Largo/Mid-Pinellas Democratic Club

Welcome to the Largo/Mid-Pinellas Democratic Club.  We are an active group of more than seventy-five members in mid-Pinellas County, Florida, who seek to stimulate interest in political and governmental affairs; to strengthen and to further the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party; to provide reasonable and ongoing financial support to the county Democratic Executive Committee; to promote participation among Democrats; to assist in identifying prospective Democratic candidates; to support and elect the duly selected nominees of the Democratic Party in national, state, and local campaigns; and to foster good fellowship among Democrats. 

Our next club meeting will be Monday, February 20, at 7:00 p.m., at Balla's Steak House, 776 Missouri Ave. North, Largo.    This meeting will feature Lauren Bennett, of F.A.S.T., who will be discussing the unique and important roles of this advocacy organization in Pinellas County.  For further information, contact Rich Piper at 727-588-0891 or rpiper3404@aol.com.   For information about voting in Pinellas County please visit www.votepinellas.com

Upcoming Club-Sponsored Activities in Late Jan. & Early Feb.

 

Mid-Pinellas Registration Drive Wednesday, January 25 1:00 PM   Pipers' House (Largo, FL) Certified volunteers will canvass mid-Pinellas neighborhoods for voter registration, vote by mail forms and I'm In cards. Voter Registration Drive RSVP » Details »

 

Thursday JAN 26

Mid-Pinellas Voter Registration Drive Thursday, January 26 1:00 PM Pipers' House (Largo, FL) Certified volunteers will canvass mid-Pinellas neighborhoods for voter registration, vote by mail forms and I'm In cards. Voter Registration Drive RSVP » Details »

 

Saturday JAN 28	Mid-Pinellas Phone Bank Saturday, January 28 Shifts begin at 10:00 AM , 12:00 PM , 2:00 PM (3 shifts) Barkley Insurance Agency (Largo, FL) Phone bank to reach out to prospective supporters and volunteers in Pinellas County. Phone Bank RSVP » Details »
	Mid-Pinellas Voter Registration Drive Saturday, January 28 12:30 PM Barkley Insurance Agency (Largo, FL) Certified voter registrants will be canvassing mid-Pinellas neighborhoods for voter registration, vote by mail forms and I'm In cards. Voter Registration Drive RSVP » Details »

 

Saturday FEB 04

Register Voters at Health Awareness Event Saturday, February 4 Shifts begin at 10:00 AM , 12:00 PM (2 shifts) Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church (Largo, FL) Community Organization Sponsored Health Awareness and Screenings with Authorized Voter Registration by the Campaign; Participants must have been Certified to help with Voter Registration Community Service RSVP » Details »

 

From the President's Desk, January - by Rich Piper

Now that the holidays are behind us, it is time for us to get really geared up for the 2012 election campaigns. 

The good news locally is that our club member, Belleair Bluffs Commissioner Joe Barkley, has won re-election without opposition, since no candidate filed by the deadline to run against him in the March 2012 election.  Not only does his automatic re-election give the community his outstanding services for another term, but it also frees our club members to devote attention to other worthy election projects.

Another well-known local Democratic officeholder, Seminole City Council Member Patricia Plantamura is seeking re-election in March.  In contrast to Joe Barkley’s situation, the Seminole race features five candidates for two city council positions.  The other incumbent in Seminole is a Republican, Leslie Waters, who withdrew recently from a race for the Florida Senate.  One other registered Democrat, Sheryl Goff, is among the five Seminole candidates in this formally nonpartisan election.   

