Via email from the TC Dems: newly appointed Thurston County commissioner Karen Valenzuela will be sworn in on Friday, February 20 at 2:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Thurston County courthouse (map) Building 2, Room 129.

This is the culmination of a long appointment process to replace former county commissioner Bob Macleod, who resigned at the end of last year. 

For background, go here and here.

I want to draw attention to this important article by Green Party Presidential nominee and former Democratic Party Representative to Congress, Cynthia McKinney. From CounterPunch:

It's Time for Real Change

How the Democrats Helped Bush Hijack the Country

By CYNTHIA McKINNEY

Our country has been hijacked and the Democrats have proven themselves to have been in on the plan. When it came to the Constitution, the Democratic leadership showed us that aiding and abetting illegal spying on us was more important to them than protecting our civil liberties. When it came to war and occupation, the Democratic leadership showed us that financing an illegal and immoral war, based on lies, was more important to them than the people's desire for peace. And when the people, hurting from the financial mismanagement of this country, called for accountability for the crimes that have been committed against the people here, against the global community, against nature, itself, the Democratic leadership took impeachment off the table!

...continued

It's Time for Real Change [linked], by Cynthia McKinney

From the Thurston County Democrats:

On Thursday night, the Democratic National Convention will move to INVESCO Field at Mile High so that more Americans can be a part of the fourth night of the Convention as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination.

Those of us who can't attend the event in Denver can watch history being made with friends at Ramblin Jack's restaurant.

The exact time of the acceptance speech has not be published yet but we expect it will be around 7:00pm. Please join us (after stopping by Mike Kreidler's General Election Kick-off event!) for this momentous event.

Hosted by: Senator Karen Fraser - Representative Brendan Williams - County Commissioner Cathy Wolfe - Candidate Sandra Romero - TCD Member, Andrew Ryder - Thurston County Democrats

Food and beverages provided.

Washington 3rd Congressional District Nominating Convention - Napavine, WA

Chaired by State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz

Speaking for Brian Baird: Paul Berendt

Cheryl Crist, Speaking for herself.

I needed to post this, to explain why I'm going to Napavine tomorrow morning, to vote for Cheryl Crist, who is challenging sitting incumbent Brian Baird for the party nomination to run for the 3rd Congressional District seat in the U.S. Congress. It is not an easy explanation for me to make.

Last Saturday's Democratic Convention and Caucus seemed to be a success. Preliminary estimates announced after Saturday morning's registration period were that around 1,400 delegates and alternates were in attendance for the day's deliberations.

There was debate and dissent, passion and play. Thurston County Democrats Caucus Information

Thurston County will be sending 88 Obama Delegates and Alternates, and 36 Clinton Delegates and Alternates to Congressional District Caucuses.

Here's the TCD platform video presentation:

photos on the flipside

The recent Democratic Caucus was a real pleasure to take part in. The organic flow of the event was exciting; it was fun to come together in person to decide on which candidate to support. I enjoyed hearing people speak on behalf of the different candidates. It was empowering to know that we have influence; we have some ability to affect the outcome of a political election based on first hand participation.

My precinct (Oly 218) caucus was held in a building with about 4 or 5 other precincts. Olympia 218 had a huge turnout, there were well in excess of 100 people.

What struck me most was the enthusiasm, the hopefulness, and the desire for real change that was apparent amongst the participants. This photograph by Kay Schultz exemplifies the spirit of enthusiasm at the Caucus:


Photograph by Kay Schultz

There is promise for developing a better society through the democratic process. Congratulations to Washington for such a great Democratic Caucus turn-out.

Via email:

This is a reminder our next monthly meeting is Monday, February 25, at 7:00 PM in room 152, building 1 at the Thurston County Courthouse.

Following a brief update on the tremendously successful caucus and convention cycle we've now entered, we will consider the proposed revisions to our Campaign Services Policy and Procedure, as well as the three resolutions introduced last fall and the "Priorities for a Healthy Washington" resolution introduced last month . New business includes adoption of our 2008 budget and recommendations from the Campaign Services Committee.

The full draft agenda for the meeting is available here. The draft minutes of last month's meeting are available here.

As always, please remember the less fortunate in our community and bring one or more non-perishable items for donation to the Thurston County Food Bank.

I look forward to seeing you next week!

You can never be sure, you can never fully trust the people you hire to govern, or the people to be governed. What do you do? I've decided this year to believe. To believe that our country can be healed. I've decided to come off the fence, and declare my support for Barack Obama

Please click on the image above, to see a bit more about why I've chosen to believe, against reasonable hope, perhaps, that our country can be united, and people can start to believe in the precepts of tolerance, welcoming immigrants of all nations, faiths, and ethnicities, and strong funded public education.

"The 'we' we've been waiting for to come and fix our problems is us!" It's time to take back control of this country, and put the scoundrels who have damaged our country into jail where they belong!

If you live in Washington, please attend your caucus today!

Cosmo 

 

Blogged with Flock

If you're interested in participating in the State Presidential Nominating System, and you support one of the Democratic Candidates, you can find the information that you need at the Washington State Democrats Caucus Information Center.

Washington State's Democratic Presidential Caucuses will be held on
Saturday, February 9th, 2008 beginning at 1:00 pm.

Caucus Finder