Who's THE Candidate? DAT Members Speak Up at Issues Forum

Here's the report from Don Linder, DAT Vice-Chair -- Telling Us the Results of the DAT Issues Forum called "Who's THE Candidate" on 30 January 2008, held at Starbucks Langsuan in Bangkok and attended by approximately 30 DAT members!

I am pleased to report that last night’s DAT Issues Forum was on the subject of “Who’s the Candidate?” was a huge success. At the highest point, there were approximately 30 people there and discussion was spirited.

Let me try to relay some of the highlights of the evening.

1. We started with an informal straw poll concerning the issues which I had sent in a previous email. Those issues were: Abortion, Guns, Health Care, Immigration, Stem Cell, Iraq, Iran, Same-Sex Marriage, Climate Change, Economy, Social Security, and Taxes. Among those issues in the straw poll (plus some early responses to the email), The Economy and Health Care were the top concerns, with Iraq and Climate Change as seconds. However, as discussion opened up, it became clear that the really key issue among those DAT-ers attending was Foreign Policy/America’s Standing in the World. For ex-pats, this made a great deal of sense, with one person bringing it down the personal level of “I’d like to be able to walk down the street again and not feel like I’m hated for being an American.”
   

2. Among those attending, Barak Obama seemed to be the overwhelming favorite for the nomination. Many – myself included – voiced our disappointment in what we felt was Hillary Clinton’s votes on Iraq and Iran, as well as a perception of her maintaining a status quo rather than offering a sense of change. Some spoke of the “Billary” factor, expressing a disappointment/dislike for Bill Clinton’s recent remarks in South Carolina.
   

3. With a political mood and reality in which the Democrats should be able to walk into the White House, and with McCain emerging as the most likely Republican candidate, “Electability” (or, more specifically, “Who was least likely to blow it?”) was raised as an issue. It seemed to me – and correct me if I’m wrong – there was less consensus on this issue than on personal preference for Obama or Clinton.
   

4. We discussed issues which were of particular concern to Americans living abroad; these included everything from the local and specific (visa difficulties, regulations which made it difficult for foreign spouses) to the more global (Social Security enrollment, inability to receive Medicare benefits, the declining dollar, taxation.)
   

A true highlight of the evening was the presence of David Glickman, who was recognized for his dedication to building and sustaining DAT from the very beginning.

It is my personal hope that we will continue this forum as the election season continues. Once the Democratic candidate is chosen, I am especially interested in finding ways to make him/her aware of the specific concerns of Americans abroad to ensure that these concerns are addressed.

Finally, there is a very interesting article by George Packer in this weeks NEW YORKER magazine entitled “THE CHOICE: The Clinton-Obama battle reveals two very different ideas of the Presidency.” It is available at

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/01/28/080128fa_fact_packer/

All my best,

Don Linder
Vice-Chair, DAT

Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean -- Vote in the Global Primary

Check out my favorite candidate from 2004 -- and now Democratic Party Chair -- Gov. Howard Dean as he calls on all Americans overseas to vote in the DA Global Primary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Ev7vDlKl4

Democrats Abroad Thailand "Dinner for Victory" -- February 2nd -- 7:00 p.m. -- Ruen Tong Restaurant

The Democrats Abroad Thailand (DAT) will be holding a “Dinner for Victory” on this coming Saturday evening, February 2, at the Ruen Tong Restaurant, starting at 7:00 p.m. The Ruen Tong restaurant serves some of the most delicious Thai cuisine that I have tasted in my almost 20 years living in Bangkok, and we have negotiated unlimited free corkage so that you can bring your favorite bottle of wine with you!

This is THE MAJOR fundraiser before our DA Global Primary for DAT to secure the resources that we need to run our advertisements for the Primary, to rent venues to hold our polling stations, and to pay for the other expenses that we have in bringing the right to vote in the Democratic Primary to your home computer, or local polling site. PLEASE come and support DAT while enjoying excellent food, cheer, and company of your fellow progressive Americans! The cost for the entire evening is a very affordable 1000 baht per head. Alcohol is not included – as noted above, corkage is free for wine that you bring yourself – but beer and other drinks are available for order.

Please RSVP by email to democratsabroadthailand@gmail.com, indicating how many persons will come. We will collect the donation at the restaurant.

DAT has reserved a private room on the second floor of the restaurant. Ruen Tong is located at 517/9 Naratiwat Rachanakarin (written as it sounds – transliterated on official maps, etc. it usually is written Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra!), Chong Nonsi, in Yannawa district, and the phone is (02) 681-1284 or (02) 681-1285. It is at the mouth of Naratiwat Rachanakarin Soi 30. For a scanned file with map that you can show a taxi driver, contact us at the email below and we will send it to you.

