McAuliffe becomes nominee for Governor

Terry McAuliffe officially became the 2013 Democratic nominee for governor as of Tuesday, April 2.

On that day, the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) certified that McAuliffe had submitted enough—far more than enough—petition signatures—to stand. And since no one else submitted any signatures, McAuliffe is automatically the Democratic nominee.

McAuliffe needed to submit 10,000 signatures. He beat that by a mile, submitting more than 35,000.

Charniele Herring, chairman of DPVA, said, “We believe that this is the most signatures any candidate has collected for governor in Virginia history. The momentum from volunteers and outpouring of support across the commonwealth is a true sign of the energy behind Terry McAuliffe’s campaign.”

McAuliffe said about 500 volunteers circulated the petitions.

DPVA also certified two candidates for lieutenant governor and two for attorney general, the other statewide posts up for election this year. Democrats will choose from those candidates in a primary Tuesday, June 11.

The lieutenant governor candidates are former Virginia Technology Secretary Aneesh Chopra of Arlington and State Senator Ralph Northam of Norfolk.
The attorney general candidates are State Senator Mark Herring of Loudoun and former federal prosecutor Justin Fairfax of Fairfax County.

The GOP will hold a state convention rather than a primary to choose its candidates.

To learn more about Terry McAuliffe for Governor, visit http://www.terrymcauliffe.com.

My choice

Monthly Chairman’s Column – by Mike Lieberman

On November 6, I am voting for Barack Obama. As the chair of a local Democratic Party, that likely comes as no surprise. I support Barack Obama because he is willing to invest in America and Americans. Like Barack Obama, I believe in significantly increasing funding for higher education, through Pell Grants and management of student loan rates. Like Barack Obama, I believe that all Americans should have the opportunity to buy health insurance to protect themselves and the ones they love. And like Barack Obama, I believe in incentivizing American innovation to expand the American workforce and prepare us for the 21st Century global marketplace.

This is not to say that I believe Barack Obama’s record has been perfect. For example, I am worried about the ever-increasing debt our country continues to accrue, and I wish we had begun a drawdown of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan sooner.

But even though Barack Obama is not perfect, the choice for me in this year’s election nonetheless remains crystal clear. This is in part because, over the last two months, Mitt Romney has demonstrated himself to be eminently un-presidential – and indeed, completely out of touch with the global community he seeks to lead. Take for example his recent comment that 47 percent of the people in America are “victims” who do not pay income taxes, and instead depend on the government for handouts to which they feel “entitled.”
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If it’s good weather, it’s Messenger Day for sure

Sunny skies and cool temps are forecast for Saturday, September 22, because that will be Messenger Day for Arlington Democrats.

The weather has normally been superb each year on Messenger Day—except when we have had a tornado or a drenching.

On Messenger Day, about 400 volunteers walk around their neighborhoods delivering copies of the Democratic Messenger door-to-door, the first countywide lit drop of the campaign. The Messenger contains messages from all candidates running in the county, from the White House to the schoolhouse (and in some years to the jailhouse).

Routes normally take 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours to walk. There is no need to wait for anyone at the front door. Deliverers just tuck a copy under the door mat or inside the screen door.

Most routes are flat and make for an easy walk, but there are some in hilly neighborhoods. And there is one very challenging route. The road through a ravine is completely flat, but each house is either 60 feet up or 60 feet down the side of the ravine!

If you would like a pleasant morning’s outing, contact your local precinct captain for a route. Or notify Master Messengeress Carol Fontein your interest at volunteer@arlingtondemocrats.org.

The Flat Earth Society

Monthly Chairman’s Column – by Mike Lieberman

Todd Akin should be ashamed. By now, we have all heard the Missouri Republican’s infamous theory that, during a “legitimate rape,” the female body “has ways to try to shut… down” any pregnancy that might result. His comment is beyond offensive. The idea that rape could ever be “legitimate” is so far outside the realm of mainstream thought that all Americans should be embarrassed for Mr. Akin. That such beliefs would be acceptable for someone seeking office as high as the United States Senate is simply inconceivable.

