OCEAN CITY/ASSATEAGUE DEMOCRATIC CLUBServing Ocean City, West Ocean City, Assateague, and South PointPO BOX 3196OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND 21843

OCADC NEWSLETTER - DEMOCRATIC WONDERINGSVOLUME 2, ISSUE 5; MAY 2012(Editor: Lanny Hickman)

ASSIGNING BLAME

For months now we have heard the shrill voices from Misinformed Republicans, Republicans who have forgotten whattruth is and Republican billionaire super pacs blaming PresidentObama for the economy, failure to protect us, creating a socialist state, forcing health care on us, and for Americans beingoverfed and obese.

Underlying all of this is a publically stated suicidal commitment toprevent a second term for Barack Obama. The Republicans haveopenly stated and clearly demonstrated that they will pursue any path, tell any lie, falsify any record to defeat our President at all costsincluding the dismantling the United States as we know it today. Deeper into their hatred for the President, one wonders if much of the conservative rabble might think that Jim Crow government suits themthe best. (Sources: wwwlBarackObama.com; editor comments in red)Let’s look at some of the facts that have occurred since he took office:- Jobs & the Economy – more than 4.1 million jobs have beenadded back and we have seen 25 straight months of job growth.The Republicans would turn our nation’s economy over to big business and the 1% who are out of touch with the middle class and poor.- Education – education is now a national priority andour nation has doubled our investment in scholarships and financial aid. The Republicans would eliminate financial aid to those who need it the most, while they will send their children toeffete private schools.- Energy – energy initiatives by the Obama Administration have resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands jobs in the clean

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IN THIS NEWSLETTER

-The Obama Administration – 3 years of progress.-Eastern Shore Ds unite to win in 2012-OCADC to survey members.-Republican Party Assault on Iraq.-The Cost of the Bush aka Republican’s 2 wars.-Things You Might Have Missed.-It is the Republicans fault.-Tea Party Worship Appears to be over.-July 11 Summer Picnic now accepting reservations.

energy industry. The Obama Administration is committed to putting in place an “all of the above strategy” to develop every available source of American energy. The Republicans would totally turn over our energy policy to their buddy oil

barons. - Protecting Our Environment - protecting the environment is a priority of the Obama

Administration. Initiatives are focused on protecting the quality of our air and water. A balance between regulation and economic realities for the protection of our environment, public health and intelligent use of our natural resources is in place. Efforts are underway to develop a community-based balanced conservation and recreational use of our resources for the 21st. century. The Republicans would eliminate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and most of the Department of the Interior and turn over environmental and natural resource decisions to oil, mining and timber industry CEOs.

- Equal Rights – President has expanded every opportunity to ensure that everybody plays by the same rules (THIS IS CALLED FAIRNESS). President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, legislation directed at ensuring that women get equal pay for equal work. The President has been a vocal and supportive presence in protecting the rights of women. It is clear that the Republicans would essentially erase decades of progress for women’s rights. It appears that they would take us back to the time when men thought that the proper condition for women was pregnant, barefoot and in the kitchen.

- Health Care – With the support of a Democrat majority in the Congress the Affordable Health Care Act was passed. Contrary to the Republican Party this act will make health care more affordable for families and small businesses. The Republicans would turn over our health care to insurance companies and contractors such as Halliburton.

- National Security - President Obama is the man who had the courage and trust in our military to go after and kill bin Laden thereby weakening the terrorist network to wage war against our country. He has kept his promise to get our country out of a middle east mess initiated by the Bush administrations (say Republicans) that has led to the death of 4,486 in Iraq and 1, 812 in Afghanistan of our men and women and an unbelievable cost to our national treasure. The Republicans would continue with a foreign policy that keeps their industrial supporters in the business of war, a continuing increase in our national debt and more deaths and wounded of our greatest national resource – our young people.

- Taxes - President Obama has supported the lowering of taxes for 95 percent of working families and small business. He has also signed 18 tax cuts for small businesses and extended payroll tax cuts for all American workers and their families. The Republicans would have you believe to the contrary and we know that should they win the White House and Congress that the middle class, already under attack by Republican Party principles, will essentially disappear while

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the already wealthy one percent of Americans will seize the lost middle class wealth$$. Folks – it is all about fairness, a word not in the Republican lexicon.

