Vol. 37, No. 5 www.arlingtondemocrats.org May 2012 Congrats! One election is canceled . . .

Emma No SB caucus needed as only Violand- Sanchez Emma & Noah now running The School Board Caucus scheduled for May able to eliminate two—the School Board caucus and 9 and 12 has now been canceled as only two candi- the caucus to elect delegates to the state and 8th Dis- dates remain seeking the Democratic endorsement trict conventions. Since in both cases, the number for the two School Board seats on the ballot this of candidates does not exceed the number of seats, November. no caucus is required. Larry Fishtahler pulled out of the race in Fishtahler issued a statement explaining his April leaving just Noah Simon, president of the PTA withdrawal. “From the time I began, I knew that to at the Science Focus School, and Emma Violand- be successful, a number of conditions should be met Sanchez, an incumbent, in the running for the en- by the end of March. Over the spring break, I de- Noah dorsement for the two seats. termined that a necessary condition had not been The May 2 monthly ACDC meeting will be achieved,” he said, without detailing what that con- Simon asked to give the formal Democratic endorsement dition was. to Simon and Violand-Sanchez. Fishtahler was the Democratic endorsee for the Where ACDC was adding more and more elec- School Board race in 2003, but lost to Dave Foster, for School Board tions at the beginning of the year, it has now been the incumbent and Republican-endorsed candidate. . . . and another will replace it V Primary now required as Jim O See Moran draws a challenger Page 8 for Arlington Democrats now face a primary vote appeal to GOP voters “bizarre.” L in June that hadn’t been anticipated early in the year, Virginia does not have voter registration by all the ways as Rep. Jim Moran has drawn a challenger, An- party. Therefore, everyone is free to vote in any U napolis graduate Bruce Shuttleworth. party primary. The only restriction is that no one you can Shuttleworth announced his challenge in Febru- can vote in both a Republican and Democratic pri- ary. But he was found to be 17 signers short of the mary held the same day. N help requisite 1,000 petition signatures. A later review, how- And the GOP will be holding its own primary ever, reversed that and allowed him on the ballot. June 12 to nominate a candidate for US senator. T Obama Shuttlesworth has raised some eyebrows in Three Republicans—Jamie Radtke, Bob Marshall now Democratic circles by attending the Falls Church and E. W. Jackson—are challenging frontrunner right Republican Party committee meeting this month and George Allen, the former senator and governor, for E urging Republicans to cross over and vote for him the nomination. to win the in the Democratic primary Tuesday, June 12. On the Democratic side, the only race is “It’s an open primary,” he told the Republican Shuttleworth’s challenge to Moran. E Virginia in committee meeting, according to a video posted on Early voting for the primary began April 27. the website BlueVirginia. “Americans of all faiths Voters may cast their ballots at the county building, November and stripes are invited to cross over. If you’re not 2100 Clarendon Blvd, in the Voter Registrar’s Of- R Democratic, all you have to do is request a Demo- fice on the third floor any weekday through Friday, cratic ballot and I would be delighted and honored June 8 (except the May 28 Memorial Day holiday) to have your support.” from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will also be early vot- Democratic blog BlueVirginia called the open ing Saturday, June 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ACDC Voice, May 2012, Page 2

Report from Chairman Mike Lieberman Wake-up call On March 27, Arlington voters elected constituted nearly a 100,000-vote and 20+ capture the buzz that usually characterizes our Democratic nominee, Libby Garvey, to percentage-point drop off from our electoral Arlington elections. The election was not as the County Board. As a 15-year veteran of high water mark. visible as to the general public. We had to the Arlington School Board and a long-time There any number of reasons one can work that much harder to pull every volun- community and progressive activist, Libby hypothesize as the cause of this dropoff. Ar- teer out to help. And as the numbers demon- was clearly the best candidate in the field of lington voters are not accustomed to elections strate, we were not able to tap into the Demo- three (which also included a Republican and in March, and so the general population did cratic community writ large, which is what a Green Party challenger). Libby has jumped not even know an election was happening. guarantees our electoral success. head first into her new role, and I am opti- Five Democrats had run in a hotly contested This special election, while unique in its mistic that she will be a positive voice for primary, and many thought Libby’s caucus circumstances, should serve as a reminder to Arlington for many years to come. victory in January had already won her the all of us that Democrats don’t win automati- But in the press, Libby’s victory has not election. We had experienced several elec- cally in Arlington. Electoral wins are the been the story. In Arlington, they say, Demo- tions in a very short period, and voter fatigue product of a great deal of hard work from crats are supposed to win. Rather, the story might have kept people home. volunteers from across the spectrum. We sim- has been the narrow margin that Libby gar- Yet the fact remains that the March re- ply cannot afford to have anyone sitting on nered from an electorate comprised of record- sults, while successful, should serve as a their hands this fall. low turnout, even for a special election. wake-up call to all of us. I am proud that in Barack Obama, Tim Kaine, Jim Moran, On March 27, just over 14,000 of the Arlington Democrats, our precinct cap- and others are going to be relying on Arling- Arlington’s registered voters turned out to tains turned out to put together a healthy and ton to carry huge margins to offset tougher vote. Only 49.2 perecnt of those voters voted effective phone campaign, which was turf in other parts of Virginia. If we do not for Libby. Compare that with the 2008 gen- complimented with solid canvassing across deliver, it will be the entire country that suf- eral election, when more than 108,000 the county in the final weeks before the elec- fers. As of this writing, we have 193 days Arlingtonians turned out to vote, delivering tion. Indeed, I believe this effort was a large until Election Day 2012. 71.7 percent of their votes for Barack Obama. reason we won on March 27. It’s time to wake up, Arlington – Novem- This means that the March special election But this March, we were never able to ber is just around the corner.

