DPVA Weekly Top 5 for August 2, 2011

Posted on August 4, 2011 by MasonDem
  1. Crisis averted – Congress passes a debt ceiling increase
    As with any compromise, it wasn’t perfect, but President Obama and congressional leaders finally got together and passed a debt ceiling increase that will allow our nation to meet it’s obligations, avoid the economic catastrophe of a default and preserve the possibility of reducing our deficit through a balance of spending cuts and additional revenue. To read more about the recent debt deal click here.
  2. McDonnell continues disingenuous promotion of phantom surplus
    Governor Bob McDonnell never lets the truth get in the way of telling a good story about himself. Fortunately, many Virginians and news outlets understand the considerably more complex story of a budget filled with gimmicks, unpaid bills and unmet obligations to working families. Click here to read the Washington Post’s takedown of McDonnell’s disingenuous budget rhetoric.
  3. Moran, state leaders urge voters to focus on this year’s races
    This is a unique time in Virginia politics with so many state races coming up this year and such critical statewide races happening next year including a Senate and President race. As easy as it is to get excited about next year, this year’s elections will mean a lot for Virginia families, particularly if we lose a Democratic Majority in the Senate and Bob McDonnell is allowed to push his anti-middle class agenda unchecked. To watch a news clip about the importance of next year’s elections click here.
  4. We’re on iPad and iPhone!
    In case you missed it, the DPVA released it’s first ever mobile app last week, giving our activists another way to stay up to date with the latest in news, events and local Democratic activities. If you have an iPhone or iPad, download the app and watch out for updates in the near future. To download the DPVA iPhone or iPad app click here.
  5. Virginia budget cuts continue to hit home
    This week the News-Leader examined how cuts to Virginia’s human services budgets are putting further strain on our already crowded mental health facilities, an issue that “takes on a whole new danger you’re talking about acutely mentally ill patients.” As Governor Bob McDonnell talks about a phantom surplus, it’s important to remember the dangerous cuts we have made to education, human services, infrastructure and other key investments. To read about the building mental health crisis click here.
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iPhone and iPad App for the Democratic Party of Virginia

Posted on July 28, 2011 by MasonDem

The mission of the DPVA is to constantly strive to provide the best services and resources possible to our Democratic grassroots activists, campaigns, and elected officials. Democrats win when they are educated, trained, and equipped with the right tools. That’s what the Virginia Summit was all about, and that’s why we’re proud to be unveiling a new tool that will enable us to keep you better informed, and for you to join the conversation by sharing our message with your personal network.

Introducing the iPhone and iPad App for the Democratic Party of Virginia.  Search “DPVA” in the App Store or click here to download.

This is your party – and with this free app you can react to the latest news and video, post messages to Facebook and Twitter, find events near you, and get involved with your local Democratic Committee. Together we can fight for equal opportunity and make Virginia a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

All resources are a work in progress – we want to hear from you regarding ideas for how to improve the app, so send your suggestions and feedback to app@vademocrats.org.  You can also rate the app in the Apple Store.  Don’t wait, download the app and help change Virginia today!

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DPVA Weekly Top 5 for July 26, 2011

Posted on July 27, 2011 by MasonDem
  1. Virginia lost 14,600 jobs last month
    The U.S. Department of Labor reported last week that Virginia lost more than 14,000 jobs in the month of June, more than every other state but two. The loss amounted to nearly a quarter of the gains the state has made since Governor Bob McDonnell took office, which should lead Virginians to question about our Governor is actually doing to create jobs for struggling Virginians. At the same time, the nonprofit Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis released a report stating that Governor McDonnell has not made any progress on jobs since taking office. To read more about the staggering June job losses click here. To read the DPVA statement questioning “Bob’s for Jobs’” record on job creation click here. To read an overview of the Commonwealth Institute report, click here.
     
  2. Cantor, Allen continue to play chicken with our economy
    As debt talks in Washington continue to threaten our economic security and the AAA bond ratings of the nation and Virginia, Eric Cantor continues to stand in the way of a deal and George Allen continues to cheer him on from the sidelines, urging Republicans to use potential disaster to our economy as ‘leverage’ for budget cuts that will hurt the middle class. To read more about Cantor and Allen’s willingness to risk our economy for their own agenda, click here. To watch a web video on how Allen’s position compares with other Republicans click here. To watch a web video on Cantor’s reckless and irresponsible behavior click here.
     
  3. Guess who is pulling Eric Cantor’s strings?
    The Washington Post featured Eric Cantor this week as the largest defender of hedge fund and financial firms in Congress, and also of course one of the largest recipients of their money. To read more about Cantor’s Wall Street masters click here.
     
  4. Warner, Webb try to delay carrier move
    Democratic Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner introduced amendments last week to remove the funding it would take to move a Navy aircraft carrier from Norfolk to Mayport, Florida. The move could cost thousands of Virginia jobs and hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. To read more about Warner and Webb’s fight to keep the carrier in Virginia click here.
     
  5. Localities question the McDonnell surplus
    The Lynchburg News & Advance reported this week on the disingenuousness of Bob McDonnell’s ‘surplus’ claims as cities and counties like Lynchburg are struggling to deliver services for their citizens after dramatic cuts in state funding. As one city councilman put it:  “I think it’s unconscionable that the state would claim to have a balanced budget when, in fact, all it’s doing is forcing us to raise revenues locally to pay for its efforts.” He called the state’s actions “dishonest.” To read more about the local reaction to Bob McDonnell’s fantastical surplus, click here.
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McElveen, Good Gagnon, and Lamb Endorsed

Posted on July 27, 2011 by MasonDem

At the July 26th Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) general membership meeting at Fairfax High School, members present voted to endorse Ryan McElveen for School Board At-Large. Moon, Velkoff and Espy Glassman had been endorsed at the May 24th meeting; however, Espy Glassman had since withdrawn necessitating a special vacancy endorsement vote. McElveen barely missed winning the endorsement at the May 24th meeting and was faced by Jeannie Armstrong in this new vote. A single ballot from the 197 members present decided in favor of Ryan McElveen.

