Vol. 35, No. 10 www.arlingtondemocrats.org October 2010

INITIALIZE The challenge is not the Tea VICTORY! Partiers, it’s stay-at-homes! GG & KK As we approach Election Day, Democrats in cent say Republicans are wrong on the economy. Arlington have shifted their focus to voter turnout, People overwhelmingly fault George W. Bush & GOTV working to combat a disturbing national trend sug- for the economic downturn rather than Barack gesting Republicans are more likely to come out Obama. and vote this year than Democrats. But……………. ACDC Chairman Mike Lieberman said, “We Supporters of the GOP are far more engaged, know we have lots of support out there in every concerned and motivated than Democrats—54 per- precinct in Arlington. But these people have to come cent of those who thump Democrats told pollsters GG = out to vote. Our challenge is making sure they make they were intensely interested in the campaign, it out to the polls.” while only 40 percent of those with negative views Golden Gala A new poll published September 24 by The of the GOP expressed strong interest. That is a huge Associated Press and GfK Roper highlights the and frightening gap. It’s our final social problem. Dan Steen, former ACDC chairman who now event of the cam- Taken September 8-13, the poll shows that 60 chairs the Moran for Congress campaign, said, “You paign. Talk and eat. percent of the respondents disapprove of the job don’t win because the majority of citizens support congressional Democrats are doing. Yet 68 percent you; you win because the majority of those who Eat and talk. See give a thumbs down to the GOP—more than two- come out and vote support you. In Arlington and page eight. thirds. all across the country, we have to motivate Demo- A total of 59 percent are unhappy with how crats to go to the polls.” Democrats are handling the economy. But 64 per- continued on page eight KK = Kennedy-King Come on out! We need you! Last chance to With five weeks to go to Election Day, Arlington Democrats very literally have attend the K-K some campaign activity going on every single day with the goal of preventing any dinner. See page surprises this difficult year in one of the most solid Democratic areas of the common- eight now! wealth. Every weekday night, the party has a phone bank underway at Headquarters. And every weekend day, the party is running door-to-door canvassing focusing each day on a different precinct in the county. There are many other campaign events as well. But these are the two easiest GOTV = ones for folks to join in. Get Out The No advance reservations are needed! Just head to Headquarters at 2009 North 14th Street, Suite 612. Vote The phone banking is done at HQ while the door-to-door canvassing is staged out of HQ. Here are the times: Read the article and box on this page Phone Banking: Canvassing and volunteer!!!! Mon-Thurs—5-9 p.m. Saturday—10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday—5-7 p.m. Sunday—1-4 p.m. ACDC Voice, October 2010, Page 2

Report from Chairman Mike Lieberman When the going gets tough When the going gets tough, the tough our economy into recession in the first place. country takes an unfortunate Tea Party turn. get going. With only a month to go between And the mainstream of this country is ready So in the last month of this heated 2010 now and Election Day, never has this mantra to embrace the politics of inclusion espoused campaign, I call on each and every one of you been needed more. by Democrats – working to end wrong-headed who cares about the direction of our country It is hard to ignore the pervasive storyline policies like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” celebrat- to come out and participate in a Get-Out-The- that Democrats this year are playing defense ing legislation like the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Vote phone bank, to pick up a walk list, and – a headline reinforced by the breathless cov- Pay Act that guarantees women equal pay for to get out and remind your friends why their erage the media provides daily of the Tea Party equal work, and promoting tolerance for voices and their votes are so needed this year. Republicans and their purported revolution to people of all backgrounds – regardless of race, When the going gets tough, the tough get go- take back America. But the story that’s not gender, country-of-origin, or sexual orienta- ing – and the tough in Arlington are needed being told – the one the media doesn’t cover tion. right now. – is the reality that the Republicans’ divisive- But in the shouting that all-too-often con- The details on our daily phone banking ness and rush to is not repre- stitutes today’s political debate, these Demo- and canvassing schedule are in the box on sentative of the mainstream in this country. cratic accomplishments and so many others page one. Please join in. To the contrary, the mainstream of this have been drowned out in the Tea Party din. country is proud that the Obama Administra- It is in these tough times – when real is- tion has turned the corner on the worst reces- sues are on the back burner in the media’s sion in our lifetime, going from losing 800,000 political storyline – that Democrats must get jobs a month at the end of the Bush Adminis- going. It is our responsibility and duty to re- Ballot slims from tration to adding hundreds of thousands of mind people why they voted for the change jobs a month today. The mainstream of this President Obama and the Democratic Con- 9 to 8 candidates country believes it