Idealism -- Integrity -- Independence
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NTD NEWS
June 13, 2018
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One of these weeks I would love to write about a subject that includes no reason to mention Donald Trump. - Maybe something about inspiring developments in the world of science. Or a local story about young (or old) New Trier people engaged in positive stuff. Or, perhaps simply some thoughts on an important subject like friendship or aging.
 But once again, not this week. Certainly not with all the media noise about President Trump's meeting with Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.
Was it a major diplomatic breakthrough? It depends on who's judging.
Trump Administration spokespersons are positioning it as a major diplomatic event in the Trump presidency. His strongest supporters have hailed it as an unprecedented and courageous act of diplomacy that no past American president had the guts to initiate.
On the other hand, people who make up Trump's political and philosophical opposition see what he started during his few hours with Kim
in Singapore
as, at the least, a self-serving and reckless international initiative. They fear it may damage our relationship with long-time allies like Japan and South Korea for years while it strengthens China's geopolitical leverage and prestige worldwide.
And neutral observers (is it possible to be "neutral" in the world Trump  is shaping?) - former career diplomats, academics and authors who have spent years observing far eastern politics - pretty much agree that the odds are high North Korea will not live up to whatever promises Kim Jong Un might yet make to President Trump and the U.S.A. They base much of their pessimism on the past behavior of both Kim Jong Un and his father Kim Jong Il.
However in my opinion, beyond the historic evidence cited, there's another specific reason that we should remain skeptical. Any agreement worked out personally between Donald and Un will never hold up because both men are unscrupulous, egotistical liars with track records full of deceit. Neither of them possesses a sense of shame.
I suppose one could say that with such qualities in common, there is little doubt the President and the Supreme Leader do "get" each other. Probably more than either one of them will ever "get" leaders like Canada's Trudeau, France's Macron or Germany's Merkel.
Watching Donald Trump operate as our president over the past 18  months, one unusual quirk in this presidency especially stands out. It has become increasingly clear that our president seems more comfortable dealing with authoritarian leaders than with leaders of democracies. He seems to admire dictators. I don't mean he admires them as people. I imagine Trump personally thinks Kim Jong Un is a short, fat, guy with a weird haircut who could never attract a real "babe." (Unlike The Donald.)
I think Trump admires the way dictators operate, with no limitations on their actions. Maybe "envies" is a better word. President Trump has to suffer the frustration of living in a democratic republic. He has to put up with legislators, the free press and outspoken individual citizens who often oppose his actions. But not Kim Jong Un.
CNN reported that since Un came to power he has ordered the execution of 340 people. One hundred forty of those killed were senior officers in his government, including Defense Minister Hyon Yong Choi who was shot to pieces with an anti-aircraft gun in front of an audience at a military school. (That Kim Jong Un sure does have a flair for drama.)
Yes, I know there have been U.S. administrations in our past that have  played footsies with dictators -
Tito in Yugoslavia
, Diem in Vietnam, Pinochet in Chile. The Cold War created strange bedfellows. But compared to the presidents involved in those past relationships -
Eisenhower, Nixon, Kennedy,
- the mutual admiration dance going on between Trump and Kim seems unique.
Also, as far as I know, the approach that past U.S. presidents have followed when dealing with foreign leaders has almost always included some level of pre-planning with input from knowledgeable advisors. President Trump notoriously shuns detailed briefings and any reading-up on the issue at hand. In fact, he brags about it.
So will President Trump prove the millions of skeptics like me wrong? Will his ability to establish a rapport with an international pariah result in a more secure world in the future? - I sure wish I was commenting on one of Trump's fake "reality TV" scripts. But unfortunately, the very real reality show our President is handing us is not going to be fun to watch.
Nels Howard
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Monday, July 16th
It's the ANNUAL NEW TRIER DEMOCRATS
MEET AND GREET
at AVLI ESTIATORIO
566 Chestnut, Winnetka
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Delicious Greek nibbles, refreshing drinks
and lots of liberal conversation
with fellow Democrats, office holders and candidates.
Don't miss this event!
