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SharonClark

SharonClark's Journal
SharonClark's Journal
December 16, 2019

Hallmark Boycott...The hypocrisy of 1 Million Moms

From their website...
OneMillionMoms.com, a division of the American Family Association, was begun to give moms an impact with the decision-makers and let them know we are upset with the messages they are sending our children and the values (or lack of them) they are pushing.

Our goal is to stop the exploitation of our children, especially by the entertainment media (TV, music, movies, etc.). Mom, OneMillionMoms.com is the most powerful tool you have to stand against the immorality, violence, vulgarity and profanity the entertainment media is throwing at your children. It is time to fight back!

We are searching for one million moms who are willing to join the fight for our children. We want our children to have the best chance possible of living in a moral society.

And one of their current campaigns...
Barnes & Noble Disrespects Our President...Such ridicule of our president is unnecessary. This level of mockery has not been given to any other U.S. president. The Bible states we are to pray for our country’s leaders, not belittle them.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,” (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

Shame on Barnes & Noble for carrying this book. Selling such inflammatory political garbage is reprehensible and only creates more divisiveness in our nation.

October 7, 2019

You may have an opportunity to donate items to the Obama Presidential Library

I found this interesting, have other presidential libraries collected items this way?

From the Polk County Democrats Weekly Update...

October 11, 2019
5:00 PM: Obama Presidential Center Iowa Collections Gathering
Location: 2124 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Details: Event attendees will have an opportunity to reconnect with other Obama alumni, learn more about the Obama Foundation’s collection development initiative, and meet with representatives from the Foundation’s Museum Team on a first-come, first-serve basis to share information on offered artifacts. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring their Obama-related artifacts and mementos to the event for the Museum Team’s consideration for acquisition and possible use at the Obama Presidential Center.

October 3, 2019

The Only Billionaire In Iowa Thinks Elizabeth Warren Makes Some Sense

It was announced Wednesday, via the annual Forbes 400 list, that seed giant Harry Stine's net worth is $5 billion, an increase of $1.8 billion since the 2018 list. The new figure places Stine, the only Iowan on the list, at 131, up from 179 last year.

The link to the article follows the excerpts.

The Only Billionaire In Iowa Thinks Elizabeth Warren Makes Some Sense

... Stine, 77, is different than any billionaire (or even multimillionaire) I’ve interviewed before. To begin with, he picks up his own phone. “Good afternoon, this is Harry,” he said when I called.

And unlike any Iowan I’ve spoken to this cycle, he hasn’t yet made up his mind about whether he’d support a wealth tax. “It’s a good question,” he said. “I have mixed feelings about it.” Rarer still, he offers a thoughtful critique of both sides of the argument...

While a billionaire’s tax would hardly cripple his fortune, Stine says, neither does he think it would serve a productive purpose—at least not for him or Stine Seed. He says ratcheting up taxes on his personal wealth will leave less for him to plow into the company for research.

On the other hand, Stine supports progressive taxation and sees merit in the efforts of Warren and others to prevent the emergence of a financial overclass...

He’s no fan of Trump. “Technically, I’m a registered Republican, but probably they’ve gone off the deep end the last few years a little more than I can accept,” he said. “Frankly, we are not pleased with Trump’s personality.”

Stine doesn’t sound much like a Warren supporter, but he noted that there’s “a whole basket full of folks coming on the Democratic side,” and insisted he hasn’t made up his mind about which one he’ll ultimately support. “I’m not really active in politics,” he said.

In the meantime, he’ll give more thought to the wealth tax and hopes Democrats will, too. If he had his druthers, they’d rework their proposals to avoid hurting productive enterprise. But whatever the outcome, he’ll be okay with it. “Our deal,” he said, “is tell us what the rules are and we’ll play by them.”

[link:https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-15/the-only-billionaire-in-iowa-thinks-elizabeth-warren-makes-some-sense|

September 23, 2019

Polk County Steak Fry final counts from the Polk County Democrats Weekly Update

And the final number was… 12,242 attendees from all 50 states. Our Steak Fry on Saturday was officially the biggest Steak Fry in Iowa’s history. Not bad for an event that just got rebooted less than 3 years ago...

We welcomed 17 candidates. More than 350 reporters from across the country and around the world joined us. We hosted 10 rally sites for the different campaigns. We were all in awe of the 8 marches led by the candidates from those rallies into the event. Bands, bells, costumes, drums, dance routines, signs, national politicians, and everything else was on full display. The previous record for marches at a Steak Fry was four. On Saturday, we coordinated for 8 and it was no small feat...

