Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated
NEWSLETTER
www.svrwf.org * December 2005
President: Doris Whitney – 408-997-0581 * 1st VP & Program: Alice Story – 408-733-3248 * 2nd VP & Membership: Marie Dominguez-Gasson - * Newsletter Editor: Laura Riffle – 408-263-0990
♦ SVRWF is a Diamond Achievement Award Club ♦
All SVRWF luncheons and dinner meetings are held at the Ramada Inn Silicon Valley, 1217 Wildwood Avenue, Sunnyvale, California – Luncheon Meetings: Social 11:30am, Lunch 12:00 Noon – Dinner Meetings: Social 6:30pm, Dinner 7:00pm – Luncheon: $16.00 – Dinner: $20.00 – For reservations please call Louise Kinney at 408-739-4724 or Alice Wilson at 408-733-6352 or Doris Whitney at 408-997-0581
SVRWF Luncheon Meeting………………………………………………. December 1
Speaker: Don Wolfe, President, Silicon Valley Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
“Sick of frivolous lawsuits? Here’s a solution.”
Menu choices: Turkey with trimmings or Ham Steak with peaches and pineapple.
We will be collecting our Christmas tip for our wonderful waiters. Please be generous.
We will also be taking donations for Sunnyvale Community Services. Information is elsewhere in the newsletter.
On this date in 2003, Republican Linda Lingle is elected as the first
woman governor of Hawaii……………………………………………… December 3
On this date in 2000, Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
becomes the first woman elected to US Senate leadership………… December 5
SVRWF Board Meeting (Hosted by Doris Whitney)…………………… December 8
On this date in 1872, Republican Pickney Pinchback (R-Louisiana)
becomes the first African-American governor in US history…………. December 9
On this date in 2000, Republican Ann Veneman, was nominated as
the first woman to be US Secretary of Agriculture…………………… December 20
MERRY CHRISTMAS……………………………………………………. December 25
HANUKAH begins……………………………………………………….. December 26
HAPPY NEW YEAR……………………………………………………… January 1
SVRWF Luncheon Meeting……………………………………………… January 5
Speaker: TBD
The lunch price will increase to $18 on this date…. Still a bargain!
Election Day November 8, 2005 has passed, and even though I'm disappointed, we can move forward. The press and television will continue to cover what they consider the highlights until they have different news to cover. Meanwhile, we start thinking about the June primaries, and what needs to be done.
On November 10, I traveled to Pleasanton to represent Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated at the 2005 Northern Division, CFRW Fall Convention. There were eight members who attended from our club. The convention lasted until Saturday, November12, which included electing 2006-2007 officers for Northern Division, CFRW. You will be pleased to know that Alice Wilson was elected Second Vice President. Congratulations, Alice!
Speakers at the convention were Dick Spees, who is the Alameda Republican Party Chairman, Assemblyman Guy Houston from the 15th California Assembly District, California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, President Thomas Del Beccaro of the County Chairman's Association for the California Republican Party and Bay Area Vice President Luis Buhler of the California Republican Party. Many of our members were able to attend to hear the great speakers. All of the speakers addressed the election and why and how we continue on. Secretary of State Bruce McPherson announced that he was still making the decision about running for re-election.
At our December 1 meeting, we will have an installation of the 2006 SVRWF officers. Newly elected 2nd Vice President for Northern Division, CFRW and currently serving 3rd Vice President for Northern Division, Alice Wilson will install the 2006 officers. Please plan on attending. Don Wolf will be our speaker. He recently met with President George Bush in the White House. He has great information that he will share with us.
At our December meeting, we annually collect for the Sunnyvale Community Center for those in need. A list is included and money (checks made out to the Sunnyvale Community Center) will be collected. Please help in this worthwhile project to help the needy.
Additionally, we collect money for the Ramada Inn waiters. This is our annual thank you to the waiters who have waited on us through out the year.
I look forward to seeing you December 1, and I wish you the best.
Doris Whitney, President. Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated
Deadline for the next NEWSLETTER is December 12, 2005
Political News Compiled by Eve Bretzke
NATIONAL / WASHINGTON, D.C.
GOP Defending Iraq - Last night Vice President Dick Cheney joined a growing chorus of GOP leaders in articulating a defense of the war in Iraq. Cheney also highlighted the apparent amnesia of Democrats who supported the war in 2003 only to change their minds when it became politically expedient.—Townhall.com 11/17/05
Senate Passes $60 Billion Tax Bill [S. 2020] --The Senate passed a $60 billion bill early Friday that would extend expiring tax cuts and prevent roughly 14 million families from paying higher taxes through the alternative minimum tax.
It drew a presidential veto threat for raising taxes on oil companies. Much of the bill, passed 64-33 after midnight, preserves tax cuts approved in previous years that are set to expire unless lawmakers keep them alive. "I call this bill the 'Tax Increase Prevention Act,'" said Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.