was right for Democrats gress promised in 2008—and, in large part, An independent candidate running for to place greater regulation on the banks and delivered. If we don’t step up and do it, we School Board has withdrawn from the race credit providers whose reckless behavior led have no one to blame but ourselves if our leaving just two contestants in that race while three each are running for the County Board seat and the House of Representatives. The Voice published the full list of can- didates in the July issue. Jerry Botland But Joszet Hudson Johnson has now withdrawn, leaving Sally Baird, the Demo- Computer Consulting cratic-endorsed candidate, and Miriam Troubleshoot and resolve computer and Gennari, the Green Party candidate, on the computer related problems. ballot. If you have a new neighbor, they still Perform upgrades, set-up wireless routers and print servers. have time to register. The deadline to be eli- Transfer old files, address book and emails gible for the November election is Tuesday, from an old computer to a new one. October 12. Phone: (703) 933-0558 — [email protected] Get up earlier for 1st Saturday Breakfast The First Saturday Arlington Democratic Published monthly by the Breakfast slated for October 2 will hear from Arlington County Democratic Committee Congressman Jim Moran—but a half hour 2009 North 14th Street, Suite #612, Arlington, VA 22201 earlier than usual. Tel: (703) 528-8588 Fax: (703) 528-2321 The breakfast will kick off at 8 a.m. in- http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org stead of the usual 8:30 at the Bear Rock Cafe Chair: Mike Lieberman —(703) 408-3940 (h), [email protected] in Shirlington. This is so everyone can get in Editor-in-Chief: Warren L. Nelson —(703) 243-7867 (h), [email protected] and get seated and the congressman will have Deputy Editor: Vacant the maximum time with those attending. Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the ACDC For any questions (or answers), contact unless expressly approved by an appropriate Committee Resolution Charley Conrad (703) 835 6614 or Copyright ©2010, ACDC, All Rights Reserved [email protected]. ACDC Voice, October 2010, Page 3 O’Leary’s Pizza Next Monthly Meeting All Dems Invited for Perriello Wednesday, October 6, 2010, 7:00 p.m. NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd raises $5,600 Corner of North Taylor and Wilson, just east of Glebe & Wilson The Pizza Party for Perriello, sponsored Free parking under building, enter from Taylor Street by Arlington Treasurer Frank O’Leary, pulled in $5,600 in contributions for the em- For our last meeting before the November balloting, we battled congressman with 70 percent of the will hear from our three candidates—Jim Moran, Chris funds coming from people who had never Zimmerman and Sally Baird. Then we will head to the vol- before participated in the Arlington political unteer stations to do last minute work—including putting process. stamps and return address labels on 5,000 envelopes for O’Leary said, “Several were not even the Dollars for Democrats mailing that will go out the next residents, but obviously felt that day. (The labels are all self-adhesive; no licking required.) Tom’s re-election was important to the Demo- cratic Party and our nation.” Perriello’s district is one of the top tar- gets of the national GOP in its blitz to take back the US House of Representatives. The district is also one of the top targets being defended by national Democrats. Several recent polls show the election is Bumper Sticker very close with the Democratic and Republi- can candidates neck-and-neck and poll results of the Month within the margin of error. O’Leary sponsors an annual Pizza Party fund-raiser and this year assigned all the pro- ceeds to Perriello’s campaign. Do not wait for Nov 2; vote now! If you know how you want to vote, why wait for Election Day? You can vote now and PC HELP avoid the hassle. You vote by going to the Registrar’s Want help with setting up, networking, upgrading, Office at the County Building, 2100 fixing, or just using your new or old PC? Clarendon Blvd., Suite 320. You are eligible to vote early—called in- person absentee—if you expect to be out of Affordable, personalized assistance. the county for any period of time for any rea- Evenings and weekends. Your home or office. son on Election Day. If you plan to step into Falls Church for five minutes to smell the roses, you can vote early. Ron Hicks DBA Systems That Work Here is the schedule: Weekdays Email: [email protected] 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed Oct. 11) Saturdays Website: www.systems-that-work.org 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct. 23 and 30 Late nights H/O: 703-528-1009 Cell: 571-217-9949 To 7 p.m., Thursdays Oct. 21 and 28 You take 30 seconds to fill in a form and Arlington Chamber of Commerce then vote at a standard voting booth. There is no in-person absentee voting on the Monday before Election Day. ACDC Voice, October 2010, Page 4 Join a field Donkey Ears trip to help Listening to the doings of Arlington’s Dems The Arlington Young Democrats are or- as overheard by ganizing field trips to help embattled Rep. Dan Steen and Mädi Green Tom Perriello way down in south Virginia as well as Rep. right next door in Fairfax County. How do you say elevator in Mandarin? All-round Democratic activists Jean and The AYDs are gearing up for an active Richard Barton vacationed in China this summer, complete with Terra Cotta fall campaign, with a special