Jerry Botland Leichtman Computer Consulting elected to seat on Troubleshoot and resolve computer and computer related problems. 8th CD Comm. Perform upgrades, set-up wireless routers and print servers. In what must have seemed like election Transfer old files, address book and emails #482 of this election-every-day year in Ar- lington, Dave Leichtman was elected at the from an old computer to a new one. April ACDC meeting as the new Arlington Phone: (703) 933-0558 — [email protected] delegate to the 8th Congressional District Democratic Committee. Leichtman, ACDC’s tech director, had been opposed by Bob Platt, ACDC parlia- mentarian and chair of the Resolutions Com- Published monthly by the mittee. Arlington County Democratic Committee The position had become vacant when 2050 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200, Arlington VA 22201 (enter at rear) Del. Alfonso Lopez resigned. Lopez resigned P.O. Box 7132, Arlington VA 22207 because he gained an ex officio seat on the 8th Tel: (703) 528-8588 Fax: (703) 528-2321 District Committee when he won a seat on http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org the Democratic National Committee. Chair: Mike Lieberman —(703) 408-3940 (h), [email protected] Arlington elects seven members to the Editor-in-Chief: Warren L. Nelson —(703) 243-7867 (h), [email protected] 8th District Committee, which encompasses Deputy Editor: Eric Wiener — (703) 524-6899 (h), [email protected] Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and parts Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the ACDC of Fairfax County. In addition, Arlingtonians unless expressly approved by an appropriate committee resolution who hold other party offices are automatically Copyright ©2012, ACDC, All Rights Reserved members of the 8th District Committee. ACDC Voice, May 2012, Page 3

June J-J to Next Monthly Meeting All Dems Invited be addressed Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 7:00 p.m. NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd by Tim Kaine Corner of North Taylor and Wilson, just east of Glebe & Wilson Free parking under building, enter from Taylor Street Friday, June 8. Save that date! It’s the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, affectionately Our program will be “A Beginner’s Guide to Arlington Com- known as the J-J, and the keynote speaker will missions,” explaining what kind of commissions the county be former Governor and (we hope) future has and how you can explore an appointment to one that Senator Tim Kaine! interests you. A panel will share what motivated them to get The annual dinner—ACDC’s biggest involved, what the work was like, and how to get involved. fundraiser of the year—will be held once The county has four dozen commissions, authorities and again at the Arlington Westin Gateway Hotel advisory groups comprised of citizen volunteers. in Ballston. The reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. In addition to Kaine, speakers will include Congressman Jim Moran and his brother, Brian, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia. And, of course, the banquet room will Washington’s Indian Queen Hotel that then- liberties, the most dear.” Jackson went on the be filled with candidates, elected officials, and President Jackson for the first time declared crush the nullifiers. Virginia’s hardest working Democrats who his position on the smoldering issue of This year’s J-J may not be quite as dra- will be recog- whether a state could matic, but it will kick off the campaign sea- nized with nullify a federal law. son and leave everyone fired up and ready to awards including He did so by propos- go. With a full ballot of races from the school- the prestigious ing the toast, “Our house to the White House—literally, this Mary Marshall federal Union, it year—Arlington Dems have their work cut Award. must be preserved,” out for them. No one needs to tell Arlington The Jeff- clearly, to all his lis- Dems how important this election is at all lev- erson-Jackson teners, rejecting the els of government—national, state and local. Dinner is one of whole nullification And the funds raised at this dinner will en- the oldest politi- 2 movement. A hush able ACDC to go all out in support of all Dem cal events in the 8 fell over the room candidates. entire world. It while the President’s J-J co-chairs Atima Omara-Alwala began almost two meaning sank in. As (newly-wedded; see Donkey Ears) and Vir- centuries ago, before Andrew Jackson’s presi- vice president, John C. Calhoun of South ginia Robinson have managed to keep ticket dency, as the Jefferson Day Dinner. It was at Carolina came next. “The Union,” Calhoun prices the same as last year: Dinner General the 1830 Jefferson Day Dinner in countered, his hand trembling, “next to our Admission is $125; while Roosevelt Society members get in for $115 and YDs for $100. If you want to go to the VIP reception as well, the ticket for everything is $250 a head. A table seating 10 may be bought for Bumper Sticker $1,500, which includes two tickets for the VIP reception, a full page program ad, table signage, program recognition, and a logo on of the Month the visual display shown on the screen at the event. Printed invites will be in the mail the second week of May. But why wait? You can buy your tickets online at the ACDC website, www.arlingtondemocrats.org, by clicking on “JJ Dinner.” Mark the date on your PDA, iPad or old- fashioned gasoline station calendar and join your Democratic friends and colleagues to schmooze, gossip, dine and cheer on our out- standing 2012 candidates. ACDC Voice, May 2012, Page 4 Now parents Donkey Ears and kids can Listening to the doings do politicking of Arlington’s Dems as overheard by together Dan Steen and Mädi Green ACDC is launching a new volunteer group to help in the Obama campaign and be- Wedding bells I: Atima Omara-Alwala, co-chair of this year’s J-J Dinner and vice yond called Blue Family Groups. This has president of the national Young Democrats of America, was married April 14 at nothing