As we chew our nails waiting for the Brown - McClintock results and vacilate wildly between reflecting on how we lost on Prop. 8 and simply feeling the pain of that loss, some good news came out of CA-03.
While Dan Lungren beat Bill Durston, silver lining in that defeat abounds. For starters, Durston made serious inroads since the previous match-up. The final tally will likely end up 49-44, a relatively small margin - especially compared to two years ago, when Durston ran as a virtual unknown. He ended up only pulling down 37 percent of the vote in 2006, meaning that in two short years Durston went from a 22-point margin to a 5-point margin. Makes you feel a little cocky about 2010, huh?
Speaking of 2010, Durston just announced he will run again in two years, setting up what should be a tight race that we will have a real chance of taking. In fact, our chances may be much greater: progressives won't have the Obama campaign taking up all their time and money; if we're lucky, Brown will be comfortably defending his seat against a weaker candidate, needing less resources; and as readers of this site know, Lungren can be counted on to pull at least a few idiotmoves in the next two years.
As our president-elect said on election night, the fight has just begun. Let's get ready for 2010, folks.
(full disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign and this post is part of a live series from the No on 8 SF offices)
This morning Speaker Nancy Pelosi came by the San Francisco No on Prop 8 offices to surprise several hundred volunteers who were for training. She stopped at the office after church and her good friend Phyllis Lyon was with her. The two (and Del) go way back to the days when Pelosi was a young up and coming San Francisco politician and are close to this day. I am still trying to track down a great picture someone showed me of Pelosi giving Phyllis a big kiss on the cheek.
Pelosi recalled the time she called Del Martin and it took a few minutes for Del to figure out who was calling. She repeated that it was Nancy a few times, but Del said "I'm sorry, I don't know who this is." Pelosi finally said "Del, it's the speaker.", which prompted a big "Oooh, hi Nancy."
Unfortunately, it was hard to hear the rest of the Speaker's remarks. She didn't have a mic and I was towards the back. Heather Cronk from NOI is out here volunteering and captured it all on her flip camera. It is hard to hear and a bit shaky. Flip it for the video and more pictures.
Volunteers are here for the final training of the evening. They are signing up for shifts on election day at voting locations all over the Bay Area. Thousands have come through this office over the weekend. The same scene is repeating at offices across the state.
Staffers are busy allocating literature for election day, having to re-calibrate their estimates given the flood of volunteers coming into the offices. The staff is a mix of Californians and out of state veterans of the MA marriage fight and other GLTB battles. They have been sleeping (a little) on futons and couches and everyone is a little in awe of the scale of this campaign. For some of the staff this is officially "vacation" time as they have taken a leave from their day jobs to join the campaign trail.
Speaking of staff, the Oakland team organizing the African-American literature drop returned recently, exhausted but with smiles on their faces. They had a great turnout and covered a ton of turf.
On the more good news front, the campus program continues to expand. There are GOTV activities on 167 campuses across the state, from small rural community colleges to the big UCs. That is a lot logistics to sort out to get literature to all of those locations, but that is a great problem to have.
(full disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign and this post is part of a series live from the No on 8 SF offices)
Yesterday, the No on Prop 8 campaign had Interfaith Call to Action Services all over the state. Over 2,000 attended one of three masses in LA, San Diego, or San Francisco. Mayor Newsom attended the SF event at Glide Memorial Church. Many parishioners wept as Reverend Dorsey Blake spoke about our country's painful history of discrimination and connected it to the discrimination on the ballot on Tuesday.
The No on 8 campaign is fighting back today against our opponent's targeting of African American voters with misinformation about Barack Obama's position on Prop 8. Volunteers are passing out a new flyer in heavily African-American precincts and churches. Flier is below the fold along with more pictures.
LA City Council President Eric Garcetti and actor Martin Sheen were on-hand in LA,and SD Mayor Sanders led a candlelight vigil in the hours after the service in San Diego.
Today, same-sex couples, many of them accompanied by straight friends, neighbors and co-workers will go "Door-to-Door Against Discrimination" in over 20 cities to urge fellow voters to defeat the unfair initiative on Tuesday.
This happening right now in Chula Vista, Fresno, La Verne, Livermore, Marin, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Sacramento, San Bruno, the San Fernando Valley, San Francisco, San Jose, and Tracy.