Senate GOP leaders pledged that when the bill returns to the Senate for final approval, it will also extend the life of reduced tax rates for capital gains and dividends, scheduled to end when the calendar flips to 2009. --ASSOCIATED PRESS 11/17/05
CALIFORNIA/ SACRAMENTO
Schwarzenegger Takes the Blame in Vote -- Two days after suffering a stinging election defeat, a conciliatory Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took responsibility for the failure of his initiatives and said he learned that he needs more patience in seeking government reform. KQED weblog -- 11/10/05
Democrats and unions savor win -- Union leaders demanded an "apology to the people of California." Democrats in the Legislature insisted he stop insulting them. Quit being a bully, they said at Capitol press conferences Wednesday, and finally work together on issues affecting people's day-to-day lives. Sacramento Bee Los Angeles Daily News -- 11/10/05
Bay Area plays key part in defeat -- Bay Area counties provided an avalanche of votes against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's reform agenda Tuesday, posting some of the state's most lopsided results. Oakland Tribune -- 11/9/05
MORE NEWS…
The statewide results were disappointing but here in Santa Clara County we have really good news -- 8 of the 12 Republican candidates endorsed and supported by the Santa Clara County Republican Party won! Two were incumbents seeking re-election and 6 were new-comers. This increase represents a major victory and a reversal of previous year’s losses. Republicans have a majority on the Los Altos School Board and the Los Altos City Council. Gilroy City Council is now evenly split. With the help of our growing volunteer and support network, we are looking forward to gaining even more seats next year. -- Keen Butcher, Chairman, Santa Clara County Republican Party, 11/11/05
Texas became the 19th state to pass a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, by a vote of 76-24. Alabama, South Carolina, South Dakota and our home state of Tennessee are expected to have the issue on the ballot in 2006. --FederalistPatriot.US, Patriot No. 05-45, 11/11/05
McPherson to Seek Reelection to State Post -- California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson on Wednesday announced he will run for reelection, and vowed to press for more detailed disclosure of campaign contributions. Los Angeles Times Sacramento Bee San Jose Mercury -- 11/17/05
CULTURE
The Big Three nightly newscasts have become nothing more than anti-war activists with a national platform. The Media Research Center recently released a review of over 1,300 news stories on Iraq from January through September. Among their findings was the following: 61 percent of the stories were negative or pessimistic, while only 15 percent were positive. The gap became even worse in August and September with negative stories nearing 75 percent; positive stories at seven percent. Stories about heroic actions by the troops were outnumbered eight to one by stories of abuse or other misconduct. Two of every five news stories covered bombings, kidnappings and other mayhem. Election stories also trended negative, as if things truly were better under Saddam Hussein. — FederalistPatriot.US Patriot No. 05-44, 11/4/05
A Theme Park for the Holy Land? -- American Evangelicals and Israeli officials plan to unveil a $60 million park where Jesus walked. The Israeli ministry of tourism has gone public with a plan to build - in partnership primarily with American Evangelical churches - a sprawling Holy Land Christian Center on the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee, home to some of the most notable chapters in Jesus' ministry. The center, to be built on approximately 125 acres that the Israeli government is offering free of cost, would be a Christian theme park and visitors' center, one that would be particularly attractive to Evangelicals and other Christians who want to spend more time in the places where Jesus walked. —The Christian Science Monitor, November 10, 2005
QUOTED
"A judicial conservative is not necessarily politically conservative, but believes in sticking to the actual Constitution as it was understood by those who made it law rather than amending the Constitution from the bench... I don't think the question is whether the candidate is like a politician who can bring the country together. The question is whether a candidate respects the actual Constitution. A candidate who does that is not a right-wing extremist."—Robert Bork
"The delay in Judge [Samuel] Alito's confirmation hearings gives the Senate Democrats and all the liberal-left interest groups time to orchestrate a fear and smear campaign and raise the money to advertise those fears and smears, both directly and by organized protests that will get much free publicity in the liberal media." —Thomas Sowell
"We know that there were no [weapons of mass destruction] found in Iraq. We didn't know it at the time. We know now that we didn't know at the time that there was no al-Qa'ida connection. We know now that we didn't know then that there was no 9/11 connection. We know now that they had no plan for winning the peace. We didn't know that at the time." —Senate Demo Leader Harry Reid
"I seconded the motion Sen. Harry Reid made last week. Republicans in Congress have refused, despite repeated promises, to investigate the Bush administration's misuse of pre-war intelligence, so Senate Democrats are standing up and demanding the truth." —Dick Durbin, who recently compared U.S. troops to the Nazis and Pol Pot
"Right now, it's not our job to give out specifics. We have no control in the House. We have no control in the Senate. It's our job to stop this administration." —When challenged by moderator Tim Russert, Chairman Dean said this of the Democrats' agenda
"I can't deny I'm a better ex-president than I was a president." —Jimmy Carter
"Oh, sorry. Mentioned 9/11. That's not permitted. Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11. Iraq is about Halliburton and oil, just as the invasion of Sicily in World War II was about cannoli and Chianti. According to some, Bush just threw a dart at a map in 2002; it hit Iraq, and off we went. According to others, he came into office determined to invade Iraq—sure, the Clinton administration had made regime change the official U.S. policy, but at least it wasn't foolish enough to do anything about it." —James Lileks
"Going up in smoke along with thousands of Peugeots are liberal illusions. Multiculturalism is social poison. Toleration of intolerance isn't sophistication, its suicide. Work, not welfare, is the key to social integration. Making excuses for violence begets more violence." —Jack Kelly
“The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character;
business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice.” —Mahatma Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)
PERSPECTIVE
Border Issues & Immigration Reform - Today, we are faced with the uncertainty of thousands of undocumented people whose point of origin is unknown. Some have come here to make a better living, but others are here to do the U.S. harm. This is the greatest issue in the next elections and will impact the outcome of the elections.
