LCDP Pizza Fundraiser with Sen. Herb Kohl
Tuesday, October 9th
5:00 to 7:00 P.M.
Big Al's Pizzeria
115 3rd St. S.
La Crosse
See details below

LCDP General Party Meeting
Monday, October 15
7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
Ho Chunk Nation 3 Rivers House
724 Main St.
La Crosse
Speaker from Fair Wisconsin
2008 LCDP Executive Board Nominations to take place.

LCDP Fall Dinner
Saturday, October 27
5:30 to 9:00 P.M.
Concordia Ballroom
1129 La Crosse St.
La Crosse
Speaker: State Sen. Lena Taylor
See details below

by Sen. Russ Feingold

Over in Iraq, our troops get up every day and risk their lives in the middle of an Iraqi civil war. They have to do their job, no matter what the risk, and no matter what the cost. They do what they are asked to do...and so should Congress. Congress's job right now should be to bring our troops home safely, and we can't turn away from this issue just because it's tough going. The only way we will ever get our troops out is by putting constant pressure on supporters of this disastrous war. Let's make them vote again and again, so that they have to go back home and explain why they keep voting to keep our troops in Iraq. When they feel the heat for their vote, that's when they will change their vote, and that's how we will bring our troops home.

The message from the voters last November was clear -- safely redeploy our troops out of Iraq. Telling ourselves "we don't have the votes now, so what's the point" doesn't cut it. I understand that we may not get to 67 or 60 or even 50 votes on Feingold-Reid right now. But remember, when I first proposed that Congress use its constitutional power of the purse to end the war, support was scarce at best. Now, the majority of Senate Democrats, including our leadership and presidential candidates, are firm supporters. If we give in to the defeatist "we don't have the votes" attitude, we're playing right into the hands of the president and supporters of his war who cannot wait for the day they don't have to talk about Iraq. If supporters of this war are going to vote to keep our troops in a situation that is hurting our military as well as our national security, they should be prepared to defend it every day.

One question that I keep getting asked by reporters is why Democrats aren't reaching out to moderate Republicans to come up with some sort of consensus legislation. I also see stories criticizing the Democratic leadership for failing to bring in Republican moderates to pass legislation. My response is simple -- what good is getting 60 or 67 votes to pass a nonbinding Sense of the Senate resolution on Iraq that doesn't bring the troops home? When I hold my town hall meetings in Wisconsin, nobody is asking me to push for an empty compromise. They ask me how we can finally end this war. This summer we heard a growing chorus of Republicans call for change in Iraq but their words have proven to be empty. If members are serious about changing course in Iraq, Feingold-Reid is the surest way to do it.

The American people have been clear in what they want -- an end to this war. Last November, Democrats were saying all the right things but now it's time to follow through. I know some of my colleagues want to avoid any Iraq debate on the Defense appropriations bill. Sorry, but Iraq is the most important issue we face and the Senate must address it as we take up the Defense spending bill this week. That's why I will again be offering an amendment to set a deadline for bringing our troops home. I intend to do so today.

The annual Fall Dinner will be held on Saturday, October 27th at 5:30 P.M. at the Concordia Ballroom, 1129 La Crosse St., in La Crosse. State Senator Lena Taylor from Milwaukee is our guest speaker. Sen. Taylor is an energetic and inspiring speaker and is the perfect person to get everyone excited about 2008

This year, in addition to the traditional silent auction, we will be raffling off two Green Bay Packer tickets for the December 9th home game against the Oakland Raiders. We will also be raffling off two Milwaukee Bucks tickets to a game of the winner's choosing. Please remember that these raffle tickets are on sale now. Please contact an executive board member to purchase.

Items are needed for the silent auction. Please contact Barb Clark at 784-1887 or Kris Troyanek at 782=3135 to donate items.

We always appreciate help in setup during the afternoon as well. Please contact Fabio Burgos at 792-0878 if you can help.

Please join us for a good time and to help the party get ready for 2008.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

As can be gathered from the rest of this newsletter, October is an extremely busy month for the LCDP. We are grateful to our guest, Senator Herb Kohl, for attending our fundraiser prior to the Milwaukee Bucks exhibition game at the La Crosse Center.

In addition, we have our most important annual event this month -- the Fall Dinner on October 27, with a fabulous speaker in State Sen. Lena Taylor. I hope you can attend one or both of these events. In effect these events are kicking off our local 2008 campaign season.

I'd like to thank the UW-L College Dems for arranging for our September meeting at the Cartwright Center for the showing of "Sicko". We had a great turnout. In addition, thanks to all who helped at the Kind Corn Roast in September by selling raffle tickets and helping staff our table. Finally, thanks to all Democrats who marched in the Maple Leaf and Torchlight Parades during Oktoberfest

Fabio Burgos
Chair
La Crosse County Democratic Party

We know one of these three men will be out of a job in January, 2009. Let's do our best to make sure that the other two get to join him in retirement.

The way to do this is to get involved. The LCDP needs volunteers now for party building and 2008 election preparation. We need a special effort in '08, particularly in the 94th Assembly District and in the 32nd State Senate District.

The membership committee will coordinate this effort. Please contact either:

Vicki Burke at 781-0737 or irelandv icki@aim.c om

Nathan Montgomery at 780-6654 or nmontg o20@aim. com

Hank Zumach at 457-2545 or zumach@m wt.net

If you are interested in serving on the 2008 LCDP Executive Board, please contact one of the members of the Nominating Committee:

Sharon Hampson, 785-2022, ,sharon kgh@charter.net

Mike Koziara, 317-9755, ,ba dcompany@adl.mail.com

Hank Zumach, 457-3545,zumach@m wt.net

Please renew your memberships!! As a reminder, if you renew your membership after October 1, 2007, your membership is good through the critical election year of 2008. If you have not done so, you can find our 2007- 08 membership form at laxdems.com. (Left side of front page).

Our goal is to push party membership over 400 people. Please check our website at laxdems.com, which has a membership form or email laxde ms if you cannot come to our future party meetings.

Membership rates, effective October 1, 2006, as established by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, are as follows:

Students, Senior Citizens: $10.00
General: $25.00
Pairs (two memberships): $35.00
Activist (up to three): $45.00
Family(includes all family members: $75.00
Supporter: $120.00
Friend: $240.00
Patron: $600.00
Investor: $1200.00
Benefactor $2400.00
 

Half of the above membership dues go to the State party, with the exception of the Family membership, where $45.00 of $75.00 goes to the local party. Those who join at the higher levels of membership ($120.00 and above) should remember that only $50.00 of those memberships will stay with the local party.

If your intention is to become a new member or renew your membership with the Democratic Party and you want more of your contribution to go to the Local County Party, I encourage you to join at the single $25 or $75 Family membership level and make additional contributions to the county party directly.