DORR Events

Observations on meeting Terry Goddard, Andrei Cherny and Rodney Glassman

By Yuma Michaels

For your consideration: If the right wing regains power in Congress, as they did in the 90s under Clinton, the next two years (or six) will be all about destroying Obama personally (through impeachment or some other means). It's their modus operadi. The focus won't be on jobs, the environment, education, or making the world a safer place to live. Character assassination is what they're about now, so think how much more painful that assassination will be when they have the gavel in their hands. VOTE IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS November 2!

Recently I heard two of the people who should be the next leaders of the State of Arizona. NOW IF THEY CAN ONLY GET ELECTED! For those of you not from Arizona and who think of us as yokels who keep shooting ourselves in the foot for ideological reasons, read the excerpts below to see what Arizona can become if enough good people get motivated to vote in the midterm elections. (I heard Rodney Glassman speak a few weeks ago. He not only is gaining in popularity against McCain, but he's ahead of J.D. Hayworth in the polls, should Hayworth defeat McCain in the August 24 primary.)

For State Treasurer: ANDREI CHERNEY
Andrei is the author of The Next Deal: The Future of Public Life in the Information Age, which examined how American government must change to meet the challenges of the 21st century New Economy. The Los Angeles Times called the book "visionary in scope," the Financial Times reported that The Next Deal "has become required reading" in the British Prime Minister's office, and it received bipartisan praise by everyone from Al Gore to Joe Lieberman to Newt Gingrich who called it "one of the most thoughtful books about....the information age to be produced by anyone of any ideological background." His other book is about Truman's handling of the end of the War. It's called The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour.

For Governor: TERRY (Goddard is a Godsend) GODDARD
The National Association of Attorneys General chose Goddard as Attorney General of the Year during its recent meeting in Seattle. Goddard's work resulted in a $94 million settlement with Western Union, the group said. The Arizona Attorney General's Office investigated and eventually settled with Western Union related to suspicious wire transfers between Arizona, Mexico and other countries. Drug traffickers and other criminal syndicates sometimes use wire transfer to send ill-gotten gains back to their home base and cartel bosses. Here's someone who knows how to cut to the chase rather than stoking up emotions in dealing with our border problems.

RODNEY GLASSMAN (Running against McCain for the Senate)
McCain deserves to be defeated if for no other reason than foisting Sarah Palin, unprepared, onto the national scene. Rodney is an impressive, highly-qualified public servant who " ... earned advanced degrees in business and public administration, along with a law degree and a PhD in Arid Land Resource Sciences from the University of Arizona."

If you voted for Obama, you helped give birth to his administration. Don't abandon your baby on the doorstep now just because it's not as cute as you hoped it would be. This mid-term election is crucial in fullfilling our responsibility to nurture what we have created in the way we would like to see it develop.

Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick's Sedona visit June 12, 2010 -- 2010-06-15

The DORR Hospitality Committee put on an amazing array of baked goods, and more than seventy-five enthusiastic supporters welcomed Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick on Saturday, June 12th to a fund-raiser, organized by the Board of the Democrats of the Red Rocks (DORR).

The Congresswoman arrived early and socialized with the crowd, answering questions and discussing issues with her constituents.

At around 2:30pm, Angela LeFevre, President of DORR, opened the meeting and thanked everyone for coming. She did acknowledge two Democratic candidates for State Office who were present: Lindsay Bell (House) and Bob Donahue (Senate). She also reminded the audience that our Attorney General, and candidate for Governor, Terry Goddard, would be visiting the DORR office on Thursday, June 24th at 3:00 pm and everyone was invited.

Then Angela, to loud applause, introduced the Congresswoman to the meeting. She noted the Congresswoman's hard work, and in particular praised her on pushing forward with the National Scenic Area Designation, which Ann had introduced into Congress (HR 4823) in March. The first hearing was held last Thursday, June 10th in Washington DC before the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands sub-committee of the Committee on Natural Resources. Angela also noted that there were nine Republicans lining up to try and unseat Ann this November.

Ann thanked everyone for coming and for their support and continued hard work. She echoed the message that she had been put in the crosshairs of Sarah Palin's rifle and had been targeted as one of the Representatives to be unseated! Ann went on to emphasize that her major focus was, by far, jobs. Her District has been hit hard by loss of jobs. She is hoping that the economy will continue to steadily improve and that more stimulus money will be released. Her support of the National Scenic Area Designation was not just a response to the very positive feedback she received from her constituents, but also to the fact that it would be good economically for this area and would provide new jobs. She added that the protection it gave to this area both now and for future generations was of course a major factor.

Ann talked a little about the hearing and how the Forest Service had indicated their approval, which was huge. She then handed the microphone to Councilor Barbara Litrell, who had been present at the hearing, and who added more in-depth comments to the proceedings.

An audio of the hearing can be heard via the DORR and Keep Sedona Beautiful websites.

Ann also pointed out other similar environmental bills she is working on, including the expansion of the protection of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (HR 5110) and the Four Forest Initiative, which was being supported by the Forest Service, environmentalists and industry, to help thin out the forests in her area, and utilize the wood for industrial use.

Ann discussed other issues, including healthcare. She stressed that the new law was just the beginning and more needed to happen. She talked about the BP oil spill and the disaster in the Gulf, and how this showed that our reliance on oil had to end and we had to concentrate on developing alternative sources of energy. Ann answered a slew of questions, ranging from immigration and the new law ( SB 1070) to renewable energy. She mixed once more with the crowd before she left for another fundraiser in the Village of Oak Creek at the home of Carol and Roger Redenbaugh.