Welcome
The Aiken County Democratic Party believes in and works toward a government that works for all of us and not one that caters to a few.
We believe in The United States Constitution, a living document that guarantees the rights of ALL citizens and has enabled this country to become what it is today.
We believe a quality public educational system. We believe in accessible healthcare for all.
We believe that rewarding honest, hard work with a living wage in a tax system that is fair, will build strong families.
We believe in commonsense reforms that give us cleaner air, water, and soil.
We believe in a strong, well-equipped military that will protect our borders and our freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution.
Let's work together to strengthen our beliefs to achieve our goal of becoming a better America for ALL of us.
Aiken County Democratic Party meets at 7 pm every month at The Aiken County Council Building. We meet to foster active interest in the local, state and national Democratic Party, to support campaigns, to engage in grassroots activism, and best of all, socialize! See "Events" page for dates of the next meeting and updates of what happened at our last meeting!
Monthly Gathering Info
-- John Brecht
Aiken County Democratic Party Chairman
Why Obama will win South Carolina
Most pundits and even some senior Democratic Party officials in our state have said Sen. Barack Obama doesn’t have a prayer of carrying South Carolina in the fall election. He will.
History is, admittedly, on the side of the doubters. Since 1960, the only Democrat to carry South Carolina was Jimmy Carter from neighboring Georgia in 1976. In the seven presidential contests since then, Democrats have averaged only 40 percent of the vote. John Kerry got 41 percent.
But predicting the future based solely on the past is like trying to steer a car by looking backwards through the rearview mirror — often with the predictable results.
There are five reasons the results of an Obama candidacy in South Carolina will be different:
First, it’s time. Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come, and Obama’s time has come. Americans are ready for something fundamentally different in our national politics. Americans are fed up with politics as usual and the politicians who deliver it. They want to move beyond the stale division, the senseless partisanship and the corruption of special-interest politics. Obama represents this fundamental change.
Second, the map and the math will be different. Traditionally, the two parties analyze past election returns and focus on a dozen or so battleground or swing states and ignore the rest of the country. The South in general and South Carolina in particular have fallen victim to this traditional math, and we have been ignored as a safe Republican state.
But Palmetto state Democrats are excited and are turning out to vote in record numbers. In the presidential primaries, more Democrats than Republicans voted for the first time in many years, with Democratic turnout up 80 percent and Republicans down 25 percent from 2004. The number of African-Americans who voted in our state’s presidential primary more than doubled.
With the realization that Obama has a real shot at becoming the first black president, excitement will grow to a fever pitch in the African-American community. About 250,000 blacks are not registered to vote, and the Obama campaign has already launched an aggressive voter registration drive. Black turnout in November will likely increase by at least a third, maybe more, over ’04 — fundamentally changing traditional Election Day math.
Third, Democrats will be united like never before. Forget all the talk about the Clintons dividing the party. In order to repair the damage they have done to the Clinton brand, they will see it in their own self-interest to enthusiastically embrace and support Obama. I predict their rehabilitation performance at the Democratic Convention will make it seem like they were the ones who made Obama’s historic breakthrough possible.
Fourth, the money. When Obama made his first trip to South Carolina in January of last year, I suggested that with a strong online effort he could raise $500 million. His response was wide-eyed amazement and disbelief. Today, he has raised more than half this amount, and he’s just now secured the nomination. I predicted that by Election Day the combined Obama/Democratic Party effort will raise $1 billion — yes, “billion” with a “b’.
The impact on the state and local level will be dramatic. For years we Democrats have fanaticized about a strong, united party with an energizing message and adequate resources to run a truly coordinated campaign from the White House to the Court House. This time, it will happen.
Fifth, Sen. John McCain’s candidacy is fundamentally flawed. Just like Bob Dole in 1996, McCain is likely to fade into bit player. Everyone respects McCain’s service to the country; he is a true American hero. But that’s not the point.
He lacks a clear and compelling vision of where he wants to take the country. His plan for Iraq looks like more of the same. And when compared to Obama’s youth and charisma, he simply seems too old and tired.
