January 23, 2020
Your Weekly News from the Collin County Democratic Party
All Modern GOP Positions are Based on Lies
by Sudhir Joshi CCDP Communications Director
This editorial will begin a series that will prove all positions taken by the modern Republican Party are based on lies.

Of course, the GOP has always been the most egregious about lying to the public. For example, President Reagan contended that cutting taxes would increase economic activity and allow tax revenue to go up, even though the tax rates were lower. This is the now infamous ‘trickle-down’ theory in a nutshell. Of course, that never proved to be true.

That was followed by another big lie by President George W. Bush – Iraq has Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). That led to hundreds of thousands of dead, a trillion dollars spent, and a Middle East occupation that continues to this day. But no WMDs - the kind that make mushroom clouds as Bush claimed - were found. It was a lie.

However, President Trump has taken lying to a whole new level.  His first claim was that his inaugural crowd size was bigger than President Obama’s. This has proven to be the beginning of a pattern since the Washington Post has documented that President Trump has made 15,413 false or misleading claims since taking office.

So, it’s clearly time to start calling lies exactly what they are - lies. No more, ‘he misspoke.’ Or ‘he was mistaken.’  It was a lie.

Today, let’s discuss the GOP lies about Healthcare. Last week, President Trump claimed that he was protecting people with pre-existing conditions. This is such an obvious lie that the usually reserved Texas Democratic Party released a blunt press release “Trump and Cornyn Continue to Lie About Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions” Way to go TDP!

The truth is that President Trump is backing a lawsuit to eliminate the pre-existing condition protections in the current Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).  This lawsuit is led by our own Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton. 

But the Republican party is being very clever about this. The GOP doesn’t want this lawsuit to get too much media attention. This way their lie about protecting pre-existing conditions can fool more people. So they are quietly asking the Supreme Court to delay review of the lawsuit until after the 2020 election.

Remember when the GOP ran on ‘Repeal and Replace?’ The truth is that the GOP had control of both houses of Congress from 2011-2018. The GOP had both Houses of Congress and the Presidency from 2017-2018. Yet they did absolutely nothing to make healthcare more affordable.

The truth is that Trump and the GOP have no plan on healthcare and they never will because they really don’t care about this issue.  But like Lucy, who always pulls the football when Charlie Brown tries to kick it, they will continue to lie that they have a plan. After this many years of lying on this issue, only fools believe there will ever be a GOP plan on healthcare. 

Let’s not get fooled again. The only way to make progress on healthcare is to vote blue no matter who in 2020.


Comments? Click here .
Note: T he opinions expressed are those of the author
and do not necessarily represent the view or positions of CCDP.
The Ann Richards Dinner
The Room Where It's Happening
When we came within 22,000 votes of flipping Collin County in 2018, the local, regional and national media sat up and paid attention. So we began planning for the 2020 election. These programs started months ago, and we are seeing the benefits already.

In June 2019, we hosted BITHOC, a huge activist training session to launch the 2020 campaign. Our goal is to build the largest field effort in CCDP history. We need to identify new residents as soon as they move in, register them to vote, spread our Democratic message, and get our people to the polls. Neighborhood groups, precinct chairs, and activists like you are reaching out to their friends and neighbors. Together, we have a plan to reach every Democrat in Collin County with the message that we CAN win.

But we can’t do it without knocking doors, talking to our friends and neighbors, and yes, with money. Every dollar we raise this year goes to building our party, reaching Democrats we’ve never spoken to before, and registering our new voters. Thousands of our friends and neighbors need to hear that Democrats are here and ready to represent them. This year, we want to speak to every one of those neighbors.

When you support the Ann Richards Dinner, you are supporting our efforts to flip Collin County in 2020. Our opponents know that we can flip Collin County and they are preparing for a fight.

“When we change Collin County, we'll change Texas. When we change Texas, we’ll save our country. What we do right here can change the world,” states CCDP Executive Director John Shanks.

