Welcome to 2018 - and wasn't last year interesting? Virtually from start to finish, 2017 gave us daily reasons to fear for the future of our country.
Okay, I know there have been years in our nation's past that have been more urgently perilous than the one we just lived through. But  still it felt very unhealthy having a Senate ruled by a man only beholden to big donors and corporate interests, a House led by a man who worships the egoisitc philosophy of Ayn Rand and a White House occupied by a man who is not only psychologically damaged in countless ways but also just plain dumb.
 And as the year progressed their arrogance grew. It was like dealing with a bully who keeps doing whatever they want to, no matter how wrong, despite your objections. They'll give you a challenging look, thrust out their chin (a problem for Mitch McConnell) and say, "What're you gonna do about it!"
And what can you say?
"Hey, Congress! You have a responsibility to make sure millions of Americans aren't sick or dying because they can't get healthcare." - "Oh yeah? Who says so?"
"You know when a U.S. President nominates a person to fill a vacant Supreme Court seat they traditionally get a hearing in Congress." - "Nah. I don't think so."
"It's wrong for you to finance lower taxes for America's wealthiest few by taking away funds that help Americans most in need." -- "Talk to the hand!"
To be honest, that frustration with the arrogance of power carried over into our own party too. After our party's leadership fatally  bungled the tactics of the 2016 Presidential race, we expected them to spend a few months reflecting on their mistakes. Then we hoped they'd introduce the public to a proactive approach with clear, compelling positions aimed at recapturing voters whose interests should have them voting Democratic in every election. -- Maybe the DNC is doing just that but I haven't seen much evidence.
In 2018, pushing back against destructive Republican policies and taking back both houses of Congress is certainly our driving priority, but how our Democratic Party handles their campaigns also deserves our attention.
With all that in mind, you can get your first taste of this year's New Trier Dems political activity just a few days from now. This Sunday, January 7 our Democratic Committeeman, Dean Maragos, is having his annual "Thank You Pizza Party" at JP's Pizza and Grill in Wilmette.
T  hen a week later on Sunday January 14, the NTD will hold our 2018 Democratic Primary Endorsement Session at the Winnetka Community House. Honestly, I can't ever remember an Endorsement Session with such a large selection of impressive Democratic candidates contending for key offices. It's going to be an inspiring afternoon.
And as I mentioned in the last NTD News, in February there will be a rally at a site to be announced that will lay out the action leading up to Mid-Term Election Day in November. The goal - I believe achievable - will be to take back both houses of Congress, the Governorship of Illinois and the election of all of our Democratic nominees for other state and county offices. -- We can talk more about all of that this Sunday in Wilmette over Pizza.
Thankfully, the first year of Trump's reign is history. But the  GOP has managed to do considerable damage in that brief time. And you can be sure they believe they're just getting started.
In the coming months you'll be seeing Republican leaders and their candidates push agendas that are at least as destructive to our democracy as what they pushed in 2017. And when you hear them speak about their grand plans for American as they continue to shred the social safety net and tear apart civil discourse so necessary for a functioning democracy, remember what they're basically saying to people like you and me is: "So what're you gonna do about it?"
I have a good feeling they'll get our answer this year.
Nels Howard
NTDO member since 1973
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One of the exciting activities we will be pursuing across the state line in 2018
will be to help the Democratic candidate for Congress, Randy Bryce, defeat Wisconsin's Congressman Paul Ryan. This is going to be a hard fought campaign and Randy Bryce can win it. To see his first campaign message
click here.
Are your NTD annual dues up to date? You can only vote at the January 14 Endorsement Meeting if you are paid up. -- You can join the NTDO or renew your membership right now by clicking here.
Or now you also have the option of paying for your annual membership at the January 14 Meeting. New member too! (However, paying up right now does make things easier for us.)
And... if you would like to be a volunteer the January 14 Endorsement meeting, your help would be welcomed. Contact the NTD office at 847-446-8030 and leave a message.
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The New Trier Dems Endorsement Meeting
This Sunday, January 7 -- 1 pm
TheWinnetka Community House
620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, IL
Mark you calendar right now for this Sunday's New Trier Dems Endorsement Meeting in Winnetka.
The event begins at 1 pm so be sure to arrive early to sign in and pick up your packet of ballots. Only residents of New Trier Township or former New Trier residents who have maintained their NTDO membership will be eligible to vote. Also you must be of voting age.
If you've let your membership dues lapse or want to sign up as a new member, you can pay your dues at sign in. See you Sunday.
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Note: The NTDO Endorsement Meeting will not be held until January 7, 2018. Until formal endorsements are made, fund raising events announced in the NTD News concerning candidates competing in Democratic Primary Races do not represent a formal endorsement by the NTDO.
Other events of interest:
Next Tuesday, Jan. 9 in Northbrook - State Sen. Julie Morrison and State Rep. Jonathan Carroll will present a Springfield Update.
 When: Tuesday, January 9, at 10:00am
Where: North Suburban YMCA Lobby, 2705 Techny Rd., Northbrook
What: State Senator Julie Morrison (D-29) and State Representative Jonathan Carroll (D-62) hold a discussion of what lies ahead in Springfield in the New Year.
Jonathan is the new Representative for District 62, replacing Elaine Nekritz.
Saturday, Jan. 20 in Chicago - Women's March Chicago: March to the Polls
When: Saturday, January 20, Tenth Dems meet-up at 11:00am,
march from 12:00 - 3:00pm
Where: Congress and Columbus. The Tenth Dems will meet
in front of the Auditorium Theater, 50 East Congress Parkway, Chicago.
What: On January 20, 2018 marchers will come together in downtown Chicago at the intersection of Congress and Columbus to
celebrate the spirit of the resistance efforts over the past year and unite to focus on the 2018 elections and beyond. Tenth Dems will be at the March - join us!!!