- Women’s Health – President Obama has clearly demonstrated that he is a strong supporter of women’s rights which is one reason that the Affordable Care Act is so important. This act restores health care as a basic cornerstone of middle-class security in America. From fair pay to education to the protection of rights gained over decades of women action President Obama’s first years in the White House have been directed at providing security to working and middle class families based on an economy where responsibility is rewarded, hard work pays and everyone plays by the rules. If the Republicans gain control of our government, it is clear that all of these rights will be taken away.

WORCESTER COUNTY DEMOCRATS BEGIN THE RUN TO NOVEMBER

Over the weekend of April 21-22, 27 Worcester County Democrats (WCDs) journeyed to Easton to attend the Eastern Shore Democratic Summit. The Summit organized by the Eastern Shore Democratic Central Committees focused on planning a winning campaign for the President, Senator Cardin and Wendy Rosen (candidate to oust Harris from the US House of Representatives). These three campaigns are uniting to coordinate a positive and successful result by winning the early vote (October 27-November 1) and the General Election Day vote (November 6). Sessions addressed the key elements of political campaigning. The attendees were treated by appearances of the Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Senator Mikulski and Senator Cardin as well as key figures from the Maryland Legislature who provided inspired calls for winning in November to the over 100 attendees.

Worcester County Democrats have organized around the Obama campaign to coordinate the three campaigns in our county. The Democratic Central Committee of Worcester County has designated three individuals to serve as the representatives of the three candidates. Howard Sribnick is the representative for the Obama campaign, Steve Cohen is the representative for the Rosen campaign and Richard Lipov is the representative for the Cardin Campaign. The three Democratic clubs (Democratic Women’s Club, Democratic Club of Worcester County, and Ocean City/Assateague Democratic Club) and the Central Committee will serve as a coordination unit for the combined campaign. The Central Committee has the primary role for the party during the combined campaign.

OCADC MEMBERS WILL BE HEARING FROM US

Expect some time during the first two weeks of May to receive calls from the club. Jerry White has agreed to contact members to talk about the campaign and the threat of Republican rule to the Republic. The survey will be encouraging voting, reaching out to

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ALL WOMEN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL PERSUASIONS NEED TO UNITE BEHIND PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATIC CORE VALUES TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS.

your Democrat neighbors and enlightened Republicans, especially women, to go to the polls. We will also be trying to recruit you for some various parts of the campaigns – phoning, canvassing, voter registration, hosting meet and greets for our candidates, neighborhood organization, etc. The survey will take about 5 minutes of telephone time. Please welcome Jerry when he calls you.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY’S WAR ON THE CITIZENS OF IRAQ

On December 15th, 2011, the US war in Iraq was officially declared over.  Since the war began in 2003, Iraqi civilians have borne the brunt of the conflict, suffering death, injury, and property damage.  Civilian casualty figures vary widely. One study by Iraq Body Count estimates over 100,000 Iraqis killed as a direct result of violence since 2003.

Iraqi civilians face a long road to recovery, having spent years victimized by violence, largely

due to sectarian attacks and insurgency against the coalition forces and government. Insurgents have used mortars, missiles, suicide attacks, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), roadside bombs, car bombs, small arms fire, and RPGs (rocket propelled grenades), decimating entire communities.

In early 2011, more than 1.5 million Iraqis were refugees, most in the neighbouring countries of Jordan and Syria. As of October 2011, between 2 and 2.75 million Iraqis were internally displaced according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. Some refugees are returning, but the vast majority cannot go back to their homes, often due to lack of security and employment prospects. All because a spoiled Texas brat wanted to outshine his Daddy. There were no WMD and no terrorist’s cells in Iraq. (Source: costofwar.com)

BUSH I, BUSH II AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY’S WARS

No wars fought by the United States have lasted as long as the two wars foisted on Americans by the Bush Administrations and their Republican Party.

Consider the War Between the States: This war had incredible losses. The approximately 10,455 military engagements, some devastating to human life and some nearly bloodless, plus naval clashes, accidents, suicides,

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DON’T FORGET OUR SIXTH ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC ON JULY 13, 2012 IN FIESTA PARK. A RESERVATION FORM IS INCLUDED WITH THIS NEWSLETTER.

sicknesses, murders, and executions resulted in total casualties of 1,094,453 during the Civil War. The Federals lost 110,100 killed in action and mortally wounded, and another 224,580 to disease. The Confederates lost approximately 94,000 as a result of battle and another 164,000 to disease. Even if one survived a wound, any projectile that hit bone in either an arm or a leg almost invariably necessitated amputation. The best estimate of Federal army personnel wounded is 275,175; naval personnel wounded 2,226. Surviving Confederate records indicate 194,026 wounded. This occurred over 4-5 years of conflict.