One couple went door-to-door today and left copies of a personal letter at over 200 homes in their neighborhood. Here's part of their report: "Actually we got around twenty calls to our home ranging from "Thanks for doing this," "You really didn't think we would vote yes, did you?" to "You shouldn't have used your phone number or address. It was brave of you."
(Good question! Post them in the comments. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
I was browsing online looking around for where all the election night gatherings are going to be, and thought I'd pose the question to the group here - where will you be hanging out on Election Night after the polls close at 8pm?
I remember in 1992 they had a big party in San Francisco, since that was the year Clinton won California, and Sens. Boxer and Feinstein won too...so post some parties here!
Yes, he went there at an official Sacramento Yes on 8 rally yesterday. This is Brad Dacus, an official Prop 8 spokesperson speaking. He is the President of the Pacific Justice Institute, a religious-right lawyers 501c3 organization.
Here is the transcript:
"There was another time in history when people, when the bell tolled. And the question was whether or not they were going to hear it. The time was during Nazi Germany with Adolf Hitler. You see he brought crowds of clergy together to assure them that he was going to look after the church.
And one of the members, bold and courageous, Reverend Niemand (sp?) made his way to the front and (inaudible) said "Hitler, we are not concerned about the church. Jesus Christ will take care of the church.
We are concerned about the soul of Germany." Embarrassed and chagrined, his peers quickly shuffled him to the back.
And as they did Adolf Hitler said, "The soul of Germany, you can leave that to me." And they did, and because they did bombs did not only fall upon the nation of Germany, but also upon the church and their testimony to this very day.
Let us not make that mistake folks. Let us hear the bell! Vote on Proposition 8!"
Dacus is the guy who was the chief architect of the movement to get an opt-out law for parents to take their child out of any school activity that violates their religious or moral beliefs. Like say if a charter school asks the parents if they want to take their kids on a field trip to celebrate their teacher getting married. You know, the one they are conveniently forgetting about and then lying in their ads about education and teh children.
The best way you can answer back to Dacus is to get out this weekend and election day and volunteer for the No on 8 campaign. There is a special netroots volunteer sign-up form. Fill it out and tell them you came from Calitics.
PRESIDENT \ V.P. - BARACK OBAMA \ Joe Biden
This will be a close race! Phone-banking to swing states-including Colorado-continues at your local Obama or United Democratic Campaign headquarters. Go to http://my.barackobama.com/page... to find the Obama office near you.
U.S. Congress - C.D. #s 1-53 - Vote for the Democrat in your district!
IF you live in one of these two districts, please volunteer/contribute to your candidate's campaign:
~ C.D. #4 - Charlie Brown [www.charliebrownforcongress.org] - This district is our best chance to turn a red district blue in California this year. He is running against Tom McClintock, the most ideologically conservative legislator in the state and a carpetbagger from Southern California. Charlie Brown, he's "a good man."
~ C.D. #11 - Jerry McNerney [www.jerrymcnerney.org] - The Democrats, with tremendous grassroots activism, took this seat two years ago, but the Republicans are spending huge amounts of money to take it back. Let's make sure we send Mr. McNerney, a leader in renewable energy, back to Congress.
California State Senate:
~ S.D. #3 - Mark Leno
~ S.D. #5 - Lois Wolk [www.loiswolk.com] - This is an open seat that we must keep in the Democratic column.
~ S.D. #7 - Mark DeSaulnier
~ S.D. #9 - Loni Hancock - Since I live in this district, I will take this opportunity to say that we are very fortunate to have Loni representing Oakland and other East Bay communities in the St. Senate. Among her accomplishments, she was successful this year in getting passed and signed into law a 'Clean Money' pilot program.
~ S.D. #11 - Joe Simitian
~ S.D. #19 - Hannah-Beth Jackson [www.jackson4senate.com] - This district is our best hope at picking up a Democratic seat in the St. Senate. Please do what you can to help her win against a very conservative opponent who is misleading voters about his own record.
~ S.D. #23 - Fran Pavley
~ S.D. #27 - Alan Lowenthal
~ S.D. #39 - Christine Kehoe
California State Assembly - A.D. #s 1-80 - Vote for the Democrat in your district! IF you live or work in one of the following districts, please volunteer/contribute to your candidate's campaign. These are expected to be very close races.
