So sez John Myers. SEIU, CA Fed Teachers, CA Faculty Association and the CA Nurses Association are the big sponsors. This could be big news. Developing...
Richie Ross, a Sacto consultant produced an ad for the EFCA with Joaquin Ross. It's not a bad little ad. You can also find it at http://www.projectjohnhancock....
Several CA Dems vote "Present" on Israel/Gaza Resolution
(David Dayen)
The resolution, written to essentially laud Israel for their warmaking and prove fealty to AIPAC, drew a "No" from Maxine Waters, and "Present" from Sam Farr, Barbara Lee, George Miller, Pete Stark, Diane Watson, Lynn Woolsey, and in a bit of a surprise, Loretta Sanchez.
Two years after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom called for a crackdown on brothels that front as massage parlors, city health officials say they know of more than 50 city-licensed establishments where they suspect sex is traded for money.
[...]
One parlor continues to operate even though, during a raid, the mayor personally walked in on a man engaged in a sex act with a young woman on the lobby couch.
"Obviously, Israel has the absolute right to defend itself from Hamas terrorists and other threats to its security. The ongoing rocket attacks on Israel are unacceptable and must be stopped. However, I fear the current military operation in Gaza represents a vastly disproportionate response that will further destabilize the region.
"Simple humanity demands that we grieve for the dead Palestinian child as much as we mourn the dead Israeli child. The numbers of dead and injured in Gaza, and the televised images of the humanitarian crisis now unfolding are truly shocking. And while this renewed state of war is clearly a tragedy for the Palestinian people, it will also bring a renewed state of fear in Israel because the threat of another wave of suicide bombing in Israeli cities is all too real.
"As a Member of Congress strongly dedicated to Israel's security, I believe an immediate ceasefire is necessary. And since this eruption of violence in Gaza is so clearly detrimental to U.S. national interests, I call upon both President Bush and President-elect Obama to use their influence to push both sides to stop shooting and renew the ceasefire."
Shane Goldmacher of SacBee Punked by April Fools Joke
(Bob Brigham)
TechCrunch's Michael Arrington promises, "One thing I'm going to do in the future is go back and clearly mark April Fools jokes. I can easily understand how a non-tech reporter could be clicking through links, see that, and add it at the end of a story and create this kind of confusion."
So far, not a single positive comment and the post didn't even mention Newsom blaming "partisan bickering" in the email instead of the Republican obstructionists.
...Issa ousted 14 of 39 Republican committee staffers, including many senior aides. Outgoing staffers said they were told the panel's minority will shift its focus away from legislation toward oversight of federal agencies.
By bringing in aides with investigative backgrounds, committee Republicans believe they can increase their capacity to conduct independent investigations, despite lacking the majority's subpoena power.
Aggressive oversight in itself is just fine- desirable in fact. But Issa has never (repeat: NEVER) cared about actual justice or propriety. He's cared about what might suit his ego and political whims. And there's more than a faint hint of partisan hackery to set this all up before Obama even takes office.
And yes, it's difficult not to juxtapose this with Sen. Lieberman's nominal chairmanship of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
LA County Labor Fed Endorses Paul Koretz For City Council
(David Dayen)
With no real opponent to Antonio Villaraigosa, the March 3 municipal elections in Los Angeles look to be a stolid affair. There is one contested race, however, in City Council District 5, vacated by Jack Weiss. Former Assemblyman Paul Koretz is easily the most progressive candidate in the field, and today he earned the Labor Fed endorsement.
Escondido attorney Tracy Emblem has announced that she'll explore a run against Rep. Brian Bilbray in 2010. Exploring enough at least to have a website and Myspace page. (h/t PolitickerCA)
David Brewer will take a buyout rather than try to fight his ouster. The LAUSD is really a mess and I'm not sure this will help in the near term. What is needed is structural reform.
If he accepts, it opens up the safe-D 31st district in and around Hollywood. He'd also be giving up Vice Chairmanship of the Democratic Caucus and a spot on Ways and Means.
David Mauro, of the Burnt Orange Report, is up for a $10,000 Blogging Scholarship. He's the only preogressive blogger in the running, and an all-around good guy. Vote for him here.
Davis Dem Club Asks Leaders to Strip Leiberman's chairmanship
(Brian Leubitz)
From the Davis Democratic Club:
To the Honorable Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer
US Senate
The Board of the Davis Democratic Club urges you to ask Senator Harry Reid to remove Joe Lieberman from the Chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security.
The Board feels this is the only fair resolution to the Lieberman problem. Each of us are Democratic Party activists and realize that if any one of us actively campaigned for a Republican against a Democrat that they would be expected to resign or would be expelled from the Board. That is in our by-laws. If we accept these terms then it is only fair that they apply to higher level Democratic Party members.
This statement was passed by a vote of 15 to 0.
Davis Democratic Club
Davis, California
November 12, 2008
One rumor has Arnold serving as energy czar. I doubt this would happen, but I would welcome it with open arms if it did - Arnold needs to be as far away from the state budget process as possible. 3,000 miles seems far enough.