to do with blue bloods or Blue the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville to Clay Carpenter, also of Arlington. Both Cross—it is an effort to organize campaign bride and groom are proud graduates of Mr. Jefferson’s university who were th events that couples with kids can easily join married on the weekend of his 269 birthday. The groom, who has decided to in. It sort of links up politics and parenting. keep his name, works for a management consulting firm. When Atima is not Mark Habeeb, one of the captains in the working on politics and non-profits, she is studying for a master’s in public Yorktown Precinct, is spearheading the effort. administration at George Mason University. The newlyweds plan to honeymoon The idea is to create within precincts— in the U.S. Virgin Islands. or among adjoining precincts—a group of Wedding bells II: Is there something in the water in Charlottesville? It was also volunteers who share both a commitment to the site of the March 31 wedding of Arlingtonian Michael Signer, 39, to Emily Democratic victory as well as the demands Lorraine Blout, 28, also of Arlington. Mike, son of ACDC activist Marj of family life. Signer, ran for lieutenant governor in the 2009 Democratic primary. Emily has By coordinating activities and working long been active in AYDs and served as press secretary for Rep. Jim Moran in together, Blue Family Groups will make it 2009-2011. She is now studying for a master’s in strategic security studies at the easier for parents to get involved. Some ex- National Defense University at Fort McNair. The groom owns the law firm amples of what Blue Family Groups can do Madison Law and Strategy Group in Arlington and is the founder and chair of the are: New Dominion Project, aimed at developing innovative ideas for state policy. • “Play date phone banks,” where parents Their wedding was officiated by A. E. Dick Howard, professor at the University alternate between watching the kids and mak- of Virginia Law School and executive director of the commission that drafted ing phone calls to voters; Virginia’s current constitution. And, oh, yes, the bride is keeping her name. • Neighborhood walks where groups of Two perspectives on the Big Event: Delegate Patrick Hope, wife Kristen, and the families walk the streets of their area together trio of small Hopes—Emma, 6, Patty, 3, and Lilly 3—all attended the 134th with their kids to distribute literature at Annual White House Easter Day Roll. Patrick and Kristen delighted in seeing houses; the president and first lady. But for the Hopettes, the big delight was undoubt- • Envelope stuffing parties—the kids love edly their meeting up with Dora the Explorer. Important things first. this one; and Off to the land of Castro convertibles: The Arlington Democratic contingent of • Coordinated baby-sitting, so parents can Madi Green, Peg Hogan, Peg Lorenz, Janet McNeil and Midge Wholey is volunteer for tasks without the kids, but know- preparing to spend a week in Cuba (legally) on Road Scholar (nee Elderhostel) in ing their children are in safe hands. May. They’re looking forward to meeting the locals. Cigars, not so much! Mark has discussed this concept with the Passages I: Condolences to Sheroo Rusby on the death of her husband of 51 head of the Arlington/Alexandria Obama or- years, Paul. After he retired from the Foreign Service, both Rusbys volunteered ganization, and he is very supportive. frequently at ACDC HQ and were regulars giving voters rides to the polls on The immediate goal of Blue Family Election Day. Groups is to insure that all Democrats can Fighting addiction: Terron Sims was invited to the White House recently to meet participate in the 2012 election and share the president at a veterans’ event touting energy independence as a national ownership in the victory in November. The security issue. Afterward, he was interviewed by ABC News outside the White plan is to continue this same approach in suc- House and said America’s addiction to imported oil was crippling the economy. ceeding years. That evening he was on MSNBC with Dylan Ratigan where he posited that the The concept also underlines that real country needed to tap into American exceptionalism to find the talent to avoid family values—fairness, tolerance, quality imported oil. education, concern for our fellow citizens— Passages II: Former Marshall Precinct Captain Jane Ludlow died at Goodwin are Democratic values. House in Alexandria March 10. She was 90 years old. A 1942 journalism Anyone who would like to join—or lead graduate of the University of North Carolina, she worked in the State the effort in their own precinct—should con- Department’s press office all through World War II preparing the secretary of tact Mark at [email protected] or 703- state’s daily news summary. She later volunteered more than three decades as an 534-0303. information guide for tourists at the National Cathedral. ACDC Voice, May 2012, Page 5 Meet your fellow Dems Leone is the man with the rules down pat A maven is an expert, a person who has bers his first volunteer work at age 14 on be- pears on his volunteer list. They meet at the chosen to immerse himself in arcane lore, and half of Joseph Fisher back in 1974, in Fisher’s Golden Gala. Cue scene. Fade to black. is the “go to” person for advice on a given successful race to unseat Republican Con- If we fill in the missing years. we find subject. Virginia election law and Democratic gressman Joel T. Broyhill, Northern Virginia’s that Frank is born in Hong Kong, then lived Party rules can appear Talmudic in their com- own Jesse Helms. Frank next volunteered for in Greece and Japan while his father worked plexity. Fortunately, ACDC has its own ma- Jimmy Carter in 1976. In 1978, while at the in defense intelligence. In 1966, the family ven to consult on these questions, one of University of Virginia, he joined the Young moved to Arlington, where Frank attended Virginia’s members of the Democratic Na- Democrats. He was president of the UVA Ashlawn Elementary, Kenmore, H-B tional Committee (DNC), Frank Leone of Young Democrats, then the Virginia College Woodlawn and Washington-Lee High School. Arlington. Democrats, then the State Young Democrats. Frank then attended UVA for both under- This May and June are big months in the Frank was elected to the 8th District graduate and law school, and has worked as national election calendar for Virginia and the Democratic Committee in 1993. He has also an attorney in the area of environmental liti- Democratic National Committee. On May 19, been the vice chair for rules of the State gation with Hollingsworth, LLP in the Dis- the 8th District Convention will be held in Democratic Party. On the local level, he has trict since his graduation. Springfield. And on June 2, the State Demo- been a precinct captain in Charlottesville, While he was at UVA, Frank got to know cratic Convention will be held in Northern Albemarle and Arlington. Boyd Tinsley, who, if you are a Dave Virginia for the first time in living memory. The second qualification, apparently, Matthews fan, is the super talented violin This is an acknowledgement of the im- involves “meeting cute.” To a Hollywood player for that group. Boyd is a big Demo- portance of Northern Virginia to Democratic script writer, a “cute meet’ is where the man cratic supporter. (Frank asks that you not bug prospects in the state, and a very exciting and woman bump into each other at the gro- him for tickets.) moment for veteran activists from this area, cery store, spilling food everywhere. Ro- Frank and his wife, Denise Vogt, a land- who are more used to NOVA being treated mance ensues. scape designer, live in the Belleview Forest like a red headed stepchild by the rest of the Frank’s father, an Italian-American, neighborhood of Arlington with their 14-year- state. worked at the American Embassy in London. old beagle “Baci” (“Kisses” in Italian). Frank Leone is nearing the end of his His mother, a full-blooded Italian, worked at Frank admires the work of the County first term as a member of the DNC. He will the Italian Embassy in London. Cue scene, Board in keeping development within the be up for re-election at the June State Con- Fade to black. Metro corridor and leaving neighborhoods vention, one of four Virginia seats on the DNC Cut to several years later. Frank is work- unscathed. He says that his old neighborhood up for a vote. The DNC consists of 500 mem- ing as a volunteer on the 1992 Clinton cam- looks the same as it did back in1966. Quoth bers. It meets twice a year, primarily to set paign in Arlington. A young lady’s name ap- the maven, evermore. procedures and policies for the national party and organize the primary system and the Na- tional Convention. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the subject of previous articles in The Voice, succeeded Governor Tim Kaine as the chair of the DNC. The other vital function of the DNC is to aid state parties in winning elections. Frank is engaged as a liaison between the na- tional party and the Virginia state party. He has become an expert—a maven, if you will— on election law, party rules and delegate pro- cedure, and addressed ACDC on the delegate process at the March meeting. Frank writes a regular blog on DNC, state party, and rules issues, http:// demrulz.org, This blog is one of the few that focus on party rules and the only blog written by a member of the Democratic Party of Vir- ginia Steering Committee. So how do you get to be a maven? In Frank’s case, the first qualification involved EXPLAINING — Frank Leone outlines the convention rules at years of Democratic activism. Frank remem- the 2004 State Democratic convention. ACDC Voice, May 2012, Page 6

The 2012 Battleground Englin set to retire from Delegates Delegate David Englin has announced that he will not run for re-election to the House of Delegates next year and may even resign earlier. James Lander, now a member of the Arlington School Board, and Rob Krupicka, a member of the Alexandria City Council, both swiftly announced they will seek the Democratic nomination to replace Englin. Since redistricting last year, Englin’s 45th Delegate District is divided with 74 percent of its population from Alexandria, 18 percent in the far southern tip of Arlington and 8 per- BATTLEGROUND — This is the fifth map we have printed in as cent from Fairfax County. Englin, 37, who was re-elected to his many months showing different analysts’ views of which states are fourth two-year term last November, told the going to be the battleground states this fall. This map is from CBS Alexandria City Democratic Committee News just a few days ago. All five maps agree on 10 battleground meeting April 2 that he would now retire to states. And all five agree Virginia is one of them. So does the rebuild his personal life, acknowledging infi- delity in his marriage. White House. President Obama will officially launch his campaign Lander’s first term expires at the end of May 5 with events at two locations, Richmond and Columbus. The 2013, so he would have to give up his seat to states on which there is uniform agreement are all the states shown run if Englin does not resign early and allow here in yellow except for New Hampshire. Beyond the 10 states for a special election. Krupicka’s current term that the maps of all five groups agree on, some analysts have added is up this year and, after losing the primary last year for the State Senate seat shared be- six other possible battlegrounds: Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, tween Alexandria and Arlington, he an- Minnesota, Arizona and New Hampshire. The four previous maps nounced he was not running for re-election have come from: the Center for American Progress, CNN, 270towin to the City Council this year. and USA Today. Englin was generally recognized as an up-and-coming legislator and has been men- tioned as a possible future candidate for Con- gress. Del. Scott A. Surovell of Fairfax County called Englin a “rising star” in the Democratic Party. “David has one of the clearest political compasses in our caucus,” he said.

