August 5th LCDC Meeting

Larry Roeder and Zahra Abrar will discuss the political and human rights situation in Somaliland and the implications of the recent election.  Larry and Zahra returned from Somaliland recently visited Somaliland and explored ways of helping this emerging African nation develop its economy as invited guests of President Dahir Riyale Kahin. They met with senior government leaders, prominent private citizens, and each of the Presidential candidates.  On July 1, 2010, it was announced that opposition candidate Ahmed M. Mahamoud Silanyo had won the presidential election, followed by a peaceful transfer of power in the middle of a violent section of Africa.

Date: Thursday, August 5, 2010

Pre-meeting Social: 6:30 – 7:00 PM

Meeting: 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Post-meeting Social: 9:15 PM - ?

Location: Tolbert Elementary School (691 Potomac Station Drive, NE, Leesburg)  Map

Posted in Events | No Comments »

David Waldman speaks about the power of Congressional procedural knowledge at the July LCDC meeting

The July 1st guest speaker, was Mr. David Waldman. He shared with us the lessons he’s learned and put into practice as a political activist and esteemed blogger. Mr. Waldman spoke about how a deeper understanding of Congressional procedure promotes more effective activism and advocacy and discuss the ways we can more effectively interact with our US Congressman in the 10th CD.

Speaker Background: David Waldman is the Editor of Congress Matters, a fellow at ProgressiveCongress.org, and a Contributing Editor at the Daily Kos. A non-practicing attorney and former Capitol Hill aid, he has specialized in blogging about the dynamics and intricacies of Congressional procedure dating back to the 2005 “nuclear option” showdown over judicial nominations. David’s writing has helped focus campaigns challenging the continuance of Senator Joe Lieberman’s committee assignments, have raised awareness of the limitations of Congressional subpoena and contempt processes, and have brokered a more favorable deal on Senate committee ratios. David kept the “public option” debate alive during the health care reform debate then informed both activists and the media about the reconciliation process.
All photos, courtesy of Bob Pierce.

Posted in Events | Comments Off

Relay for Life was a Wonderful Event

Visit the LCDC Facebook page for the latest news.

We had 28 people participate on the Loudoun County Democrats Team.  We raised over $2,700.00 and covered the track throughout the event.  Together we helped create a world with more Birthdays!  One participant said “It was a wonderful event, I can’t WAIT to do it next year!”

See more pictures

Posted in Events | Comments Off

Political Employment Opportunities

Five job openings have be submitted courtesy of a LCDC member. Please click the link below for the detailed job descriptions for:

•Political Materials Coordinator
•Campaign Writer/Researcher
•LAN System Assistant Administrator
•Political Polling Analyst
•Support Coordinator for Political Field Operations

Full Description

Posted in Employment | Comments Off

Relay for Life at Heritage High School

The American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life gives everyone a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people take turns walking or running around a track.

This special ACS event will be held at Heritage High School (520 Evergreen Mill Rd SE, Leesburg, VA 20175). Map

We expect to have two teams of Loudoun Democrats. There will be kids’ activities and many other things to do during the Relay. For details on joining the LCDC team, contact LCDC Vice Chair Ellen Heald at ellen.heald@gmail.com

Posted in Events | 1 Comment »

June 3rd LCDC Meeting Features Energy & the Environment

As the LCDC launches its “Locally Grown” initiative for community service and gears up to support Jeff Barnett in the November Congressional election, we turn to a major issue that is of vital importance to Loudoun County, our state, our nation, and our planet – Energy and the Environment.

While being central to the economic recovery, job creation (including the green economy) and transportation challenges, “Energy and the Environment” leads the daily news cycle with updates on the oil disaster in the Gulf that starkly illustrates the dangers of the “drill-baby-drill” mantra echoed by Sarah Palin and her followers. See one newspaper’s opinion in the following editorial entitled Gulf’s Lesson for Virginia.”

Amid the bad news in the Gulf, several magical initiatives are underway in Loudoun. At our June 3rd meeting, learn much more about the inspiring new efforts in Loudoun to lead the nation in Green Programs from Loudoun Supervisor Andrea McGimsey. Andrea’s talk will be followed by an energetic Q&A session.

Date: Thursday, June 3rd
Place: Tolbert Elementary School (Leesburg) Map
Social: 6:30pm
Meeting: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Post-meeting Social: 9:15pm - ??

P.S. Remember to bring unopened coffee to the June 3rd meeting for donation to our monthly food drive.

Visit the LCDC Facebook page for the latest news.

Posted in Events | No Comments »

Senator Webb and Congressional Candidate Barnett Speak at 7th Annual LCDC JJ Dinner

Leesburg, VA. May 3, 2010. “My hero is Andrew Jackson, the first non-aristocrat who was elected President of the United States whose message of fairness still resonates today,” said Senator Jim Webb at the Loudoun County Democratic Committee’s (LCDC’s) 7th Annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner Saturday night. Webb discussed his belief that there are “three Americas” with the gap between the upper class and the middle and lower classes widening at alarming rates. Webb noted that the average ratio of the CEO’s annual compensation to the compensation of the lowest paid worker has increased from 20:1 in 1965 to 400:1 by 2005.