Johna Good Gagnon and George Lamb, previously endorsed by FCDC, are both incumbent Directors for the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District seeking re-election and re-endorsement. A voice vote heartily and unanimously endorsed both again this year.

The 2011 General Election is on Tuesday, November 8th. Polls are open from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.

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Frank Anderson New Executive Director FCDC

Posted on July 14, 2011 by MasonDem

On Tuesday July 12, the FCDC Steering Committee unanimously approved the selection of Frank Anderson as our new Executive Director. Selected from more than 40 candidates, the steering committee was unanimous and enthusiastic in his selection.

Frank is a recent graduate of George Mason University and new father. He is well known in the Democratic community in Northern Virginia and across the Commonwealth as a hard-working, technologically proficient, grass-roots oriented and committed Democrat. Frank has been involved with many, many campaigns and has been an important leader in The Brigades. A Fairfax County resident, Frank is most recently Vice Chair of the Springfield District Democratic Committee. He is also the Legislative Chair of the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations.

Frank will be a terrifically valuable asset to the FCDC family to help deliver the vision of the Committee in our mission to elect Democrats, and we all look forward to working with him.

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Virginia Summit July 15-16

Posted on June 27, 2011 by MasonDem

2011vasummitUpdated 6.23 with more detailed schedule.

The first-ever Virginia Summit, which will be held on July 15th-16th at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, will offer two days of intensive training, policy and message briefings, career advancement advice and fellowship with Democratic elected officials, candidates, professionals, and activists from every level. This will be an unprecedented opportunity for Virginia Democrats to come together and build the tools, skills and policy knowledge we need to elect our candidates in the fall and move this Commonwealth forward. Continue reading →

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Virginia Partisans Annual Fundraiser

Posted on June 27, 2011 by MasonDem

40-for-40-smWhere
At the home of Arlington County Board Member Jay Fisette & Bob Rosen, 311 N. Jackson Street, Arlington, VA 22201 (map, click here; 12 minute walk to Clarendon & VA Square metro stations).

When
July 14, 2011  7-9:00 pm, (program begins at 7:30 pm)

Continue reading →

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DPVA Weekly Top 5 for June 21, 2011

Posted on June 22, 2011 by MasonDem
  • Allen was against ethanol before he was for it before he was against it Senate candidate George Allen has never met a poll-driven position he couldn’t find a way to take, even if he held the exact opposition position not too long ago. This time he’s jumped on the “cut ethanol subsidies” bandwagon, despite having supported them when he was President, and opposed them before that.  To read more about George Allen’s “flip, flop, flip,” on ethanol, click here.
  • The Obama campaign gears up for 2012
    We’ve got critically important legislative races this year, but it is great to see that President Obama’s re-election campaign is already getting ready to win Virginia again next year. To read more about the President’s re-election bid in Virginia, click here.
  • Connolly stands up to Republican censorship
    Rep. Gerry Connolly took to the House floor last week to decry Republican attempts to censor Democratic franked mail pieces that accurately describe Paul Ryan’s budget plan as a proposal to end Medicare as we know it.  To read more about Rep. Connolly’s fight against Republican censorship click here.
  • Jamie Radtke calls the 2012 Republican primary a ‘referendum’ on the party’s soul
    The Republican primary for the 2012 Senate race is heating up as Jamie Radtke continues to make the case that George Allen isn’t nearly right-wing enough for today’s Republican party. Unfortunately, she forgets that George Allen is not particularly fixed to any particular ideological position and can easily get more or less conservative if the need arises. To read more about Jamie Radtke’s uphill climb against George Allen click here.
  • Cuccinelli advises churches on legal ways to campaign
    Some Virginians somewhere (probably not on this mailing list) may have thought when they voted for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli that they were choosing a new state lawyer to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves, keep the public safe and in general work diligently on behalf of his client, the people of Virginia. One wonders how they feel about him traveling around to religious conferences offering legal instructions to churches on how they can influence elections without threatening their nonprofit tax status. To read more about Ken Cuccinelli’s political playbook for churches, click here.
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Sandy Evans for School Board

Posted on June 18, 2011 by MasonDem

Sandy Evans, who is running for re-election to the Mason District seat on the Fairfax County School Board, has served since she won the seat in a special election on March 2, 2010. Sandy has been committed to ensuring our school system maintains the highest educational standards and that it truly involves parents, students, and the community.

Sandy will not have a Republican-endorsed opponent in the November 8th General Election (Fairfax GOP met on June 16th to endorse candidates for school board – no candidate in Lee or Mason Districts).

Look for Sandy to get around to your community group, PTA, homeowners association over the next few months. If you’d like to have her speak with your group just let her know.

Evans4sb.org

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Charisse Espy Glassman for At-Large School Board Campaign Kick-off

Posted on June 16, 2011 by MasonDem

Charisse Espy Glassman Campaign Kick-off for Fairfax County School Board At-Large

Where: 2227 Grayson Place Falls Church, VA 22043
When: Saturday, June 18, 2011 Time: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
RSVP: GlassmanSaysAllKidsCanLearn@gmail.com or call 703-206-0090.

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