effort to contact Warriors, cruise down the Yangtze and secrets of the Forbidden City. They were voters for Virginia’s congressmen-in-need. astounded at the rapid development of the country. Where did all the bicycles The efforts of the AYDs helped put Del- go? Progress does not necessarily include elevators, however. Jean counted 280 egate Eileen Filler-Corn over the top in March stone steps as she walked from the dock up to the buses in the city of Fengdu. by only 37 votes in Fairfax County, so they Bad Feng Shui! On the next trip, the Bartons plan to take a bunch of Demo- are very aware of the importance of getting cratic lit and set up a branch of the US Democratic Party. “China needs it!” they every vote possible. said. The first field trip was on Sunday, Sept Giant leap for mankind: Dollars for Democrats Chair Karla Hagan has made a 26, when Arlingtonians knocked on doors in big leap to a new home—right next door to where she currently lives. She and Charlottesville for Perriello. The AYDs pro- her husband have had three homes since getting married 11 years ago—all on vided snacks as well as the very same block in South Arlington. She says, “Either we are happily transportation for volun- committed to our neighborhood, or not very creative in finding a place to live.” teers with door knocking The latest move was made to allow the family’s two daughters, now approach- skills and enthusiasm! ing teenagerdom, to enjoy separate rooms. Karla’s move was revealed when They met in the lobby of former Voice editor Barbara van Voorst visited and commented that Karla was ACDC Headquarters at in a good neighborhood because the next house had Zimmerman and Baird 2009 14th St. North at 9 signs out, only to be informed by Karla that next door was (also) Karla’s house. a.m. and returned to Ar- Pair to the Pike: Virginia Robinson, J-J Dinner co-chair and RSVP tracker and lington by 7 p.m. organizer supreme, and Jordan Higgins, former ACDC technical guru, just Perriello’s district is a moved to new digs on Columbia Pike, which Virginia describes as a “really fun large one that starts in neighborhood.” Charlottesville and goes all Thanks for the Messenger: Former ACDC Chair Peter Rouseslot was busy the way down to the North dropping off Messengers in Lyon Village when a homeowner stepped out, Carolina border. picked up his copy and said, “Thank goodness. I look forward to getting this PERRIELLO AYDs are organizing every year, and I was beginning to get worried.” The next day, Peter was doing more trips to knock on a route in Marshall Precinct where he handed a copy directly to a homeowner doors and phone bank for Perriello as well as standing in her driveway. After thanking Peter, she pointed to the long driveway Connolly in October and the critical Get-Out- next door, and said: “Let me take an extra copy. I’ll save you the time and The-Vote weekend, Oct. 29-31. If you are deliver it to them, so you can finish your route more quickly.” interested and would like to be contacted as Off to kabob in Kabul: Mike Signer, candidate for the nomination for lieutenant dates firm up, notify Ben Lingeman, the governor last year and son of ACDC Program Chair Marj Signer, spent Young Dems political director, at September in Afghanistan. He wasn’t vacationing at any of the famous resorts [email protected]. You can there, but rather on a USAID-sponsored mission monitoring the parliamentary also sign up on a simple volunteer form online elections. This is something of an extension of his work here in Virginia in by going to http://bit.ly/aydvolunteer. every election since 2001 working on election protection programs. On AYD isn’t forgetting our own Congress- departing for Kabul, Mike said he hoped the lessons he has learned over the man Jim Moran. It is hosting “Mondays for years in Virginia would apply halfway around the world, though “Kabul will Moran” through Nov. 1 with a phone bank certainly be different from Richmond!” Signer is the author of “Demagogue: running from 6-9 p.m. at ACDC Headquar- The Fight to Save Democracy From Its Worst Enemies.” ters. Snacks and beverages are provided. Friends in low places: We’ve mentioned before that Jim Moran is one of the Visit the AYD website events calendar first congressmen tweeting. Now he’s gotten an award from The Humane (http://www.arlingtonyoungdems.org), Society for being one of the five top “inspirational tweeters” in the field. Moran Facebook page (http://bit.ly/ArlingtonYDs) or shares honors with Actress Alyssa Milano, musician Hal Sparks, fellow Con- follow AYD on Twitter (@ArlingtonYDs) to gressman Elton Gallegly of California and pit bull twitter account hellobully. stay up-to-date with all the latest events. And, please, no jokes about Moran going to the dogs. The Humane Society deals with cats, horses, gerbils, et cetera. ACDC Voice, October 2010, Page 5 Chili Cookoff gives foretaste of November County Board Vice Chairman Chris Zimmerman won the competition Labor Day Cliffor courtesy Photos for the best chili at the annual Democratic Chili Cookoff. If you were a punster, you might just call that victory a foretaste of things to come in November. “Team CZ Black and Red Chili” won the