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Other events of interest:
This Saturday, June 16 in Highland Park - State Senator Julie Morrison Campaign Kickoff
When: Saturday, June 16, 2018 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Where: Campaign Office, 1910 First Street, Highland Park
What: State Senator Julie Morrison's campaign kick-off event. This is an opportunity to hear Senator Morrison speak, meet the campaign team, and sign up to volunteer. For questions or comments, email [email protected] or call 847-461-8792.
This Sunday,
June 17 in Great Lakes Naval Station - Bike the Tenth with Congressman Brad Schneider
 When: Sunday, June 17, 2018 at 1:30pm (attendees gather and prepare to ride). The ride will begin promptly at 2:00pm.
Where: National Museum of the American Sailor, 610 Farragut Ave., Great Lakes (Building 42)
What: Participants are invited to "Bike the Tenth" with Congressman Schneider on a
28-mile loop beginning and ending at Naval Station Great Lakes, and including a brief stop at the mid-point at Glencoe Roast Coffee for refreshments and conversation. Come out and celebrate Father's Day with this family-friendly event. Helmets are absolutely required for all riders.
Please RSVP online.
A map of the route is available online.
Monday, June 18 in Skokie - Deputy Voter Registrar Training
When: Monday, June 18, 2018 at 7:00pm
Where: Niles Township Democrats, 4504 Oakton Street, Skokie
What: A training for Deputy Voter Registrars will be held. Participants must be at least 18 years of age and registered to vote in Cook County. The event is open only to Cook County residents who are interested in helping to register new voters. Deputy Registrars must be trained in the county in which they live, but once trained, can register voters anywhere in Illinois. Training takes less than an hour. This training is being held through the County Clerk's office and is free of charge. Sign-ups will be taken up to five hours before the class starts. In most cases, late sign-ups will not be added to the class.
Register online in advance
. For additional information contact [email protected] or call 847-266-VOTE (8683).
Monday, June 18 in Deerfield -
Rooftop Reception for Julie Morrison
W
hen: Monday, June 18, 2018 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Where:The Warehouse, Rooftop Patio, 833 Deerfield Rd., Deerfield
What: A reception in support of State Senator Julie Morrison.
Tuesday, June 19 in Evanston - Summer Reception for Rep. Robyn Gabel
When: Tuesday, June 19, 2018 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Where: Halim Time & Glass Museum, 1560 Oak Ave., Evanston
What: An annual fundraiser supporting State Representative Robyn Gabel (D-18). For additional information or to RSVP,
register online, email Katy Lagenfeld at [email protected] or call 312-600-9496.
Wednesday, June 20 in Chicago - Reception in Support of Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
When: Wednesday, June 20, 2018 from 5:00pm to 6:30pm
Where: Law Offices of DLA Piper, 444 W. Lake St., 9th Floor, Chicago
What: Join the Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz campaign for an event supporting her candidacy for State Representative for the 17th District! To purchase tickets in advance, make checks payable to Friends for Jennifer and mail to P.O. Box 3042, Glenview, IL 60025 or make a contribution online by
clicking here. Payment will also be accepted at the door. Ticket prices: $100 individual; $50 young professional; Co-Host $500; Host $1000; Co-Chair $2500; Host $5000. For questions or to RSVP, contact
[email protected].
Wednesday, June 20 in Chicago -
Debra Shore Summer Solstice Celebration
When: Wednesday, June 20, 2018 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Where: Erie Café, 536 W. Erie St., Chicago
What: Debra Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Commissioner, launches her 2018 General Election Campaign with her Annual Summer Solstice Celebration. For additional information or to RSVP,
register online.
Thursday, June 21 in Chicago - Breakfast Fundraiser for Sean Casten
When: Thursday, June 21, 2018 from 8:00am to 9:30am
Where: Office of Conlon and Dunn, One East Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago
What: A fundraising event for Sean Casten, who is the Democratic candidate in the hotly-contested 6th Congressional District of Illinois. He is running against Republican Peter Roskam. Sean Casten is a strong clean energy businessperson, is a climate change solutions advocate, is pro-choice and would bring a fresh perspective to Congress and the Illinois delegation.
RSVP online.
