Table of Contents
1) From the Chair
2) Speakeasy Gatherings in April: Celebrate the Health Care Victory!

• Manchester (April 6)
• Cambridge (April 7)
• London (April 7)
• Oxford (April 7)
• Edinburgh (April 29)

3) 2010 Midterm Elections – Help Us Find Voters
4) Phone-A-Vote: April Attack
5) DAUK Young Professionals Network – Inaugural Meeting
6) Join DAUK on Facebook & Twitter
7) Contact Us

1) From the Chair

There is a brief piece below for you to consider, as you reflect upon the events of the last two weeks.

But before you get to that, I want to encourage you again to join us throughout the United Kingdom to celebrate the passage of the landmark health care legislation.

Yes, join us and lift a toast to President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid and to the memory of Senator Edward Kennedy.
And discover why we ought to raise one as well to John Dingle.

Whether you are in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester or Edinburgh, please join us to mark this historic achievement.

Details for London:

Wednesday, April 7th
From 6:00pm onward
Texas Embassy
1 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DL

See below for details about the Speakeasy celebrations in Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Is that the sound of steam escaping from the Tea Party tea kettle?

What a difference a week makes! You know the old saying, generally attributed to Harold Wilson: a week is an eternity in politics.

First, after decades of our hoping and trying, after a torturous and difficult route through the House and Senate, the historic health care reform act was passed.  No previous President had succeeded, despite having tried (yes, even Richard Nixon), in getting a bill out of committee in either the House or the Senate.  But President Obama not only got the bill out of committee—but, with solid support from Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid, through both houses of Congress as well.

Three days later, the government concluded a new START agreement with Russia to cut the number of strategic nuclear warheads held by each country.

At home and abroad, the media-depiction of an administration and a President floundering has been transmuted into the image of a decisive (and successful) President doggedly pursuing his agenda—and acting forcefully to achieve the hopes of all who supported him.

Little noticed was the overhaul of the entire college student-aid program that was passed simultaneously with the health care act.  And now with further jobs bills and financial reform legislation on the horizon—territory that is more favorable to Democrats—and with the polls already reflecting a change in public attitudes toward the health care reform act, there has been a sea change in Washington and in the nation.

In my email to you last week, I mentioned the real benefits of reform that come into effect within the next six to nine months. As those benefits become apparent, the distortions repeatedly trumpeted by opponents of the health care bill will be seen to be as ridiculous and as misleading as they really were—and the change in public perceptions should gather pace.

Once again, the opposition has been caught out making the kind of outlandish statements and off-base predictions they have become notorious for.

Do you remember Ronald Reagan on Medicare (he said it was the end of American freedom) or remember the Republican leadership (including John Boehner, the current minority leader) predicting the downfall of the American economy as a result of the first budget of President Clinton?
That budget passed without a single Republican vote, setting the nation on a course to achieve budget surpluses in the last three years of the Clinton Presidency.  It was the basis for an economy that created 23 million jobs.  Compare that record to the massive deficits of both Reagan and Bush II and to the failure to create any new jobs in the eight years of the Bush administration.

We have come to expect that kind of heightened rhetoric from Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, but now it comes from those at the very top of the Republican Party.

Have they no shame?

I have a sneaking suspicion, though, that part of what we are hearing is the sound of steam beginning to escape from the Tea Party tea kettle.
The President is certainly comfortable fighting the fall elections on his record of achievement, especially the health care bill. And so should we be.

The political outlook looks a lot better than just a few weeks ago.

But we are not home and dry—not by a long shot.  The striking Democratic wins in 2006 and 2008 mean that we are still more vulnerable to the usual loss of seats in the House and Senate that historically occurs in the first midterm election of a President.
Further improvement in the economy, a sustainable recovery and a private sector revival that can take over from the public purse as the source of growth and economic uplift are all necessary conditions.

And so our hard work to match efforts in 2008 and turn out Democratic votes from abroad is also absolutely necessary. This is the hard part - the heavy lifting.  So let us get working.

In the meantime, let us all savour this truly historic health care victory!

Democratically yours,

Bill Barnard
__
William D. Barnard
Chair, Democrats Abroad U.K.

2) Speakeasy Gatherings in April: Celebrate the Health Care Victory!

At this moment, we are being called upon to fulfill our duty to the citizens of this nation and to future generations. I do not know how passing health care will play politically, but I do know that it is the right thing to do.  It is right for our families.  It is right for our businesses.  It is right for the United States of America.

President Obama
Arcadia University, Glenside, Pennsylvania
March 8, 2010

Join fellow Americans, Democrats and friends to toast the historic passage of health care reform at April speakeasies all across the UK. Let us all keep up the momentum by helping Americans register to vote in the midterm elections!

