Chair’s message

“What can I, as an individual, do to make things better?” a woman in the audience asked Professor Peter Rhines, following his lecture and slide presentation about the future of water, ice and snow under global warming last August at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. 

Rhines, a research scientist and teacher, and self-proclaimed vegetarian who rides his bike each day to and from work, began to respond about the advantages of getting involved locally to influence government officials, such as county commissioners.  The questioner interrupted, stating  “No, no, I mean what can I do daily with my own behavior to lessen our impact on the climate?”  Rhines, somewhat taken aback, eventually replied “Well, the first thing you could do is become a vegetarian, then avoid using a privately owned vehicle for transportation, but, most important, educate yourself about what’s happening and then talk to everyone you know about what you’ve learned and help inform them.”

I found this exchange interesting and particularly insightful.  Rhines is an academic, who had just completed an engaging presentation rife with scientific data, and who clearly believes, by his own behavior, that we need to be the change we seek by the way we live.  Yet, when asked what to do to begin “fixing” things, his primary recommendation was to get involved with your community to affect policy changes. 

He clearly recognized solving the climate and water crises is going to take more than you and I changing the way we live day-to-day.  What’s most important is that we collectively inform ourselves and others about the problems we face and take political action to affect policy changes.

So, if you’re one of the many who are wondering what YOU can do to make things better, please consider getting more involved with the Thurston County Democrats!  2007 was a locally focused year, when we were involved with local city council, port and school district elections, as well as some critical ballot initiatives.  2008 presents an opportunity for us to influence county, state and national elections.

I know, I know, I, too, am frustrated with the apparent inability of our US Congress to quickly right our ship that’s lost its course!  But it’s clear the more we’ve strayed from the course, the longer and more concerted the effort required to get us back on track.  If you don’t participate -- and keep participating -- you simply won’t have influence, so please join us locally in whatever ways make the most sense for you. 

As Debby Pattin notes below, it’s Presidential Caucus year, so plan to attend to support the candidate of your choice – it’s you only opportunity to have a say about who you think ought to be the Democratic nominee.  And plan to attend one of the pre-caucus forums Emmett O’Connell describes.  It will be a chance to help us lay the groundwork for our county platform, and, if you can make it January 15th, to hear a fantastic speaker, who I guarantee will get you thinking about how to effectively communicate what you believe.

Meanwhile, if you’re not already a member of Thurston County Democrats, visit our website and become one, and then start participating in our meetings and events.  Consider becoming a Precinct Committee Officer or contact the PCO for your precinct, if you already have one, and offer to help.

You have a voice.  Use it!

Why I support a physician assisted dying law in Washington

Former Washington State Governor Booth Gardner

Almost daily, someone wants to talk with me about my support for an Oregon-style law that would permit terminally ill people to receive a prescription for life-ending medication.  The overwhelming majority tell me they would support such a law and most relate a story from their own experience that brings home the benefit that would result from it.  They say giving dying people this choice is the right and moral thing to do. 

I think support for this change reflects more than the fact that my friends and I are getting older and therefore more thoughtful about end of life issues.  We realize that most of us will someday die of a chronic, prolonged illness and despite good comfort care, many of us will experience drawn-out suffering at the end.  Lessening this suffering is what I most want to achieve.
I also believe society in general is increasingly willing to address these issues with a healthy mixture of compassion and realism.  As a result, we have made progress in the areas of both policy and practice that have eased the burdens of dying for the patient and the family.

 
At the heart of this progress is giving patients choices: giving them more control over their final days.  The growing use of advance directives is an example of this.  The many advances in hospice and palliative care also extend the range of choices for terminally ill patients.

Some of my conversations about this topic are with friends and acquaintances who believe it is always wrong for individuals to end their own lives.  I respect this belief but ask them to respect my beliefs as well. Doctors have helped me greatly, but after their medical therapy has set my dying course, I do not think the government, through its legal system, should allow others to determine how I die.  For me, this is an individual choice that should be protected by law. 

An Oregon-style law that permits physician-assisted dying is the next important step in giving people meaningful end-of-life choices, free from the dictates of government or those with different beliefs. 