coveted People’s Choice Award to top the 12 ds Photography ds chilies entered this year. ACDC Parliamen- tarian Melissa Bondi was the chef and no one, not even a local punster, raised a point of or- der when her recipe won the competition. The First Runner-Up award went to “Sally’s NCLB: No Chili Left Behind,” by chefs Gina Gomez and School Board Mem- ber Sally Baird. That entry was a vegetarian dish that was gluten free and satisfied even the punsters in attendance. About 150 Dems and chili aficionados gathered in Lyon Park for the annual Labor Day event, which is the first of the three Gold #1 — Melissa Bondi (right) dishes out some of her award winning chili. Card social events Arlington Democrats hold each fall to punctuate the work on the cam- O’Leary’s Irish Brigade Chili” by chef John Hope (whose entry won last year) and AYD paign trail. Tuohy). President Gordon Simonett selected 12 other Also in attendance was Ward Armstrong, As to where Democrats’ opinions lie on award winners. Just coincidentally, the num- the minority leader in the House of Delegates, the spicy-to-mild scale, we can only note that ber of awards equaled the number of entries. who is rumored to be considering a statewide the Moran entry ran out (as in “was finished,” Here are the committee’s awards in the run in 2013. Armstrong, who hails from not the other way) early in the day. 2010 chili competition: Martinsville on the North Carolina border, As for the winning Zimmerman dish, Wild Hot: Jim Moran / “Moran’s Lib- said, “Arlington is the place where we all chef Bondi reports the secret ingredient was eration Chili” / Chef Terron Sims. come to get our batteries recharged.” her beef brisket. That’s not to mention seven Mild Tempered: Frank O’Leary / The chilies ranged from raging spicy different chilies and an assortment of herbs. “O’Leary’s Irish Brigade Chili” / Chef: John (“Jim Moran’s Liberation Chili,” by chef The attendees voted for the two top Tuohy. Terron Sims), which could charge a few bat- awardees. Then a committee comprised of Where’s the Beef?: “Atonement Chili: teries on its own, down to the mildest (“Frank ACDC Chair Mike Lieberman, Del. Patrick It’ll Make You Pay for Your Sins (With a Little Jalapeño for the Holidays” / Chef Howie Kallem. Go Meat!: Mary Margaret Whipple / “Mary Margaret’s Majority Chili.” Colorful Masterpiece: Ingrid Morroy / “Taxes Chili” / Chef Sue Gruskiewicz. The Picasso (tie): Doc’s Famous Boss Chili / Chefs Mike Murtha and Jay Fisette and “The Chairman’s Chow-Down Chili” / Chef Jean Crawford. Most Gourmet: Kate’s Incredible Shiska- Chili / Chef Kate Murtha. Aged to Perfection: Patrick Hope / “Hope for Virginia.” Most Creatively Named: Sally Baird / “Sally’s NCLB: No Chili Left Behind”/chefs Sally Baird and Gina Gomez. Most Original: Bob Brink / Brink’s Bodacious White Bean Chili / Chef Claudia Scott. Most Ecological: Chris Zimmerman for County Board: “Team CZ Red and Black” / AT THE TABLE — Delegate Patrick Hope slips in for a second helping. Chef Melissa Bondi. ACDC Voice, October 2010, Page 6 Senator Webb raises the flag of Andrew Jackson over the canyons of Wall Street By more difficult. As this election nears, we need to em- United States Senator From Wytheville to Buena Vista, phasize which party is truly dedicated to mak- I have just returned from a Labor Day Danville to Newport News, I have done my ing sure that “the arm and shield of the law” campaign swing across Virginia—helping best to make it clear that we cannot afford to are being used to protect working people in kick off Rep. Rick Boucher’s campaign in reverse course now. America. Most of you know Wytheville, speaking to the Buena Vista La- As you know, my great po- that I was very proud to have bor Day Democratic Breakfast, holding a litical hero is Andrew Jackson, served as Assistant Secretary of Rally for American Jobs with Rep. Tom the founder of the modern Defense and Secretary of the Perriello in Danville, and joining Rep. Bobby Democratic Party. Jackson Navy in the Administration of Scott’s annual Labor Day picnic in Newport brought the common American Ronald Reagan. But on this News. person into the political system. defining issue and when it Contrary to the doom and gloom we are He established the principle that comes to governance in today’s seeing in the national media about the com- we should measure the health of America, it is clear that the ing election, I am encouraged by the enthusi- our society not at the apex but at Democratic Party has stood asm and determination that I saw in these the base—not by the billions the firm, while the Republican wide-ranging gatherings. There is no doubt financial sector on Wall Street is Party has repeatedly sided with that our fellow citizens are worried about the making, but by the well-being of big corporate interests and Wall direction of the country. Many are justifiably those working people who are Street. angry at the lack of progress from the Ad- carrying the true load of our day- We have only a month to ministration and the Congress in solving the to-day existence, and by how get that message through, and nation’s problems. But as Election Day nears, they are cared for when they re- WEBB to make sure that our fellow citi- more and more people are focusing on the key tire. zens understand it. That’s why question of who, exactly, can truly help us Andrew Jackson once I traveled across the state, and toward a better and more prosperous future. stated that the powerful can protect them- why I will continue to campaign for candi- This election year has been difficult for selves but the working people—in his words, dates who are serious about restoring eco- those of us who wish to take care of America’s the farmers and mechanics and laborers—re- nomic fairness, bringing jobs back home and working people and its strong, vibrant middle quire “the arm and the shield of the law.” building a strong future. class. The coming weeks require that we do all we can to help like-minded leaders return to and to make sure that voters hear our message and know what we stand for. When I ran for the Senate in 2006, I Top 10 reasons to stop worked every day to assure the people of the Commonwealth that my highest priorities were to reorient our national security policies, the GOP from winning to rebalance the relationship between the Presidency and the Congress, and to bring true Courtesy of Mark Habeeb economic fairness and social justice to 10. The NRA will be allowed to operate a public firing range on the Capitol lawn. America. I said then, and I say again now, 9. The Republican plan for immigration reform: Send the Statue of Liberty back that the greatest challenge facing our country to France. is the widening gap between the very wealthy 8. Republican energy policy: “Screw the spill – Drill baby drill!” and everyone else. I repeated this concern in 7. Even more spineless Republicans will genuflect to the Tea Partiers. my 2007 response to President Bush’s State 6. Republicans will pass the “National Humble Apology to BP Act of 2010.” of the Union message. 5. Help for the unemployed? “No way!!!” Tax cuts for the uber-rich? “Olé!!!!” The economic peril that the Bush Ad- 4. Creationism, phony history and homophobia: The ABC’s of Republican edu- ministration brought to our country only em- cation reform. phasizes the unfortunate truth of this reality, 3. The Republicans’ answer to global warming: “Just lower the thermostat!” and its urgency is even more relevant this year 2. After their two-year nightmare, Wall Street bankers finally will be able to go than it was in 2006. After eight years of gov- back to pillaging and plundering. ernance that drove our economy to ruin, AND THE #1 REASON TO STOP THE REPUBLICANS FROM WINNING: Democrats have begun to pull our nation back Two terrifying words: Speaker Boehner!!! to safety while members of the other party stood by or even tried to make the recovery ACDC Voice, October 2010, Page 7 Budget pruning in Richmond, as seen from inside the Governor’s commission By Robert Brink sions, and proposed by commission members rate other recommended transparency tech- House of Delegates themselves. Here are a couple of them: nology strategies endorsed by the Commis- For much of the summer, Senator FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK. If all of the sion. The committee also recommended pro- Whipple and I have been doing extra duty as employees in a state agency building went to ducing a “citizens’ guide” to the members of Governor McDonnell’s Commis- a 4-day-a-week, 10-hour schedule, the state Commonwealth’s budget that would enable sion on Government Reform and Restructur- could save some money in utility costs: the citizens at varying levels of knowledge to read ing. The 31-member Commission is stocked building could go dark and its heating or air and understand the state budget. North Caro- with business people and academics from conditioning could be shut off for the remain- lina has a similar project underway. across the Commonwealth as well as a few ing 3-day stretch. While a pilot project on the WEBSITE INTERFACE. My commit- local officials and other legislators in addi- 4-day work week has been run tee forwarded a recommendation tion to the Arlington contingent. at the state Department of For- to improve the accessibility of Most of the press coverage of Commis- estry, additional study is needed state agency websites. Increas- sion activities has focused on the Governor’s to see if it would work as well ingly, Virginians are accessing ser- proposal to sell off the state-run ABC liquor in more urban settings and vices and information about state stores. As I pointed out in a Washington Post whether it could be done at other agency operations through the op-ed on August 15, Virginia has been in the agencies without impairing cus- Internet. The committee called for business of selling distilled spirits for over 75 tomer service or state employee standardized criteria for agency years, since the repeal of Prohibition. No- effectiveness. Senator Whipple websites and for periodic evalua- body contends that this business is a “core also pointed out that this kind of tion of those sites as well as pro- function of government,” and odds are that, schedule might work a hardship motion of innovative techniques to starting from scratch, we wouldn’t start down on state employees who were re- improve their effectiveness. In that road. But the fact of the matter is that we sponsible for their child’s day addition, the committee called for do operate those stores. Much more impor- care dropoff and pickup. exploring use of new media such tant, profits and taxes from ABC operations BUDGET REFORM. The BRINK as Facebook and Twitter to en- pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the committee I worked on offered hance communication between Commonwealth’s treasury—a crucial consid- a series of recommendations to state government and the citizens. eration with the state budget under unprec- make the state budget process more transpar- CONSOLIDATION OF TAX ADMIN- edented stress. ent and understandable. Among the recom- ISTRATION. Another committee of the Com- Will the plan guarantee that those dol- mendations was production of a final budget- mission has looked at the state agencies and lars will continue to be available to support ary document—after