CURRENT EVENTS
By John Smith

ONE of the following stories is not true. See if you know which one.
The answer is at the bottom.

1.  October 5 - The US Supreme Court opened it’s new term with a new member.  Justice Sonia Sotomayor, not known as a shrinking violet, peppered the attorneys with 36 questions during the first hour.  Justice Antonin Scalia asked 30 questions. LA Times

2.  October 5 - Justice Clarence Thomas, who has been on the court since 1991, hasn’t asked one question in over three years. LA Times

3.  September - Justice Sotomayor, who was raised in the Bronx and is a lifelong Yankees fan, threw out the first pitch at a recent Yankees game.  Justice Scalia, also a lifelong Yankees fan, has not yet been invited to throw out a first pitch. LA Times

4.  September 8 - Union membership is rising in California.  In the last year, there has been an increase of 131,000 new union members statewide.  LA Times

5.  September 8 - Lubna Hussein, a female journalist in Sudan, and twelve other women were arrested for wearing pants, which is against Islamic Law.  When she appeared before the court for sentencing, she was wearing the same pants she had worn earlier.  Outside the court, over 100 women demonstrated against the proceeding.  They were all wearing pants. LA Times

6.  September 15 - Republican legislators in Sacramento wanted to cancel a state program that helps poor people by completing their tax returns for free.  Intuit, the company that makes Turbo-Tax, wanted to charge these people to make more profit.  When Democrats wouldn’t go along, the Republicans retaliated by voting “NO” on 20 bills they had previously approved, including a bill to keep domestic violence shelters from closing. LA Times

7.  September 15 - Freedom Works, a conservative anti-tax group, staged a massive protest in Washington DC.  Conservative bloggers estimated the crowd at somewhere between one and two hundred thousand, and showed photographs to prove it.  However, it was soon learned that the photographs had been taken years before and did not show the actual protest.  Official estimates said the crowd was around 60,000. LA Times

8.  September 16 - US Forest Service officials were trying to estimate how much marijuana was being grown on federal lands.  They suggested that campers who eat tortillas, drink Tecate, and play Spanish music might be armed marijuana growers.  They later retracted the statement and apologized to Hispanic leaders. LA Times

9.  October 6 - The Conservative Bible Project has determined that portions of the Bible are too liberal, and so has decided to eliminate or rewrite certain passages which are considered to be non conservative. NY Daily News

ELI CHEZAR AILING

Eli Chezar, a founding member of the RFK Democratic Club and long time Democratic activist, has recently been taken seriously ill. Over the past few years, Eli has lived in a senior living condominium in Placentia.  He has regularly attended Democratic Club meetings with the Democrats of North Orange County in Fullerton as well as with the RFK in La Mirada.  However, his family has now moved Eli into an assisted living facility in Fullerton where he can be better monitored and helped with his daily routines.

Eli’s family prefers that there are no visitors or phone calls, but Get Well Cards are always welcome. They may be sent to:
Eli Chezar
312 N Roosevelt Ave, #210
Fullerton, CA  92832

California Democratic Party
Region 16 Quarterly Meeting

The quarterly meeting for all Democrats residing in Assembly Districts 60-61-62-63 and 72 will be held on Saturday, October 10, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.  The location is:
California Teachers Association
Regional Resource Center
3175 C Sedona Court, Ontario, CA, 91764

At this meeting, candidates for statewide office have been invited to meet and greet CDP E Board members, convention delegates, and district Democrats. Also, Michael Matsuda and Grace Calderon will be on hand to listen to your ideas regarding our State Party Platform, which will be adopted at the State Convention next spring.

This meeting will be a joint meeting with Region 16 partnering with Democrats from Region 11.  In all, there will be eight Assembly Districts represented, including 34-36-59-60-61-62-63-72.

All Democrats are encouraged to attend.

John Smith, Region 16 Director,
California Democratic Party
ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS 60, 61, 62, 63, 72

72nd Assembly District
Endorsing Caucus

 On Saturday, October 10, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, Democrats from the 72nd Assembly District will meet to officially endorse our candidate for the special election.  One Democrat, John MacMurray, successfully qualified to run in the Special Election.

All Democrats are invited to attend this rare Special election endorsing caucus which will be held at the IBEW Local 441, 309 N Rampart, Orange, CA 92868. For additional information, contact me at 562-237-3482.

RFK ELECTIONS

It’s time for the annual election of officers in the RFK Democratic Club.  All positions are open and nominations will be accepted until our general membership meeting in November when the election will be held. The following positions are open:

President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, Newsletter Editor, and Parliamentarian.

Also, the following committees are open for chair or regular membership positions:
Budget and Finance, By Laws, Hospitality, Internet and Web Site, Legislative, Membership, Newsletter, Political Networking, Precinct Organization, Program, Publicity, Resolutions, Telephone Tree, Graphics, Advertising, Community Events, Historian, Nominating, Headquarters, Fund Raising.

ED ASNER AS FDR

Mark your calendar.  Next March 20th, Ed Asner will star in a one man play FDR, at the La Mirada Theater.  The RFK Fundraising Committee is arranging for tickets to see this award winning actor as he portrays one of America’s greatest presidents.  Watch for our special announcement.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM REV. BILL MILLER

An 8 week book study (already in progress) is being held at the First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Uptown Whittier, entitled:
Hard Times
How Did We Get Here
How do we get out?  A faith dialogue
Thursday evenings, 7 to 8:30 pm
For Information - 562-945-6975

CLARK LEE ON PAPER CHASE

You may remember Clark Lee, a member of the RFK several years ago and who produced our newsletter for a couple of years.  Clark is now working as the Political Director for the LA County Democratic Party, AND he has just started his first year of law school. 
Best of Luck to you, Clark. 
Don’t forget to eat and sleep.

CURRENT EVENTS ANSWER...

#7 was changed.  Conservative bloggers, promoting the Freedom Works protest in Washington DC actually claimed there were between one and two million in attendance.  Plus they used old photos to try to prove it.  There were only about 60,000 there.