We should have a respectful, honest and informed debate on the merits of this matter.  Concerns about new and untried programs are natural and understandable.  People who support the concept of physician assistance in dying share these concerns with those who oppose the practice on religious or moral grounds. 
Fortunately, this is no longer a new and untried idea.  With a decade of experience and careful review, clear and convincing evidence is available from Oregon about how it works in the real world.  There is no longer an excuse for opposing the measure on the basis of the “unknowns.” 
The basic provisions of the Oregon Death With Dignity Act include:

1. The patient must be diagnosed by two physicians as being terminally ill.
2. The patient must repeat the request in writing twice with at least two weeks between requests.
3. If either physician suspects the person is not mentally competent to make the decision, a mental health evaluation is required.
4. The patient must be provided with information about and access to palliative care.
5. A prescription may not be written if there is any indication for coercion.
6. The patient must self-administer the medication.

Consistent independent analysis over ten years has shown that the Oregon law works. None of the frightening outcomes predicted by opponents came true. It is used infrequently: only one in six requests are granted; 36 percent of the patients who are given the prescriptions do not use them, and its use has been entirely voluntary.  It is an important fact that 80-90 percent of patients who use the Oregon law are in hospice, and hospice workers in Oregon support the system.  In other words, the Oregon system provides an additional choice but does not replace existing hospice and palliative care. Such a law does not increase and may decrease hastening death, and gives patients the comfort of knowing they have an option whether or not they choose to exercise it.
I urge the King County Medical Society (KCMS) members to consider the evidence and then to look at the moral and policy issues.  I deeply respect the physician’s mission to preserve life and enhance health.  In my view, providing a prescription for life-ending medications at the request of a mentally competent, terminally ill patient is not suicide.  The patient will die regardless of treatment, the terms of dying have been set by medical interventions and the only remaining questions involve issues that matter most to the patient. Helping terminally ill patients exercise choices in their last days is in keeping with a physician’s care-giving role.   

In summary, I believe giving terminally ill patients as much control as possible over the time and means of their death is the right thing to do.  We live in a society that values and protects individual choice.  Oregon’s experience tells us we can provide this choice with assurance that the law will protect against abuse, misuse or overuse.

To find out more about the “It’s My Decision – Washington Death with Dignity” initiative, visit their website at: www.itsmydecision.org

Pre-Caucus Forums

Emmett O’Connell, Committee Member At-Large

This year, precinct caucuses won't include an opportunity to discuss or vote on possible platform planks or resolutions.  However, building an effective party platform is still an important activity.  It’s the one chance we have every couple of years to clearly articulate our values, defining who we are and what we stand for.

Therefore, in an effort to provide opportunities for discussion and participation, we will offer a series of “pre-caucus forums” throughout the county, and, since it’s a presidential election year, we’ll be doing straw polls to determine preferred candidates at each forum.

David Domke*, a dynamic and popular speaker on framing the message in politics, will kick-off and help facilitate the first forum in Olympia on January 15.  Participants at all three events will be able to discuss what they think should be included in the Thurston County Democrats' platform this year, submit resolutions, and “vote” for their favorite presidential candidate. You can begin the discussion early at www.thurstondemocrats.org/blog.
 
We hope you’ll take advantage of these opportunities to discuss issues important to you in preparation for the upcoming election cycle.
 
Olympia (featuring UW Prof. David Domke*)
Tuesday, January 15 - 7:00 to 9:00pm
Olympia High School Commons, 1302 North Street SE, Olympia, WA

Yelm
Thursday, January 17 - 7:00 to 9:00pm
Gordon's Grange, Yelm Avenue E., Yelm, WA

Tenino
Saturday, January 19 - 1:00 to 3:00pm
Tenino Elementary School, 301 Old Highway 99 SE, Tenino, WA

* Before earning his Ph.D. in 1996, David Domke worked as a journalist for several newspapers in the 1980s and early 1990s, including the Orange County Register and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is now a Professor and Head of Journalism in the Department of Communication at the University of Washington.

He is the author of a 2004 book that examines the religious rhetoric of the Bush administration and the mainstream press' response entitled God Willing?: Political Fundamentalism in the White House, the "War on Terror," and the Echoing Press (Pluto Press). His new book, The God Strategy: How Religion Became A Political Weapon in America, will be published in January 2008 by Oxford University Press.

In 2006 the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching named him Washington State Professor of the Year.

Here are some links to recent interviews, articles and videos with Prof. Domke.

KUOW "Weekday" - Is Religion Used as a Political Weapon in America?