~ A.D. #10 - Alyson Huber - www.alysonhuber.com
~ A.D. #15 - Joan Buchanan - www.joanbuchanan.com - If you live in the Bay Area and want to help the Democrats gain seats in our state legislature, please contact the Buchanan campaign and help in any way possible. 925-806-0560 ~ A.D. #26 - John Eisenhut - www.johneisenhut.com
~ A.D. #65 - Carl Wood - www.wood4assembly.org
~ A.D. #78 - Marty Block - www.martyblock.com
~ A.D. #80 - Manuel V. Perez - www.manuelperezforassembly.com
LOCAL RACES:
Oakland City Council (at-large seat) - REBECCA KAPLAN -
Rebecca is exactly the type of person we need on the Oakland City Council. She is smart, progressive, experienced and accomplished. She will shake things up on the city council and move it in a more progress-oriented direction. She is a former civil rights attorney, policy advocate, environmental activist, and yes, a 'community organizer'. She understands the array of issues facing Oakland residents and will work hard to make Oakland a more safe and livable city. She is well-known for being able to work with a broad cross-section of people and personalities. Currently, she's an elected member of the A/C Transit Board of Directors. She is endorsed by the Alameda County Democratic Party, the MGO Democratic Club, the Sierra Club, East Bay Young Dems, Assembly Member Sandre Swanson, Supervisors Keith Carson and Nate Miley, and a wide array of organizations, elected officials and community leaders. www.kaplanforoakland.org
Mayor, City of Berkeley - TOM BATES - Mayor Bates has shown leadership and brought people together to get things done in Berkeley. He's endorsed by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the Sierra Club, and a broad range of organizations, public officials and community leaders. See www.tombates.org/index.htm for details on his priorities.
Judge - Superior Court (Alameda County seat #9) - DENNIS HAYASHI -
Dennis, a public interest attorney, is highly qualified to be a superior court judge. He is a former attorney with the Asian Law Caucus, and was director of the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Clinton. He was also the director of the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. We desperately need more public interest attorneys as judges. He is endorsed by the Sierra Club, the Alameda County Democratic Lawyers Club, former Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and numerous state and local elected officials, as well as several judges. Dennis will make a superb Superior Court judge. www.dennishayashi.com
San Francisco County Supervisors:
District #1 - ERIC MAR - Eric is an elected member of the S.F. Board of Education, a civil rights attorney, college lecturer, and long-time progressive political activist. He's been recognized for his civic involvement, leadership, and passionate advocate for human and civil rights. He is committed to working at City Hall and in the Richmond district for working families, thriving neighborhoods, and responsive local government. To volunteer on his campaign, go to www.ericmar.com.
District #3 - DAVID CHIU (rank #1) - As a former civil rights attorney, counsel to a U.S. Senate subcommittee, neighborhood activist and leader, former deputy district attorney, member of San Francisco's Small Business Commission, affordable housing advocate, and Democratic Party activist, David has the breadth and depth of experience to be an excellent supervisor-responsive, innovative, smart ideas. http://votedavidchiu.org TONY GANTNER (rank #2) - Experienced neighborhood and environmental activist, Tony would also be a good Supervisor.
District #4 - CARMEN CHU - She's moderate-to-conservative by San Francisco standards, but this is the Sunset district and her principal opponent is even more conservative.
District #5 - ROSS MIRKARIMI - Ross has been a very good supervisor for this district and he deserves reelection. He reaches out to groups of people in his district and strives to develop and support innovative and compassionate ideas and proposals.
District #7 - SEAN ELSBERND - Has only token opposition and will be reelected easily in this relatively moderate-to-conservative district.
District #9 - no recommendation - Many good progressive candidates in this district, including David Campos and Mark Sanchez.
District #11 - JULIO RAMOS (rank #1) - Julio is an attorney, elected member of the San Francisco Community College Bd. of Trustees, an experienced trial lawyer, and former Coro Fellow. I've known Julio for nearly 10 years and I'm confident that he would be an excellent county supervisor. He's progressive, compassionate, and is committed to focusing his energy on crime prevention, services to seniors, helping at-risk youth, improving neighborhoods and creating clean streets, and expanding educational opportunities for local residents. www.julioramos.org
JOHN AVALOS (rank #2) - Former supervisorial aide, Avalos would also be a good county supervisor.
BART Bd. of Directors
Tom Radulovich (district 9) - Smart environmental leader. He's been a very good BART director.