But beyond the deserved criticism levied against Mr. Akin for his views on rape, equally disturbing is the fundamental lack of scientific understanding that Mr. Akin’s comments demonstrate. It is simply shocking that a six-term United States congressman who is now seeking even higher office does not know how babies are made.
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Labor Day means chili – and now pie!

If the chili isn’t enough to get you out to this year’s Chili Cook-Off, maybe the addition of a new pie-eating contest will bring you out.

The annual Cook-Off, not exactly a low-cal event, will be held, rain or shine, Labor Day, September 3, from 4-7 pm at the same site where it has been located for decades – Lyon Park, which is at the corner of Pershing Drive and North Fillmore St.

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Our place in the world

Monthly Chairman’s Column – by Mike Lieberman

The contrast could not be more stark. In the summer of 2008, Barack Obama, as a candidate for president, took a world tour to burnish his foreign policy bona fides. He was met at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin by no fewer than 200,000 Europeans, all fighting for a glimpse of America’s next president. On very few occasions in history has a President – let alone a candidate for President – been greeted with such numbers and support.

On that iconic site, and in front of those record crowds, Mr. Obama delivered a message of cross-Atlantic unity, and set down a marker that the “go it alone” approach America embraced under President Bush would be a thing of the past under President Obama. America was looking for partners, and while we expected to lead on the world stage, we wanted to do so with the input and participation of others.
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Next election is THIS week

This may be the most compact election campaign ever held as the caucus to choose a nominee to replace retiring Delegate David Englin will be held this coming Thursday and Saturday, August 2 and 4.

The Democratic nominating caucus will be held over two days:

Arlington voters who are registered and who live in the precincts of Shirlington, Fairlington, Abingdon, Oakridge and Aurora Hills are eligible to vote at this caucus. Two candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination: Both are residents of Alexandria.

They are:

Rob Krupicka, a member of the Alexandria City Council. He ran last year for the Democratic nomination for the State Senate seat eventually won by Adam Ebbin. After losing that primary, Krupicka announced he would not run for re-election to the City Council this year. For more on Rob Krupicka visit: http://www.krupicka.com

Karen Gautney, who formerly chaired the Alexandria Commission on Human Rights. Endorsed by Englin, she was a law enforcement officer with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service until forced to resign because she is a lesbian. Currently a consultant, she assists professionals working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, including police and other public safety officials. For more on Karen Gautney visit: http://www.karengautney.com/

The 45th Delegate District is largely based in Alexandria. The five southernmost of Arlington’s 52 precincts are in this district. The district population is 74 percent in Alexandria, 18 percent in Arlington and 8 percent in Fairfax County.
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Stand By Your Ad

Monthly Chairman’s Column – by Mike Lieberman

I now know what it feels like to be an Iowan. Every four years, as the first-in-the-nation primary, you hear about political ads airing in Iowa from presidential hopefuls as early as the summer prior to the election – nearly half a year before any votes are cast. And every four years, an Iowan gets on the news and says how tired he is of watching political ads, even before the election season really starts in earnest.

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The Silent Majority

Monthly Chairman’s Column – by Mike Lieberman

As many readers may know, I was raised in North Carolina. My parents still live in the house where I grew up. Many of my childhood friends have returned and decided to make North Carolina their home. So it was with particular dismay that I watched from afar as my home state voted to approve so called Amendment One – an amendment to the North Carolina constitution writing into black letter law that gay marriage is illegal.
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Conventions send 10 Arlingtonians to re-nominate Obama

Ten Arlingtonians have been elected as delegates and alternates to the Democratic National Convention that will re-nominate Barack Obama this September in Charlotte, NC.

Virginia’s 11 congressional districts held conventions across the state in May, chiefly to elect some of the delegates. The state convention was held at George Mason University in Fairfax County June 2 to name the rest of the delegates.

Of the eight delegates and one alternate elected May 19 at the 8th District Convention, four are from Arlington – Precinct Ops Chair Kip Malinosky, ACDC Deputy Chair Maureen Markham, Obama state petition coordinator Barbara Kanninen and last year’s Joint Campaign Co-Chair Lauren Hall.
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