The Obama campaign will also accelerate change politics in South Carolina beyond November. It already has. In the January primary, he brought out a whole new generation of young and black voters who, having tasted success, will not likely fade away but instead will demand more. And most importantly, there is now emerging a whole new generation of reform candidates, both black and white, who are committed to changing politics as usual — from the school boards to the courthouses to the State House.
So, it’s time. It’s time for us to quit gazing backwards in the rearview mirror into the political darkness of the past. It’s time for us to look ahead to the bright new day that is dawning in Palmetto State politics.
Chairman’s Message
News - scroll to the bottom of the page!
Even if you think you’re registered to vote, don’t take the chance -- double check your voter registration now. Vote caging is already being done this campaign cycle and it will continue all the way to November.
(h/t Crook&Liars)
If you need more information on where to go in your area to register or to check your current voter status, see below.
![The GOP Convention:
Sen McCain’s speech: He made some flubs LINK
Gov Palin “bent” the facts in her speech LINK, LINK
GOP speakers stretch the truth LINK, LINK, LINK
Major Garrett, of Fox News: “...McCain may have more to worry about on the tax front than any Republican presidential candidate in a generation.” LINK
Updated Analysis of 2008 Presidential Candidates’
Tax Plans PDF LINK
Calling all VOLUNTEERS
If you would like to help, contact us ASAP!
Poll Worker training schedule has been released. Please consider taking the one session training -- we need more Democrats in this role on election day! You need
only attend ONE of the following:
• Sept 4th ......9a-12 n ........@ Aiken County Council Bldg
• Sept 8th .......6:30p-8:30p ..@ Aiken County Council Bldg
• Sept 15th ....9a-12 noon ... @ North Augusta Community Center
• Sept 17th ... 6:30p- 9:30p ...@ Aiken County Council Bldg
Voter registration info -- scroll down to bottom of
this page ------------ look for this symbol ---------->
GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel: "An Obama-Biden Ticket Is A Very Impressive And Strong Team" LINK
Jane Dyer, our 3rd Congressional District candidate, has written “Choosing Independence” (to answer Rep Barrett’s “drill here, drill now” view). Visit her website for more of her views!
Want to meet Jane? There are Meet & Greets being scheduled in our area, the next one is Sept 14th - at this address, 3-5 PM -- Contact us if you’d like to attend.
Rob Miller, our 2nd Congressional District candidate...A new report from the McClatchy Washington Bureau suggests that there may be trouble ahead for Team Wilson this fall.” (h/t Elonkey ) LINK Here is Rob’s website to help him.
Rob will be in town, Sept 11, 7PM: see Events page
House conservatives booed Veterans groups who urge a clean military funding bill. LINK
++++++++++++
McCain Campaign Ads
Obama & foreign policy ad, bogus LINK & ABC LINK
Obama, U.S. troops, and two bogus smears. LINK.
More smears from the McCain campaign: LINK
and from the Swift-Boaters -- LINK .
McCain - Abramoff - Reed connection - Video
Sen McCain & Foreign Policy
Did McCain's senior foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann, put Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili up to provoking Russia? LINK
Conflict of interest?
Randy Scheunemann earned about $70,000 serving as Sen. John McCain's top foreign policy adviser between the January 2007 and May 15, 2008. During the same period, the government of Georgia paid his firm $290,000 in lobbying fees.... Scheunemann remains owner of the firm ...The firm has lobbied McCain's senate office a lot over the past few years. LINK
McCain Camp Plays Down his Foreign Policy Adviser's Links To Cash-For-Access Dealmaker.
More on John McCain's chief foreign policy aide and spokesman, Randy Scheunemann: this LINK !
Plus Sen McCain’s Chilling Project for America LINK
++++++++++++
8,000 Ohio jobs hang in the balance:
McCain's campaign manager
and longtime friend Rick Davis lobbied on behalf of DHL to overcome Congressional opposition to allowing a foreign company to take over Airborne, and that McCain himself intervened to ensure that the deal went through. According to The Plain Dealer, Rick Davis earned $185,000 lobbying for foreign ownership, and $405,000 after the deal passed Congress. Watch VIDEO LINK for “straight talk” .. NEWS LINK ...