A.C. Transit Bd. of Directors
Chris Peeples (at-large)
Greg Harper (ward 2)
East Bay Municipal Utility District Bd. of Directors
Doug Linney (ward 5) - Environmental leader on the EBMUD Board. Certainly deserves reelection.
East Bay Regional Parks District Bd. of Directors
Norman LaForce (ward 1) - Norman has shown important leadership as a long-time advocate for parks. He is currently the chapter chair of the Sierra Club and an experienced attorney for environmental causes. He will be an excellent EBRPD board member.
Trustee, Peralta Community College District
Marlon McWilson (area 2)
San Francisco Community College District -
Several good candidates. I recommend the following four candidates:
Natalie Berg
Milton Marks
Chris Jackson
Rodel Rodis
San Francisco Board of Education:
Several good candidates. I recommend the following four candidates:
Norman Yee
Sandra L. Fewer
Kimberly Wicoff
Jill Wynns
City Council, Daly City - Judith Christensen - She's a teacher, is supported by the environmental community, and she's been a breath of fresh air on a stale city council. She deserves re-election.
Mayor, City of Fremont - Gus Morrison - Former Mayor Morrison would do a far better job as mayor once again than either the incumbent or his other opponent. Vote to put Gus back in the Mayor's office.
City Council, Orinda - Victoria Smith - She's done a good job on the Orinda City Council and deserves re-election. Go to www.voteforvictoria.com for more information.
Mayor, City of Sacramento - Heather Fargo - Mayor Fargo is running against a former Pro Basketball player who has no experience in government. Her opponent is being put forth as a candidate by development interests who do not like Ms. Fargo's policies. She'll do a better job than her challenger. Vote to re-elect her. For info on her priorities, experience and endorsements, or to volunteer, go to www.fargoformayor.com
Los Angeles County Bd. of Supervisors (2nd district) - Mark Ridley-Thomas -
Ridley-Thomas is the more progressive of the two candidates. He is a former L.A. City Councilman and a current State Senator. We will miss him in Sacramento, but he will make an excellent County Supervisor. He is endorsed by the L.A. County Democratic Party, Sierra Club, Members of Congress Jane Harmon, Brad Sherman, Howard Berman, Hilda Solis, Planned Parenthood, and dozens of other elected officials and community leaders. Go to www.ridley-thomas.com to learn more.
Santa Clara County Bd. of Supervisors (2nd district) - Richard Hobbs - Endorsed by the Santa Clara County League of Conservation Voters and the local Sierra Club chapter. That's good enough for me.
Tomorrow, I'll be participating in the California Young Democrats' "Campaign Invasion" on behalf of Hannah-Beth Jackson in SD-19.
How are you helping? There's plenty to choose from.
Early voting opens in Nevada this morning...
No on Prop 8 needs more money and more volunteers...
Our contested Congressional and State legislature races could always use more help...
What's going on in your area this weekend? Any events or campaign activities you'd like to share?
While Prop 8 is getting all the headlines, another initiative, Prop 4, is threatening even greater harm. One reason the threat is so great is that it is getting too little attention.
Prop 4 is another clone of the anti-abortion initiative California rejected in 2005 and again in 2006. The religious right keeps rolling the dice on this because they have nothing to lose and they only need to win one time to start chipping away at Roe v. Wade. For them to win in this huge, pro-choice state would empower the religious right like never before and build momentum to dismantle abortion rights from coast to coast.
2008 may be their year. Polls currently show Yes on 4 leading -- but it's close enough that progressives can defeat it again if we are willing to work.
Prop 4 proposes an abortion restriction most voters find appealing until they think about it. In the past, we've been able to get voters to look close and see the dangers. This year, with Prop 8 grabbing the headlines and a Presidential race eclipsing all else, it is harder to get voters' attention, and it is harder to get campaign volunteers and donations to help us win.
I think it's important to note that much of the reasoning behind these endorsements has to do with the fact that the supporters of Prop. H have put forth some of the most misleading campaign material in recent history. The No on H campaign gets pilloried by the so-called "progressives" as "telling lies" but in fact the objections raised have been based entirely on the actual text of the measure itself.
The Chronicle put it best in the lead today when it said:
"The least advocates of San Francisco's Proposition H could do is be forthright about their motives. This is not about saving he planet by increasing the use of renewable resources, or commissioning a study to determine the best way to achieve it.