Beyond the local council and commission contests, I believe that the most important task for us right now is to get as many Democrats as possible registered to vote in Pinellas County.  This effort is already under way on a major scale.  More than twenty club members became certified in November and December to register voters under the new Florida legislation, and over 100 OFA volunteers have received such certification county-wide under the auspices of Obama for America.  If you are not already certified, I strongly urge you to complete the two-hour course offered by OFA to become certified and assist the voter registration drives that we are mounting.  Our club members have already canvassed most of Ridgecrest, as well as St.Petersburg College Clearwater, the Seminole Library, sections of South Greenwood in Clearwater and a number of shopping centers in Mid-Pinellas County.  We have so far registered over 100 voters, most of them Democrats, just in the past few weeks.  On January 16, we’ll be moving forward with a really major effort to sign up voters at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Parade in St. Petersburg. 

Right now, we Democrats hold a voter registration lead of about 6,500 over the Republicans in Pinellas County.  Our goal is to increase that lead dramatically over the months leading up to the 2012 election and then to get out the vote for our candidates.  OFA registration drives in 2008 in Florida added nearly 200,000 voters to the registration rolls.  Of these, 75% voted on Election Day (compared with 59% of those who were registered by the Supervisors of Elections or other non-OFA groups).  If we can expand the electorate even more dramatically than we did in 2008, Democratic victory chances in Pinellas County and Florida will be dramatically enhanced.

When I ask people to help out with voter registration and in other ways, quite a few say, “Later,” and indicate that they don’t see the need to get involved “this early.”  However, I believe strongly that we need to move our campaign forward NOW.     

Of course, we can and must support the Democratic campaign of 2012 in other ways beyond voter registration.  We are staging phone banks every week to reach out to past supporters and recruit new volunteers for 2012. Joe Barkley and Mary Lou Ambrose have generously allowed us use of their Insurance Agency on weekends, greatly boosting this effort.  We are also seeking to expand the membership of the Pinellas Democratic Executive Committee to strengthen the party organization in our county.  The Pinellas County Democratic Party will be holding its Kennedy-King Dinner and Fund-raiser at Banquet Masters on Saturday, March 10.  Tickets are $75 each.  Our club hopes to fill two or more tables with our members and give the Democratic Party and its candidates a major financial boost going into the campaign. 

Whether through registering voters, making phone calls, building the Democratic organization or giving money through the Kennedy-King Dinner and otherwise, we can all contribute our part!  Please contact me at rpiper3404@aol.com or 727-588-0891 if you’d like to get involved. 

Please also remember to pay your annual club dues (still just $10 each) at our next meeting, Monday, January 16, 7:00 PM, Balla’s Steak House, 776 Missouri Ave. North, Largo 33771. 

Republican Disarray and Flawed Candidates Bolster Democratic Prospects in 2012, by Rich Piper

As Republicans battle Republicans in the Presidential nominating race, in the U.S. Congress and in the U.S. Senate race in Florida, and demonstrate repeatedly their shocking lack of concern for the broad middle class and those who hope to join the middle class, Democratic prospects for victory in 2012 seem to be improving. 

The Republican Presidential nominating competition has become a circus.  Donald Trump’s role as moderator/ringmaster of a candidate debate, most candidates’ refusals to participate and Trump’s withdrawal as moderator and threat to run himself on an independent or third-party ticket are just a sampling.  The rise and decline of Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich add to the picture of disarray.  Mitt Romney’s continued flip-flops and elitist disdain and disregard for the middle class and the highly eccentric Ron Paul round it out further.  Rick Santorum is the latest “flavor of the week” in the wake of his strong showing in Iowa, but his far-right ideology and lack of effective campaign infrastructure make him less than credible as a candidate over the long haul.  The gross Republican appeals to racial and ethnic hatred and homophobia are another part of the toxic G.O.P. mix.  President Obama’s steady leadership in defense of the middle class and diversity offers a sharp contrast that should be apparent to anyone who is paying any attention to national politics. Perhaps even more than previously, Romney -- the darling of the top 1% -- appears to be his most likely Republican opponent for the general election.

