TVDC EVENT BULLETIN PLUS 12 April 2017 TriValleydems.com/Calendar.htm

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	TVDC EVENT BULLETIN PLUS April 12, 2017 www.trivalleydems.com/Calendar.htm   Empowering Democrats to have a political impact on people, planet, jobs, justice and peace.
			IBEW Hall 6250 Village Pkwy, Dublin Please help fill the food bank barrel
					Saturday April 15 10 AM	JOIN Congressman Eric Swalwell's GOTV Phone Bank for Jon Ossoff,  who is running in a Special Election to fill the seat in Georgia's  6th Congressional District vacated by HHS Secretary Tom Price. The election is Tuesday, April 18th, and this is an opportunity for local activists to come together in a first step towards taking back Congress!   We will have plenty of food and beverages and all are welcome to join us!  or PHONE FROM HOME
					Monday April 17 6:30 PM doors open 7 PM meeting	The TriValley Democratic Club invites you to HAVE YOUR SAY an opportunity to tell your Democratic Party elected representatives what the party means to you and what you want it to mean and do.  Tell delegates to the state convention about your concerns.  Learn about how the party works and how you can have an impact.  Bring your friends.  Public Invited.  Please bring beverage & dessert to share
					Tuesday Apr 18 7 pm	Join the Tri-Valley Women's March Action Group organizing meeting
					Saturday April 29 7 PM and the 6:30 PM meet & greet potluck	Saturday Night Movie at the IBEW presents Greg Palast’s 2016 film “The Best Democracy Money Can Buy” Socialize before the film, snack during the film and join the discussion after the film.  Bring snacks and drinks to share.  Basically a party with a side of politics.
			Crow Canyon Country Club 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville		Thursday April 27 CORRECTION 6:15 Networking 6:45 Dinner 7:15 Program	The San Ramon Valley Democratic Club  presents Arlie Hochschild renown sociologist and best selling author, speaking about her book, Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger & Mourning in the American Right, recognized as one of the 6 books to understand Trump’s Win according to the New York Times.  Arlie Hochschild, is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley.  RSVP required
			San Leandro Public Library 300 Estudillo Ave		Wednesday May 3 7 to 9 PM	Alameda County Democratic Party Central Committee meeting
			San Francisco planning now		Saturday April 22	The March for Science - San Francisco celebrates public discovery, understanding, and distribution of scientific knowledge as crucial to the freedom, success, health, and safety of life on this planet. We are a nonpartisan group, marching in support of the following goals: Communication, Funding, Policy, Literacy, and Diversity. Volunteer
			Civic Park Walnut Creek		Saturday April 22 10:30 AM - 1 PM	Join Diablo for Peace -  The March for Science  in Contra Costa Sign up on facebook   TVDC is a sponsor
			Livermore High School		Saturday April 22 1 PM	The March for Science  in LIvermore Sign up on facebook TVDC is a sponsor
			Lake Merritt Amphitheater• Adjacent to 12th St, Oakland		Saturday April 29 11 AM	People's Climate Movement Bay Area Donald Trump is a threat to the future of our planet, the safety of our communities, and the health of our families.  The new administration has attacked the hard-won protections of our climate, health, and communities, and the rights of people of color, workers, indigenous people, immigrants, women, LGBTQIA, young people, and more.  We've fought back with a wave of protests larger than at almost any other point in recent history — let's make sure that we mark the 100th day of his presidency with another mass action that stands up for our communities. Contact People's Climate Movement Bay Area pcmba...@gmail.com.
			John F Kennedy University, 100 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill		Thursday April 20 7 to 9 PM public invted	Contra Costa County Democratic Party Central Committee meeting
			Sacramento Convention Center		May 19 - 23	Attend the California Democratic State Convention.- observer passes available A new party chair will be elected.  Check it out
			NOW get involved			A week by week list of SF Bay Area Protests   List of Activist Organizations in Contra Costa
			Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano 4010 Nelson Avenue, Concord	Weekday Mornings		The Food Bank needs your help bagging and distributing groceries at our Antioch, Bay Point, Pittsburg, Rodeo and San Pablo Food Assistance Program sites. Your help is also needed at the  Richmond Food for Children site. Each distribution is held one weekday morning each month.  See the  2017 Distribution Site Schedule for times and places.  Please sign up today by contacting (925) 676-7543 or Foodbank Volunteer Calendar for volunteer opportunities.
