a particular shopping center or live in an HOA registered under a specific AZ law. Well, for those of us who want truly competitive districts, we GOTTA SPEAK UP NOW, LOUDLY(tho of course politely) & FREQUENTLY!!!! And how about speaking at a meeting or submitting written comments (http://azredistricting.com/redistricting-contest/) giving your perspective on a ‘community of interest,’ e.g., veterans, the disabled, those interested in good public education, a clean environment. (Rivko Knox, Acacia PC)

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Appreciate what D 10 is doing? Wanna help but don’t have the time??

Please make a secure donation at:

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/27306?refcode=directory

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Report from the DNC by Lois Pfau (Cinnabar PC)

The Sept. 8-10 meeting was held in Chicago, home to President Obama’s headquarters & the headquarters of Organizing for America (OFA). DNC members were invited to tour the headquarters Friday morning. Newly elected DNC chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (Fl) invited DNC members to a viewing of President Obama’s speech on Friday night. It was inspiring viewing the speech with so many other Democrats The caucuses are flourishing; I was impressed with the newly formed Ethnic Caucus. The chair is pollster Zogby & the very active vice chair is our own Donica Oparnica who was responsible for putting together an impressive dinner on Thurs. night. Our Western Regional Caucus was once again recognized as being the most active of all the regional caucus having just put on another successful convention in Sacramento. We can be proud that Carolyn Warner is vice chair of our caucus & and upcoming Party star from Fairbanks, Alaska is the newly elected male vice chair. . The general meeting was led by DNC chair Wasserman-Schultz who gave a rousing speech. Newly elected vice chair, Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak is another person to watch in coming years. Our bench team far outdistances the other team in every way but especially in compassion. Nine other persons were elected to committees filled to vacancies left by outgoing DNC members & former DNC chair Chuck Minnett was remembered. In the draw for housing for the 2012 convention, Arizona has ninth pick, which should assure a very nice site for our delegation. Our chair, Andrei Cherny, had a nice article in the Washington Post, a preview for his next book.

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D 10 Dems Speak Out (printed in the AZ Republic)

9/10/2011 “Wars Cost Eclipses Monetary Confines”

Regarding the column on Friday, “New conventional wisdom about 9/11? It’s rubbish”: When Charles Krauthammer quoted the total costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as $1.3 trillion - “less than one-eleventh of the traditional debt, less than one year of Obama deficit spending,” I practically threw the newspaper against the wall. As we honor the lost lives of Sept. 11, remember that the loss of American lives to date in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to online estimates, is 6,361 American men and women. The number of injured Americans in those wars total about 34,300. History will decide if we did the right thing, but our losses were and still are greater than $1.3 trillion. It would be nice if it were that simple. - Barbara Buedel, (New World PC)

Juvenile Taunts on Taxes Sidetrack (8/21/2011

Adult citizens, taxpayers and voters want everyone to pay their fair share of taxes, not just those who volunteer. That’s why we call it taxes and not charity!!!! The nonsensical schoolyard taunt of “Why don’t you just make a contribution if you don’t think you pay enough taxes?” is just that, juvenile schoolyard sophistry that contributes nothing rational to the public debate over tax justice, fairness and effectiveness.

Your editorial on Friday “What’s keeping Buffett from giving IRS more?” sadly fits easily into the category of nonsensical schoolyard taunts. Individuals voluntarily taxing themselves “fairly” will not solve any but the very smallest of problems. We, citizens, as a group, have large, serious problems that require serious suggestions of possible answers. Ben Andrews (not a PC per se but married to Rivko Knox, Acacia PC)

A Good Way to Save AZ Money (8/16/2011)

Dennis DeConcini writes about private prisons (”Corrections Corp. offers safe housing,” My Turn, Monday). He praises these institutions as doing a great job for our state. The family of Gary and Linda Haas may have a different view. They were murdered by escapees from one of these private facilities. DeConcini mentions that the state saves money by outsourcing this work. I can’t help but believe that outsourcing our state’s lawmakers and governor would put us in the black by saving oh-so-many tax dollars. - Barbara Buedel, (New World PC)

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If YOU get a letter printed in a paper or magazine, we’d love to share it with other Dem’s. So please send it to me!! Publication guaranteed!!

