Redlands Area Democratic Club Vol. 3, Issue 25: August 2016 http://www.redlandsdemocrats.org

To us it seems so obvious.

We don’t take Donald Trump seriously. When he

speaks we hear the silliness in his words. Through

his bombast we hear the hate he stirs. To us it’s

laughable to even listen to him.

In my recent calls to Hillary Clinton supporters,

I’ve noticed a certain confidence in their voices, a

giddiness almost; a feeling that no one could

possibly consider voting for Trump at this point.

The public arguments with the parents of a fallen

Muslim war hero certainly

torpedoed that ridiculous Trump

campaign, they assume.

I’m not so sure. While we laugh

at the idea of a President Trump,

plenty of people still intend to

vote for him in November. We

probably even know some of those determined

voters: a next door neighbor, a colleague at work, a

beloved uncle. Instead of arguing with them, we roll

our eyes or walk away, calculating that it’s not

worth the bother to explain why a narcissist like

Trump creates a unique threat to our democracy.

President’s message

President’s Message 1

RADC Voices 2

Recap of July Meeting 3

August 21 Meeting: “A Tale of Two Conventions” 3

In Memoriam 3

RADC Representative Contacts/RADC Leadership 4

In This Issue

Or why a man so enamored with a person like

Russian strongman, President Vladimir Putin, is

not someone who belongs in the White House.

Perhaps the determined, hard-core Trump

supporters aren’t worth arguing with. They may

never be convinced. The independents and the

undecideds, though, are a different story. This

year, maybe more than any other, they need to

understand why casting their vote for the

Republican presidential candidate would be

wrong. It doesn’t seem like a problem now, but

today’s plunging poll numbers could turn into

those pesky after-Labor Day

rebounding numbers. Voters like us

who see the danger of a Trump win

are an important defense against

any sort of surge in the polls. We

understand the issues and are

willing to help educate the

undecideds. We can do that while still laughing at

Trump (laughter, after all, is healthy for us!).

From now through election day you will receive

many invitations to assist the campaigns of local

and national candidates. Whether it’s making

phone calls or canvassing in a battle ground state

like Nevada, there will be many opportunities to

inform and educate voters. Your voice is needed

to help stop Trump from gaining any ground. In

this topsy-turvy election year, and we can help

ensure Hillary Clinton comes out on top by taking

advantage of those volunteer opportunities and

engaging in those conversations.

Kristin Washington, President Redlands Area Democratic Club

2

RADC Voices Club member Bruce Daniels offers his take on

Bridges and Walls

and

Convention Contrasts: An E-Ticket Ride

Clinton and Trump represent a partisan political chasm

domestically and abroad. Symbolized by secular Muslim Turkey’s

aborted coup, government blocked its bridge over the Bosphorus to

Istanbul linking Asia to Europe; a

reminder of the Cold War, NATO’s

Brussels, Russia and Ukraine. A radical

Islamic War is underway in Iraq,

Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, North Africa

and a smoldering Israel/Palestinian

confrontation, all infiltrating America affecting the most bizarre

political campaign I have ever experienced. This is not just an

ideological war with limited supporters. Rather, it’s a reaction to a

“rigged” system overriding character, judgment and performance.

- - -

Your “E-Ticket Ride”

vents

Security threats get attention. Black and blue lives matter as Trump

lines up law and order while Hillary takes a village. Radical Islamic

terrorism is underscored by U.S. casualties, disabled vets and Syrian/

Muslim refugees.

go

“I alone can fix it.” In the midst of a movement, outsider maverick

Trump upset the Republican establishment/Tea Party insurgency

whereas insider independent Democrat Bernie Sanders was swept

aside. Could a “revolution” be underway?

Media Misfire. Trump, master media manipulator, outmaneuvers

opposition. CBS executive Les Moonves: “It may not be good for

America, but it’s damn good for CBS…Bring it on, Donald. Keep

going!”

Crass commercialism, political bias and shopworn thinking filter

reporting already focused on calamities and sound-bites instead of

impartial analysis.

“Those damned -mails!”

