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Congrats. Dubuque County Democrats won $500 from Tom Harkin to assist in the November election.
Thanks to all of you who voted.

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Guest Editorial. Telegraph Herald of Dubuque, Iowa. Sunday, October 26, 2008.

A Democratic Perspective: Terry Stewart, Chair, Dubuque County Democrats

Echoing a question posed  thirty years ago by Ronald Reagan, few among us today can say we are better off  than we were four or eight years ago.  Families are working harder than ever, but we’re dealing with stagnant wages, rising gas and food prices, skyrocketing health insurance premiums, increasing college tuition costs, and a housing crisis.  To many, the American dream is fading into distant reality.

On November 4th, our country has the chance to move in a new direction, and Barack Obama is the best candidate for the change we need.  Obama’s steady leadership and sound judgment are suited to handling the economic crisis we face at home and the uncertainty we face abroad.  His vision and ability to forge consensus are invaluable traits at a time that requires Americans to bridge divides in facing some of our greatest challenges.

Sen. Obama began his journey to the White House in the Iowa caucus on a cold night in January, when we affirmed what many Americans have known for so long—that the ways of Washington must change.

John McCain calls himself a maveric but his record doesn’t match his rhetoric.  He voted with President Bush 90 percent of the time and advocates the same policies – tax cuts for big corporations at the expense of middle class families and the next generation, cowboy diplomacy, and a health care plan that helps insurance companies. That explains why, when the financial crisis struck, McCain still claimed that the “fundamentals of the economy are strong.”  He has been inconsistent and erratic in his handling of the major issue of this election: the economy.     

Sadly, the McCain campaign has grown increasingly desperate as they have fallen in the polls. One of John McCain’s top advisers was quoted as saying, “If we keep talking about the economic crisis, we’re going to lose.”  McCain has followed his advice, but in trying to change the subject, he has resorted to baseless smears and dishonest attacks.  His campaign is spending millions of dollars on advertisements, automated calls, and mailings that twist the facts and attack Sen. Obama’s character.  All Americans admire and respect John McCain’s commitment and service to our country, but today, Sen. McCain is an honorable man running a dishonorable campaign. 

As General Colin Powell said of Obama in his endorsement, he is sure and steady, with the rhetorical and  intellectual ability to lead and inspire,  the leader we need at this time. Barack Obama is a living testament to the American dream, born into poverty of multi-racial heritage, achieving academic success, embracing his Christianity, hellping his community, serving his nation. He can change Washington and restore middle class economic security.  He will fight for good paying jobs and stop rewarding companies that send jobs overseas.  He will fix our broken health care system and invest in schools and job training to ensure our economic prosperity.

Obama proposes a tax code that rewards the middle class, the engine of the American economy.  Under his plan, 95% of working families will see a tax reduction of $1,000.  On average, middle class American will get three times as much tax relief under Obama’s plan than with McCain’s, which continues the Bush agenda of tax cuts for the rich. No one making less than $250,000 will see their taxes increase under Sen. Obama’s plan.

As Iowans, we are fortunate to live in a state that has weathered economic challenges better than most.  Our renewable fuels and alternative energies industries have been successful economic drivers in the state.  On these issues, the candidates could not differ more.  Sen. McCain has been described as “hostile” to agriculture, and in two debates he declared that he would kill the ethanol subsidy.  Sen. Obama comes from a farm state, Illinois, similar to Iowa,  Unlike McCain, Barack Obama supported the farm bill and supports ethanol,wind, and  other renewable and sustainable energy.

Barack Obama is a steady and visionary leader with the ability to inspire us to embrace the best in ourselves and approach our present challenges with optimism for the future.  Please vote this November for Barack Obama and our Democratic candidates from the courthhouse to the White House, to bring change to America, and a brighter future. 

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Get Those College Students Voting
The 2008 election could break all the records for voter turnout among college students -- but only if young people get accurate information about registration, absentee ballots and their voting rights.

Help Common Cause protect the student vote!

We've already seen examples of election administrators giving misleading information to students who are hoping to vote for the first time.1 That's why Common Cause is pulling out all the stops to educate at least 50,000 new student voters about:

* how to confirm that they are registered to vote;
* where their polling place is located;
* what forms of ID they will need to vote;
* who to contact for help if their voting rights are challenged on Election Day; and
* ways to stay politically active after November 4th.

We're also building bridges between local election administrators and college campuses to make sure that eligible first-time voters aren't turned away at the polls. For example, we're talking with school officials to ask them to issue utility bills to students who need written proof of their campus address, and with local county officials to make sure their poll workers are trained to accept campus utility bills.

And we'll be running "voter empowerment" tables at polling places near colleges across the country to provide first-time voters with support in case they face any voting challenges.
With your help, we can reach more students on more campuses in more states.

Susannah Goodman, Daryn Cambridge, and the rest of the team at Common Cause

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Our own Megan Simpson with Barack Obama in Butte, Montana on July 4. Click here.

Mike Connolly Tribute, August 15, 2008, at Grand River Center, Dubuque.

Click here for Dennis Kucinich's Main Street Recovery Plan or View as a pdf.