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From “Too Much” (9/19/2011)

Stat of the Week

In 2009, 76 percent of federal revenue from taxes on capital gains — profits from dealing stocks, bonds, and other assets — came from taxpayers making over $250,000. Eliminating all taxes on capital gains, a move backed by five hopefuls for the 2012 GOP Presidential nod, would cost the federal treasury $574 billion over the next five years, a sum higher, notes USA Today, than the cost of the pending White House jobs bill.

MORE On Taxes

President Obama last week proposed a tax increase on America’s wealthy to finance the $447 billion jobs plan he advanced the week before. Representative Eric Cantor, the GOP House majority leader, responded almost immediately. “I sure hope that the president is not suggesting,” Representative Cantor pronounced, “that we pay for his proposals with a massive tax increase at the end of 2012 on job creators.” Interesting. Does this mean that Cantor now welcomes tax hikes for job “destroyers”? Like Richard Clark, the chair of drugmaker Merck. Clark took home $17.9 million last year. His company earlier this year announced plans to shed 13,000 workers. Or how about Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan? He pulled in $10 million last year. B of A has just announced 30,000 new job cuts. We suspect that majority leader Cantor misspoke. He really doesn’t support tax increases on rich people period, whatever their job record may be. Cantor’s perspective has, of course, dominated Congress for the last three decades. The result? We have this week some new Census stats that paint a sobering picture (of increasing poverty, decline in median income and no ‘real’ wage increases for the vast majority of American workers).

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A Letter from Rick Perry (the Borowitz Report) Introducing PerryCare™

Dear Americans: For the last few weeks I’ve been under constant attack. My opponents would have you believe that if I’m elected you’ll be stripped of your Social Security benefits and will be scrounging for food in dumpsters with all the desperation of a feral cat. Of course, that’s true. But what they don’t tell you is what I’d replace Social Security with: an amazing new program I like to call PerryCare™.
Under PerryCare™, you’ll receive all the food, clothing and shelter you need, and it won’t cost a dime in taxes. How if that possible? Simple: you’ll be praying for all those things. As a PerryCare™ recipient, each week you’ll receive in your email box a PerryCare™ PrayerMail™, giving you an easy-to-recite prayer for the bread, milk, cat food or whatever else you need to survive. It’s like a Groupon from God.
PerryCare™ is more than a replacement for that infernal Ponzi scheme that has bamboozled Americans with regular monthly checks for 75 years. It is part of my larger plan to return prayer to its rightful place in American life. I get down on my knees every night and I promise you, if I am elected your President, I will bring his entire country to its knees. I expect that some of my opponents will laugh at my plan, especially that lawn gnome Ron Paul and Michele “Crazy Eyes” Bachmann. Fine, let them laugh! Laughter is the best medicine. And if I am elected, there will be no other medicine.
That brings me to my PerryCare™ medical plan, which will replace Medicare once I consign that Ponzi scheme to the electric chair of history. I don’t have enough time to go into the whole plan right now, but here it is in two words: single prayer. Your next President, Gov. Rick Perry

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TAKE ACTION – let them know how you feel!!! If you don’t tell ‘em, the others will!!!

Gov. Jan Brewer –602-542-4331; AZ Rep. Jim Weiers –602-926-4173 & This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; AZ Rep. Kimberly Yee - 602-926-3024 & This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; AZ Sen. Linda Gray – 602-926-3376 & This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it CD 2: Rep. Trent Franks 623-776-7911/202-225-4576; CD 3: Rep. Ben Quayle – 602-263-5300/202-225-3462; Sen. John McCain: 602-952-2410/202-224-2235; Sen. Jon Kyl: 602-840-1891/202-224-4521; http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

WEB SITES. Please visit us frequently at ww.district10dems. The site is updated on a regular basis so check for new information rather then just waiting for an e-mail from me. Please HELP ME Make This YOUR E-letter. Please send suggestions, articles, letters to the editor (published or not), comments etc. to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please also visit www.maricopadems.com and www.azdem.org

NOTE: Please note the opinions reflected in this E-letter are those of the editor & contributors & not of the D 10 Democratic organization per se. If you want to read ‘different’ stuff, send it to me please!