Candidate Clinton, plagued by an independent FBI investigation,

castigating her “extremely careless” handling of top secret and

classified emails while Secretary of State, is now besieged by Wiki-

leaks revelations of cloaked, hacked DNC emails; prompting another

FBI investigation of suspected Russian cyber-security breaches.

Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigns, re-enforcing

Sanders’ allegations of a “rigged” system confirmed by Senator

Elizabeth Warren and Trump. This deadly diversion undermines the

Democratic Party and President Obama’s pledge of transparency and

impartiality.

International interlopers. Trump seeks Russian president Putin’s

spies to uncover DNC’s deleted emails. President Obama lobbied Britain

on Brexit. Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu politicked Congress on Iran.

leanor and llen

The Year of the Woman. Profiling and political correctness are alive and

well. Smartly outfitted throughout the campaign, heir-apparent Hillary

conveys a purposeful image onstage. Echoing Eleanor Roosevelt, she

appeared dressed in a white pants-suit emulating television star Ellen

DeGeneres with Oprah-type appeal, symbolizing critical LGBTQ, black

and feminist voting blocs. Barack and Michelle Obama are also

generation bridges for children who can’t vote.

If elected, Hillary will join other female world leaders such as EU

leader, Germany’s Angela Merkel and UK Brexit Prime Minister, Theresa

May. The San Bernardino National Forest has its own minority female

champion, Congresswoman Judy Chu and the San Gabriel Mountains

National Monument.

conomy and Immigration

Angry displaced workers hear Trump’s charges of foreign seizure of

jobs, illegal Mexican border crossings, bad trade deals, drugs and crime.

astern stablishment

New York, New York. Clinton, Trump, Sanders, former mayors Rudy

Giuliani and billionaire business tycoon Michael Bloomberg all hail from

the Big Apple, home of the 9/11’s World Trade Center. Bloomberg

blistered Trump’s business credentials. Giuliani condemned Clinton’s

security qualifications. Is somebody trying to sell the Brooklyn Bridge?

lection

“No third term!” Is Hillary following Obama’s second term or as a

partner to re-elected President Bill Clinton?

- - -

Veep Peep: Tim Kaine and Mike Pence provide executive/legislative

experience offsetting celebrities, wonk Hillary and promoter Donald.

Joe Biden may regret not running for president given Hillary’s

drawbacks. Kennedy/Johnson or Reagan/Bush are nowhere in sight.

Bernie, Monument or Movement? Seventy-four-year-old insider

Sanders led a political “revolution” as a Democrat and lost

to 68-year-old Hillary’s Clinton dynasty. Seventy-year-old

outsider Trump upended the Bush dynasty, Tea Party and

the Republican establishment. With limited attention span,

who will lead the millennial movement?

3

At our July meeting we heard from Margot Bennett, Executive

Director of Women Against Gun Violence (WAGV), which was founded

23 years ago by Betty Friedan and Ann Reiss Lane.

Margot spoke about gun policies and efforts to end

gun violence, noting that the recent many mass

shootings in the US and abroad have created a lot of

excitement, but US House of Representatives

continues to delay any action. She distributed fliers containing the

names of of Senators up for re-election and of Representatives that

did not participate in the recent House sit-in.

We were encouraged to get involved in local sit-ins at these

official’s offices, as well as to have family discussions about guns,

suicides, and as gun

owner responsibility and

gun locks, which is

required by California

law, though not in all

states. Recently a law

governing ammunition

sellers and gun sellers

has been signed into law by our governor. California’s Lieutenant

Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed an initiative covering gun locks

being stolen and reporting same, as well as a database to be

maintained in California of who is allowed to own or not own a gun.

She further noted the California has an “A” rating for gun laws and

an “F” rating from the NRA . We were encouraged to help turn out the

vote for this initiative that is on the November ballot.

- - -

Abigail Medina, candidate for 40th Assembly, paid us a visit last month

and was accompanied by her husband and all of her

children. She briefly spoke and brought us up to date on

her campaign. She noted that although she received more

votes than her opponent, Marc Steinorth, we need to not

only keep up but pick up the pace on getting the vote out for her.