For additional information about the march,
click here.
Sunday, Jan. 21 in Northbrook - JCAST Chicago Presents "I am Jane Doe" Movie Discussion and Panel
When: Sunday, January 21, from 2:00 - 5:00pm
Where: Northbrook Library, 1201 Cedar Lane, Northbrook
What:
JCAST Chicago (Jewish Coalition Against Sex Trafficking) and co-sponsors The National Council of Jewish Women and Northbrook Library present a showing of
"I am Jane Doe," a documentary film about sex trafficking. A panel discussion after the movie includes Marian Hatcher, Cook County Sheriff's Office and Professor Carina H. Santa Maria, MSW, LCSW of Dominican University. Joining the panel will be Yvonne Ambrose, mother of a Chicago teen murdered by her purchaser after he bought her on Backpage.com, and her attorney, Arquilla Deboni.
Attendees are asked to please bring toiletries to the event for survivors of sex trafficking.
Sunday afternoon, Jan. 28 in Skokie -
The Capitol Steps in Skokie with Tenth Dems.
When: Sunday, January 28, at 2:00pm
Where: North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie
What:
Join Tenth Dems at a performance of "Orange is the New Barack" by the political satire comedy troupe, The Capitol Steps. Tickets are just $50 each, a few dollars less than the cost of buying from the box office ($48.00 + $5.00 fee).
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Here is a list of the local and statewide Democratic candidates seeking your vote in the 2018 Primary Election. You have several months to get acquainted with the positions and qualifications before the Democratic Primary this spring and the NTDO Endorsement Meeting in January.
Because some web browsers will not accept e-mailings with a large number of Internet links, they have been erased from this candidate list.
To see all the available links, visit our NTDO website at ntdo.org.
Illinois Governor:
Chris Kennedy
JB Pritzger
Bob Daiber
Teo Hardiman
Robert Marshal
Alex Paterakis
Daniel Biss, State Senator 9th District
Illinois Attorney General:
Jesse Ruiz, Board of Commisioners, Park District
Kwame Raoul, IL State Senator13th District
Nancy Rotering, Mayor of Highland Park
Aaron Goldstein, 33rd Ward Committeeman
Scott Drury, IL State Rep, 58th District
Renato Mariott
Sharon Fairley
Pat Quinn, former Illinois Governor
Illinois State Representative -
17th District:
Candace Chow
Alexandra Eidenberg
Mary Rita Luecke
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Pete Dagher
58th District:
Bob Morgan
6th District:
Carol Cheney
Cook County Assessor:
Frederick (Fritz) Kaegi
Cook County Commissioner - 13th District
Larry Suffredin
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Your Legislators:
 Democratic Legislators
who represent New Trier Township in
Washington, Springfield and Cook County
You'll be hearing a lot from these exceptional public servants. --
And they want to be hearing a lot from you.
The fact is, they need to hear from you and want to hear from you in order to represent you most effectively. So, the first thing you can do is get to know who these people are. The links below to their campaign websites are a good place to start.
Jan Schakowsky
, 9th U.S. Congressional District Representative
and Chief Deputy House Democratic Whip. The new Ninth District boundaries include all of New Trier except for Glencoe.
Brad Schneider
, 10th U.S. Congressional District Representative which includes a number of precincts in Glencoe.
Daniel Biss,
State Senator for Illinois' 9th State Senate District.The Ninth District includes all of New Trier Township.
Julie Morrison, State Senator for Illinois' 29th State Senate District. The district includes New Trier's northernmost precincts.
Robyn Gabel,
IL 18th District State Representative. The 18th District includes much of New Trier up to Hazel Avenue and Dundee Road.
Laura Fine
, IL 17th District State Representative.
The 17th District includes the East Glenview and West Wilmette areas of New Trier Township.
Scott Drury
,
IL 58th District State Representative.
The 58th District includes the northernmost precincts in Glencoe.
Larry Suffredin, Cook County 13th District Commissioner. The 13th District includes all of New Trier, Evanston and Niles Townships.
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Have you visited Senator Biss' website "The Road Back" --
click on the link to his video -- then, throughout the year follow his plan's development on the website.
Daniel explains a lot about how Illinois got where it is today and how we can begin the journey on the road back toward achieving our state's tremendous economic potential.
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| Dear Fellow Democrats, If you are not already an NTDO member, and enjoy our Newsletter, we hope you consider joining us as a dues-paying member. NTDO is a not-for-profit political action organization. We depend on our membership dues to support our Democratic causes and candidates. There are two options for dues payments: by check or credit card. By Check: Make check payable to NTDO and mail to our office: NTDO 800 Oak St., Suite 112 Winnetka, IL 60093 OR By Credit Card: visit our website by clicking here Click on the "Join/Contribute" button
Find the link for "contribute with ActBlue"
or go directly to ActBlue by clicking here.
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Still not a member of the New Trier Dems? Your participation in grassroots political action will make a difference. -- Come join us.
 When you're a member of the New Trier Democratic Organization, you have an active role in affecting the political process; participating in grassroots campaigns, staying in touch with elected officials, playing a role in deciding which candidates are endorsed. You'll also gain free admission to select forums and events throughout the year.
Come be a part of New Trier's grassroots political community.
About Us:
The New Trier Democratic Organization is made up of hundreds of grassroots volunteers dedicated to advancing progressive ideals through the political process. We welcome your participation.
Sincerely,
Dean T. Maragos, Committeeman New Trier Township
We are located at 800 Oak Street, Suite 112, in Winnetka, IL. Ph: 847-446-8030
*This Internet communication paid for by the New Trier Democratic Organization and not authorized by any federal or state candidate or campaign committee. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is available for purchase from the State Board of Elections in Springfield, Illinois.
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