Sunday, Sept 7, 3:00pm - 7:00pm

DEMOS Fall Festival

Gail Steele's Home
22586 Arlette Avenue, Hayward
(Map and Directions)

Sunday, Sept 7, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Progessives Take Back Congress

Albatross Pub
1822 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
(Map and Directions)
Tickets: $25*

Download flyer

*No one turned away for lack of funds; Must be 21 to attend

With featured guests:

• Bill Durston
  Emergency Physician
  Democrat for Congress – CD3
  challenging Republican Dan Lungren

• Norman Soloman
  Author, Activist
  Co-Chair of PDA Healthcare Not Warfare campaign

• Music by JB III

This event is co-sponsored by:

• Hayward Demos Democratic Club
• Progressive Democrats of the East Bay
• East Bay Young Democrats
• Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
• Progressive Democrats Sonoma County
• Progressive Democrats of San Francisco
• Progressive Democrats of Marin

Fri, Sept 19, 6:00pm (Note: Early Start)

Candidates Forum for Hayward Unified School & Chabot College Districts

Democratic Headquarters
1139 A Street, Hayward
(Map and Directions)

Hayward School Board Candidates Forum. All candidates have been invited.

Four–year Seats, 3 to be elected:

• Rick Bartholemew (D)
• Simon Flores (D)
• Hon Sarah Gonzales (inc) (D)
• Dianne McDermott (D)
• Araceli Orozco (D)
• Hon Jeff Cook (inc) (R)
• Chuck Horner (R)
• Luis Reynoso (R)
• Lorette Robertson (R)
• Maribel Heredia (G)

2–year Seat, one to be elected:

• Willie Lee Anderson (D)
• James Farley (D)
• Sheila Sims (D)
• Lawrence Fitzpatrick (R)
• Conrad Hake (unstated)
• Kelly Rocchio (unstated)

Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, One Director to be elected.

• Jesus Armas (D)
• Marshall Mitzman (D)

Note: Demos By-laws require that we only endorse Democrats in non-partisan races.

Saturday, Sept 20, 10:00am

Candidates Forum for San Leandro School Board

Democratic Headquarters
1139 A Street, Hayward
(Map and Directions)

San Leandro School Board Candidates Forum.

At Large 1 to be elected:

• Ray Davis (inc) (D)
• Morgan Mack Rose (D)
• Don Grundman (unstated)
• Mark Tichy (unstated)

Area 1. One to be elected:

• Hermy Almonte (D)
• Hon "Rick" Richards (D)

Note: Demos By-laws require that we only endorse Democrats in non-partisan races.

Saturday, Sept 20, 7:30pm

Democratic Unity Dinner: Benefit the United Democratic Campaign of Alameda County

Airport Hilton
1 Hegenberger Road, Oakland
(Map and Directions)

Friday, Oct 10, 7:00pm

Propositions on November Ballot

Democratic Headquarters
1139 A Street, Hayward
(Map and Directions)

DEMOS members will have an opportunity to debate and take positions on the ballot measures at the October 10 meeting at Obama Headquarters.

There may be other county, regional or local issues we can consider. We may wish to contribute to opposition campaigns for Propositions 4 and 8 at our September 19 meeting.

• Prop 1: High Speed Rail Planning Bond
• Prop 2: Improve treatment of farm animals
• Prop 3: Bond Issue to upgrade Children's Hospitals
• Prop 4: Teen pregnancy parental notification
• Prop 5: Easing sentencing requirements for non-violent offenders
• Prop 6: Mandating harsher criminal penalties
• Prop 7: Setting renewable power standards for utilities
• Prop 8: Defining marriage as man-woman only
• Prop 9: Crime victim involvement in judicial outcomes
• Prop 10: Bond measure to finance alternative fuel vehicles
• Prop 11: "Nonpartisan" redistricting (We'll debate this one)
• Prop 12: Veterans Bond Act of 2008

Commentary from Tom Kersten, Demos' President
September, 2008

Conservative Values

Conservatives love to talk about values during the election season to appeal to its value-based voters. These values supposedly revolve around supporting families and our troops, and yet they simultaneously attack any government social funding efforts aimed at helping those persons they claim to endorse.

Whether its social security, education, veterans benefits, health care, and so on, the conservative agenda is clear - there is always enough money to spend on waging oil wars around the globe even if we have to borrow most of it from Asia and the Middle East, but there is never any money to spend on social programs and infrastructure.

The budget battle currently taking place in Sacramento is another case in point. Republicans refuse to allow any increase in taxes on corporations or the wealthy, (which given the current rate of inflation is ludicrous on its face), knowing full well that the Democrats will event-ually be forced to cave in and allow further spending cuts.

More . . .

July, 2008, Reduce California Greenhouse Gas Emissions to 1990 Levels by 2020

June, 2008, Fear, Anger and Courage in the Gilded Age

April, 2008, California Water Crisis on the Horizon?

March, 2008, Budget Wars: The Conservative Agenda

December, 2007, While I really wanted to end 2007 on a more positive note. . .

November, 2007, We live in interesting times, no doubt about that!

October, 2007, Supercaptialism (includes video of Robert Reich)