In dollars and cents, the U.S. government estimated in Jan.1863 that the war was costing $2.5 million daily. A final official estimate in 1879 totaled $6,190,000,000. The Confederacy spent perhaps $2,099,808,707. By 1906 another $3.3 billion already had been spent by the U.S. government on Northerners' pensions and other veterans' benefits for former Federal soldiers. Southern states and private philanthropy provided benefits to the Confederate veterans. The amount spent on benefits eventually well exceeded the war's original cost.

The toll on deaths from the troops from both sides was enormous. The weapons of war had advanced well beyond the manner in which war was conducted during the length of the War Between the States. Battles were fought the same way they had been fought in the 1600s and early 1700s’ There was untold and needless slaughter as line after line of boys clad in blue and gray marched against overwhelming cannon and eventually Gatlin Gun fire. (Source: "Historical Times Encyclopedia of the Civil War" Edited by Patricia L. Faust)By our standards of today the losses in Iraq and Afghanistan are unacceptable. And the dollars costs represent a major loss of wealth for the United States.

Consider the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars of Bush I, Bush II and the Republican Party: It took us 10 years to get out of Iraq and it will be longer before we get out of Afghanistan. We went into Iraq, based on flawed and fabricated facts and in spite of the carrier deck performance of Bush II (“Mission Accomplished!”) we found

ourselves fighting a war we were poorly trained to fight. TO DATE THE COST OF THE IRAQ WAR IS 4,486 KILLED AND $803,132,899,145 SPENT and the cost of human life and dollars is not over yet. We went to Afghanistan to stem the threat of terror from the home bases of a number of terrorist groups. Just as the Russians found out several decades before, the tribal structure of Afghanistan does not lend itself

to the type of military forces we have, or the type of government we would like to impose on Afghanistan. TO DATE THE COST OF THE AFGHANISTAN WAS IS 1812 KILLED AND $523,950,400,279 SPENT and the cost of human life and dollars is not over yet. (Source: costofwar.com)

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Just as the Civil War where the troops were not properly trained and armed to fight the type of warfare waged, to a great extent the same is true with the Bush and Republican wars we are fighting in the Middle East. Mission Accomplished? POSH!

Consider what the money spent over the past ten years waging senseless wars might better be spent on health care, education, environmental protection, updating our infrastructure, supporting the growth of jobs and our economy, etc., etc., etc.,.. Yet the Republicans would have you believe that it is all President Obama’s fault! Get Real!

THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED AND WANT TO KNOW, OR NOT

Ocean Pines and the IRS – It would appear that Ocean Pines is not going to win the day with the IRS in the legal dispute over whether Ocean Pines

Beach Club parking pass revenue is subject to tax as unrelated income. In a further appeal, the federal Fourth Circuit took only 30 days to

completely repudiate arguments advanced by the OPA attorneys. Now what! Worcester County Superintendent of Schools Search in Final Stages – Four candidates have advanced as finalists. Two of the finalists are from within – John Gaddis and Lou Taylor, one is from the Midwest and the fourth is from the northwest.The Economy Continues to Improve – On April 25 the Federal Reserve slightly upgraded its forecast for economic growth and employment for 2012. The Fed projected growth between 2.5% and 2.9% and unemployment might drop to 7.8%. Other good signs include employment gains averaging 185,000 new jobs per month through December 2011, 29.000 more than predicted; the price of gasoline hung at about $4 per gallon and has begun to recede and the National Association of Business Economists believes the economy will continue to improve.OC Town Manager Search – It would appear that the OC Council may soon make a selection to fill the vacant Town Manager spot. It also appears the council, often split 4-3 on many decisions, will again have a split decision. As a protest, several council members, rather than vote, mayl absent themselves from the final selection decision. It is a sorry situation in OC right now.Religion and Politics – In the rancorous Republican presidential primary debates and in Republican Party attacks on President Obama the religion and faith of candidates has become another signal that we are in the really ugly part of our unique political campaign phase. The Rs have brought back the unwelcome return of the discredited, and dangerous idea of imposing religious tests on candidates for public office. The Louisiana primary showed that 73% of Republican voters insisted that it “mattered that a candidate shared my religious beliefs”. The Constitution, which Republicans use to

