Homophobia (again) in Wyoming

When our little home town of Wheatland, Wyoming gets publicity, it is usually the bad kind. This month is no exception. Our school board, showing a wealth of bigotry and ignorance, has voted to take down "No Place for Hate" posters in the schools due to the sponsorship from a gay and lesbian organization.

http://www.9news.com/...

Here are a few stand out quotes from two of the board members:
http://www.trib.com/...
Wheatland, a southeast Wyoming town of about 3,300 residents, is an "ultraconservative community," said school board member Lee Dunham.

"If this is the way one chooses, then they can lead this particular lifestyle, but I don't believe it needs to be publicly displayed in a school," Dunham said.

School board member Joe Fabian said he believes the Anti-Defamation League is pushing an "agenda that is pro-gay marriage" and that the community of Wheatland is not supportive of that.

"They wouldn't want the organization, the Anti-Defamation League, dictating to their children that an alternate lifestyle is a normal lifestyle," he said.

It makes me sick. If you care to, please help send a message to these ill-intentioned board members by signing a petition requesting the posters be returned here: http://www.petitionspot.com/...

More commentary can be found on the local news/gossip site wheaterville.com

The students are expressing their desire to have the decision overturned, wearing buttons and putting up their own posters, and rallying support on Facebook. I hope is that the school board gets the message and reverses this distasteful decision.

Fear mongering health care- Don't Buy In!

“They won’t pay for my surgery, but we’re forced to pay for abortions.”
“New rules could hike your health insurance premiums 95 percent.”
“Washington wants to bring Canadian-style health care to the U.S.”
"Reform will promote euthanasia."

These are just a few of the scare tactic comments that are being thrown around by Conservatives and right wing special interest groups. Can we PLEASE stop with the fictitious quotes and lies already? President Obama has continually reiterated the same proposal that he campaigned with. Coverage for everyone. Keep your plan if you like it. He restates his stand on the issue again in yesterday's radio address. Please read the text or watch the video. If this bill comes out of the Senate any other way, the blame should be upon folks like Mike Enzi, who wants to clip and cut this bill until it is no longer recognizable.

I'm hearing the rants around the water cooler at work. "Obama wants to kill off my Grandma!!" Give me a break. And let's not pretend that Fox news' coverage on this issue is "Fair and balanced." It's brainwashing, and I hope you are not gullible enough to fall for it. Want to sort the fact from fiction? See the latest posts on the FactCheck.org website.

We have people come to our county hospital every week that are without insurance. These are not "lazy" people who need to "get a job". These are hardworking people who are just trying to stay ahead. For some, their employers don't offer a health care plan. Others have been laid off and can't find work in Platte County. Like our President said, people shouldn't have to claim bankruptcy because they became sick. Our current system just doesn't work. New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Paul Krugman does a wonderful job of describing what is wrong with it.

Now is the time to use our big American brains and really think this through. Let's get it right, and get it done.

Cynthia Lummis is coming to town

Forwarded from our Chairperson's e-mail:

Hello Fellow Democrats,

The 14th of August Cynthia Lummis will be conducting a town hall meeting from 5-6PM at the (Platte County) library. I encourage everyone to attend and show support for our President, especially concerning health care. I will make a best effort to attend, but have some medical issues Im dealing with. This is a chance for your voice to be heard. Lets show Lummis that the Democrats of Platte County are involved to progress our country forward.

~ Charles McDonald

Sage Grouse holding back the wind farms

As you read this article, take note that our Governor believes there are very good areas on the East side of the state for wind farms to be developed. Now let me break out my state map. Let's see, Platte County is situated on the...hey...the East side! We don't have much in the way of coal, oil or natural gas, but we have wind! Shouldn't we be taking advantage of our resources?

http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2009/08/07/wind-power-industry-retreating-from-wyoming-citing-sage-grouse-concerns/

A Discussion Saloon

Platte County Democrats,

I want to start a discussion saloon here in Wheatland. Sponsored and moderated by the democratic party here it would be a sorta of weekly open forum. There is much to be discussed and the weekly forum seems like a good idea. Not formal meetings, those would be separate but a more informal discussion on topics and issues. Health care for instance, or current legislative bills, or some need in one of our towns or farm or ranch. It would be moderated to keep it ordered and work in the time alloted. Creating open dialog is important and keeps our democracy going. This web site helps to do that, and indeed I would hope to see follow ups on the discussion on this site.

What I need is input. A sorta of show of hands ( or comments in this case) on this idea. Help me to shape this forum and where we could hold it, what time is best. I will send this out via the e-mail list as well as on the web site. Lets start an understanding of the issues and topics that will shape Wyoming's elections in 2010.

~ Charles McDonald, Platte County Democrats Chairperson

News round up for the week ending 5-23-09

Here is a round up of this weeks news. Tacked on to a credit card bill, we can now enjoy concealed weapons in our national parks. Enzi, Barrasso and Lummis sound off on cap and trade. Chrysler is closing down five franchises in Wyoming. Dick Cheney can't stay out of the news, headlining the list of 13 people who made torture possible. We are so proud of him. Enzi is in disagreement with panel members on how to deter youth from smoking. Gov. Dave took some heat for nominating his wife Nancy to serve as a U.S. District Court judge in Wyoming.

Of special note, Sen. Barrasso made a special Memorial Day weekend address promoting coal and gas jobs in Wyoming. In his remarks, he states "and solar only account for about 1 percent of U.S. electricity, far below what is needed to meet the nation's energy needs." He goes on to say "There's enough oil shale in the Rocky Mountain West alone to power America for the next hundred years".

This is a complete lack of forward thinking. O.K., we can power America for the next 100 years. Then what?! Guess how long the wind is going to blow in Wyoming? Forever. Guess how long the sun is going to shine down on our state? Another billion years. Of course wind only counts for 1% of U.S. electricity...it's just starting to be used! Wyoming can and should be a vital player in alternative energy production. The change is in the wind...literally. Just ask EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, who toured coal production and wind farms with Gov. Dave this week.

Gov. Dave in 2010... are ya in or out?

Here is another article, this time from CQpolitics.com, speculating on what may come in the gubernatorial race in 2010. Some interesting points are made, including the idea that if Freudenthal doesn't intend to run, perhaps he should say so now so that another Democratic Party candidate can start getting a game plan together. It also name drops a couple of possible Republican contenders.