*Raise a glass to the vote on health care
      *Request your ballot for the midterm election
      *Grab some leaflets and help spread the word about VoteFromAbroad.org
      *Learn how you can help register U.S. voters

April 6th
Manchester: From 7:30pm, The Ducie Arms, 52 Devas Street, M15 6HS

April 7th
Cambridge: From 6:30pm, The Castle Inn Pub, 38 Castle Street, CB3 0AJ

London: From 6:00pm, Texas Embassy, 1 Cockspur Street, SW1Y 5DL (note: new location for April only)

Oxford: From 7:30pm, The Royal Oak, 42-44 Woodstock Road, OX2 6HT

April 29th
Edinburgh: From 7:30pm, Traverse Downstairs Bar, 10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED

Our regularly scheduled Speakeasies are a chance to meet like-minded Americans, have a drink, talk politics, or just make new friends. Speakeasies are informal and held throughout the country, usually once a month. Drop by and join us - and bring a friend! For more information: http://www.democratsabroad.org/node/3643.

3) 2010 Midterm Elections – Help Us Find Voters

Where are Americans in the UK? You MUST know a few, right?

Do you work with Americans, belong to a social club with lots of Americans, enjoy sports with your American friends or live in an area inhabited by other Americans? We want to get these US citizens to register to vote and request their absentee ballot for the 2010 elections. Please help us find American voters. DAUK can:

·       Provide text for a company or society newsletter which encourages Americans to register to vote online
·       Provide you with leaflets to distribute in your neighborhood, on public sidewalks outside an event or to leave at your office or event location
·       DAUK can come to an event or gathering that you recommend and register voters on site

We register voters in a non-partisan manner so many organizations are happy for DAUK to offer this civic service to their members or employees. Every vote will count in close elections. Email DAUKVote@democratsabroad.org.uk with any ideas to find and register potential US voters.

If you want to get more involved during this exciting election year, please come to our Democrats Abroad Voter Registration Committee meeting on March 31st from 6:30 to 8:00pm at the Temperance Pub on York Street W1H. There will be Voter Registration training from 6:00 to 6:30pm just before the meeting. Please email DAUKVote@DemocratsAbroad.org.uk if you can join us.

4) Phone-A-Vote: April Attack

In the wake of the biggest legislative victory by Democrats in decades, we are facing an entirely new election landscape this November. Conventional wisdom says that the party of the President faces losses in his first midterm - but simple math tells us that if the folks who supported our agenda in 2008 come out to vote in 2010 we can keep our congressional majorities, with room to spare!

You can help us make that happen. DAUK has thousands of voters on our rolls who are willing to vote Democrat, but need help - or sometimes just a friendly reminder - to request their ballots. Can you join us on a weekend day to call these voters and help them request their ballots?

We will be calling in Central London on the following dates:

Saturday April 10th: From 11-2pm and from 2-5pm
Sunday April 11th: From 11-2pm and from 2-5pm
Saturday April 17th: From 11-2pm and from 2-5pm
Sunday April 18th: From 11-2pm and from 2-5pm

Just write to vicechair@democratsabroad.org.uk letting us know when you can call - and we will send out location details, and provide you with all the training and materials you will need. Just bring yourself and a mobile phone!

Cannot make these dates? Prefer to call on weeknights or during the day? Interested in doing more? We are also looking for responsible people to serve as phone bank captains, help us organize more days and nights of calling, and to recommend good venues for this effort. If you would like to help, please email vicechair@democratsabroad.org.uk.

5) DAUK Young Professionals Network – Inaugural Meeting

We are happy to announce the formation of a new Democrats Abroad UK Young Professionals network! The group will provide a space for young ex-pats to meet, network, create community and discuss politics on both sides of the Atlantic. The Young Professionals network will also work closely with other parts of DAUK.

Our kick-off event will be held on April 15th from 7:00pm at The Marylebone (93 Marylebone High Street W1U 4RE). Complementary drinks and snacks will be provided.

Please contact youngdems@democratsabroad.org.uk with any further questions.

6) Join us on Facebook & Twitter

Connect with fellow DAUK members on Facebook & Twitter:

Facebook: Search under Groups:
* Democrats Abroad
* Democrats Abroad UK
* Young Democrats Abroad UK

Twitter:
* DemsAbroad

7) Contact Us

Click on the link below to access the DAUK contacts page, which includes contacts and links to:

* Join Democrats Abroad
* Volunteer with DAUK
* Chapter / Regional Contacts
* Press Liaison
* Democrats Abroad UK Officers
* Mailing address, fax, other
* Register to Vote / Email to Send Questions

Full List of Contacts and Links: http://www.democratsabroad.org/node/927