Counterpunch - "Bush's Brand of Christianity"

YouTube - "On Life and Finding Your Passion"

"The God Strategy" - The official site for his latest book.

What is a “Precinct Caucus? And what about the Primary?”

 Debby Pattin, TCD State Committee Woman

With the nationwide ‘rush to the front’, Washington State’s precinct caucuses have been moved to 1:00-3:00pm on February 9, four days after “Super Tuesday.”   The precinct caucuses are the only opportunity Democrats have to elect delegates for their preferred presidential candidate, so you need to attend the caucus if you want your preference to be counted.  (There will also be a Presidential Preference Primary on Tuesday, February 19, but the results of this primary are non-binding. No delegates will be selected from the Primary Election to go to the Democratic National Convention).

If a Democratic voter cannot attend his/her caucus due to military service, religious observation, or disability (including hospitalization, confinement to a nursing home, etc.), the voter can complete a Surrogate Affidavit.  This affidavit must be returned to the Washington State Democratic Party (PO Box 4027, Seattle, WA,  c/o Bertha McDaniel, Office Manager) or to your Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) by February 8 at 5:00pm. These voters may cast their vote on the affidavit for the Democratic presidential candidate of their first and second choice.

Exactly how does the caucus system work?
(A brief presentation concerning the caucuses and conventions is available on our website at www.thurstondemocrats.org/Caucus2008.htm.)

Members of a political party who live in a geographic area, or “precinct,” gather to elect delegates to represent Democratic presidential candidates at the County Convention and Legislative District Caucuses. This year, the State Democratic Party voted to change the caucus rules so that resolutions are not voted on at the precinct caucuses.   However, resolutions may be submitted in writing at your precinct caucus or at one of our pre-caucus forums in January (see article above).  In either case they will be forwarded on to the Platform Committee for consideration in development of the Thurston County Democrats platform. This will ensure that all resolutions are submitted and that there’s adequate time within the 2 hour precinct caucus meeting to elect delegates and alternates, complete the necessary paperwork, and to discuss the State Party Challenge of post-caucus precinct organizing.
 
So who can attend a precinct caucus?
Anyone can attend a caucus. Registered voters who live in the precinct where the caucus is being held, will be old enough to register to vote in the November election, who sign a statement indicating they consider themselves Democrats and who are willing to be publicly known as such, may speak and vote. Those who can vote, as noted above, may be elected as delegates or alternates from their precinct. Note that this year the Republicans are holding their caucuses on the same day and at the same time as the Democrats, but in different locations. Voters may attend only the Democrat or the Republican caucus, not both.
 
A person who is not in attendance may be elected to be a delegate or if s/he is a registered voter in the precinct, indicates that s/he considers her/himself to be a Democrat and is willing to be known as such, and provides a signed letter seeking election as a delegate or alternate.  A sample candidacy letter is available on our website at www.thurstondemocrats.org/candidacy.doc.
 
How does the precinct caucus and work?
A Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) convenes each Precinct Caucus at 1:00pm. All eligible attendees must sign in and then the official rules of the meeting are read aloud for all to hear. For precincts without a PCO, those attending elect a chair of the meeting and a recording secretary is appointed.
 
The members of the precinct then have an opportunity to make brief presentations in support of the various Democratic presidential candidates. The PCO will limit the amount of time equally among all represented Democratic candidates so that at least one supporter per candidate has a chance to speak. At approximately 1:30pm each precinct will elect its delegates and alternates. (Alternates are needed in case a delegate can’t attend or to relieve a delegate during the convention.) The paperwork is completed and each delegate and alternate receives a certificate that they MUST present when they check in at the Thurston County Convention on April 19.
 
Following the delegate and alternate elections, a discussion will be held regarding the State Party Challenge, which is a plan to organize precincts to get maximum Democratic voter turnout for the General Election on November 4. 

In the time remaining attendees may introduce and submit in writing resolutions they wish to have considered by the Thurston County Democrats’ Platform Committee. The Platform and resolutions will be voted on at the Thurston County Convention. As noted above, attendees will not vote on the resolutions at the precinct caucus. A sample resolution form is available on our website at www.thurstondemocrats.org/resolution.doc.
 
Following the precinct caucus, written notice of the elected delegates is sent to the Thurston County and State Democratic Party.  The results of the tally of delegates is prepared and released to the various presidential campaigns and to the press.
 
