[Peace-discuss] GOP mobilizes in townships--Dupage

Wed Apr 11 22:27:11 CDT 2007

We should publicize this as much as possible as a remarkable example of 
contempt for democracy.

"[People] by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 
1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers 
from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify 
themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and 
consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise 
depositary of the public interests." --Thomas Jefferson, 1824

Jan & Durl Kruse wrote:
>     It seems our experience last night with Champaign Mayor and council
>     at city hall wasn't so bad after-all!
>     I almost felt guilty letting Siobhan know how uneventful our
>     township advisory referenda annual meetings went compared to what
>     went on to the north of here.
> 
> JAN K
> 
>     *
>     *
> 
> 
>     *Subject: GOP mobilizes in townships--Dupage
>     *
>     DAWN (Dupage Against War Now)'s  Amy Tauchman & Kathy Slovick  did a
>     great job mobilizing--so great the GOP got wind of it and pushed
>     many people to engage in township meetings too.
>     Could you let me know if you did get a township question or
>     questions on your ballot--I will write up a summary and post it to
>     ICPJ and those who have worked on these efforts in the past year.  I
>     know we are considering a ballot petition campaign for the primary
>     or nov election. 
>     See the notice at bottom that went out to GOPers in Dupage.
>      
>     Thanks very much,
>     Siobhan Kolar
>      
>      
>      
>     *Daily Herald * 
>     http://www.dailyherald.com/story.asp?id=300306
> 
> 
>     *Big no on Iraq vote  Effort to get question on township ballots
>     rejected - Robert Sanchez  *
> 
>     A push to have DuPage County townships seek a ballot question on
>     pulling troops out of Iraq met a wave of organized resistance
>     Tuesday night.
> 
>     Supporters of DuPage Against War Now attended all nine annual
>     township meetings in an effort to get an advisory referendum on next
>     year's primary ballot.
> 
>     But in at least five of the townships, the anti-war group couldn't
>     even get the proposal on the meeting agenda.
> 
>     "I suspected that this was going to happen," said Kathy Slovick,
>     DAWN's co-founder. "I didn't realize the level of their response."
> 
>     Under state law, township residents attending the annual meetings
>     can ask that an issue of public policy be put to an advisory
>     referendum.
> 
>     But local Republican leaders said they were prepared to prevent DAWN
>     from using the township meetings as a platform to get its question
>     on the ballot.
> 
>     They lived up to that promise in Naperville Township, where
>     residents voted 69-20 to keep the item off the night's agenda.
> 
>     "We know from the polls that a majority of Americans want to be
>     heard on this issue," said Stephanie Hughes, a member of DAWN. "It
>     is very unfortunate that voices in this township won't be heard
>     because we're not even on the agenda."
> 
>     In Milton Township, more than 220 people packed the gymnasium at the
>     Glen Ellyn Civic Center. When the measure failed to get on the
>     agenda there by a 146-63 vote, audience members applauded.
> 
>     Township Supervisor Chris Heidorn said the annual meetings simply
>     are the wrong place to vent frustration over the nation's military
>     policy.
> 
>     "This is for township issues," he said. "If you have a problem with
>     the war, write your congressman."
> 
>     That viewpoint was shared by York Township residents who opposed
>     seeing the question on the ballot.
> 
>     "I don't think this is the forum for this issue," said Rafael
>     Rivadeneira of Elmhurst. "This isn't the federal government. We had
>     that election already."
> 
>     Hughes and other DAWN members disagree.
> 
>     "It is a local-to-national issue," Hughes said. "It's totally
>     appropriate that it be on the ballot here. If this is the last
>     vestige of democracy, well, it's pretty weak."
> 
>     In townships where the issue wasn't on the agenda, DAWN needed a
>     three-fifths majority to add it.
> 
>     But out of the more than 100 residents who attended Addison
>     Township's meeting, only 17 supported DAWN. When the vote was called
>     to change the agenda, a resounding "no" echoed through the hall at
>     401 Addison Road while only a few "ayes" could be heard.
> 
>     Despite the outcome, Slovick remained optimistic. She said the group
>     is exploring other methods to get the question on the ballot.
> 
>     "We've had four years of discouraging news," she said. "But I'm not
>     discouraged by what happened in this room. People took a stand for
>     what they believe in."  Justin Kmitch, Michael Wamble and Jill
>     Jedlowski contributed to this report.
>      
>     /Please send DAWN a couple sentences ( or more! ) of your account of
>     your township meeting. DAWN will compile them and use your words  to
>     write  a recap of each of the meetings. (Your names will be deleted
>     if we share this, unless you specify it is all right .)  /
>      
>     *GOPUSA ILLINOIS*
> 
> 
>     *If you are a registered Republican voter in DuPage County, please
>     attend your township annual meeting at 7:00 PM this evening - Dave
>     Diersen*
>     www.gopillinois.com
> 
> 
>     Outrageously, Democrats plan on taking over the nine township annual
>     meetings in DuPage County this evening to put the following advisory
>     referendum question on the 2008 primary election ballot: "Shall the
>     United States Government immediately begin an orderly and rapid
>     withdrawal of all of its military personnel from Iraq, beginning
>     with the National Guard and Reserves?  Yes___ No___"  Outrageously,
>     the Democrats openly advertise their plans
>     at: http://www.d-a-w-n.org/warballot.html.  *Even more outrageously,
>     their plans might very well also include putting an advisory
>     referendum question on the ballot calling for the impeachment of
>     President Bush.*  Obviously, it is not appropriate to
>     place questions of national policy on a Township ballot. *If you are
>     a registered Republican voter in DuPage County, please attend your
>     township annual meeting at 7:00 PM this evening*.  A link to
>     township websites is at:
>     http://www.co.dupage.il.us/generic.cfm?doc_id=530#10
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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