Meanwhile, the Senate and House Republicans’ infighting over the payroll tax-cut and unemployment compensation extension led even the Wall Street Journal editorial page, a bulwark of Republicanism, to voice disgust with their performance.  According to most surveys, popular assessments of Congress are now at an all-time low; and public anger rightly focuses far more on the Republicans than on the Democrats. 

The encouraging signs of economic recovery should further boost the prospects for victory of President Obama and the Congressional Democrats if they prove durable.  Unfortunately, most Republican leaders are doing everything they can to wreck the economy and will undoubtedly continue to do so.  The 2008 McCain campaign slogan of “Country First” apparently has no appeal whatsoever for the current Republican leaders.  Their approach is to put the interests of the top one per cent and narrow partisan advantage ahead of the national interest – again and again and again.  

Here in Florida, Senator Nelson has opened up a lead over the fractious Republican candidates.  Though Connie Mack once appeared likely to win the Republican nomination with ease and seemed to have a good chance of defeating Nelson in the general election, Mack’s long record as a champion of questionable earmarks and right-wing causes, as well as attacks from fellow Republicans, appear to be dimming his attractiveness to voters.  Nelson led Mack 46%-35% in the PPP public opinion survey completed in early December, after trailing him in two previous polls, and the Times survey of experts in both parties in late December  showed 7 in 10 now give the edge to Nelson. 

It is still a long way to November 2012, but Democratic prospects have been improving over the past month.  Here in Pinellas, we still have a shortage of declared Democratic candidates, though I hear that several are on the brink of announcing their candidacies.  Good Democrats need to step forward and rev up their campaigns if they hope to take advantage of an improving political environment at the national and state levels. 

Upcoming Club-sponsored Activities in Late Dec. & Early Jan.

Wed., Dec. 28, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.  -- Voter Registration -- Pipers’ House, 301 Crestwood Lane, Largo 33770 (Canvassing in Ridgecrest)

 

Thurs., Jan. 5, Noon-2 p.m. -- Voter Registration Training -- Belleview Biltmore V Club House, 50 Coe Road, Belleair 33756

 

Thurs., Jan. 5, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. -- Voter Registration Drive -- Belleview Biltmore V Club House, 50 Coe Road, Belleair  33756 (Canvassing in Clearwater)

 

Sat., Jan. 7, 10-12, 12-2, 2-4  -- Phone Bank  -- Barkley Insurance Agency, 3690 East Bay Drive, Suite V, Largo 33771

 

Sat., Jan. 7, 9:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m and 1:30-4:30 p.m. --Voter Registration Drive -- Barkley Insurance Agency, 3690 East Bay Drive, Suite V, Largo 33771 (Canvassing in Clearwater)

 

Tues., Jan. 10, 2-4 p.m. -- Voter Registration Drive -- Lake Seminole Condo, 8333 Seminole Blvd.,  Seminole 33772

 

Sat., Jan. 14,10-12, 12-2 -- Phone Bank -- Barkley Insurance Agency, 3690 East Bay Drive, Suite V, Largo 33771

 

Sat., Jan. 14, 2-4 p.m.  -- Voter Registration Drive -- Barkley Insurance Agency, 3690 East Bay Drive, Suite V, Largo  33771

 

Sat., Jan. 14,10 a.m.-Noon -- Voter Registration Training  -- Dunedin Public Library, Room A, 223 Douglas Ave., Dunedin 34698

 

Sat., Jan. 14, Noon-2 p.m. -- Voter Registration Drive -- Dunedin Public Library, Room A, 223 Douglas Ave., Dunedin  34698

 

Mon., Jan. 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Voter Registration Drive -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade in Downtown St. Petersburg

 

Mon., Jan. 16, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. -- Largo/Mid-Pinellas Democratic Club Meeting -- Balla’s Steak House, 776 Missouri Ave. N., Largo, featuring Rev. Charles S. McKenzie on “The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Our Challenges Today”

We encourage you to sign up to participate in these events at www.barackobama.com.   

