Justice Respect Compassion Diversity
December 15, 2019

Notes from the Chair: Calling All Poll Workers

The Kendall County Democratic Party needs folks to work at the polls in our upcoming elections.  Our next election is the Democratic Primary which will be held on Tuesday March 3, 2020. 
  I have worked elections for a number of years and find it interesting, challenging and always rewarding.  While no one does it for the pay, it is being increased from $8 per hour for everyone to $12 per hour for Judges and Alternate Judges and $10 per hour for clerks.   You must be 18 years or older and a registered voter in Kendall County to be eligible to work. Duties include but are not limited to: qualifying the voter, assisting voters with voting process, assisting and/or managing the opening and closing of the election polls, and be able to work on Election Day from 6:00 a.m. until approximately 8:00 p.m. 

This function is vital to insure the integrity of our voting operations We must have an equal number of workers as the Republicans, so please step up and sign up .
If you are interested, please contact our Elections Office:
Kendall County Elections Office
221 Fawn Valley Drive, STE 100
Boerne, Texas 78006
Phone: (830) 331-8701

On another Note: Star Newspaper

I want to say a few words about the article that appeared recently in the local newspaper the Star.  While factually accurate, it showed that Editor Domke is pandering to the Right. He was given some excellent comments that he didn’t bother to print. It is the norm not the exception for us not to have candidates given the overwhelming Republican majority in the county. Four folks considered running but given the odds and expense, they chose to stay out of the race. 

We must change this by 2022 when there will be many more local offices up for election.

In my view the Star is basically the Fox News of Kendall County and we, as the Kendall County Democratic Party, are the victims of our growth and success. The Repressive Republicans are lashing out at this progress. It is interesting to see them stop publishing many of our pictures and stories right after we opened our fulltime office. The Star readership and advertisers are still mostly Republicans, no doubt the Star is getting significant pressure to tout the Republican side. Look at all the pictures of Biedermann in recent issues. Stephanie Phillips, running for Texas House 73 against him, is really our only local candidate and we need to be a force in her campaign. We have a great story and will be working hard to realize our objectives. We want to make Kendall County, our State, our Nation and the World a better place. It will take time and effort to change attitudes. The prejudice shown against Democrats is significant here. We have lots to do to change that and dwelling on the Star serves little purpose. 

Our focus is to get a Tx 21 Democratic US Congressperson, a Democratic District 5 State School Board Rep and 9 new Dems in the Texas House! We also must do our part to get rid of Trump and Cornyn. 

G et ready to work in 2020. Ideas are always welcome but remember you need to step up to see them implemented.

Thank you and have a great Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year!
  Kevin Henning
Kendall County Democratic Party Chair



Progressive Views:

History Repeating Itself

“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.” James Thurber

I n the 1920s and 1930s Mexico, if you recall, was a kind of Nicaragua for the United States. Mexico was assailed by Americans as the beast down south, the leftist, the revolutionaries, the Marxist, the communists and all that other noise. However, in the 1940s Mexico City was becoming a metropolis because during the war in Europe many emigres came to Mexico and other Latin American countries. These peoples were accepted and easily assimilated into Mexican culture. While Mexico continued to be benevolent toward European refugees the United States continued to assail Mexico to the unwarranted extent that the country and its people were branded as if they were a steer. Mexico was not a perfect country but scholars felt the country was above criticism and had to defend it constantly.
The focus shifted in the late 1940s with Senator Joe McCarthy (Republican, Wisconsin) and his hunt to rid America of communists and communist sympathizers. The ‘witch hunt’ reached its pinnacle from 1950 to 1954 with Senate and Congressional committee hearings. In a press release McCarthy stated in 1953 that “Any man who has been named by either a senator or a committee or a congressman as dangerous to the welfare of this nation, his name should be submitted to the various intelligence units, and they should conduct a complete check upon him. It’s not too much to ask.” 
Today we experience not a ‘red scare’ from Bully Joe and McCarthyism but a ‘brown scare’ from the Bully President and anti-immigrant Trumpism; both atrocities manufactured and orchestrated by Republicans. Rather than communists and communist sympathizers we are bombarded with warnings of drugs, animals, criminals, rapists and murderers flooding our border. 
To read the entire article go to KCDP web page .