Ruen Tong is located across the street from the famous (original location) Tawandaeng Brewery, where Naratiwat Rachanakarin meets Rama 3 Road. Naratiwat Rachanakarin is the road that runs from Suriwong down to Rama 3 and the river crossing Silom and Sathorn as it does so. The closest BTS stop is Chong Nonsi, but you will have to get a taxi from there (a little short of a kilometer and half to the restaurant from BTS). If you get lost, call Phil Robertson, DAT chair, at (085) 060-8406 and I will tell the taxi driver how to make sure you arrive safely!

DA Thailand Advert in Local Newspapers! Click on Image for a Full Size View!

Democrats Abroad Thailand Advertises in Local Media

Democrats Abroad Thailand is running advertisements in English language newspapers and blogs all over Thailand, encouraging Americans to vote in our Global Primary. For more details on Democrats Abroad Thailand's plans, write to democratsabroadthailand "at" gmail.com. But the short summary is this:

(1) If you are registered as a member of Democrats Abroad Thailand by the end of the day of January 31, you will be able to vote by Internet. For Americans residing in parts of Thailand where there will not be a DAT polling place, this is the major option to participate in our Primary. Join DA at www.democratsabroad.org/join

(2) If you decide to vote in person, we will have polls in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nongkhai, and Udorn Thani. More details about the hours and location of these polling stations is posted below in this blog. Those voting in person must bring their US passport, and can join DAT at the actual polling place the day that you vote.

(3) The Primary is an election run by the Democrat Party of the US. We are the 51st state party of Democrats. Therefore, to participate you must be a member of the Democrats Abroad. Joining is free.

Let's change America in 2008 -- start by voting for the 22 Democrats Abroad delegates who will cast votes at the Democratic National Convention this year -- and will make sure that voice of overseas Americans is heard loud and clear by our candidates for the President!

Details on the Democrats Abroad Global Primary from Thailand

US Democrats Abroad!

Exercise your Right to Vote through the Democrats Abroad Global Primary
on February 5^th!

Have your say on who will be the next US President -- from the comfort of your own home in Thailand!

Democrats Abroad is considered the 51^st state by the Democratic Party, and now through the DA Global Primary, US citizens resident in Thailand will be able to vote by internet, fax, and (in some locales) in person at actual polling stations organized by Democrats Abroad Thailand (DAT)! And these polls matter – because they determine who our 22 Democrats Abroad delegates support at this year’s Democratic National Convention. This is the first ever DA Global Primary – and Democrats in over 50 countries around the world will be voting during DA Primary week of February 5-12.

Participating is easy! Those who want to vote by internet or fax only need to register as a member of Democrats Abroad by January 30 by going to www.democratsabroad.org/join and taking approximately 30 seconds to fill out a basic form. For those who want to vote in person, they can bring their passport to the polling centers (see information below), register with DAT, and then cast their ballot. All Americans who will be at least 18 years of age on November 4, 2008 are eligible.

Membership in DA is free of charge, and opens up a world of DAT movie nights, issue roundtables and social events – connecting you to a network of progressive Americans living here in Thailand but still pushing for change and reform in our homeland.

Those participating in the DA Global Primary vote for President, but to vote for other offices (Senate, House, etc.) you will still have to request an absentee ballot from your state. Given the “hurry-up” primary schedule (when 22 states will go to the polls on February 5), don’t miss your chance to ensure your voice is hear and your vote is counted – don’t risk your primary ballot not arriving in time! Please join us for the DAT Global Primary.

For more information, contact democratsabroadthailand@gmail.com, or see our website at www.democratsabroad.org

Democrats Abroad Issues Forum - Debate the Candidates on 30 January

DAT ISSUES ROUNDTABLE
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
7 pm, Starbucks on Lang Suan Road, downtown Bangkok

With just days before the Democrats Abroad Global Primary, we can sip coffee or tea and talk about the question on many Democrats' minds:

Who's THE Candidate?

For more info, contact me at
donlinder@gmail.com

See you then,
Don Linder, Vice-Chair, DA Thailand
Convener, DAT Issues Forums


The Starbucks on Langsuan Road is near the Chidlom BTS Station. We
have not found a map of Starbucks locations on the web, but there is a
Centre Point facility on Langsuan Road, and there is a useful map here:

http://www.centrepoint.com/Locations/LangsuanMap.aspx

Starbucks is near the upper end of Langsuan Road, a short walk from the
Chidlom BTS Station, on the same side of the road as Center Point.

