Here's the Democratic Candidates, Folks!

Here they are, the primary

candidates lined up

for their rogues' gallery photo by Issues Committee photogra-

pher, Helen Moe, who is usually published in more prestigious media than our Blog. like the Police Gazette, for instance. Since jobs are scarce in a Republican administration she accepted our offer of two votes, not one, in forthcoming elections as payment for her services.

Our Club did not host a televised debate on November 24 at our monthly meeting, but we did the next best thing. Seven of the leading Democrats competing for the party nomination for President were represented by seven prominent local Democrats, all members of our Issues Committee. Though our Club does not endorse or plan to endorse any one candidate at this time, we wanted all Club members and guests to know where each candidate stands on a number of vital issues facing our country. The issues and each candidate's background and position on each issue were presented along with an expert Power Point presentation devised by committee member Gordon Buchi doing double duty as a presenter as well.

In alphabetical order (we are nothing, if not fair) the first candidate, Joe Biden, was represented by Jack Dreyer, who presented Biden's biography and stand on Iraq, healthcare, education, energy and the environment, national security, immigration, and the economy. Not to be outdone, Hillary Clinton in the person of Linda Forcey took off the gloves (not the long opera ones) and came out slugging with her programs on the same issues. There was no time for rebuttals from Biden, but you can be sure that he would have made some before Chris Dodd disguised as our own Jack Lowman took center stage to give his solutions to the same issues. Then Harold Gibson, back from Ohio, did a commendable job of imitating John Edwards on the campaign trail even though Harold lacks a y'all Southern accent. Gordon Buchi next switched hats and became Dennis Kucinich for a few minutes to give that Ohioan's viewpoints on the topics. In what turned out to be the only case of trans-gender identification of the program Betty Bainbridge, who doesn't resemble Barack Obama at all, still managed to make herself believable as she expounded on the issues that most concern him. Finally, the last candidate, Bill Richardson, who left his sombrero and mariachi band at home, was in reality Norman Kurland who concluded the presentations to a chorus of ole, ole, ole.

The audience was squirming to get into action by this time and the Issues Committee Chair, Hal Bratt, gave them their chance. Every presenter left the non-existent podium and dispersed among the tables to present copies of all the candidates' programs and a survey card on which every audience member rated the candidates on each issue plus their electability as the Democratic candidate for President. A strong positon was ranked as a 5 and a weak position was rated a 1 in the estimation of our audience. Those ranking the highest on their positions were Kucinich with 3.9, Obama 3.9, Richardson 3.9. Following in descending order were Clinton 3.8, Edwards 3.8, Biden 3.6, and Dodd 3.4. When the candidates' electability was considered there were some changes. The top candidate was Obama with 4, then Clinton with 3.8, followed by Edwards 3.6, Richardson 3.3, Biden 2.9, Dodd 2.3, and Kucinich trailing with 1.5. The results of the straw poll to choose which candidate the audience members would prefer to clinch the nomination (you read it here, folks, before you saw it anywhere else in the news!!) the winner was Obama with 29% of the vote followed by Clinton with 26%, Richardson 18%, Edwards 13%, Biden 7%, Kucinich 5%, and Dodd with 2%. Is it any wonder that Obama and Clinton are battling each other in such a close race? Stay tuned!

Rating Our Democratic Candidates

"Rating the Candidates" is the feature presentation of our Club's November meeting. Seven of the most prominent Democratic Party primary presidential candidates will be represented by seven Club members, each of whom will present a visual and oral outline of the candidates' viewpoints on a wide range of topics of interest to Florida voters. Issues to be presented include Iraq, healthcare, the environment, and education, among others. At the conclusion of the presentations the audience will be asked to rate on a survey card the candidates on the various issues. The results will be published on this blog a few days later.

The meeting is scheduled for November 24 at 9:45 a.m. in the Social Center on the Island at Shell Point. To reach Shell Point drive west on Summerlin Road toward Sanibel Island and after passing through the intersection of Summerlin Road and McGregor Boulevard stay in the right lane and exit Summerlin Road at the next traffic light (Shell Point Boulevard).Proceed past the Comfort Inn and Suites and the Woodlands at Shell Point to the end of Shell Point Boulevard and the guard station entrance to Shell Point Island. Tell the guard that you are attending a meeting at the Social Center and he will instruct you where to park.

Our Disney Adventure

It's a small world, after all! Despite what the song says, it's not true. Not if you were attending the Florida Democratic Convention at Disney World on October 26-28. Our Club was represented by Joan Walton, President; Bobbi Brown, Vice President; Betty Bainbridge, Past President; and Linda Forcey, past Secretary, who were there and would agree that it was a very wide, wide world--widely diverse in age, gender, and ethnicity. Even without the Democratic candidates present, the convention was energizing, particularly the inspiring addresses by Senator Bill Nelson, Jim Davis, former Congressman who ran for governor in 2006, and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (right hand to Speaker Nancy Pelosi) among other Florida party leaders. In fact the absence of the Presidential candidates kept the focus of the convention on ideas and learning rather than on personalities.

Our ladies remarked that all the meetings were educational, whatever the topic. Economic issues such as property taxes, health costs, and insurance costs are foremost in the minds of the Florida voters. Southwest Florida is also getting younger, more educated, and more Democratic in long-run trends. Despite what is known as the 30-70 Rule (30% of 30-year olds vote, but 70% of 70-year olds vote) the convention was remarkable for the number of young voters who were attending.

The difficulties that Florida Democrats have with the National Democratic Party leadership about the date of our primary election should not distract us from the main message about voting: "Democrats, vote in the Primary; the whole world is watching". It doesn't matter if the votes are not counted; they will influence every primary that follows ours. Most of our state leadership believes that our delegation will be seated and will be allowed to vote.

Welcome home, ladies. from your Disney adventure. Hope the Mad Tea Party ride didn't make you dizzy, or was it the partying after the meetings that did it?