Please review the list of precinct caucus sites, locate your precinct, and plan to attend your precinct caucus on Saturday, February 9 from 1:00–3:00pm.   If you have family members, friends, or voters in your precinct who cannot attend but are eligible to complete a Surrogate Affidavit, please print one off of the website and encourage them to complete and return it. It is important that as many voices as possible are heard.

Let’s take back our country!

Lets All Go to the Champagne Brunch

 Jerry Muchmore, TCD 2nd Vice Chair

The Thurston County Democrats are proud to invite you to our annual Champagne Brunch. The event will be held at the Heritage Room, 604 Water Street (map) in downtown Olympia, on the February 2 at 8:30-11:30am. Brunch will be catered and served by Occasions Catering and I guarantee it will be delicious.  We will even have an event license so we can take the Champagne out of the cooler. And, yes Bruce, we will be serving fresh oysters and grits.

George Fearing, Democratic candidate for Doc Hastings seat in the 4th Congressional District, will join us along with Thurston County and State elected officials.  If they’re in town, our Congressional Representatives, Brian Baird, Adam Smith and Senator Maria Cantwell, will attend.

We urge you all to attend this congenial gathering of your fellow Democrats and add your efforts to our festivities. Purchase discounted tickets by January 26 by visiting our ticket page at: champagnebrunch2008.eventbrite.com

Come and join in our discussions and remember that whenever Democrats gather it’s an interesting time. We are looking forward to seeing you all there! 

Why be a Local Democrat?

 Helen Wheatley, TCD Treasurer and PCO Olympia #31

As TCD Treasurer and “mail picker-upper”, I sometimes hear things from the membership that don’t have much to do with my treasurer duties.  To my dismay, I have heard from people who are fed up with the presidential race and quitting the party because of it.  These are people who have supported the Democrats for decades and can’t stand what they see on television.  I understand because my dad is one of them.

I don’t yet know whom I’ll support in the primaries. Since I’m on the left end of the Democratic spectrum, I often feel disappointed with Democrats at the national and even the state level. Being old enough and Oregon-born, I remember a time when some of our old-time northwestern Republicans were more liberal than many of our national Democrats are today. But quitting is not a good answer, at least not for me.

A union friend in Ballard pulled me into it.  I told him I wasn’t interested in being a Democrat, because it was all tweedle dum and tweedle dee.  He would have none of it.  He took me to the Legislative District meetings, where I saw people grilling the local candidates pretty hard. I saw expectations of accountability from elected officials. I met people who were engaged with their community in all sorts of ways besides electoral politics, and I found their enthusiasms to be very encouraging.

My friend said, “If you don’t like what the Democrats are doing, this is where you can push for change.” He nominated me for Precinct Committee Officer and then for a spot on the executive committee. 

There was no escape. From then on I had to know what was happening in my community, I had to understand why my “electeds” did what they did, or I’d be remiss in my duties.

Instead of giving up on Democrats, I gave up on television!  Being a Democrat provides more entertainment value.

I feel good that the Thurston County Democrats supported Gary Warnock’s campaign for Coroner, because he is a really nice guy who is earnest about his civil service. I feel good that we supported Kyle Taylor Lucas for State Legislative District #35 Senator, because that was about the Democrats standing for something other than expedience.

It may not make the late night talk shows, but I’m ok with that.

Political Internship Openings

Jim Cooper, Chair, Legislative District 22 Democrats

The 22nd Legislative District Democrats and the Thurston County Democrats are looking for interns.

Are you a college student? Interested in politics? Want to get some hands-on experience with the local Democratic Party? Apply for our internship program!

As an intern, you will assist executive committee members and other volunteers in implementing an ambitious voter outreach program that will help Democrats win in 2008. Duties include outreach to various neighborhoods and organizations, coordinating volunteers, registering voters, and some administrative duties. This internship is ideal for anyone who is seeking experience in the local political world and wants to have fun doing it!

Requirements:

• Commitment to the values of the Democratic Party
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Works well independently and with a group
• Strong leadership skills
• Able to work some weekends and evenings
• A computer with internet access
• Ability to work from home until campaign office opens Spring 08
  

This is an unpaid internship and we will work with you to get class credit in accordance with your school’s policies.  You are not required to be a college student to apply.

We have 1-3 positions available ongoing until November 2008. Please send letter of interest and resume to campaignservices@thurstondemocrats.org.