Global Primary Polling Stations Announced in Thailand!

Polling Places for the Democrats Abroad Global Primary
In Thailand, February 5-12, 2008

Bangkok

Date: Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Place: Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT), Maneeya Center Building, Penthouse Floor, 518/5 Ploenchit Road, Pathumwan District, Bangkok
Telephone: (02) 652-0580-1, Fax: (02) 652-0582

Map available at www.fccthai.com

Date: Saturday, February 9, 2008
Time: 3:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Place: Roadhouse Barbecue, 2^nd Floor
Corner of Rama IV Road & Surawong Road
Tel: (02) 236-8010

Map available at www.roadhousebarbecue.com

DAT contact persons for Bangkok

Phil Robertson, Chair – DAT – email: democratsabroadthailand "at" gmail.com, mobile phone (085) 060-8406

Peter Fischbach, Vice-Chair – DAT – office: (02) 634-3800

Don Linder, Vice-Chair – DAT – mobile: (081) 842-2602

Elizabeth Boname, Vice-Chair – DAT – mobile : (084) 769-2477

Rick Graves, Secretary – DAT – email – democratsabroadthailand "at" yahoo.com, mobile: (089) 018-1075

Andrew Boname, Treasurer – DAT – mobile – (084) 941-1236

Chiang Mai

Date: Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Time: 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Place: AIDSNetwork Development Foundation
145/1 Sripoom Road, Chiang Mai

Date: Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Time: 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Place: Paradornparp International House
Payap University, East Campus (Mae Kao Campus)
(Adjacent to the Law School)

DAT contact persons for Chiang Mai:
Ø Peter Foley, Chair – DAT Chiang Mai and the North Chapter – telephone: 053-301-500, ext 5006; mobile: (085) 045-1624, email: drpeterfoley "at" yahoo.com
Ø Gary Suwannarat, Vice-Chair for Asia-Pacific, Democrats Abroad – mobile: (081) 716-4264, email: gswanrat "at" loxinfo.co.th

Northeast Thailand

Nongkhai

Date: Saturday, February 9, 2008 and Sunday, February 10, 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (both days)
Place: Starbucks at Tesco Lotus mall,Room A-30, 304 Moo 10, Mittraphab Highway, Phochai sub-district, Muang district, Nongkhai, 43000.

Tel: (042) 465-301

Udorn Thani

Date: Saturday, February 9, 2008 and Sunday, February 10, 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (both days)
Place: Charoen Hotel,549 Phosri Road, Muang district, Udorn Thani 41000

tel: (042) 248-155

http://www.udonthani.com/charoen/

(Look for signs in lobby to polling station)

DAT contact person for Northeast Thailand:
Ø Mike Carroll, mobile: (086) 854-8783, email: mikecar21@yahoo.com

News from DA Hong Kong on Global Primary

Our compatriots in Hong Kong are also busy organizing their Global Primary efforts.

South China Morning Post – January 6, 2008
New voting system for US Democrats living in HK
by Liz Heron

Supporters of America's Democratic Party living in Hong Kong will be able to help choose their presidential candidate through a new global primary election.

Democrats Abroad, the party's overseas wing, has switched from a worldwide caucus system to a single primary ballot for the presidential campaign, which kicked off in the state of Iowa on Thursday, with Barack Obama winning the Democrat caucus and Mike Huckabee the Republican one.

The group's Hong Kong branch will hold the ballot to choose between Hillary Clinton, Senator Obama or John Edwards at the Lan Kwai Fong watering-hole The Dublin Jack, the haunt that hosts its monthly meeting, and the Flying Pan in Wan Chai, a 24-hour cafe.

The ballots at the Irish pub, on February 5 and 12, will be held from 6pm to 9pm, while the Flying Pan vote will be held from 4pm to 6pm on February 10.

Democratic Party members living outside the US will also be able vote online
for the first time this year at the website set up by Democrats Abroad.
*www.VoteFromAbroad.org*<http://www.votefromabroad.org/>,

The group - which operates in about 80 countries and will elect 22 delegates to the party's national convention in August in Denver, Colorado - has been holding caucuses for expatriate members, in which supporters of different presidential candidates debate and bargain over votes, since 1992.

There is no parallel system for Republican Party expats, but Republicans Abroad, the support group for members outside the US, helps its members to register in their home states as absentee voters.