Delegate David Englin ACDC Voice, May 2012, Page 7 Dem conventions are 1-2-3—really The 8th Congressional District Demo- its total number of senators and representa- Virginia State Democratic Convention cratic Convention will be held Saturday, May tives. Virginia Democrats choose one elector Saturday, June 2, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 19, in Springfield chiefly to elect delegates to in each of their 11 congressional district con- Patriot Center the September Democratic National Conven- ventions and two at their state convention. 4400 University Drive tion and a member of the Electoral College to In the 19th century, it was the norm for George Mason University vote for President Obama in December. the names of Democratic and Republican Fairfax, Virginia And, oh, yes, there will also be time set electors to appear on the November ballot. To elect 37 more national delegates, two aside to debate platform planks to be sent up But most states have dropped that practice and Virginia electors, approve platform resolu- the ladder for review at the state and national just print the names of the presidential and tions and elect four members of the Demo- levels. vice presidential candidates now. cratic National Committee for four-year ACDC had scheduled a caucus for April The March issue of The Voice detailed terms. 19 and 21 to elect 78 delegates and 16 alter- the entire process from Arlington Caucus to nates to the 8th District Convention and Vir- National Convention on Page 3. Here is the Democratic National Convention ginia State Convention to be held in June. But schedule: September 3-6, Charlotte, NC it just happened that those numbers signed up To nominate President Barack Obama to serve, obviating any need for a caucus. 8th District Democratic Convention and Vice President Joe Biden for second terms The district and state conventions are the (Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and parts and adopt a national platform. first and second steps before the 2012 Demo- of Fairfax County) Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m. Democrats who have issues they would Registration begins at 9 a.m. like to see included in the 8th District plat- Guests are welcome to attend form resolutions—which will be forwarded R. E. Lee High School Auditorium to the State Convention whose platform will 6540 Franconia Road, Entry #14 be forwarded to the National Convention— Springfield, Virginia should email their proposals to To elect eight delegates (four male and [email protected] before 5 four female) and one female alternate to the p.m., Friday, May 4. Dan Steen of Arlington 2012 Democratic National Convention, adopt and Dick Hobson of Alexandria are serving platform resolutions, nominate members of as co-chairs of the Resolutions Committee. the state convention credentials and rules Any questions about the 8th District Con- cratic National Convention nominates Presi- committees, and to elect one Virginia presi- vention should be sent to Arlington’s Margo dent Obama this September in Charlotte, NC, dential elector who will attend the Electoral Horner, the chair of the 8th District Demo- for a second term. College in December and actually re-elect cratic Committee, who will also chair the con- Usually, ACDC doesn’t need to hold the President Obama. vention, at [email protected]. caucus because about 100 people sign up and then a few drop out—expressly to avoid the need for a caucus—so there are just 78 run- ning for delegate and 16 running for alternate PC HELP posts. That is what happened again this year. The full list of delegates and alternates will Want help with setting up, networking, upgrading, be found on the ACDC website, fixing, or just using your new or old PC? www.arlingtondemocrats.com. The district convention commonly nomi- nates the Democratic candidate for Congress Affordable, personalized assistance. from the 8th District. But this year, there will Evenings and weekends. Your home or office. instead be a primary June 12 between incum- bent Rep. Jim Moran and challenger Bruce B. Shuttleworth. Ron Hicks DBA Systems That Work One task at these conventions that often goes unnoted is the balloting for presidential Email: [email protected] electors—members of the Electoral College that actually elects the president in Decem- Website: www.systems-that-work.org ber. Under the U.S. Constitution, Virginia voters in December will not be electing a H/O: 703-528-1009 Cell: 571-217-9949 president, but 13 electors who will gather the next month in Richmond to cast their ballots Arlington Chamber of Commerce for president and vice president. Each state is assigned electors equal to ACDC Voice, May 2012, Page 8 Progressive Caucus at General Assembly now being opened up to citizen members By Senator Adam Ebbin and Now it’s time to expand our caucus even ing off across the commonwealth. Delegate Patrick Hope more—and this time you can join us! As a member of the Caucus you will Last year, we founded a progressive cau- Progressives get their influence from the have voting rights as members of our advi- cus in the General Assembly for the first time power of the grassroots. As we considered the sory board. You will also be eligible to join in history. Over that year, our membership has extreme socially right-wing agenda in this our study committees on issues facing the grown to more than 25 percent of the Demo- session, it became clear that we needed to General Assembly and helping the caucus cre- cratic Caucus. We are proud to have Senator open our caucus to the grassroots to maxi- ate a full progressive agenda in the next Gen- Barbara Favola as well as Delegates Bob mize our ability to create change. eral Assembly. Brink, Alfonso Lopez and David Englin all Beginning this month, we have launched Are you excited and ready to join us? as members of the Progressive Caucus from our campaign to collect $100 from 100 Go to https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/ here in Arlington. Arlingtonians, with similar campaigns kick- page/vaprogressive to donate $100, or you