Monthly Link-Up

6:30pm, Wednesday, December 1

Old Spaghetti Factory

1418 North Central Avenue Phoenix (So. Of McDowell by the light rail station)

Democracy For America – Maricopa County held its monthly Executive Committee meeting on November 17, and invited local progressive leaders to join us in exploring the mission of DFA, DFA-MC, and what we can and should do for the 2012 cycle and beyond.

We’d like to invite you to join us at our regular monthly Link-Up Wednesday evening, and continue the discussion.

Topics include:

The interlocking mission of entities like DFA, the Democratic Party, and how we can work with other groups with similar issues, and a proposed progressive think tank.

Democratic Party

What does it stand for? Who will we elect to lead our State and County Party this cycle?

Grassroots organizing – from Precincts > Legislative Districts > County and State Committees

Candidate recruitment, training and assistance

Proposed “Campaign Academy” for 2011 and other training available through Democracy for America and other groups

Petition gathering for candidates and ballot initiatives

Protecting and extending democracy – Redistricting, Voting Rights, Election Integrity, Clean, Fair and Transparent Elections

Messaging - Restoring the Democratic Brand and communicating with Voters, as well as with other activists – finding ways to get our messages out

“Taxes are membership dues for civilization.”

Identifying Resources, such as “The Political Brain” by Drew Westen

Joining – or Creating – with allies an Arizona Values Coalition to promote Democratic Values, like a strong middle class, public education, healthcare, and a government of the people

Creating a think tank to counterbalance the koolaid coming from the corporatocracy and their servants in the Goldwater Institute and other religious cults

Fundraising:

Clean Elections, “Traditional” funding

Primary, General Elections

DFA-MC Membership

We’re inviting you to join us as a member of DFA-MC – not just by paying annual dues (a pittance), but by participating – either in one of the areas mentioned above, or by contributing your own ideas.

DFA-MC Board Membership

In January, we’ll be electing new officers, to spark-plug activities for 2011. Let us know if you’d like to help – it’s not rocket science or a big commitment of time!

Let’s start by bringing a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots to make the Holiday season better for those hurt by an uncaring State Legislature.

OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY

Central Avenue South of McDowell

6:30 pm

Our actions over the next few days and weeks will be critical in building the support we need to win.

Meanwhile, conservative groups have launched a new assault on inclusion of a public healthcare option like Medicare. Their million-dollar ad campaign claims that healthcare will be rationed and “bureaucrats” will “decide the treatments you receive.” It’s an old message that you and I know isn’t true, but it will stick if we don’t fight back with our message of Choice, Competition, and Comfort.*

So we’re holding an emergency online briefing on Monday night with Governor Howard Dean, M.D. at 9pm Eastern to make sure we’re all ready for the fight ahead. This is a joint Stand with Dr. Dean event hosted by MoveOn, one of our biggest campaign partners.

All you need to join in is a computer with speakers and an internet connection. Please join us.

Emergency Online Briefing with Dr. Dean
Monday, May 4, 9pm Eastern / 6PM Arizona[Mountain]

Hosted on MoveOn.org’s web site at:
http://www.moveon.org/drdean/?id=16038-3139585-xg0J2sx&t=7

Last time Democrats tried to pass comprehensive healthcare reform, it failed. And it failed in part because the opposition was better organized and spread a bunch of lies that progressives weren’t prepared to rebut.

It’s up to us to make sure that doesn’t happen again. We need all hands on deck, well-armed with the critical information, and motivated to keep the right from blocking real change. Dr. Dean will give us an update and inside look at the battle for real healthcare reform — and the key actions we’ll take to achieve a historic victory.

With an important Senate committee meeting on Tuesday to start shaping legislation, plus the right wing’s escalating attacks, this couldn’t be more urgent.

I’ll be part of the emergency briefing, and I really hope you can join me at this crucial moment. Join us online Monday night at 9pm Eastern — that’s 8pm Central, 7pm Mountain, and 6pm Pacific — this way everyone in the country can join us at the same time.

CLICK HERE ON MONDAY AT 9PM EASTERN TO JOIN US ONLINE

I look forward to ‘seeing’ you on the call.

- Arshad Hasan, Executive Director, Democracy for America

P.S. If you would like to share a personal healthcare horror story or submit a specific question for Dr. Dean before the event, you can do that by clicking here.

* Check out www.StandwithDrDean.com/FAQ for talking points on how an open-access public healthcare option offers Choice, Competition, and Comfort.

But our work isn’t over yet. Go to StandWithDrDean.com right now and sign Gov. Howard Dean’s healthcare petition. But don’t stop there. Ask your family, friends and neighbors, and get them to sign it, too.

SIGN GOV. HOWARD DEAN’S HEALTHCARE PETITION

We need you to take action now in order to reach our goal of 250,000 on time, and that’s why we need your help today is getting the word out.

Recruiting your Group Members and friends to sign this petition is just as important as signing it yourself. It’s like Gov. Dean said on Wednesday night’s conference call: to win this fight, we need to know who our allies are, and where they are.

TAKE THE PLEDGE AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO STAND WITH DR. DEAN

“If Barack Obama’s healthcare plan gets changed to exclude a public option like Medicare, then it is not healthcare reform. Legislation rises and falls on whether the American public is allowed to choose a universally available public option or not. If they are allowed to choose Medicare as an option, this bill will be real healthcare reform. If they’re not, we could be back fighting about it for another 20 years before anybody tries again.”

http://standwithdrdean.com