Our Republican friends, of course, took notice. The Iowa Republicans tried to fixate the conversation on a weird, artificial storyline about Democrats not liking meat. I quickly pointed out that we would certainly be consuming more meat at our Steak Fry than they would be at their event with Karen Pence also on Saturday. The Trump campaign tried to rent space at Des Moines Water Works to protest us during the Steak Fry, but they quickly discovered that we rent the whole park for the Steak Fry. And we rent it for 7 days. They tried a last minute protest across the street at Gray’s Lake, but we never saw anyone show up for it.

On that Karen Pence event, you may remember that we were surprised to see that Iowa Republicans were hosting their big fundraiser on the same day and in the same town as our Steak Fry. We’d even hoped that we’d be going up against Trump himself. Instead, they claimed that just 500 people showed up for their event. ...

From me:
We are very proud of Waterworks Park, a 1,500 acre park near downtown Des Moines. It is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Located along the Raccoon River, the park offers trails, picnic areas, grills, and fields.The park is home to Arie den Boer Arboretum, one of the world's largest collection of crab apple trees, containing approximately 300 varieties which Des Moines Water Works staff now maintains through pruning and propagation. Today, the arboretum includes approximately 1,200 trees in the collection.

August 17, 2019

Does anyone understand the 2020 race? Salon article by Paul Rosenberg

Does anyone understand the 2020 race? This scholar nailed the blue wave — here's her forecast
Rachel Bitecofer predicted last year's midterms with incredible accuracy. Her 2020 forecast is ... not too bad

[link:https://www.salon.com/2019/08/17/this-political-scientist-completely-nailed-the-2018-blue-wave-heres-her-2020-forecast/|

Interesting read.

August 14, 2019

Buttigieg Rides The State Fair Bus, Meets Big Crowds, Eats A Lot

This is he first time I've heard of a presidential candidate riding the DART bust to the fair. It's fun riding that bus because everyone is so happy and friendly. Good for him.


from Iowa Starting Line...[link:https://iowastartingline.com/2019/08/13/buttigieg-rides-the-state-fair-bus-meets-big-crowds-eats-a-lot/|

July 11, 2019

Polk County Iowa Steak Fry Update

September 21, 2019
12:00 PM
Water Works Park, 2201 George Flagg Pkwy., Des Moines
Get your tickets at [link:http://polksteakfry.com|]

From Sean Bagniewski, Polk County Democratic Party Chair...
It wouldn’t be a weekly email if we didn’t have a Steak Fry update. We were excited to see tickets purchased from Washington, Missouri, and New Jersey this past week. We even had a purchase from an American family living abroad in the United Kingdom (now joining Germany, Japan, and Sweden in our international map). We were just as proud that Congressman Beto O’Rourke agreed to be our 20thheadliner for the Steak Fry. Our last Steak Fry invitation now is with Senator Bernie Sanders and we’re working with his team to confirm his attendance as soon as possible. After we determine whether he can make it, we’ll draw the lineup for speakers and print up posters to blast across Polk County. If you want to help save us a little effort, please be sure to buy your ticket now at www.polksteakfry.com.

March 1, 2019

How the 2020 Candidates are Staffing Up in Iowa

Campaign staffers can start or continue their national careers in Iowa. Maybe you've met or worked with some of the people mentioned in the article below.

From The Iowa Starting Line... [link:https://iowastartingline.com/2019/02/28/how-the-2020-candidates-are-staffing-up-in-iowa/|

February 15, 2019

50th Anniversary Events for Tinker vs Des Moines Board of Education

Sponsored by ACLU of Iowa, one of the activities will be on CSPAN...

During the Vietnam War, 13-year-old Mary Beth and 16-year-old John Tinker were suspended from their Des Moines schools for wearing black armbands to protest the war. With the help of the ACLU of Iowa, they sued and changed the course of student free speech forever.

On February 24, 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Tinker v. Des Moines. As the Court famously wrote, a student's freedom of expression should not end at the schoolhouse gate.

Now Mary Beth and John will be back in Iowa to celebrate with a series of events in public schools, colleges, and more. Join us for an event near you!

Here's the link to all the activities: [link: https://tinkertourusa.org/tourinfo/tinker-turns-50/|



January 29, 2019

Media always finds repug voters to chat with even in deep blue cities

On MSNBC's Steph Ruhl a couple of minutes ago...reporter at a coffee shop, in the heart of deep blue Des Moines, managed to interview two voters - an independent who likes Schultz and a anti-choice Republican who likes Trump. Reporters are rarely interested in talking with Dems but they sure can find non-Dems in every coffee shop and small town diner.

Of course, they never talk to Dems in red areas.

Good thing the Dems are organizing and not sitting around coffee shops.




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