can also join by signing up to donate $10 a month that will automatically be billed to your credit card. Here’s how you can help We are the first legislative caucus to ever open our membership to the public—and we need you to help us make our $100 from 100 Obama this very week Arlingtonians a success. Thanks, and we look forward to work- With so many elections and caucuses un- familiarize you with the registration require- ing with you as a member of our caucus! derway right now, it is sometimes hard to re- ments. member that the campaign to keep Virginia in the Obama column in November is already underway. We have volunteer operations going on five days a week right now—sorry, nothing on Fridays or Sundays. They are: • Phone banks operate from Obama’s new Grassroots Headquarters, 2408 Columbia Pike, every Monday through Thursday night from 5 to 9 p.m. and every Thursday from ACDC HQ. This is being operated in con- junction with Obama for America, the Obama national campaign organization. Contact Obama for America Regional Field Director John Hooe at (703) 314-5474 or Kip Malinosky, director of ACDC’s Precinct Op- erations, at (202) 841-8636 or [email protected]. • We do voter registration every Wednes- day at the Shirlington Bus Transfer Station from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Contact Linda Haughton at (703) 820-7861. • Starting Wednesday, May 10, another voter registration table will start up at the West Village Bus Stop on Four Mile Run Drive Point. Contact Charley Conrad at (703) 835- 6614 or [email protected]. • We do voter registration every Saturday at the Courthouse Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to noon and also Saturdays starting at 11 a.m. out of the Obama HQ. Contact John Hooe at (703) 314-5474 to help out at those sites. You will get some training in advance to ACDC Voice, May 2012, Page 9

Democratic Values in Action Klingler chairs DVA; seeks your ideas on future acts Democratic Values in Action (DVA), the tions will continue, so please keep bringing, charitable arm of ACDC, has a new chair. cereal, canned food and other dry goods for Kim Klingler has taken over from Charley the Arlington Food Assistance Center Conrad and is now forming a committee to (AFAC). Donations are accepted at the expand the outreach of Arlington Democrats monthly ACDC meeting and the Second Sat- into new areas. urday Breakfast. Cereal is DVA’s single most Kim invites anyone who is interested in important contribution to AFAC. involving DVA in more and helpful activities, DVA is also collecting gently used men’s to join her new planning committee. Contact long pants and long sleeve work shirts, work Kim at at [email protected] or 703- gloves, work hats, bath towels and washcloths KLINGLER 489-7408. for the Arlington Street People Assistance Kim has been active for many years in Network (ASPAN). . . . looking for ideas Arlington YDs, ACDC and the community at In addition, Arlington Doorways for large. She ran in the January caucus as a can- Women and Families is seeking donations of didate for the nomination to succeed Barbara the following items: Pull-Ups Disposable Favola on the County Board. Diapers (size 2T-5T); paper towels; toilet pa- Howell to speak DVA’s monthly cereal and food dona- per; and Safeway and Giant gift cards. at May breakfast Now into its third year, the Second Sat- ACDC website gets total urday Breakfast (formerly known as the First Saturday Breakfast) will be hearing from State Senator Janet Howell at its May 12 gather- ing. overhaul—bright new Senator Howell has just completed work on the conference committee that hammered out the state budget and can share some of wheels; snazzy interior her insights on that process. ACDC’s tech and communications contributors and ACDC when donations are Senator Howell represented parts of Ar- teams rolled out a new website design last made via credit card over the website. lington in the 1990s, but the redistricting af- month with many new whistles and bells. And, not incidentally, there are now a ter the 2000 Census put her district entirely The designers first checked out the old blog and social media feeds available through in Fairfax County. The redistricting after the site and documented what visitors sought the website. 2010 Census has moved her district back into most. Those most popular elements are now Dave Leichtman, ACDC’s tech direc- Arlington, which comprises 18 percent of her highlighted to make it easier to reach what tor, and Terry Belt, the communications di- district’s population. most folks want most often. rector, worked together over the last two The breakfast remains primarily an op- The site is also designed to be cleaner months getting all the pieces together so as to portunity to chat about politics—local, state and easier to read. launch the new site. and national—at leisure over a meal. The calendar of events, one of the most Check it out yourself right now at For those who wish to engage in valued parts of the site, has also been re- www.arlingtondemocrats.org. Democrating activities after the breakfast, vamped. Perhaps most significantly, past Precinct Operations Chair Kip Malinosky al- events are now automatically deleted from the ways has something to be done, such as can- site so visitors will no longer be greeted with vassing, voter registration, literature drops or invitations to last week’s fundraiser. Arlington Obama whatever else might be the mission of the Visitors to the site will also find a giant month. contribution button! It is much easier for both HQ up and running The breakfast is the second Saturday of each month starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Bus- The Obama campaign’s Arlington office boys and Poets in Shirlington. No reserva- is now open and running. It is located at 2408 tions required—but please bring old-fash- Columbia Pike, near the intersection with ioned cash to pay as dozens of credit cards South Barton Street. It is one of 13 Obama delay things. field offices now operating in Virginia. ACDC Voice, May 2012, Page 10 Geithner explains Obama economy policy