the Governor presents department that administer various taxes. In schools, health care, public safety and other his proposal and the two houses of the Gen- order to promote efficiency and economies vital services? What will happen to existing eral Assembly have amended the original pro- of scale, it recommended that many of those ABC employees after privatization? What will posal and produced an enacted bill. This docu- functions be transferred to the state Depart- be the impact of tripling the number of out- ment would be the main source of budget in- ment of Taxation. lets selling hard liquor in Virginia? These are formation for Virginians and should incorpo- These recommendations, and many of just a few of the questions the others being considered by that privatization raises— the Commission, are small but and until we get answers to worthwhile steps that could im- those questions and a host of prove how state government others, it’s unlikely that the operates and serves Virginians. General Assembly will go Many of them wouldn’t even along with the idea of sell- require legislative changes: they ing off this profit-making as- could be put into effect with a set. stroke of the governor’s pen While ABC privat- through executive orders or ization has cornered the changes in agency practices. It lion’s share of attention, the should also be noted that the Commission has been look- cost savings that many of the ing at other issues. Broken recommendations produce up into four committees, would be pretty small. In fact, we’ve sifted through a bliz- in some cases startup and con- zard of suggestions offered version costs would mean that up by the public, culled from no real savings would be seen for several years. previous study commis- The portico of the State Capitol in Richmond ACDC Voice, October 2010, Page 8 Last chance to attend Kennedy-King You’ve got to act fast if you want to get October 1, at the Hilton Alexandria Mark a seat at this year’s Kennedy-King Dinner to Center, 5000 Seminary Road in Alexandria. be held this Friday. Our operators are stand- The reception starts at 6:30 p.m. with the ing by right now to take your ticket request— dinner at 7:30 p.m. but the final seat count must go to the hotel in To get your ticket, contact Peg hours. Willingham now at (703) 403-1421 or This year’s dinner has two (count ‘em, [email protected]. two!) keynote speakers—Congressmen This will draw Democrats from all over Bobby Scott and Jim Moran, the only two the 8th Congressional District, which encom- Virginia Democratic congressmen who were passes Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church not expected to face massive challenges and an eastern swath of Fairfax County. funded with money from national deep-pock- ets Republicans. Unfortunately, Moran’s opponent is now well funded by the national GOP. Sen. John McCain headlined a fundraiser earlier this Golden Gala is being held week that reportedly netted $50,000! The K-K Dinner this year is the 17th to be held. It is the main fund-raising event for at the classy Morroy estate the 8th Congressional District Democratic Committee; the funds will support the re-elec- There’s only one more 2010 campaign Street. The nearest major cross street is South tion efforts of all six of Virginia’s incumbent social event left to go—the Golden Gala to Walter Reed Drive. The Gala runs from 6:30 Democratic congressmen. be held Friday, October 29. p.m. to 9 p.m. The tickets are $100 each, with a dis- This year’s Golden Gala, as in years past, Parking is available on area streets or in counted price of $90 for members of the will showcase the Kitchen Crew as the Gour- the lot of the Randolph School about two Young Democrats. mand Royalty. Expect them to roll out some blocks away on Quincy. The Kennedy-King Dinner—honoring new delicacies attributable to recent visita- If you’ve bought a Gold Card, you have the legacies of Sen. Robert Kennedy and Dr. tions to the gourmet centers of Europe. The already paid for the Golden Gala, so don’t Martin Luther King Jr.—is being held Friday, less sophisticated Yankee term is “heavy hors forget to come. If you haven’t bought a Gold d’oeuvres.” Card, the price for the Golden Gala is $85. There will be good food and lots to drink You can reserve a place on the ACDC with heavy political conversation and light on website, www.arlingtondemocrats.org. Non-voters are the speeches. The Golden Gala will be hosted this year, the big worry for the first time, by Commissioner of Rev- enue Ingrid Morroy and her husband, Jerry Democratic Values in Action continued from page one Botland, at their home at 1501 South Pollard In Virginia, unlike in most states, there is no US Senate race this year. That reduces Would you like to the motivation to vote here. In Arlington, there are only three races on the ballot—US House, County Board and School Board—and ACDC resolution adopt a platoon? none of those races has been treated as seri- Arlington Democratic Values in Action ously contested. hits Cuccinelli (DVA) is looking for a volunteer to help with But Precinct Operations Chair Kip a new program, “Adopt a Platoon,” an initia- Malinosky reminds us that “even in Arling- ACDC approved a resolution in Septem- tive to support service members in Iraq and ton, we cannot take anything for granted. Just ber condemning Attorney General Ken Afghanistan. look what happened in .” Cuccinelli for bypassing the General Assem- In the US Army, a platoon is normally Therefore, this fall’s Joint Campaign is