Congressional Candidate Jeff Barnett and Senator Jim Webb
In that context, Senator Webb addressed two bills he has sponsored: the new GI Bill of Rights (which has thus far benefited 250,000 veterans), and the Taxpayer Fairness Act (which will enable the taxpayers to split the bonuses paid in 2010 with the highest paid financial system executives whom the taxpayers bailed out). The latter bill will place a one-time, 50 percent excise tax on bonuses above $400,000 paid to individuals working for institutions that received at least $5 billion in taxpayer bailouts. Webb also discussed his proposed commission that will develop major reforms of the US criminal justice system - an approach favored by each of the three major law enforcement organizations as well as the ACLU..

At this annual dinner at Lansdowne Resort, LCDC Chairman Mike Turner discussed new initiatives in the organization, including the theme of “locally grown” which promotes community volunteerism, and his goal to double the membership in the LCDC over the next 18 months.

Jeff Barnett, Democratic Party candidate for US Congress in the 10th District, is a military veteran, corporate planner and accomplished author. He discussed his platform that is oriented to responsibly solving today’s pressing problems “in our time”, especially for the middle class. In contrast, he summarized Frank Wolf’s performance over the past 10 years, which has included Wolf’s senior role on the powerful House Appropriations Committee that has contributed to our nation’s $10 billion debt.

House of Delegates Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, delivered a strong message about the need to work hard in all elections and avoid complacency. He proclaimed that, “The fight never ends”. Armstrong also questioned the policies of the McDonnell-Cuccinelli administration that has cut $600 from public education at a time when the US needs to be more competitive in the global economy. Armstrong stated that the voters of Virginia are perceptive and will recognize that Democratic Party candidates offer a more moderate and practical approach to solving Virginia’s economic, education and transportation problems.

Pamela Butler sang a rousing rendition of the National Anthem. Later, awards were presented to Senator Mark Herring, past LCDC Chairman Rollie Winter, and O’Faolain’s Irish Pub. In addition, Herring presented Alan Raflo with a copy of the special resolution from the floor of the state General Assembly that celebrated the life of his late father, former Leesburg Mayor and Board of Supervisors Chairman, Frank Raflo.

Posted in Events | No Comments »

JJ Dinner Photos

The May 1st, 2010 J.J. Dinner:

Next 10th District Congressman Jeff Barnett and Senator Jim Webb

Posted in Events | No Comments »

LCDC Meeting with Guest Speaker: Thurs. Feb. 4th

Start the new decade by learning about the new LCDC leadership team and its agenda for recapturing the spirit of the 2008 campaign with your active participation! Also hear our special guest speaker, Steve Bloom talk about the potential of getting healthcare reform passed - from a Capitol Hill insider’s viewpoint. Capture the spirit of 2010 starting with the 6:30 PM social and continuing with the 7:00 PM meeting.

Posted in Events | No Comments »

Impressions

The following was written by Lu Ann McNabb who is on the Sully Democratic Committee in Fairfax. I think it brings Sen. Cuccinelli and his tea bagger friends into historic perspective. Read and then share this with all of your VA friends.

On Tuesday, vote for Steve Shannon over this extremist.

Sincerely,

Tim Buchholz
Chairman, Loudoun County Democratic Committee

Yesterday, my husband and I drove to Charlottesville to watch UVA succumb to Duke but that’s another story. On Route 29, we passed a flagpole with the “Don’t Tread On Me” flag flying with the Confederate flag. As many of you know, State Senator Ken Cuccinelli has adopted “Don’t Tread On Me” as his motto. But those two flags together symbolize Virginia’s shameful past- one of bigotry and intolerance. I can appreciate Mr. Cuccinelli’s defiance against the federal government by stating he will fight for state’s rights, but let us remember that it was the federal National Guard who protected the
black students walking in to schools and universities from angry, screaming crowds. It was the federal Supreme Court who declared segregated schools as unconstitutional and the federal Justice Department that denied tax exemptions to churches who only allowed white children to attend their classes. It was also the federal Supreme Court that overturned Virginia’s law disallowing mixed couples to marry. And it was the Congress that gave African-American citizens the right to sit anywhere and have full voting rights.

Let us not forget what the Confederate flag stood for - and I say this as a great-great-great granddaughter of a Confederate who fought in the Alabama regiment and whose cousin owns his musket and sword. And let us be wary of these two flags that predominate at gun shows, along with the Nazi flag, representing a belief that we should not enact commonsense gun laws because for some reason background checks interferes with one’s freedom to own a gun. At the same time, these flags reflect a belief that supports governmental interference in the most personal decisions one can make.

More importantly, the pairings of those two flags symbolizes to me what is at stake in this election-whether we remain a moderate state with elected officials who will solve problems or return to a state with a worldview that we abandoned a long time ago.

Lu Ann McNabb
Sully Democratic Committee, Fairfax

Posted in 2009 elections | 1 Comment »

« Previous Entries