8th Annual Fauquier County Democratic Committee’s Commonwealth Dinner Great Success

David Roos, Chair … Conway Porter, Vice-Chair … Andrea Martens, Secretary … Linda Pranke, Treasurer

Levar Stoney, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Virginia was the special guest speaker

The Three Generations provided a musical interlude

David Roos and Karen Schultz

Former FCDC Chairs Barbara Burgess and John Fry

Richard Galecki, Jeanette Rishell, Bob Zwick
  

Fauquier Democrats Honor Julie Turner With 3rd Annual Huel Meadows Memorial Award

Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the 8th Annual Commonwealth Dinner of the Fauquier County Democratic Committee and presenting the 3rd Annual Huel Meadows Memorial Award  to Julie Turner … as you can tell from the photo she was pleasantly surprised …
 
“Julie Turner came to us early last year and has put her talent and knowledge to work for the FCDC immediately.  She has a MSW, and with her expertise( knowledge of neighborhoods and people)  we were able to go out into the undeserved communities of Fauquier and make an impact, both politically and socially.  She is a self starter and has been instrumental in getting the name of the FCDC OUT THERE. “

“Through her serious dedication to the cause Julie has been recognized by the African American Community with the Dr, Martin Luther King Jr award. The FCDC’s Outreach Committee was able to organize a health care and housing seminar – directed at improving services to  under served  communities -at the AAHA last Sept using Julie’s knowledge and local contacts; from this a consortium of nurses has evolved.” 

“She was also instrumental in getting the OBAMA folks and the FCDC FCDC/OC to the Mt Zion Baptist Church community Health Care weekend where no political organization has ever been before; trailblazer!!  We also were able to get into the local Catholic Church and make the Dem presence (in this community) know by our involvement in their social services through the St Vincent de Paul organization. I can go on and on, but the point here is that the Fauquier County Democratic Committee’s Outreach Committee feels that through our work with JAT we not only help the community but we get the FCDC name out there.”

Obama NCAA Bracket Comes Down To UNC

President Obama’s NCAA Basketball  results:   19 of 32 games in the first round … 14 of 16 second round … 5 of 8 for the third round …  1  of the final 4  …  overall his picks were accurate in 39 of 56 games so far … his overall winner UNC is looking good … click here to see his picks 

VirginiaDem’s results:  28 of 32 games in the first round … 13 of 16 second round … 5 of 8 for the third round …  none of my picks made the final 4 … Louisville, Pittsburg, Oklahoma and Memphis all let me down … overall my picks were accurate in 46 of 56 games …

Senator Jim Webb Introduces “National Criminal Justice Commission Act Of 2009″

Note:  I applaud Senator Webb’s efforts to push much needed reform and overhaul of our criminal justice system … the following information was provided by his office about the legislation … : 

Legislation to Evaluate and Overhaul the Criminal Justice System

On Thursday, March 26, Senator Jim Webb introduced the “National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009″ in the U.S. Senate. The bipartisan legislation will create a blue-ribbon commission charged with undertaking an 18-month, top-to-bottom review of our entire criminal justice system and offering concrete recommendations for reform.

Senator Webb’s legislation is the result of decades of investigation and more than two years of intense work in the U.S. Senate. It has already garnered wide support from Senate leadership, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Obama Administration. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Ranking Member on the Judiciary Committee, joined Webb as the principal Republican cosponsor.

Senator Webb said on the floor this week: “America’s criminal justice system has deteriorated to the point that it is a national disgrace. With five percent of the world’s population, our country houses twenty-five percent of the world’s prison population. Incarcerated drug offenders have soared 1200% since 1980. And four times as many mentally ill people are in prisons than in mental health hospitals. Our neighborhoods are at risk from gang violence, including transnational gang violence. We should be devoting precious law enforcement capabilities toward making our communities safer.

“There is great appreciation from most in this country that we are doing something drastically wrong. And I am committed to getting this legislation passed and enacted into law this year.”

DNC Web Ad: The Number Zero, Brought To You By The Party Of N-O

President Obama’s Weekly Video Address – Caring About Other Americans Facing Hardships

CNN On Organizing For America

Note: from my perspective “Organizing for America” is the Obama/Kaine twist on the very successful DNC “50 State Strategy” with an emphasis on using 2008 campaign volunteers and activists to advance Democratic principles and agenda …

Virginia’s Democratic Party Candidates for Governor Schedule Debates and Forums

Welcome news from our Democratic Candidates for Governor, Brian Moran, Terry McAuliffe,and Creigh Deeds have announced … “pending format negotiations”, they have accepted and would participate in 5 debates across the Commonwealth … and make 3 joint appearances.

Debate Schedule:  

 - April 19th: Farm Team Debate in Williamsburg

  - April 23rd: Virginia Education Association’s Convention Debate in Hampton

   - April 28th: Sorensen Institute/Danville Register & Bee Debate in Danville Debate in Blacksburg

   – April 29th: Huffington Post/Not Larry Sabato/Fire Dog Lake/Collegiate Times Debate in Blacksburg

   – May 19th: Washington Post/Northern Virginia Community College Debate in Annandale

Joint Appearance Forums:

   - April 3rd: Northern Virginia Technology Council/Microsoft Forum in McLean

   – April 21st: Crusade for Voters Forum in Richmond

   – TBD: Democratic Club of Greensprings Forum in Greensprings

“Additional details on the debates and joint appearances will be released in the coming weeks. All campaigns have received over thirty requests for debates and appearances and are honored by the level of public interest in this campaign.”

President Obama’s “Open for Questions” Forum

Note: Today I watched what was billed as a trial run of “Open for Questions” a Presidential Q&A from the White House … the White House website reports that 92,931 people submitted 104,103 questions and cast 3,606,286 votes … I’m sure their were glitches but it looked to me like a great success for an Administration committed to being open and transparent …

DNC Ad Pushes Passage Of President Obama’s Budget