bly in trying to impose more restrictions on comprised of 42 men and is the smallest unit urging all active Dems to contact their Demo- abortions. led by a commissioned officer, in this case a cratic friends and neighbors who tend to sit The monthly ACDC meeting also ap- second lieutenant. out non-presidential elections to make sure proved a resolution celebrating the 75th anni- If you’d like to help, contact Charley they vote this time. Precinct captains are be- versary of the Social Security system and call- Conrad at [email protected] or ing asked to knock on doors and all active ing for continued efforts to protect and (703) 835-6614. Dems are asked to telephone their Democratic strengthen Social Security. And please do not forget to continue friends and urge them to vote. All hands on The full texts of both resolutions are bringing cereal and canned food items to the deck are needed if we want the success we available on the ACDC website monthly meeting. We then convey them to have come to expect in Arlington on Nov. 2. www.arlingtondemocrats.org. the Arlington Food Assistance Center. ACDC Voice, October 2010, Page 9 Markham accosted by Obama-hater By Maureen Markham freedom from persecution because of your ACDC Deputy Chairman beliefs and because of your religion. If we I wanted to tell you about an experience want our streets to be safe to drive on, we that I had in Maryland on Highway Route 40. need to find a way to defuse these people with- I had been to visit my parents in Delaware out being wimps and just giving in. We can- and was driving home to Arlington. Often I not let these people take over our government! avoid the heavy traffic on I-95 and take Route Please, if you are not paying attention to 40 to Baltimore. I was stopped at a traffic your local elections this fall, now is the time light, about to turn right to jog over to join 95 to get involved. If you voted for Obama and and take the tunnel under the harbor, when a are now disappointed because he is not left dark sedan pulled up alongside me, beeped, enough, think what it will be like when they and the driver motioned for me to roll down try to undo what he has managed to accom- my window. plish. If you voted for Obama and are now It was not an isolated place and in broad disappointed because he is too liberal for you, daylight with lots of other cars around. I do you really want to go back to the Wild West thought the person wanted to ask directions days when people wore guns in holsters on or something so I put down the window. The their hips? driver was a normal-looking young white Do you approve of people trying to man, maybe 35 or so, with short sandy hair. threaten and intimidate others just because He leaned forward from his open window and they voted for a Black man for president? Did said to me “Did you vote for Obama?” you all really think that we could turn around I should say here that I have two bumper eight years of war and decline in just 18 stickers on my back fender. One says “Peace months? Do you really want to hand over the is Patriotic.” The other is a round circle that reins of government to the people who drove says Obama-Biden. I answered, “I sure did.” MARKHAM us into the ditch and who have stubbornly re- Then he got loud and excited in a sneering fused to be part of any solution to pull us out? sort of way and asked something like, “Are These people would rather see Obama fail, you happy now with the way things are go- where? What Constitution are they reading? and the middle class suffer, and the country ing?” I thought “uh-oh,” but I answered again, What Bible are they reading? pulled apart by strife and conflict than do any- “I sure am.” I am thinking of Nazi Germany before thing to make things better. This is not put- Then the guy went off his rocker and World War II when ordinary German citizens ting country first. Don’t let this kind of cyni- started verbally accosting me saying some- felt vaguely uncomfortable about what was cism succeed! thing like, “I hope to God someone shoots you going on but did not speak up because it did Please folks, don’t sit this one out. If we dead, you *#%!* liberal pig.…” Sophie not impact them directly, and then afterward fail to participate, and the other side wins for started barking and I said, “Oh, that’s nice,” because they were afraid. It is a wake-up call lack of enthusiasm on our part, then truly Fear as I rolled up my window. He lurched for- to Progressives, Liberals, Moderates, and In- will triumph over Hope. We just can’t let that ward, cutting me off in the lane and beeping dependents who do believe in the values that happen! Don’t let the perfect be the enemy his horn and I made my right turn, glad to get this country was founded upon, among them of the good. away from him. I had time to think about this during the rest of the drive home. I could not find anger in my heart toward this person, but rather a deep sadness took over me. Is this what our country is coming to? I’ll bet this person thinks he is a Christian. I thought about how oppression, violence and intolerance have characterized human history, and it makes me sad that we have made so little progress. I feel that our country is in deep trouble, threat- ened by people who claim they want to “take our country back.” From whom? Take it back