More Tax Deceptions by McCain Campaign
McCain misrepresents Obama's tax proposals again. And again, and again. LINK .
See the massive benefits for oil companies in McCain’s tax plan: LINK .
And look at an email being sent around Sen Obama’s tax plan on FactCheck.org LINK .
Govs.Schwarzenegger (R-CA)and Crist (R-FL) agree with Sen. Obama on tire inflation and regular car maintenance LINK and LINK -- and Nascar and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration...Check out Sen Obama’s plan LINK.
Sen McCain and Phil Gramm
-- about our economy --
The now-ex top economic adviser, Phil Gramm, to Sen McCain said, "You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession,"... "We have sort of become a nation of whiners," LINK
Then Sen McCain said “Phil Gramm does not speak for me,...I strongly disagree ” LINK ...but he does agree: video LINK
Gramm returns to McCain campaign LINK
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act passed in 1999 which repealed the post-Depression era act, the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 (which kept banks and brokerages separate). LINK.
Would Glass-Steagall save the day from credit woes? LINK. Gramm linked to subprime crisis LINK.
++++++++++++
Sen McCain calls for VA to get out of the business of "routine" healthcare. LINK.
The 21st Century GI Bill Signed Into Legislation that Sen McCain didn’t vote on!
June 30th, President Bush signed legislation that included the 21st Century GI Bill. President Bush praised himself and Sen. McCain for “work[ing] hard” to pass the legislation. LINK . Sen. McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham opposed it: LINK and LINK and LINK
and LINK but Sen McCain took credit for it: WATCH the video .. MORE on his voting record HERE .
Sen McCain takes credit AGAIN in front of the VFW members and Fox News’ Carl Cameron LIES about McCain’s “support” of the GI Bill LINK
What the Fox News doesn’t cover
about Senator McCain
Sen McCain in the news LINK ,
Confuses the Surge Timeline LINK --
Plus he confuses over 10 other issues LINK --
False claims LINK .
McCain Falsely Claims That Obama Is Denying The Success Of The Troops LINK .
John McCain & his sense of “humor” LINK
Approval Ratings: The Public v. McCain LINK
Will there be more of the same with McCain?
Contractors reap $85B from Iraq war LINK
John McCain plagiarising? LINK
Sen McCain claims support for alternative energy
but missed votes for crucial energy bills LINK
McCain's YouTube Problem -- A Nightmare! LINK
Military Service and “Commander in Chief”
McCain In 2003: ‘I Absolutely Don’t Believe’ Military Service Alone Qualifies Somebody For President ... military service is not sufficient alone to be president is an argument that has been made by McCain himself: LINK .
In 2004, McCain said of the Swift Boat Veterans, "I deplore this kind of politics. I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable." LINK
Bud Day, a member of McCain’s new “Truth Squad” was a member of the Swift Boat Veterans! LINK
Last Call for Change We Can Believe In LINK
American Legion Immigration Report LINK](Welcome_files/shapeimage_18.png)
Talking with our enemies
October 13, 2007 · Sen. Barack Obama says that as president, he would use direct diplomacy to constrain Iran's role in Iraq...LINK
Missed opportunity to talk with Iran back in 2003 by the Bush White House:
German news reports Maliki agrees with Sen Obama’s timeline and stands by their report..... Maliki’s office OK’d article ...
Iraq spokesman expresses hope for U.S. withdrawal by 2010, (more here) but Sen McCain knows what Iraqis want !
Bush Administration following Obama's Foreign Policy?
What you don’t know can hurt us... ?
The Bush administration has a long and comical history of going to great lengths to hide bad news from the public. Read up on this subject at this LINK.
OK -- It's time to review how much less we know.
Eighteen things you've already forgotten about the media's flawed coverage of Iraq.
Read about it >> here
Retired Military analysts on TV - and the Pentagon
“...Hidden behind that appearance of objectivity, though, is a Pentagon information apparatus that has used those analysts in a campaign to generate favorable news coverage of the administration’s wartime performance...”
“Many U.S. military analysts used as commentators on Iraq by television networks have been groomed by the Pentagon, leaving some feeling they were manipulated to report favorably on the Bush administration, ...”
Remember this?
Important Info