Glenn Berkey, chair of Democrats Abroad Hong Kong, said the new single-ballot and internet voting systems aimed to provide greater flexibility for Americans outside the US. But he declined to comment on the expected turnout among Hong Kong's estimated 60,000 US citizens.

"Democrats need to use their heads and follow their hearts on this one," he said. "But in most cases a Democrat's vote is mathematically more powerful with Democrats Abroad than it is in his or her home state.

"However, an American whose state has an early primary or caucus might feel that his or her vote is more powerful there since the primary system is set up so that early results have a momentum effect and tend to carry more weight than later ones."

The overseas primary gives those who vote in it a larger influence in terms of allocating delegates per voter than they would have if they voted in their state primaries.

International Herald Tribute -- DA's Global Primary

International Herald Tribune
Internet gives Americans abroad a stronger voice in presidential nomination
By Eric Sylvers
Friday, January 4, 2008

MILAN -- Thanks to the Internet, Americans who belong to the Democratic Party are getting a voice of their own in the presidential nomination, as the party has agreed to allow expatriates to choose 22 delegates to the national convention as part of the so-called Super Tuesday voting next month.

Everyone Counts, a company based in San Diego that specializes in online voting, is running the Internet voting for the Democrat primary for overseas residents. Everyone Counts handled the voting by Internet for local elections in British cities in 2003 and 2007 as well as the online voting for the Australian election in November, handling voting by soldiers stationed in Iraq and other spots overseas.

The Democratic primary for Americans abroad will start Feb. 5, the Tuesday when 21 states will hold primaries, and run until Feb. 12. In addition to voting by Internet, people can also cast ballots by mail, fax or - in 34 countries - they can vote in person.

"Internet allows people to participate who are busy and wouldn't normally
get involved," said Meredith Gowan Le Goff, a lawyer who is the vice chairman for Democrats Abroad in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "We want all people to be able to take part in the primary whether they are a Peace Corps worker in Africa or a missionary somewhere in Asia."

Prospective voters must be American citizens living overseas and must either be members of Democrats Abroad, a mostly volunteer organization that groups Democrats living abroad, or they may register and request a ballot at www.votefromabroad.org.

Republicans Abroad is not a part of the Republican National Committee, also known as RNC, which is responsible for the convention that chooses a candidate, so Republicans living outside of the United States cannot send delegates to the convention, but like Democrats they can vote by absentee ballot in the primaries in the state where they were last a resident.

"Will that change soon? I don't think so," said Cynthia Dillon, the executive director of Republicans Abroad. "If we were under the RNC we would probably send delegates, but we aren't."

Prospective Democratic voters must sign up by the end of this month and will be sent a personal identification number via regular mail that they use to identify themselves when they vote online. They will also be asked other questions to confirm their identity when they vote.

To ensure anonymity, when the vote is sent in, the PIN is cancelled and the vote is given a random identification number that only the voter knows and which can be used to confirm that the vote got counted.

"One of the things we add besides security in the voting is a way to monitor the vote as it is going on and to see if there has been a breach," said Lori Steele, chief executive of Everyone Counts. "People can also check to see that their vote arrived and was counted, so there are many checks and balances in the system."

Yet security of the voting process, whether it be in person or over the Internet, remains on the minds of some of those involved in the voting preparations.

"You can never be sure there is no fraud," said Gowan Le Goff. "Fraud is possible in any election and we have seen a lot of it in some recent elections. The best you can do is focus on the process and do the best you can to guarantee there is no fraud and that is what we are doing."

There are no official figures on the number of Americans residing outside of the United States because of the difficulty in keeping track of a largely transient group, some of whom do not alert officials that they have moved overseas. Estimates from both political parties put the number at six to seven million.

At 6.5 million, that would make a conglomeration of the U.S. citizens living abroad the 13th most populous state just ahead of Massachusetts, but the Democrats living abroad will get just 22 delegates, the same number as South
Dakota and just 5 percent of the California delegation. California is the most populous state in the United States, with 35 million residents; South Dakota is the 46th, with 750,000 residents.

"The number of delegates is very low, but the problem is we don't know how many people are of voting age living abroad and some may go home and vote," said Gowan Le Goff. "There is no way to count the Americans out there. At least in South Dakota you know how many people are living there. Students, Peace Corps volunteers, Mormon missionaries, these are not people that stay put so they are hard to count."

Americans living abroad have been able to vote in federal elections since 1976, and those who vote in a home state's primary cannot also vote in the Democrats Abroad balloting.