From the President's Desk - December, by Rich Piper

Even though we are now in the midst of the busiest holiday season of the year, our club members continue to be actively engaged in the political process.  Among the activities in which we’re highly involved are the Organizing for America phone banks at the Barkley Insurance Agency, 3690 East Bay Drive, Suite V, Largo 33771, on Dec. 3 and 10,(shifts at 10 a.m., Noon, and 2 p.m.) the Organizing for America voter outreach and registration drives on the same dates and leaving from the same location (1-3 p.m.) and the Organizing for America voter registration training on Monday, December 5 at 6 p.m. at the condominium club house at 50 Coe Rd., Belleair.    

Another big political event in December is the forum on the debt crisis at St. Petersburg College/Seminole , Conference Center, 9200 113^th St. N., Wednesday, December 7, 6-8 p.m.  Club member and former Representative Janet Long is one of the chief organizers of this event.  I urge everyone to attend and express your views. 

In addition, many of our members are playing active roles in the Pinellas County Democratic Party’s holiday party on December  3, 7:30 p.m., at the St. Petersburg VFW Hall, 4145 34^th St. N., St. Petersburg, ($25 per ticket) and our own club’s potluck party on December 17, 6:30 p.m.,  at Wanda Schwerer’s house, 517 Belle Isle Ave., Belleair Beach.  Please let me know (588-0891, rpiper3404@aol.com)if you’ll be coming to the party at Wanda’s house and what you plan to bring if you have not already filled out the form at our last meeting or previously contacted me about these.

Enjoy the holidays!  (But don’t forget the need to stay politically involved.)

Below is the full text of the President's major economic address in Kansas on December 6, 2011.  I think it sums up where we need to move our country.  Please read it if you haven't already done so:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/la-pn-text-obama-speech-kansas-20111206,0,7468899.story

Forum: Solving the National Debt Crisis

This should be an interesting forum.  Please click on the image to register to attend, or you can click here 

Club Member Michael Smith Wins Largo Commission Seat

Club member Michael Smith won a decisive 54% to 46% victory over incumbent Mary Gray Black on November 8 to gain a seat on the Largo City Commission.  Congratulations to Michael on a well-deserved triumph! 

Many club members donated to his campaign -- both financial contributions and volunteer efforts.  We made walk sheets and maps and walked precincts on Michael's behalf, waved signs at intersections and made hundreds of phone calls.  It was great to savor victory in a hard-fought campaign. 

Michael will be the featured speaker at our next club meeting, on November 21 at 7:00 p.m., in the Thirsty Marlin, 351 West Bay Drive.  Come and hear how he ran his campaign and won this seat and what he plans to accomplish once he is on the Largo Commission.  Hopefully, other club members will feel motivated by his example to run for office in the future. 

From the President's Desk -- November, by Rich Piper

 

I’ve had the privilege to meet and hear both President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in person during the past few weeks, and I’ve come away from those experiences more convinced than ever that the President and First Lady are truly dedicated to the best interests of our country and are working diligently to promote jobs, education, health care and a rational foreign policy.  

The same can certainly not be said for the Republican presidential contenders.  The more I see and hear them in their debates and in other public gatherings, the more I’m convinced that any one of them would bring disastrous consequences for our country and the world.  Let’s look at the four who seem to be the leading candidates for the G.O.P. nomination. 

