New Year's Wishes

The officers and members of the Greencastle Antrim Democratic Club wish one and all a very happy new year with hope for peace, good health and happiness.

The past year has been full of ups and downs. We will never forget the joy of the new year and the inauguration of our President Barack Obama. Who could have anticipated the stone wall of opposition that would greet him as he advanced his program? The opposition has rallied people with an anti-government rhetoric fueled by discontent and fear of change. The health care town meetings were a stunning display of that anger. We will have to overcome these impulses if we want to maintain our Democratic majority in the House and Senate. Let's hope our representatives vote with courage. That will assure their reelection far more than timid concessions to the right.

It's been a rocky road but we did pass a stimulus package, extended unemployment insurance, improved minimum wage, have health reform in the works, will pass reforms of the banking and financial system, placed Justice Sotomayor on the Supreme Court. These are not small gains. However, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan remain stumbling blocks to peace and prosperity. A full recovery with jobs for all who want them is far off. Let's hope our President and Congressional Leaders can rally supporters and stand up for the principles that elected them.

We hope you will attend Democratic Party events in 2010 as we prepare for the Congressional elections. Bring your ideas, your energy and your friends.

VICTORY!!!!!

It's hard to believe but victory has come to the Democratic Party under the leadership of our president elect Barack Obama. Back in the District of Columbia the streets were filled with revelers who left the restaurants and bars on the new U Street NW, and danced their way up to Pennsylvania Avenue and the White House. The White House police were smiling and accepting, and let the celebration continue. The next day the Washington Post had to print 250,000 more copies of the paper's election special and people lined up for hours in CVS and the Giant food stores to get their copies. It was all quite wonderful. African American families in particular paid homage to the parents and grandparents who would have loved the moment. But all people are exuberant in their gratitude. We in Greencastle are grateful for a smooth election; for the long lines at Antrim 5 (even if they were majority Republican); for the many, many volunteers who worked on the campaign. We are also saddened that Tony Barr and Bruce Tushingham failed to capture the prize they so richly deserved. Now we must look ahead. We will be meeting in 2008 on November 10 and again on December 8. We will in the Greencastle Square during the Heritage Holiday celebration. The work goes on.