This is about stacking the deck to achieve what has become the Holy Grail of certain "progressive" factions of the city: a municipal takeover of electrical service from Pacific Gas & Electric Co."
(full disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign)
Yes, you read that headline correct. I told ya that the Mormons and others were flooding the Yes on 8 campaign's coffers with donations. We may have beaten them up on the air, but they have more cash to spend on their buy. The two recent polls taken after the ads have hit the airwaves show that we are losing ground. So, Brian is right to say "complacency is our worst enemy".
So here is what we have to do folks, there is something every one of you can do. It will take all of us to win this thing.
Contribute to the campaign using the Calitics ActBlue page. If you have the cash to give big give big. If you only have $5 or $10, give what you can. Yes, your money will be spent on TV ads, but unfortunately that is the way we win elections here in California.
Talk to your friends and family about Prop. 8. Lot's of people are still confused that supporting marriage equality means voting No. To that end, the Courage Campaign has created what the Politiker is calling"the most humorous TV ad of the fall election season". They like it, we think it's pretty funny, but watch it for yourself.
It is aimed at straight people, using a privacy, "get the government out of my pants" argument. The undecided electorate is quirky. Some of your friends will be swayed by talk about fundamental rights being taken away. Others with a more libertarian streak may like the video. Tailor your discussion to your friends.
Oh and keep an eye out for a new ad from the No on 8 campaign that should hit the airwaves shortly.
We can win this historic fight, but we gotta buckle down and do the hard work and contribute what we can.
Check the flip for an email I got from a Yes on 8 person who for some reason thinks I know where the lost in China lawns signs are.
Nota Bene: This is an open letter to Charlie Brown, Democratic candidate for CA-04's open seat. I have notified the Brown campaign of this diary by email. It is also crossposted at Daily Kos.
***
Dear Charlie,
I supported you in your race against John Doolittle back in 2006. This year I would like to support you again in your open seat race against Tom McClintock. While I would never under any circumstances vote for Tom McClintock, as things stand right now I cannot in good conscience vote for you. I do not currently intend to cast a vote in the CA-04 House race.
Almost one year ago I decided to write to you because I wanted assurance from you on a matter that became very important to me after the 2006 elections. After a few brief formalities, I wrote the following:
This past weekend the Yes on 8 campaign had talked up passing out ONE MILLION lawn signs. It was going to be their big splash event, something big and bold to get a bunch of earned media.
To counter that push, the No on 8, Equality for All campaign organized a bunch of visibility events for the media and to raise the public face/profile of the campaign. Then shuttled the the volunteers back inside to do the work that will bring this election home: calling undecided voters.
But a funny thing happened.... There were no lawn signs, no big events from the Yes side.
I started hearing rumors that they had trouble with their vendor. It turns out they were stuck in China. Yes, China. Here is an email from a one Gena Downey, producer of the cult hit Mormon film (I'm joking about the cult and hit thing) God's Army.
The YES on Prop 8 yard signs have been delayed in route from China. We expect to distribute them within the next two weeks. I will email you as soon as they arrive so we can make sure you have one immediately. In the interim, please continue to take note of any friends or family who would like one as well.
So, the Yes campaign, rather than purchasing some good old fashioned union made in America lawn signs, they went to some cut rate producer in China who blew the delivery date by at least three weeks. What, they couldn't afford traditional American signs?
That seems to have worked out well. Why does the Yes on 8 campaign hate America?
Donate via the Calitics ActBlue page, so we can make up ground on the Yes campaign, which is beating us, the $100k from Speilberg to the No on 8 notwithstanding.
Meanwhile a friend emailed Gina to inquire about the signs and she responded back excitedly. I guess she hasn't figured it out that her email has been forwarded around.
The signs are not in yet. They are coming in from China and have been delayed but as soon as they arrive I will have them at my place in Burbank. That's great news and I can get them up to you as soon as they land. Wow, so good to hear this!
The newest major donor to the No on Prop 8: Equality for All campaign is one Brad Pitt. It comes at a key time in fundraising over the initiative that would take away the right for gays and lesbians to get married. The Yes side is seeing a major surge in donations, flooding into their coffers. In fact, they are out raising us right now, Brad Pitt's donation included.