Mitt Romney still seems to me most likely to end up as the Republican nominee for President.  Though he looks presidential, he is a deeply flawed candidate.  His record of flip-flopping  makes John Kerry look like a model of consistency.  In three days in late October, for example, Romney endorsed the war on the middle class being waged by the Ohio Republican Party as it struggled to sustain its flagging campaign to deny public employees collective bargaining rights.  Then when he visited a phone bank promoting the anti-employee rights position in the Ohio referendum, he indicated that he was neutral on the issue.  When this outraged the right-wing nuts and Romney’s greedy big-business backers, he the next day announced that he really did endorse the attack on public servants’ rights.  On abortion, health care, Social Security and a number of other issues, Romney has taken sharply opposing positions over the years.  Romney could stage an interesting debate with himself, given the contradictory positions that he has taken again and again.  He is clearly not a man worthy of trust.  His only consistency has been his deep attachment to shifting the wealth of the middle class into the hands of his rich supporters, a trait that he shares with Rick Perry and Herman Cain.  On that point, Romney has shown consistency over years, not just days or months.  Though most of the electorate remain lukewarm toward Romney, I still think that he’ll be the Republican nominee.  Why?  Because most of the Wall Street crowd and most of the greediest elements in big business favor him, and they hold the Republican party in their iron grip. 

Rick Perry, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich appear to be the only other G.O.P. contenders with any realistic chance of winning the presidential nomination.  Perry shot into the lead in polls shortly after he announced his candidacy.  However, he has fizzled thanks to his pitifully inept performance in the debates and interviews, his sleazy ties to the worst elements in the Texas business community, his uninformed crackpot ideas on a wide variety of topics (the latest being his completely incoherent tax and budget proposals) and his really bizarre presentation in New Hampshire at the end of October.  I’ll bet that Jeff Brandes and other local Republicans who rushed to jump on the Perry bandwagon are regretting their actions now!   Then, again, perhaps not!  Brandes is not one of the brightest bulbs in the closet. 

As Perry’s fortunes have declined, Herman Cain’s have risen.  However, his lack of campaign infrastructure, his own uninformed crackpot ideas (9,9,9 for example, which would dramatically raise taxes on most Americans while giving the rich a bonanza) and his total lack of knowledge about foreign policy seem likely to undermine his campaign at some point.   The recent revelations about his alleged sexual harassment and settlement payments may hasten his decline, though his poll standings have so far weakened only slightly.

As Perry and Cain have stumbled, Newt Gingrich’s once nearly dead campaign has begun to revive.  Yet Gingrich’s long  record of hypocrisy (condemning Bill Clinton’s extramarital affairs while pursuing his own), extremism (shutting down the federal government) and ethical violations (a $300,000 fine for ethics violations as House Speaker) raise obvious questions about the viability of his candidacy. 

We’ll see how the campaign evolves.  Since there are almost always some surprising twists and turns in politics, there likely will be some of those between now and November 2012.  Nevertheless, the multiple strengths of our President and the manifest weaknesses of his most likely Republican opponents give me hope for the 2012 election outcome.

Please join our local Obama for America efforts to prepare effectively for 2012.  Check our club website at www.largodemocrats.com for frequent updates on what’s happening in our neighborhood.  Come to our phone banks, make virtual phone bank calls from home, get certified to register voters and attend rallies that boost our cause.  Just give me a call at 727-588-0891 or 813-210-7457 or send me an email message at rpiper3404@aol.com if you’d like to get more involved.  Victoria Kirby, Regional Field Director for the Obama Campaign (OFA), will be a guest speaker at our November 21 club meeting at the Thirsty Marlin at 7:00 PM.    

Vote by Mail Link

The link below will allow anyone to check their registration at the SOE to see if they are still registered to receive Vote By Mail Ballots.  I checked mine and Lillian's and we were not listed.  You might want to distribute this info and discuss it at the next meeting, to insure that we all re-register if we have to. 

WE MUST ALL VOTE BY MAIL, AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ELSE TO DO SO.

Jack Nazario

 

 

http://registration.elections.myflorida.com/

The Florida Democratic Party Wants Your Ideas for Its Platform

The Florida Democratic Party is in the process of developing its platform for the 2012 elections, and its leaders have asked us for our ideas.  Please take a few minutes and give your input.  The link to send your suggestions for the platform is below: 

 Here's the survey link:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dDN0TGI1M1ctQXJKdXBnejYzTnAzRXc6MQ#gid=0.