Join us for the 2020 Ann Richards Dinner on April 18 and be part of the winning team. For more information and tickets, go to txdp.cc/ardtickets .
Vote-a-Palooza Event
C CDP will repeat its successful VOTE-A-PALOOZA EVENT all day Monday, February 3rd , which is the last day to register to be eligible to vote in the March 2020 Primary. Come join in the fun and bring friends and family that need to REGISTER.

NOTE: VDRs, let us know if you can help register people to vote! E-mail VDRLead@collindemocrats.org  with the time of your desired shift.

When: February 3, 2020
Office open 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight

Where: CCDP Office
1915 Central Expy #150 Plano, TX 75075 [ Map ]
We are Hiring - Primary Election Workers
We are Hiring Election Workers!  
We are still hiring clerks and judges in anticipation of a record turnout in the 2020 Primary, especially for Election Day, March 3 rd . These are paid positions. On Election Day, all workers are paid $12 per hour. We are continuing to enlist clerks for Early Voting. Although the need is not as great, we do want to have some substitutes ready.
 
To sign up : E-mail elections@collindemocrats.org  or call the Primary Administration Team at 469-609-0539. Specify your desired role as Clerk or Judge/Alternate Judge. You can specify the area of the County you prefer to work in. Listed here are polling locations where we have the greatest need to fill spots for Election Day, March 3 rd .  
 
ELECTION DAY March 3 rd POLLING LOCATIONS THAT STILL NEED WORKERS

  • Aldridge Elementary School - Richardson   
  • Anna City Hall
  • Armstrong Middle School - Plano
  • Benton Staley Middle School Frisco 
  • Bowman Middle School
  • Carpenter Middle School – Plano
  • Celina ISD Admin 
  • Christ Fellowship Church - McKinney
  • Christ the Servant Church – Allen 
  • Christ United Methodist – Plano 
  • Clark High School - Plano
  • Collin College Central Park Campus
  • Collin College – Preston Ridge- Frisco
  • Collin Elections Office
  • Dowell Middle School – McKinney 
  • Evans Middle School – McKinney (replaces Gay Library)
  • Farmersville City Hall
  • First Baptist Church – Princeton
  • Frisco Senior Center
  • Haggar Elem. School - Dallas
  • Hunt Middle School - Frisco
  • McKinney Senior Center
  • Miller Elem. School – Richardson 
  • Renner-Frankford Library – Dallas 
  • Royse City ISD
  • Stonebridge UM Church – McKinney
  • Terry Pope Admin - Nevada
  • Woodcreek Church – Richardson 
  • UTD Callier Center
  
Training is provided at the Collin County Elections Office, 2010 Redbud in McKinney [ Map ]. We will send you the Training Schedule for both Election Law and Voting System Training when we confirm your appointment. It is very important that you attend training, especially because we have a new Voting System. 

Carpooling is available from the Party Office in Plano (972-578-1483). 
Democratic Club at Heritage Ranch Candidate Forum 2020
When: Sunday, January 26th , 2020 from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Heritage Ranch Country Clubhouse, located at
465 Scenic Ranch Circle, Fairview, TX [ Map ]
Texas State House District 67
Candidate Forum, Saturday, February 1st
Are you still deciding who your HD 67 candidate will be? Do you want to ask the candidates questions? What issues will be most important to you in 2020?

You don't want to miss the Plano Area Democrats and WOW Dems HD 67 candidate forum! Our moderator is civil rights activist and former Texas Senate District 8 candidate Mark Phariss. Join us on Saturday, February 1st at 1:00 p.m. at the Collin College Spring Creek Conference Center.

There is no cost to attend, but please RSVP at the link below!

However - it does cost Plano Dems to host events at Collin College! The RSVP page includes a link to donate to help offset the cost of the forum. Please consider donating $10-$20 to help us pay for this event, and to help Plano Dems keep bringing you candidate forums!