The Mormon church is getting heavily involved in the campaign. It looks like about 35% of contributions to the other side have come in from Mormons, or at least that is what they are claiming over at this Mormons for 8 website. A high percentage of the large checks are coming from Utah.
Here is the question: is a religious institution trying to buy this election and change the California Constitution?
They aren't just donating. They are fueling their GOTV activites. Mormons have been invading neighborhoods en mass. They are not using walk lists, but rather descend in large groups to knock doors and try and pass out the million yard signs they think is going to win them this election. It's flat out creepy. It freaks out entire communities and usually the No on 8 campaign hears within a few minutes where the Mormons have decided to invade on any given day.
Look, I don't have anything specific against Mormons. It's just that when a specific religious institution decides to play a large role in a political battle, it weirds me out. Separation of chuch and state....
I know many of you have seen the polls and think we are going to win the battle over fundamental rights here in California. But I have news from you. The other side is winning the fundraising battle. They are energized with volunteers and are counting on a sort of Bradley effect to put them over the top. This is from an email from Dale Bankhead, the campaign manager for No on 8 (flip it):
To Marta Jorgensen, protecting against discrimination of all kinds is paramount, and where vestiges of discrimination still remain in our society, she supports Congressional efforts to weed them out. One such effort was the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, designed to overcome pay discrimination once and for all; unlike longtime Republican incumbent Elton Gallegly, who voted against the bill, Marta Jorgensen strongly supports it.
The Fair Pay Act was a response to a misguided Supreme Court decision that struck a major blow to gender and racial equality in this country. In Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tires, the Court held that Goodyear was protected from Ledbetter's gender pay discrimination claim solely because its initial decision to discriminate occurred more than 180 days before the claim and even though Ledbetter was not aware of it until many years later. The Fair Pay Act would have removed this 180-day loophole.
Unfortunately, the bill was not received as well as Marta Jorgensen feels it should have been. It passed the House by a surprisingly slim 225-199 vote count thanks to the embarrassing efforts of Republicans like Elton Gallegly, who spoke and voted against the bill. When the legislation made its way to the Senate this year, the Republicans would not even let it be considered on the floor. Like Elton Gallegly, John McCain opposed it.
Had Marta Jorgensen represented California's 24th Congressional District instead of Elton Gallegly, she would have campaigned for and voted for the Fair Pay Act. To her, protecting women and minorities from discrimination is an extremely important issue, one of morality as well as of legality. She believes in her heart that everyone should receive equal pay for equal work, and she believes that the Constitution demands that the law follow suit.
Fair pay for women and minorities is not only a moral and legal issue to her, however. In line with her bold E-Revolution campaign platform is the idea that we must strengthen our sagging economy by making ourselves as competitive as possible, and equal pay for equal work is an important way to help achieve this. By fairly rewarding the most capable people regardless of sex, race, national origin, or any other factor unrelated to work product, we can ensure that qualified women and minorities will remain in our workforce and be motivated to be as productive as they can be. At the same time, we can also ensure that the inefficiencies created by paying more money to less qualified men will finally be removed.
Our district needs someone willing to stand up for equality, willing to work against discrimination, and willing to vote for what is right.
Yesterday, the L.A. County Metro Board voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors place on the ballot a half-cent sales tax increase to fund transportation projects. The vote was nearly unanimous, with only Antonovitch and Fasana opposed. Gloria Molina abstained, but was unhappy with the project specifications because it didn't contain "equity" language guaranteeing that expenditures would be based on population.
Of course, nothing will come of it unless AB2321 gets through Senate Appropriations.
But assuming that happens, this means that L.A. County voters will get the chance to get freeway expansion, a subway to the Westside, a Gold Line extension to Claremont, light rail along Exposition Blvd, expansion of the Green Line to LAX, and a whole host of other expansions, all for an extra $1 of sales tax on every $200 worth of purchases.
I have a couple of observations on this below the fold.
This may be one of the strangest tales I have ever brought to the table, Gentle Reader, and yet one of the most fundamental in describing the birth of our Bill of Rights...and most especially the Fourth Amendment.
As many of you know, the new FISA compromise may or may not allow warrantless wiretapping of American citizens on a wholesale scale.
Something you may not know is that a similar debate raged in England (centered around the right of Government to seize the papers of whomever they chose, and use the papers as evidence against those persons) during the reign of King George III-or that it involved scandalous sexual behavior, Benjamin Franklin, the 18th Century version of blogging, and two men who decided to take on the corruption of the Crown...and won.