PLUS The articles published do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the club. The articles do reflect what is considered by the club to be important and relevant to Democrats providing alternative narratives to those found in mainstream and conservative media. You are invited to join the staff of this 11 year old newsletter with distribution via email to several thousand. Here is the plan
The Art Of The Swerve Pickpockets work in teams that distract and pick.  Similarly magicians distract to draw attention away from what they are really up to.  The Trump team uses distractions to move its real agenda.  Kellyanne Conway hawking Ivanka brand clothes was clearly a distraction that used up the media oxygen for a couple of news cycles.  Sean Spicer saying that no one not even Hitler used poison gas – forgetting the holocaust and napalm in Vietnam – was also a distraction.  Trump’s tweets are distractions.  The world wonders what the Trump agenda really is. It is estimated that 400,000 people have been killed in the 6 year Syrian war.  Over 180 people killed each day on average is horrific.  Trump concluded within 3 days that Assad killed 86 people with poison gas then Trump retaliated by killing 14 more people.  Trump got his information from the slam-dunk team that got us in so much trouble with the WMD slam-dunk in Iraq.  The Russians claim ISIS had the gas in a storage area that was inadvertently bombed, releasing the gas.  90 minutes before retaliating Trump alerted the Russians who told the Syrians the missiles were coming, the 14 people killed may not have been told.  A week before the April 4th poison gas killings Trump was saying his primary fight was with ISIS and he would leave Assad in place.  What could have been Assad’s motivation to switch to chemicals from barrel bombs, which kill, really well?  Why would Putin allow it to happen?  MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell theorized that the attack was the result of a calculated move by Vladimir Putin to deflect attention from the mounting scandal that has engulfed the Trump presidency since the Kremlin’s hack of the 2016 election; a scandal bolstered by continuing news reports on the metastasizing body of evidence that some of his surrogates may have been in on it. Consider the 72 hour response by Trump; shooting 59 missiles at the place where the gas attack was launched, how did he know he was not going to hit a poison gas depot?  If US Intelligence knew which buildings housed poison gas and avoided them – why did not the US ask Putin to get the poison gas out of there before it was used, per the treaty?  Half the US missiles missed their targets, but hit something else accidentally; the missile strike could have hit a poison gas storage area.  In a swerve Eric Trump, the son said “the Syria Strike Proves My Dad Has No Russia Ties” (no ties with hammer and sickle) he also claims his sister Ivanka convinced their dad to bomb Syria in retaliation for the poison gas attack.   Daddy please punish Mr Assad, the pictures on TV really freaked out Jared  and I.    Is Eric just being mean to his sister? The American people have come to expect swerves from Trump, but what about Chinese President Xi, does he believe the swerves?  China has been trying to lead the world Golbalization Caucus, while Trump, LePen, Putin and alt left politicos in Europe are the Nationalism Caucus.  China has its own intelligence service that may know what is really happening and what is swerve.  The other major player is ISIS, they would love to see Russia and the US in confrontation, it is their only path to victory, and they too know how to throw a swerve.  It is possible that the gas was release by ISIS to coincide with Syrian bombing.
		Psychological concepts that explain the Trump era of politics American politics can seem baffling. Psychology is here to help. Click for full article on VOX.com   It is time to stop thinking of those we disagree with politically as idiots. The concepts that follow will help us understand why there is disagreement and why we have to respect others motives before we can have a meaningful conversation with them.   Motivated reasoning: rooting for a team changes your perception of the world. Root, root, root for the home team if they don’t win it is a shame Motivated reasoning is the reason your “judgment calls” favor your favorite team, party or candidate. People who are the most well informed about politics are often the most stubborn about it. Evolution has left us with an “immune system” for uncomfortable thoughts. The argument that’s most convincing to you is not convincing to your ideological opponents Many people seem unashamed of their prejudices Fear has a powerful influence on political opinion Social norms that protect against prejudice can change in the blink of an eye. Authoritarianism is a personality trait correlated with fearing outsiders and supporting strong, punitive leaders. Trump tapped into authoritarian concerns, which helped form his political base. Collective narcissism is a personality trait similar to authoritarianism. Collective narcissists are a group of people who desperately need their group to be admired and validated by others. Collectively narcissistic Americans would feel the need for America to be revered the world over. They would need America “to win.” The political benefits of a narcissistic personality: Trump may not have a personality disorder, but he does have narcissistic tendencies. Studies find narcissists are good at obtaining power, but tend to be impulsive and self-defeating when they obtain it. Also: Scientists find that obtaining positions of power magnifies personality traits like narcissism. With power, people are freer to be their authentic selves. Submitted by Dr Ron Lorentz - Political Psychology Editor and TVDC Vice President
		Swalwell Dares Trump: Declassify The Surveillance Documents A Democrat on the House panel investigating Donald Trump’s ties to Russia is issuing an ultimatum: If the president is going to accuse members of the Obama administration of breaking the law, he should prove it. “If the president wants to say that Susan Rice committed a crime, he has the power to declassify. No one else does,” Rep. Eric Swalwell of California said Wednesday. “So, he could actually show us where the crime was. I don't expect he will, because I think this is just more obstructionism.” Read more
		DeSaulnier Town Hall Presentation In February Congressman DeSaulnier hosted a political town hall in Concord to discuss the new Administration and how we can work together to fight for our progressive values and the rights of all Americans. This is the slideshow that was presented at the town hall.