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Based on their global blunders, it seems beyond comprehension that American voters would send Republicans to the White House and the Congress. But Democrats and Women can prevent this if they come out and vote for President Obama, Senator Cardin and Wendy Rosen for Congress.

shroud their negativity on just about everything, is clear that religion and governance of the United States are not partners. Article VI, Clause 3, unambiguously states that “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” What part of NO don’t these folks understand?

More Good Times in OC – A series of new events beginning Memorial Day weekend were approved by the Mayor and Council. $275,000 of the Tourism Advisory Boards dollars will fund the expansion of good times. OCtoberfest, a very cleaver play on words, is one the new ventures and will take place every week Friday through Sunday, October 1 to 21. Other events will include OC Beach Lights, fireworks and the

demonstration of a Big Flag on Memorial Day. OC Beach Lights will be held every Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. It is a five-story-tall inflatable sphere featuring a visual laser, video and audio productions that will have visibility up and down the boardwalk. Beach fireworks will be featured on Tuesday evenings, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Big Flag will be held on May 28 at noon and is the unfurling of a football-field-size American flag held by participants. Many thanks to the Mayor and Council for their unanimous support to make OC an even better place to be.Ever Vigilant – The OCPD continues to move into the high technology of law enforcement and public safety. The Chief advised the Mayor and Town Council that the department hopes to start using Skype, which allows users to communicate by voice, video and instant messaging over the Internet. This will allow citizens to be face-to-face with a police officer at the front desk to report a crime or simply ask a question. The OCPD has also created a YouTube account that will carry public safety films and announcements; the primary target audience, initially will be the annual infestation of June Bugs.

OC Workers to Get Bonus – After some three years of no pay increases the Mayor and Town Council will provide full-time vested employees

with a $1,000 bonus in July. This is a one-time gratuity and no pay raises are yet in sight. I bet the employees would have preferred a 3%

pay increase.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE PROBLEM

If it does not fit the Republican ideology then it is wrong. As we gradually creep out of the Great Recession, thanks to the Democrats, Republicans continue to subscribe to a proven failed economic policy of supply-side economics. And it is all about voting our first black president out of the White House. Some examples of the absurdity of the current gaggle of Republicans in Congress – In 2009 several of the eight R co-sponsors of the bipartisan health-care bill plan dropped their support. By early 2010 the others turned on their own proposal so that there would be ZERO for any bill that came within a mile of President Obama’s reform initiatives. To quote Senator Alexander (R-TN), I liked it because it was bipartisan. I wouldn’t have voted for it. Seven R senators co- sponsored a resolution to create a debt-reduction panel later voted against their own resolution to keep it from getting the 60-vote threshold Republicans demanded thus

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denying the President a seeming victory. The Rs are committed to gridlock. Democrats in the Congress, by contrast, along with a few independents are more likely to favor deal-making over deadlock. SO TELL IT LIKE IT IS DANDY DON – THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE PROBLEM!

>JULY 11, 2012 SIXTH ANNUAL OCADC SUMMER PICNIC<

TEA PARTY IS LOSING THEIR EDGE

A major force in the 2010 midterm elections, the movement has stalled in public popularity, its support well below a majority and decidedly lukewarm. And Americans by a broad 23-point margin say the more they hear about the Tea Party movement, the less they like it, rather than liking it more.

That negative buzz has worsened from a 9-point gap in an ABC News/Washington Post poll as the movement was gathering speed two years ago. And its avenues for resurgence may be limited: Interest in learning more about Tea Party is down 7 points from spring 2010.

This poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds that six in 10 Americans aren’t particularly interested in additional information about the Tea Party, and 41 percent aren’t interested “at all.” Thirty-nine percent have at least some interest, but just 9 percent are very interested. Among those with interest, moreover, more than six in 10 already support it.(Editor’s Comment – The Tea Party is still a threat to the core values of the Democratic Party.)

OCADC SIXTH ANNUAL SUMMER PICNICJULY 11, 2012, FIESTA PARKOCEAN CITY(141ST. STREET & FIESTA ROAD)CAINE WOODS

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