The Hispanic population will grow 259% from 26.9 million, to 96.5 million in 2050. The non-Hispanic population is expected to grow 7% over the same period and experience a decline. In 2045, the Hispanic population will be larger than non-Hispanic Blacks, Asians, and American Indians combined. Six of ten Hispanics are born outside the U.S.: 60% are Mexican, 12% Puerto Rican, 11% Central American, 5% Cuban and 11% other.
When an illegal immigrant is caught, he/she strolls out holding a piece of paper that says "permiso" – meaning “permission,” courtesy of the U. S. government, to roam freely anywhere in the U.S. Since 9/11, more than 18,000 undocumented migrants have walked out of custody with permiso in hand. They are from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Brazil, but also from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, the Philippines, Yemen -- among 35 countries of "special interest." These are called OTM, or Other Than Mexican, migrants too far from their homeland. More than 70,000 have hit the U.S. since October 2004. —Marisa Olivares Rummell, chair of the NFRW Outreach Committee, in a briefing on immigration reform which she distributed at the NFRW convention in September.
The above information was compiled by Eve Bretzke. Thanks Eve!
POST ELECTION MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER
I want to thank the people of California.
Whether you voted for our reforms or against them, I thank you for your conscientious consideration. We have fought the good fight.
We did
not lose anything we already had; we simply did not gain anything new except a
lesson or two.
The lesson of this campaign is that the people want us to
reform government by fighting less and working together more.
The voters have said, Arnold, go back to Sacramento and solve the problems by
working with the legislature. I hear you. So, that is what I intend to do.
I will carry out the
will of the people.
Because the people of
California have always been my partners. They are the reason I am here.
And when they speak, I listen.
The campaign is now behind us. The Democratic and Republican leadership and I will meet together Thursday to find a common ground. We are going to talk about reforms and how to move the state forward. I ask them to bring to the meeting new ideas for making California better. As I always say the bigger, the more radical the idea the better I like it.
After the meeting I will leave for China on a trade mission. China is the largest growing market in the world, and I want to increase California's business with China, because it will mean jobs for our people and revenues for our state.
And when
I return from Asia, we will get down to business. We have so much to do in
rebuilding our infrastructure. We need more roads, more schools, more
hospitals, more teachers, more police, more energy and more water.
And I recognize we also need more bipartisan cooperation to make it all
happen. Californians believe the state is on the wrong track. They want
reform. They want change. But it is clear they are tired of the fighting and
the ads.
I feel the same today as that night two years ago when I was elected.
With all my heart, I want to do the right thing for the people of California. I feel so honored and privileged to be your governor. I feel so honored and privileged to serve you. I will continue to work as hard as I can to make you proud of me.
Thank you for your warm support.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
New Member Perspective by Eve Bretzke
Now that I’ve attended my first California Federation of Republican Women I can see why our members like to attend. Our club was well represented and the event was both informative and fun. We got to vote as delegates and attend the after party in the President’s Suite. The convention was well organized covering federation business, awards, speakers, and great raffle prizes. The atmosphere was friendly with most clubs in attendance. I recommend that if you can, attend one of these events sometime and show support for our club. Our club is geographically located in blue territory and our efforts and influence matter to the future of our state.
Speaker highlights were: Bruce McPherson, California Secretary of State ---with encouraging words and first-hand insight into the special election politics at our capitol; Guy Huston, Assemblyman California District 15—whom spoke about the special election and redistricting; Thomas Del Beccaro, President, Country Chairman’s Association, and California Republican Party – he spoke eloquently and has some thoughtful perspectives on government reform and the impact of the special election, his website is politicalvanguard.com; and Luis Buhler, Bay Area President of the Republican Party who shared with us how the party is integrating more business concepts into the states volunteer organizations with positive results.
Eve Bretzke, recent voting delegate for Silicon Valley Republican Women,
California Federation of Republican Women, Northern Division
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