		WHY IMPEACH Robert Reich identifies four reasons Trump should be impeached for violation of the US Constitution which Trump swore to uphold: 1. The Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause: China’s recent decision to grant his trademark applications for the Trump brand — decisions Chinese authorities arrived at directly because of decisions Trump has made as president. He owns a number of investments that probably also violate the clause. 2. Freedom of religion: Muslim ban’ 3. Freedom of the press: Attacking the press. 4. Treason: Colluding with Russia during his presidential campaign. The political will required for both houses to vote to impeach him does not exist today but as the evidence mounts and the public outrage builds it will may turn into an untenable situation for Republicans. The question for Democrats is impeachment worth the effort given Mike Pence. Kris Welch on KPFA discussed To impeach, or not to impeach with author Norman Solomon & John Bonifaz of www.impeachdonaldtrumpnow.org which says “Anyone becoming president in the wake of an historic impeachment and removal from office of the sitting president based on massive corruption of the Oval Office and defiance of the Constitution will be under even closer scrutiny to follow the Constitution. It would crucially re-affirm the bedrock principle that no one is above the law, not even the President of the United States. The alternative of allowing President Trump to remain in office while he continues to defy the Constitution and the rule of law is unacceptable and extremely dangerous to the future of our republic.” Norman Solomon argued that no one is above the law, especially the President. Trump cannot get away with violating the constitution, loosing hard fought for ground in terms of nullifying portions of the constitution is unacceptable. Impeachment requires a congressional investigation and then a trial in the senate. 2/3 in each house is required. When we get to the point Trump leaves office, the Republicans will be divided between those who voted for and against impeachment. A President Pence will be saddled with the Trump legacy and a divided party. That sounds like a much better situation than the current one. Congressional Inquiry – first step toward impeachment Watergate was a slow process investigation with revelations and surprises all along the way. The process not only undid Nixon but it changed public opinion. Similarly today an investigation of the connections between Trump and Russia could result in the demise of his brand of politics. TriValley Congressman Eric Swalwell is on the Intelligence Committee investigating the Trump Russia connections and has published publicly available intelligence called CONNECTING THE TRUMP RUSSIA DOTS .which includes: After FBI Director James Comey revealed the existence of an investigation of the Trump Russia relationships Eric Swalwell quizzed the director. Watch Eric question Comey on C-Span (two segments at 3:17:30 & 3:39:30 of a 5 hour video). Eric connects the dots in 11 minutes. Read the NY Times article What to Ask About Russian Hacking by Louise Mensch to learn more about the relationships in the diagram and the difficulties in dealing with FISA warrant obtained information. It is illegal to reveal that a particular FISA warrant exists. If a witness actually knows there was a FISA warrant to eavesdrop on Trump and his campaign then revealing that would violate the law. The article says “Witnesses cannot confirm or deny even the existence of a current national security investigation.” If Trump knew about a FISA warrant and TWEETED about being tapped, then he violated the law. More from Ms Mensch at Heat St (on the day before the election) concerning a FISA warrant giving counter-intelligence permission to examine the activities of ‘U.S. persons’ in Donald Trump’s campaign with ties to Russia. Ms Mensch works for Newscorp (Rupert Murdock) which owns Heat Street.   The congressional hearings will be like Watergate on steroids.

 

 

Ellis Goldberg
Tri Valley Democratic Club
Webmaster www.TriValleyDems.com
925 831 8355 LAND / 925 451 4303 CELL Elli...@aol.com