Allen County Democratic Party

Special Session

Not quite done.

The 101st day post and the politiku challenge

You had plenty to read, see, and listen to about President Obama's first 100 days.  No need for anything from us at the ACDP blog. 

So now it is the 101st day and we have a challenge for you.

Remember haiku?  It's a form of Japanese poetry that is comprised of 3 lines.  The first line has exactly 5 syllables, the second has exactly 7, and the last has exactly 5.  5-7-5, remember from 5th grade?  No rhyming is necessary.

Susanna Speier, a writer and the cousin of a certain Fort Wayne City Councilwoman, has adapted haiku to politics and calls it "politiku."

Here is one from Susanna's friend J. Holtham:

One hundred days in
FOX News bellows from rafters
But history wins

Here is one of Susanna's:

Left handed batter
steps up to the plate. The pitch:
banks, pirates, swine flu…

And now the challenge:  write a politiku and send it in via comments.  It's a little addictive but quite fun.  Enjoy!

Sebilius sworn in

Kathleen Sebelius, former Governor of Kansas, was sworn in as Secretary of Health and Human Services last night.

The ACDP blog hasn't been posting on the previous cabinet appointments, because your humble correspondent didn't know any of those other people.  However, I did have the opportunity to meet Gov. Sebelius last fall when I introduced her at an Obama campaign rally which included healthcare as a significant topic.  And it turns out that some friends of my family used to live next door to her in Kansas.  So there you go.  It's like we're sisters, really....only the kind of sisters who have different parents and live 1,000 miles away from each other and don't ever talk or visit and have only met once.  But otherwise we're like this (twist fingers here).

But seriously, I am pleased that Secretary Sebelius is now able to focus on addressing the many health issues facing our country, not the least of which is the swine flu outbreak.  Remember to wash your hands.  It is the best defense for healthy people to stay healthy.

And on a non-political note, you can be assured that the Allen County - Fort Wayne Board of Health has already begun taking steps to monitor and, if necessary, respond to the disease if (when?) it reaches our community.

Welcome, Sen. Specter

We are glad to have you.

Legislative Update from Speaker Pat Bauer

From Democratic Speaker of the House Pat Bauer:

 

INDIANAPOLIS - As we enter the final days of the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly, I believe we can get our work done on time and avoid a special session.

            The problems that we face are huge, but I feel that the solutions are attainable if we have the courage and vision to work together and do what is right for the people of Indiana.

            From the start of the year, it has been clear that the 2009 session will be judged on what lawmakers are able to do to create jobs, protect those who have lost their jobs, and pass a responsible state budget. There is an urgent need to take care of all three now.

           

Indiana Senate Democrats Celebrate Earth Day....

...by calling for expansion of renewable energy in Indiana.

Watch the video here.

****TRIBUTE TO DR. TOM HAYHURST SCHEDULED****

Please be sure to make your calendars for June 13 to join us in an evening to honor long time, dedicated community leader Dr. Tom Hayhurst.

The Allen County Democratic Party will team with Mayor Tom and Cindy Henry to honor this beloved Democrat for his many years of service to Fort Wayne, Allen County and all of Northern Indiana.  

This dinner will be part of an wonderful evening of celebration and tribute.  It will also be a great opportunity to laugh as it will be a ROAST of Dr. Hayhurst!   We have a lot of exciting things planned for this evening including a silent auction and a pre-dinner reception--be sure you don't miss it! 

Watch for additional details in the next few days..be sure to hold the date and act quickly when tickets are announced.  We anticipate they will go quickly and seating is limited for this event!

Please call HQ at 260 478-8239 if you have questions, would like to contribute a silent auction item, would like to suggest a roast participant or would like to add your name to the pre-sale ticket list!

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Organizing for America Listening Tour Starts Indiana Efforts in Fort Wayne!

President Obama's commitment to Grassroots Efforts did not end with the campaign! President Obama and the DNC are reaching out to all fifty states to engage voters through their Organizing for America efforts.  We are excited to say that they have plans to maintain a dedicated effort and presence here in our area--we are very happy to be working with them!