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INFO >> Voting and Registration in Dubuque County
Yes, we do have election day registration. However, we also STILL have the law in place that closes registration 10 days before election day. The result is that you may register to vote up to 10 days before election day. From days 9 to 1 before, you may NOT register to vote. Then on election day, if you are unregistered, you
may go to your precinct polling place, present ID - there is a specific list of what counts as evidence of residency on election day - and register and vote right there. So registration does technically close 10 days before election day, but it reopens on election day itself.

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Daily Reports from our Dubuque Democrat in Denver,
Kathleen Weber.

Thursday. August 28, 2008

Dear Dbq. Dems,
I just read the article in the TH and was a bit surprised to read that I thought Hillary's speech was about diversity and unity. Below is the email I sent to Mary Rae Tuesday night. Oh well.

After our morning breakfast, Nancy Pelosi made an unexpected appearance, along with Dick Durbin. And after that we cast our ballots for president. I was surprised about how emotional I felt about doing this. My son was here and got a photo. According to the rules, candidates may change their vote until 4PM this afternoon. Hillary is meeting with her delegates at 1:00, so we'll see what happens after that.

Mary Rae,
Another powerful day at the Democratic convention!
I felt proud to be an American and a Democrat as the convention opened this afternoon with an African- American woman's prayer, and talks by a Native- American from ND, a Latino-American from CA, and a Japanese-American from Hawaai. What a celebration of diversity! And a celebration of unity. There was great anticipation of Clinton's speech this evening, and I think she rose to the occasion. Comments I remember:"This is a fight for the future. No one can afford to sit on the sidelines. We must unite. The time is now. Barack Obama is my candidate and must be our next president." I'm tired and eager for a good night's sleep. Kathleen

Later: Oh my, what a day! I attended a luncheon sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and featuring Madeline Albright. I returned to my hotel with the intention of getting off a quick email to you and a quick power nap, turned on the TV and saw that the roll call had already started. (earlier than I had understood it to start). I took off running and made it to the Pepsi Center in good time. The minute Hillary/New York passed and recommended Obama be nominated by acclamation, two African American women and one Latino sitting next to me burst into tears. It was another emotional moment for us. I am so pumped up after hearing Bill Clinton and Joe Biden tonight. The Pepsi Center was rockin'. A tomorrow at the Mile High Stadium...... It is great to be here. Thank you for the privilege, Dubuque Dems. Kathleen

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Tuesday. August 26, 2008

Hi Everyone,

What an incredible whirlwind this is! As Gov. Culver said this morning, "Who needs sleep? Only seventy some days until the election. We can all sleep soundly for eight years, once Obama is elected." Yesterday, Monday, the Iowa delegation was invited to lunch at the home of Rep. Leonard Boswell's daughter. He sat at my table for breakfast this morning and said they had six left of 300 pork chops prepared, so it was a big and hungry crowd. We had live music and Mrs. Boswell sang a song about Iowa, which was very dear. I mentioned to the Senator this morning that I did not recognize the song and he said, "Oh they made that up!"

Yesterday was our first day at the convention and I must say my heart fluttered a bit as I walked in. I am SO blessed to be here. There is no way I could have imagined what this would be like. It is a huge sensory jolt. Lights, sounds, numbers of people, inspiring speeches, celebrities, technology, just amazing!

Obama fever is high. Joe Biden is already here, sitting with the Delaware delegation, and every time the camera showed his face the crowd roared!

The Iowa delegation has great seats. We are just behind the Vermont delegation, which is quite small, considering their state population is 600,000 and ours is 2.8 million. We are right center with a good view of the stage. I have been able to get photos from where I sit, without a telephoto lens. Unfortunately, I cannot download photos to send them on to you and will be happy to share when I get back.
> I assume most of you watched Ted Kennedy last night. There were few dry eyes in the place. And then Michelle! As those of you who saw her in Dubuque can attest, she is an incredible woman.

Gov. Culver speaks a 3PM today so the Iowa delegation gathers at 2PM in the lobby for transportation to the Pepsi Center so we can be seated before he speaks and give him a rousing welcome. There was a bit of a snafu with shuttle transportation yesterday and many of us missed the opening gavel.

Mark Warner and Hillary Clinton speak tonight. Aren't we fortunate to have seen and heard all these people up close and personal in Iowa?

Keep sending good Iowa energy this way. Kathleen

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Sunday. August 24, 2008

Dear Friends and Family

Dick and I arrived shortly before noon on Saturday. We flew out of the Dubuque airport just after catching a glimpse of Joe Biden on the TV screen. What a wonderful start to our trip, since we were both hoping for VP Biden. Saturday afternoon we did a "walk around" of downtown Denver, found our hotel, the Pepsi Center and a general lay of the land and then spent the evening with Kaylene (my friend of 47 years) at her home. We were all up bright and early this morning to run/walk a 5K "Race for Cancer Research" at Washington Park.

Kaylene won a gold medal for female runners 60-69 years and I won a silver for female walkers 60-69. Not bad considering I had been in the mile high altitude for less than 24 hours!