For more information, please contact Olivia Daniels at (312) 806-2743 or [email protected].
Monday, June 25 in Evanston -
Reception Honoring Rep. Laura Fine with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
When: Monday, June 25, 2018 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Where: La Principal, 700 Main Street, Evanston
What: A reception honoring Rep. Laura Fine for State Senate. The event features Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. To RSVP, email [email protected] or call 312-630-7700.
June 27, 2018: IDCCA "Blue Wave Summer Brews" Young Professional Meet & Greet
When: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Where: Great Central Brewing Company, 221 N. Wood St., Chicago
What: The Illinois Democratic County Chairs' Association (IDCCA) hosts a
Meet & Greet for young professionals featuring special guests State Senator Kwame Raoul, candidate for Attorney General, and State Comptroller Susana Mendoza. For additional information or to RSVP,
register online
Thursday, June 28 in Chicago - Reception for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza with Jason Kander
 When: Thursday, June 28, 2018 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Where: Chicago location to be determined
What: A reception supporting Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza featuring special guest Jason Kander, founder of Let America Vote. Susana is a member of the Let America Vote board. For additional information or to RSVP,
register online
or email Katy at [email protected] or call 312-600-9496.
Saturday, June 30 -
Visit New Trier Democrats at the Glencoe Sidewalk Sale
When: Saturday, June 30, 2018
Where: Downtown Glencoe
What: Visit New Trier Democrats at their booth during the Glencoe Sidewalk Sale. We would love to see you - whether to chat politics, sign up to become a member, check out local volunteering opportunities or fill out a political survey. If you are interested in volunteering to work our booth for this or any other Sidewalk Sale, please contact Joan at [email protected].
Saturday, June 30 in Riverwoods - Women for Bob Morgan Luncheon
When: Saturday, June 30, 2018 from 11:30am to 1:30pm
Where: Ravinia Green Country Club, 1200 Saunders Rd., Riverwoods
What: A luncheon in support of Bob Morgan, Democratic nominee for state representative, 58th District.
Special Guest: Jennifer Granholm, former Michigan Governor and current CNN political contributor. For additional information or to RSVP,
register online or email [email protected].
Monday, July 16 in Chicago - Second Annual Women's Rights & Resistance Lunch
When: Monday, July 16, 2018 at 10:30am (doors opens), program begins promptly at 11:30am
Where: Revel Fulton Market, 1215 W. Fulton Market, Chicago
What: Second Annual Women's Rights and Resistance Lunch hosted by JB and Juliana. Keynote speaker will be provided at a later date. The event is free to attend and lunch will be provided. RSVP is required to attend. RSVP to [email protected].
Monday, July 16 in Chicago -
League of Women Voters "Food for Thought" Lunch with David Orr
When: Monday, July 16, 2018 from 11:30am to 1:00pm
Where: DePaul Club, DePaul University Center, 11th Floor, 1 E. Jackson, Chicago (corner of State Street and Jackson)
What: The League of Women Voters of Cook County presents a program on different aspects of Cook County government - with food! Featured speaker: Cook County Clerk David Orr. He will talk about what he is working on now and what he would like to see happen in the future. Proceeds benefit the League of Women Voters of Illinois Education Fund. Reservations are required.
Register online or for questions, call Priscilla Mims at 312-861-0166.
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Save The Date!
2018
New Trier Democrats' Events
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Visit New Trier Democrats at the Glencoe Sidewalk Sale
Friday & Saturday, July 13-14, 2018
Visit New Trier Democrats at the Winnetka Sidewalk Sale
Monday, July 16, 2018
New Trier Democrats' Annual Meet & Greet at Avli in Winnetka
Friday & Saturday, July 20-21, 2018
Visit New Trier Democrats at Wilmette Summerfest & Sidewalk Sale
Saturday, September 8, 2018
New Trier Democrats' Annual Meeting and Picnic at Mallinckrodt Center
Sunday, October 14, 2018
New Trier Democrats' Annual Dinner at Maggiano's in Skokie
Thursday, December 13, 2018
New Trier Democrats' Holiday Party at Wilmette Wine Cellar
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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
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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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| 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 Democrats? 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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