We each remember that 2008 November Election Night when all national maps showed Indiana turning BLUE....what a great victory for and effort by Hoosier Democrats that represented.   Allen County turned out more Democratic Presidential votes that day than most people ever imagined.  It was a great victory that again showed the strength of our grassroots efforts.   Democrats have long been the champions of grassroots campaigning and in 2009  Candidate Obama's efforts represented a pinnacle.  

We WILL keep that momentum up through the years to come and we WILL still be united to elect Democrats all all levels here forward and to RE-Elect President Obama in 2012!  Organizing for America will help us do that.

We are happy to work with them to promote the upcoming Listening Tour.  Organizing for America will be touring 18 Indiana locations and are beginning their efforts here in Allen County.   This will be an opportunity for all to come out and learn more about President Obama's plans-and even more importantly have OUR voices  heard!  This is an exciting, exciting time for our Party to see this commitment to grassroots government and campaigning demonstrated. 

Please join the efforts Tuesday, April 14 at 7 PM at the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 166 Hall (They are always the BEST hosts...be SURE to thank them!) at 2930 W Ludwig Road, Fort Wayne.  Please use the following link to sign up:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/gptw53

The Party is pleased to be working with this group and to bring you the information here.  We look forward to their continued presence in Allen County!

INFORMATION ON ACDP UPCOMING MEETINGS

 The ACDP monthly breakfast meetings are held the second Saturday of the month.  Coffee and donuts at 8:30 and  program at 9:00 at Democratic HQ, 1920 Bluffton Road. 

This month's meeting will be April 11 and we will discuss upcoming events and plans.  We are especially excited to announce great fundraisers planned for this year!

Our May meeting will feature our own Geoff Paddock to discuss the critically important efforts to bring high speed rail to our city.   As you may have noted, recent public meetings on the subject have drawn large crowds and  have shown that this is something our area needs and wants.  Geoff will share where we have been, where we are now and what happens next. 

 Our June meeting will be a workshop to discuss how to reach the goals of our strategic plan. We will break into groups dedicated to areas of concentration and discuss our objectives and how we can all be a part of the plan to meet them.  This will be a working session--we need you, please don't miss it! l

Also please remember to join us for Luncheon Club which meets at American Legion Post 82 at the corner of Harris and Goshen Roads.   This month's speaker will be Dr. Tom Hayhurst.  

Thank you to everyone..we look forward to seeing you!

Rally for Rail

Yesterday, hundreds of people from the Fort Wayne area (and a few from Lima, Ohio, a.k.a. "The Other Allen County") packed the Baker Street Station to participate in a RALLY FOR RAIL.  The purpose of this event, organized by the all-volunteer Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association (NIPRA), was to show our state officials how much support there is in Northeast Indiana for passenger rail.  Although our real goal is high speed rail, one person said it best with the sign, "ANY TRAIN."

This is a bipartisan effort and elected officials from both sides of the aisle (and the Indiana-Ohio line) were there, but it is also true to say that the effort's leaders include former Democratic elected officials Geoff Paddock and Tom Hayhurst, and that our chances of getting high speed rail are significantly higher with the election of HSR advocate Barack Obama.  Mayor Tom Henry and yours truly joined a variety of rail advocates speaking at the rally.

Here's the rub:  the Indiana Department of Transporation is WAY BEHIND in funding the engineering work that needs to be done before we can even stand in line to get federal money to build the system.  

If we don't get our act together soon, we'll end up out of luck because, although it's easiest to get from Chicago to Ohio through Northeast Indiana, it is NOT the only way - they can zip around Gary and up into Michigan, bypassing us altogether.  Remember the Bates Motel in the movie, Psycho?  Remember why it was so vacant and decrepit?  Because when the new highway was built the motel was no longer on the main line.  This is not just a problem in movies - passenger rail will be a key part of our country's transportation infrastructure in the 21st Century and if we aren't on the line we might as well start looking for our wigs, kitchen knives and shower curtains.  (Okay, maybe that is a bit extreme but I'm on a roll here....)

So contact the Governor NOW.  Tell him that InDOT needs to get the engineering done for high speed rail in northern Indiana.  Let him know how many Hoosiers support this initiative.  YOUR ACTION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  Please e-mail him today.