The President arrived in Washington at a particularly dark moment in American his- tory. The U.S. economy was contracting at Tired of all the GOP guff you hear about the an annual rate of 9 percent. Growth around the world was collapsing. economy? Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner The actions taken by [Treasury] Secre- recently explained what’s going on in a speech to tary Paulson, [FDIC] Chairman Bernanke, and the FDIC in the fall of 2008 had broken the Economic Club of Chicago. Here are extracts. the back of the financial panic, but the finan- cial system was frozen and the economy was still deteriorating at an alarming pace. The President did not sit around hoping the fire would burn itself out. He did not com- tain world, one reason gas prices are higher after five years of contraction. mission a bunch of studies. He did not play today. Overall, we have done a better job than politics with the crisis. He chose to act, and What does the recent pattern of growth many economies in making these adjust- he acted forcefully. tell us about the economy? ments—as Martin Wolf has written in The The President’s strategy to repair the fi- Most viewed the moderate pace of the Financial Times, “The U.S. economy is the nancial system, combined with the Recovery recovery and the slowdown in 2010 and 2011 most advanced in deleveraging.” Act, the restructuring of the U.S. auto indus- as justification for pessimism. But if you look Apart from these difficulties, we have try, the coordinated global rescue he led in at the causes of the slowdown, there is rea- faced a series of other challenges to growth. the G-20, and the actions of the Federal Re- son to be much more optimistic about the There were three large external shocks serve, was very effective in restoring eco- strength of the economy and the private sec- in 2010 and 2011—the situation in Europe, nomic growth. tor. the effects of the earthquake and tsunami in Within three months of his taking office, Most importantly, growth was dampened Japan, and higher oil prices. These shocks the pace of decline in growth began to slow. in the early stage of recovery by headwinds were large enough to take about a percentage By the summer of 2009, the American that follow all financial crises. point off GDP growth in the first half of 2011. economy was growing again. Recoveries that follow financial crises Their effects are now receding, although Let me make that clear. In about six are slower, as Carmen Reinhart and Ken Europe and oil still present risks. But the months, the economy went from contracting Rogoff have famously written. They are U.S. economy proved quite resilient in the at an annual rate of 9 percent to expanding at slower because the causes of financial cri- face of those pressures, and growth strength- an annual rate of nearly 2 percent, a swing of ses—typically a large rise in borrowing by ened quickly as those shocks receded. Despite almost 11 percentage points. households and the financial sector and too the resilience of the economy, high gas prices In a remarkably short period of time, we much investment in housing and real estate— do remain a challenge for average Americans. were able to not just avert a second Great De- act to hold down growth as they are unwound. On top of this, President Obama inher- pression, but also to begin the long and frag- As people bring down their debt burdens ited very large fiscal deficits, swollen to lev- ile process of repairing the damage and lay- and raise their saving rate, they spend less. els well beyond any experienced since World ing a stronger, more durable foundation for As banks are forced to reduce risk and restore War II. That erosion in our fiscal strength left economic growth. more prudent credit standards, they lend less. the nation with less room to maneuver and How has the economy performed since These forces work against the impact of lower increased the political opposition to fiscal that early start? interest rates, dampening the otherwise po- actions beyond the Recovery Act. Since the summer of 2009, the economy tentially powerful effects of monetary policy. And while the Recovery Act provided has expanded at an average annual rate of 2.5 There is a paradox in this, in that the absolutely crucial support for the economy, percent, adding 3.9 million private sector jobs changes necessary to unwind the causes of state and local fiscal contraction offset a sig- over the last two years. the crisis and lay a more lasting foundation nificant part of its effects. But that drag is re- Growth has been led by private demand, for future growth necessarily slow the pace ceding as revenues have started to rise with including strong gains in investment and ex- of expansion. economic growth. ports. The balance sheet of the business sec- Our economy is still in the process of Finally, the debt limit debate last sum- tor is exceptionally strong, and the economy deleveraging, dealing with significant house- mer caused huge damage to confidence. But as a whole is more productive than before the hold debt, excess investments in real estate that was a blow caused by political threats of crisis. and other forms of debt. default by the President’s opponents—not These are promising developments, but But we are making a lot of progress in something produced by weakness in the we still face some very tough challenges. working through those adjustments. House- economy or by economic policy. Unemployment is very high, the hous- hold debt is down 17 percentage points rela- Much of the political debate and the cri- ing market remains weak, and growth is not tive to income since before the crisis. Finan- tiques of business lobbyists misread the un- as fast as we would like. These are tragic lega- cial sector leverage is down substantially and derlying dynamics of the economy today. cies of the financial crisis. credit is expanding. Housing and commercial Many have claimed that the basic foundations And we live in a dangerous and uncer- real estate construction is starting to pick up continued