Checked into the Iowa Delegation hotel this afternoon, which is in a great location. The 16th Street Mall, in front of our hotel is alive with people, music, vendors (with every political pin you can imagine) demonstrations of various kinds, police on horseback, motorcycles, and foot. It is very festive, with LOTS of Obama enthusiasm! People are friendly, welcoming, and eager to talk politics. We also watched Chris Matthews broadcasting live from Union Station. All this and it's only 3:30 in the afternoon. I need a nap.

Early this evening there is a reception honoring the Iowa Democratic Elected Officials and delegation with Sen Tom Harkin the featured speaker.
Kathleen

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About Sarah Palin from a resident of Wasilla, AK who
has known her since 1992 - Anne Kilkenny

Sunday. August 31, 2008

From The Washington Independent - August 31, 2008 http://www.washingtonindependent.com/3671/the-reform-candidate

Dear friends,

So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .

Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in common: their gender and their good looks. :)

You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on any websites, as
there are too many kooks out there . .

[This was already posted on Washington Independent comments area, with a controllable hotmail account, and was obviously meant by the author to be read.]

Thanks,
Anne

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ABOUT SARAH PALIN

I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.

She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe".

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.

She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.

She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.

She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just"puts things out there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.

Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style
ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.

Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.

She's smart.

Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.

During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this
administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs
later--to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit- generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once.

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.

In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.

She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.

While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin
backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.

Sarah complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin fired most of the
experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent on
her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged
happened in the case of pressuring the State's top cop (see below).

As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he"intimidated" her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring of
familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex- husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen
contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in- law. She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to
voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn't like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her.

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a ember of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her
problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against
the "old boys' club" when she dramatically quit, exposing this man's ethics violations (for which he was fined).

As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly
humiliated him. She only opposed the "bridge to nowhere" after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.

As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork.
Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these projects--which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their importance-- but
with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as"anti-pork".

She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.

As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march to the beat of her drum.

Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state initiative that would have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the
courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State's lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to list polar
bears as threatened species.

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President.

There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she.

However, there's a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.

CLAIM VS FACT

*"Hockey mom": true for a few years

*"PTA mom": true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since

*"NRA supporter": absolutely true

*social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this
because it was unconstitutional) .

*pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.

*"Pro-life": mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation

*"Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on
supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.

*political maverick: not at all

*gutsy: absolutely!

*open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.

*has a developed philosophy of public policy: no

*"a Greenie": no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro- drilling off-shore and in ANWR.

*fiscal conservative: not by my definition!

*pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th
century standards.

*pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents

*pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla's history.

*pro-labor/pro- union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-
union.

WHY AM I WRITING THIS?

First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.

Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen when good people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as many City Council meetings.

Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out of. I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is immensely
popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the future: that's life.

Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's attempt at censorship.

Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.

CAVEATS

I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from information
supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation? for population
increases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person to get any info out of City Hall--they are swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.

You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the population of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The day Palin's selection was announced a city official told me that the current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90's.

Anne Kilkenny
annekilkenny@ hotmail.com
August 31, 2008

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Iowa Democrats to Honor Senator Mike Connolly
By Helene McGee, Dubuque Leader, August 1, 2008

Dubuque Area Democrats and Party leaders from across the state will come together Friday evening, 15 August to say "thank you" to State Senator Mike Connolly, who is stepping down after 30 years in the Iowa Legislature.  Former Governor Tom Vilsack will head the guest list, and be accompanied by former First Lady Christy Vilsack.

Others attending to honor Connolly will be Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, Senate President jack Kibble, former Speaker of the House Don Avenson, current Speaker Pat Murphy, State Representatives Pam Jochum, Ray Zierkelbach, and Tom Schuller, candidates Chuck Isenhart and Tom Avenarius, State Senators Roger Stewart and Tom Hancock, former State Representatives Rick Dickinson, Tom Jochum, Bob Osterhaus, and Paul Scherrman, Dubuque Mayor Roy Buol, and Dubuque County Democratic Chairman Terry Stewart.

The event will begin with a 6:30 pm cash bar reception followed by dinner at 7 PM at the Grand River Center, 500 Bell Street at the Port of Dubuque.

Senator Connolly announced last fall that he would retire at the end of 2008. He has chaired the Education, State Government, and Rules and Administration committees, and served as Assistant Senate Leader for the last eight years.
He served ten years in the Iowa House before being elected to the Senate. Connolly taught in the Dubuque Community Schools for 30 years, 20 at Dubuque Senior High School. He and his wife Martha have two children, Maureen and John.

Pam Jochum, on behalf of the Dubuque County Democratic Party, is organizing this tribute to honor Mike's service.

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Tributes to Sister Dorothy.
Sr. Dorothy was a dedicated Democrat. She attended Central Committee meetings, helped at Headquarters during the election season, and she and her sibling, Sr. Gwen, also a Franciscan, regularly canvassed door-to-door. She will be missed. - Walt Pregler. April 2008.

Dubuque Barakstars
(High School Students), Port of Dubuque. Click here to view. (Picture contributed.)