Calendar items To submit items for the ACDC calendar, go to http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org/ submitevent.phtml . ACDC Voice, October 2010, Page 10 Paris getaway scores #1 at auction Redskins tickets were back in favor at ing on behalf of an anonymous bidder, emerg- the annual County Board auction, not to men- ing victorious at $1,700. (That’s 1261 euros.) tion getaway spots as far as Paris and as near Two Redskins tickets valued at $70 went as West Virginia; the auction raised $13,000 for $150. That seems to have ended a drought for Chris Zimmerman’s re-election cam- in which Redskins tickets went for less than paign. face value or didn’t even show up in the auc- A special added touch to the table decor tion. Someone please notify Coach Mike was Pam Porter’s historic Arlington pictures Shanahan. in small rustic frames showing such scenes The hottest item in the Silent Auction as the four African American students walk- was the Montana retreat of Carrie Johnson, ing to integrate Stratford Junior High, Luna Purdy, and Ann Yarborough. more commonly known as the ACDC Park, the original (pre-EATS) Whitey’s and Larry Roberts, former ACDC Chair ListLady for her constant attention to the lists The Broiler (which was featured in The Wash- and now ’s right hand man at the of voters, contributors and volunteers with- ington Post on auction day), the Clarendon Democratic National Committee (DNC), out which the local party could not function. trolley and the implosion of the old courthouse brought his two sons, Thomas and William, Before the live auction, Chris and jail. who followed in dad’s footsteps by bidding Zimmerman announced that the Party of No Pam exercised her artistic license by add- on lots of political memorabilia. is living up to its name locally by opposing ing a few sepia-toned pictures of the current The live auction was hosted by two of three of the four local bond issues: Metro County Board members making them look ap- AYD’s finest (and loudest), Gabe Snow and funding, parks, and neighborhood preserva- propriately historic. Nicole Truhe, who proved to be expert at tion. Chris noted that the GOP did “grudg- With Jen Amore in charge (until a new generating excitement among the bidders to ingly” come out for the school bond for the job pulled her out at the last minute), this the benefit of the Zimmerman campaign cof- rebuilding of Wakefield High School. ACDC year’s dinner menu boasted many new items. fers. has passed resolutions supporting all four Jen’s personal added touch was her pepperoni The piece de resistance of the evening county bond issues as well as the three state and cheese, spinach and cheese, and broccoli was a week in Paris, which generated a lively constitutional amendments on the ballot this and cheese stromboli, items folks were able bidding contest, with Charley Conrad, act- fall. to taste-test prior to bidding on them in the silent auction. Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple was the winning purchaser of this new item. Susan Lechner best beware as her fabu- Night of salsa dancing lous blintzes, a perennial auction favorite, may now have a serious challenger. Of course, no County Board dinner is complete without the famous Democratic moves a lot of Democrats salad, overseen by salad maven Charlene Attracted by a professional salsa danc- the stage and launched an enthusiastic perfor- Bickford, and the assortment of desserts con- ing performance, a large crowd of Latinos mance, after which salsa lessons were offered tributed by many a Democrat with a sweet who may never have attended a Democratic to over 40 participants who learned some new tooth. event before joined Arlington Dems for a moves to enhance their salsa dancing. Other new menu specialties: Melissa brand new Gold Card campaign so- Precinct Ops Chair Kip Bondi and Nicole Truhe’s baked ziti, Sandra cial event September 21. Malinosky, best known for his Spear’s genuine BBQ melt-in-your-mouth The Salsa for Dems program door-knocking and phone-calling beef brisket made without liquid smoke (so was planned and organized under the skills, was mightily impressed by no aluminum foil was harmed in its prepara- leadership of Joint Campaign Co- some of the moves. “Ingrid tion), and Jean Marshall Crawford’s vegan chair Walter Tejada. Walter ran the Morroy and Abby Raphael did black bean-corn-rice dish (protein for every- event like a campaign event. He had some very impressive dancing— one). a headliner, Congressman Xavier well, that is, by my very Anglo and The experienced Kitchen Crew regulars Becerra (D-CA), and appointed three male standards!” Malinosky said. pitched in to make the dinner come off with- co-chairs, Jaime Areizaga, Jackie This was the second out a hitch, apart from some added avoirdu- Baires and Andres Tobar. Gold Card event offered by the pois: Miriam Bulatis, Mary Dooley, Madi Walter did a robo-call to over joint campaign. The first was the Green, Peg Hogan, Joan McDermott, Janet 2,000 Latino registered voters inviting them Chili Cookoff on Labor Day and the third will O’Neil and Terron Sims. to the event while promoting the Democratic be the Golden Gala at the end of October. Among those who came out to support ticket for November, and a group of sponsors During past years, the second event has been Chris Zimmerman were a delegation of long- was recruited to help raise funds for the joint many different events. time Arlington Democrats now living just campaign. ACDC Chairman Mike Lieberman across the border in the Falls Church Goodwin Immediately following the political pro- said, “This was great; we need to do this House—Lucy and Jerry Denney, Mary gram, two professional salsa dancers came onto again.”