So what happens now?

House judiciary committee has drafted the articles of impeachment. T he Judiciary committee voted and the articles passed per party lines. So what happens now?


Full House debates articles of impeachment
Upon arrival to the House floor, most likely on Monday, the articles will come in for debate. While Pelosi is in control of when debate begins and how long it lasts, the process could be delayed, temporarily, by Republican monkey-wrenching.

Full House votes on articles of impeachment
Each article is voted on separately, with a simple majority approval of any one article resulting in Trump’s impeachment. With Democrats holding a 233-197 advantage in the House, and the one independent, former Republican Justin Amash, supporting impeachment, the articles are likely to be passed.

Trump impeached
If at least one article is approved by the House, Trump would become the third president in US history to be impeached. This could happen before a scheduled congressional holiday break beginning on 20 December.

Senate trial
If Trump is impeached in the House, the Republican-controlled US Senate would hold a trial, likely to begin in January 2020. The only such trial to take place in modern US political history, against Bill Clinton in 1999, lasted just more than a month. A two-thirds majority vote to convict on any one article would be required to remove Trump from office. With Republicans controlling the senate by a 53-47 majority, the defection of about 20 Republican senators would be required to remove Trump.


Office Opens January 8!
 
Our new office will begin regular operating hours on
Wednesday, January 8 from 1:30-4:30 p.m .
Regular hours will be
Weds, Fri, and Sat from 1:30-4:30.p.m.

Online sign-ups for shifts will be available soon at  Office Scheduler
If you’d like to sign up for a regular shift, please contact Sherry Thurman

  We’ll probably expand hours as elections approach.
 "Digital Office Hours"

W e will continue to hold “Digital Office Hours” every Wednesday morning from 9-11 a.m. at the new office. (No session on Dec 25 or Jan 1.) Stop by with your questions on any of the tools. Bring your laptop/device, or use Laura's or Becky’s laptop.

Please sign up for date and time @ Mobilize.  

We are happy to schedule some other time to work with you, if Wednesday mornings aren’t convenient; just let us know. (Becky will make house calls!)
 
We hope you’ll take advantage of our “office hours,” and please feel free to share with your key volunteers. We look forward to seeing you!
All I want for Christmas is…

When you are filling out your Christmas wish list during this holiday season, be sure to let Santa know that you would love to have a donation made in your name to the Kendall County Democratic Party . Your gift will be used for the many Get Out the Vote activities planned for 2020.
Single or recurring donations may be made in any one of these ways:
Personal Checks
Personal checks may be mailed to KCDP, PO Box 2321, Boerne, TX 78006

ActBlue
A quick and easy way to donate on-line. Go to https://secure.ActBlue.com

Automatic Transfer or Automatic Bill Pay
Set up transfer payments to Kendall County Democratic Party at Broadway Bank
Acct. #4100012917/ Routing #114021933)

Check Drafts
Have bank send check drafts to KCDP, PO Box 2321, Boerne, TX 78006




Your entire  donation  goes directly to Kendall County Democratic Party, except for a 3.95% credit card processing fee. The money we raise supports the Democratic Operations for Kendall County. We need funds to operate an Office, Train volunteers, “Get out the vote” efforts; Mailings, Posters, Advertising, etc. 

Donate Online!
We encourage you to donate to the Party online with the secure online donation site ActBlue accessible from our home page.





There are more of us than you think!
We're still looking for local Dems! If you run into any “like minded people,” send their name and email address to Laura Bray so we can add them to our mailing list and into VAN as a “strong/lean Democrat.” We want to keep building that list into 2020 and beyond!
Kendall County Democratic Store
 Show your pride for the Kendall County, Texas Democratic Party! Apparel comes in a variety of colors and styles.

Check out the selections; KCDP logo t-shirts, sweatshirts, stickers, totes and more available  Purchase Here
Invite your friends to "like" our Facebook Page
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Click here to be added to our mailing list!
Office 518 East Blanco, Boerne
( same building as Mary’s Tacos, enter through rear entrance) 
830-388-0109 bstrain947@aol.com