When: Saturday, February 1st at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Collin College-Plano Campus Living Legends Conference Center, 2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano 75074 [ Map]
RSVP: Mobilize
Winter Meet & Greet: Collin County Candidates Pt. 3
The Anna-Melissa Democrats are excited to announce their third meet & greet of 2020. Please join us as we welcome four new candidates to the area (Courtney Brooks for Collin County Commissioner, Pct. 1, Lulu Seikaly Root Congressional District 3, Dana Huffman for Judge, and Mike Rawlins, County Chair, Collin County Democratic Party). You will be able to listen to their speeches, ask them questions and socialize with others. Once again, light refreshments will be provided.

Notes:
This is at a personal residence, so we will work to make it as ADA as possible. If you need any special accommodations, feel free to reach out and we will ensure that these are met so you can attend the event in the most-hassle free way as possible.

We will do our best to have refreshments available that will accommodate the widest range of food allergies and preferences, but please reach out if you need any special accommodations and we will work to accommodate them.

Date: February 8 at 6:00 p.m.
Location : 1108 Foxtail Dr. Anna, TX 75409 [Map]
RSVP: Mobilize
HD 89 Democrats General Meeting
Join us to hear Dr. Misty Hook speak on the importance of being involved in local government. Local Candidates will be in attendance too, including those running for for the HD-89 seat. Early Voting is Feb.18!

When: February 9 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: 1790 N Central Expy, Allen, TX 75002 [Map]
RSVP: Mobilize
CD-3 and County Chair Forum
This will be among your last chances to hear from all the candidates in one place before early voting starts on February 18!

The CD-3 forum will be from 1-2 pm and the County Chair forum will be from 2:15 - 3 pm.
There will be a chance to talk with the candidates after both forums are complete.
RSVP early as we will expect to be at capacity.

When: February 15 at 1:00 p.m.
RSVP: Mobilize
Collin County Upcoming Events
Better Angels: Reuniting America
Join Better Angels and Friends of the Allen Public Library to see how to effectively discuss divisive issues and build a stronger republic. Better Angels: Reuniting America is a 50-minute documentary about what happened before, during, and after a “lively” Better Angels Red/Blue workshop where Democratic and Republican voters gathered to discuss potentially divisive issues with understanding and respect.

When: Sunday, January 26th at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Allen Public Library Auditorium, 300 N Allen Dr., [ Map ]
Women Organizing Women Democrats 2020 Women of Courage Gala
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote at the Women Organizing Women Democrats 2020 Women of Courage Gala and Casino Night on Saturday, February 29 at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano. We will donate 100% of our profits to our endorsed candidates of 2020.

When: Saturday, February 29th from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m.
Where: Gleneagles Country Club in Plano [ Map ].

You’ve got until February 5th to buy your ticket at our early bird price and then until about a week before the event to secure your ticket, so go to our website wowdems.org/2020Gala and buy your tickets today!
Yes, We Can Talk Politics
Drinking Liberally and Living Liberally are informal, inclusive progressive social groups. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics.

*Note - Due to Valentines Day the Plano and Wylie February meets have been cancelled. The March dates are on the calendar.

Allen - Pinstack (New Location)
When: Friday, February 7 at 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 635 Central Expressway North, Allen [ Map]

Frisco/Little Elm - The British Lion Pub
When: Friday, February 7, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: 5454 Main St #123, Frisco [ Map]

McKinney -  Mellow Mushroom
When:  Friday, February 21, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 218 E Louisiana St, McKinney [ Map]

Plano - Rugby House Pub
When: Friday, March 13, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 8604 Preston Rd #100, Plano [ Map]

Wylie - Josephine's (New Location)
When: Friday, March 13, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 960 W Farm to Market Rd 544, Wylie [ Map]


Please drink responsibly and liberally, use designated drivers. Like a neocon war or a Wall Street tax cut, drinking and driving hurts real people. Don't do it!