Recap of last month’s meeting presentation

~ PROGRAM ~

“A Tale of Two Conventions”

James Albert (Bernie delegate) and Club President Kristin

Washington (Hillary delegate) will present. Both represented

Congressional District 31 at the Democratic National

Democratic Convention, but their experiences there were

wildly different.

If you followed the convention, then you know that the

California delegation was at the forefront of the struggle to

present a united delegation. It should be a good discussion.

After the meeting, all attendees are welcome to stay for

phone banking for Pete Aguilar right there at Redlands Family

Services.

New to RADC’s meeting place, Redlands Family Services is

located at 612 Lawton Street in Redlands. Parking is available

on lot and on the street. As you enter the parking lot, there is

a gate on the right that leads to a courtyard and the meeting

room. Come join us for a lively meeting and stay for phone

banking afterwards. Charge your phone and bring your

charger!

August 20 RADC Meeting

In Memoriam

Ande Spencer—July 19, 2016 Community Activist

RADC Board Member

Past RADC Secretary

Past Newsletter Editor

RADC Representative Contacts

Redlands Area Democratic Club

1554 Barton Rd #227 Redlands, CA 92373 http://www.redlandsdemocrats.org

- - - “The Progressive”

Carole Coley, Editor and Newsletter Design; Les Greenberg, Club Photographer c.coley11@verizon.net

REDLANDS AREA DEMOCRATIC CLUB LEADERSHIP

“All the world over, I will back the masses against the classes.” ~William Ewart Gladstone~

President/Vice President Barak Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC Web: http.//www.whitehouse.gov (Email the President and VP though the Website) Follow President Obama on Twitter at @POTUS U.S. House of Representatives, 31st CD Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) 1233 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Tel: 202-225-3201 Fax: 202-226-6962

District Office 685 E. Carnegie Drive, Suite 100 San Bernardino, CA 92408 Phone: (909) 890-4445 Fax: (909) 890-9643 Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown, Jr. State Capitol, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA 925814 Tel: 916-445-2841; Fax: 916-558-3160 Web: http://www.gov.ca.gov/home.php State Senate, 23rd District Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga State Capitol Room 3056 Sacramento CA 95814 Tel: 916.319.2040; Fax: 916.319.2041 State Assembly, 40th District Marc Steinorth State Capitol Office P.O. Box 942849, Room 2111 Sacramento, CA 94249-0040 Tel: 916-319-2040

District Office 10604 N Trademark Parkway Suite 308 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 Tel: 909-466-9096

Redlands City Council 35 Cajon Street, Ste 200, Redlands Mail: PO Box 3005, Redlands 92373-1005 Tel: 909-798-7533; Fax: 909-798-7535 Website: www.cityofredlands.org Paul Foster, Mayor pfoster@cityofredlands.org Jon Harrison, Mayor Pro Tem jharrison@cityofredlands.org Pat Gilbreath, Council Member pgilbreath@cityofredlands.org Paul Barich, Council Member pbarich@cityofredlands.org John James, Council Member

jjames@cityofredlands.org San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors James Ramos, 3rd District Supervisor San Bernardino CA 92415-0110 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., 5th Floor Tel: 909-387-4855; Fax: 909-387-3018 Email: SupervisorRamos@sbcounty.gov

OFFICERS Kristin Washington, President

Roger Bell, Vice President Richard Tully, Assistant Secretary

Carole Coley, Treasurer Les Greenberg, Assistant Treasurer

TRUSTEES Nancy Blastos

John Coley Frank Garcia

Ron Hattis

4

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today’s issues that affect all of us. Hearing from

you helps to make The Progressive a successful

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If you wish to participate, please email your

articles to c.coley11@verizon.net or mail them to the

RADC address at 1554 Barton Rd #227, Redlands, CA

92373. Submissions must be to the Editor please no

later than the 10th of the month.

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ATTENTION:

Unless otherwise noted, editorials and/or

articles that appear in ‘The Progressive’ are the

opinions of named contributors and not

necessarily of the RADC leadership

nor its membership.