on next page ACDC Voice, May 2012, Page 11 Geithner explains Obama economy policy continued from previous page long-term fiscal problems are formidable, we can address them over time with a balanced of American business are in crisis, critically package of reforms that preserve room for undermined by taxes and regulation. investments that will help us grow. And yet, business profits are higher than There is no economic or financial case before the crisis and have recovered much for using the fear of future deficits to cut as more quickly than overall growth and employ- deeply into core functions of the government, ment. Business investment in equipment and to weaken the safety net or fundamentally al- software is up by 33 percent over the past 2 ter Medicare benefits as do the Republican years. Exports have grown 24 percent in proposals. real terms over the same period. And manu- Our fiscal commitments are unsustain- facturing is coming back, with factory pay- able over the long run, but we cannot put our rolls up by more than 400,000 since the start long-run fiscal challenges above all others, of 2010. and we have to confront them carefully and The business environment in the United wisely, with a balanced mix of spending cuts States is in numerous ways better than that of and modest revenue increases such as the many of our major competitors, as measured President has proposed. by international comparisons of regulatory We are gradually getting stronger, but we burden, the tax burden on workers, the qual- still have very tough challenges ahead. ity of legal protections of property rights, the Yet, as tough as they are, these are man- ease of starting a business, the availability of ageable challenges for the United States. And capital, and the broader flexibility of the I would prefer our challenges to those of any economy. economy anywhere in the world. The challenges facing the American We can afford the investments that are economy today are not primarily about the GEITHNER . . . explains the economy important for future growth. We can adjust to vibrancy or efficiency of the business com- the changes that will be compelled by the need munity. They are about the barriers to eco- to bring our long-term deficits down. nomic opportunity and economic security for To expand exports, we have to support As we face the great political and eco- many Americans and the political constraints programs like the Export-Import Bank, which nomic choices ahead, remember how terrible that now stand in the way of better economic provides financing at no cost to the govern- the crisis was. Remember that Americans are outcomes. ment for American businesses trying to com- still living with the damage that is the legacy These challenges can only be addressed pete in foreign markets. of that crisis. When you listen to the debate by government action to help speed the re- To make us more competitive, we have about taxes and Medicare and Medicaid, or covery and repair the remaining damage from to be willing to make larger long-term invest- when you hear politicians tell you that they the crisis and reforms and investments to lay ments in infrastructure, not just limp forward will protect even the most fortunate Ameri- the foundation for stronger future growth. with temporary extensions. cans from higher taxes, remember that even This means taking action to support Any credible growth agenda has to rec- before this crisis, about 20 percent of chil- growth in the short-term—such as helping ognize that there are parts of the economy, dren in the United States were living in pov- Americans refinance their mortgages and in- like the financial system, that need reform and erty and about 40 percent of children were vesting in infrastructure projects—so that we regulation. Businesses need to be able to rely born to parents covered by Medicaid. don’t jeopardize the gains our economy has on a more stable source of capital, with a fi- Remember that the fortunes of children made over the last three years. nancial system that allocates resources to their born in America today, the quality of public And it means making the investments most productive uses, not misallocating them schools they attend, the quality of health care and reforms necessary for a stronger economy to an unsustainable real estate boom. they receive, the chance they have to go to in the future. Investments in things like edu- Cutting government investments in edu- college, still depend significantly on the cation, to help Americans compete in the glo- cation and infrastructure and basic science is wealth of their parents and the color of their bal economy. Investments in innovation, so not a growth strategy. Cutting deeply into the skin. that our economy can offer the best jobs pos- safety net for low-income Americans is not But also remember that we are a coun- sible. Investments in infrastructure, to reduce financially necessary and cannot plausibly try of great strength and resilience. We have costs and increase productivity. Policies to help strengthen economic growth. Repealing successfully navigated the most dangerous expand exports. And reforms to improve in- Wall Street Reform will not make the phase of the worst economic crisis in genera- centives for investing in the United States— economy grow faster—it would just make us tions. We need to bring the same creativity including reform of our business tax system. more vulnerable to another crisis. and force and sense of national purpose to the A growth strategy for the American This strategy is a recipe to make us a de- challenges ahead. And that will require bet- economy requires more than promises to cut clining power—a less exceptional nation. It ter choices from our political system. No taxes and spending. is a dark and pessimistic vision of America. economy can be stronger over time than the We have to be willing to do things, not The President has a different strategy for ability of its political leaders to come together just cut things. economic growth. He believes that while our to make tough decisions.