And because of all that, we have a Fourth Amendment today.
Ready for a tale of liberty and ribaldry?
Then let's plunge right in, shall we?
You will let the Hillary supporter's grieve their loss - this is coming from a loyal Hillary supporter. In 2004 there was a lot of talk that if John Kerry lost and George Bush won again we would not have to worry about 2008 because Former First Lady Hillary Clinton would be running for the Presidency. A HUGE piece of history would be made in the next election, a female president- imagine that. The world would change.
Now remember how you felt on November 3, 2004 when Senator Kerry conceded the election, and we had President George Bush for another 4 years. There were a lot of Republicans saying they were right after all and their candidate prevailed in yet another election. No matter how hard we worked for Senator Kerry they still tormented us - even those who did not vote had an opinion.
In 2004 we also learned about a Senator from Illinois named Barack Obama. Many of us heard his powerful rhetoric for the first time at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. I said "Wow, this person is amazing; he is going to be our president someday!"
SOMEDAY is the key word. For the first time in my 13 years of voting, I was torn between whom to elect on February 5. I finally had the opportunity to vote in a life changing election. We had the first female speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi, and it was time for the first female president, Senator Hillary Clinton. I felt that Senator Obama lacked the depth of experience that we had with Senator Clinton. Do you remember that Hillary swept California, not Obama? There was hope!
We Hillary supporters feel as though it's 2004 all over again. It's a monumental loss for all of us and Senator Clinton who we believed in and who was going to be our first female President. We feel that the Obama supporters are like Bush supporters in many ways. No matter how hard we worked, they won't give us time to mourn. They seem to forget that they have a lot of work to do in unifying the Hillary supporters with their candidate.
Yes, we Hillary supporters feel jilted and angry because four years ago we were waiting for her to make history and become the first female president of the United States. Now it's Obama, Obama, and more Obama mania.
In November, Obama will need all of the votes that he can get - these include those from the disappointed Hillary supporters. As Democrats, we are all peers who hold the same vision and values. But honestly, even after a month it still pains me to go into a room and have everyone cheer for Obama because he is the nominee. I am not on the Obama side yet and sit afraid to speak for fear of being ridiculed and accused of supporting the other party. Right now the best things that an Obama supporter can do is when meeting a Hillary supporter to take the time and listen - you might learn something, make a new friend, and get a vote in the long run.
With less than 145 days to the November election, we are ramping up a ground operation unlike any the 4th District has ever seen---through which grassroots organizers and volunteers will personally relay Charlie's positive message to more than half a million voters between now and November 4.
This past Thursday evening, nearly 100 Democratic activists got together to kick off the Yolo County Democratic Central Committee's 2008 Campaign - Yolo United! With the primary season over, we are now uniting to make sure that all of our energy is focused on getting Democrats elected to every seat that represents Yolo County.
We were fortunate to have three of Yolo County's delegates to the Democratic Convention with us, all of them ready to join together to make sure that we elect Democrats to every local, state, and Federal position on the ballot.
Don Gibson (Clinton delegate), Martha Beetley (Obama delegate), and Ryan Loney (Obama delegate) will be representing us in Denver in August.
Join me below the fold to learn more about the Yolo United Campaign.
Note: I am a volunteer with the Yolo United Campaign.
Hi...This is Marta Jorgensen. As you know, I have won the Democratic Primary in the 24th District in our fair state of California. I am a long time blogger and grassroots organizer, the last project being the Draft Gore Ballot Drive. I know the power of the Netroots, respect the activist community, share your passion, your committment to the pressing issues of our time. I am grateful for the support you gave during our campaign.
I pledge to lay down the gauntlet to our present district leadership, the Republicans in office and Congressman Gallegly.
Let's do this together, reinvigorate the people and their involvement in the process and bring it home in November!
This morning Speaker Nancy Pelosi came by the San Francisco No on Prop 8 offices to surprise several hundred volunteers who were for training. She stopped at the office after church and her good friend Phyllis Lyon was with her. The two (and Del) go way back to the days when Pelosi was a young up and coming San Francisco politician and are close to this day. I am still trying to track down a great picture someone showed me of Pelosi giving Phyllis a big kiss on the cheek.
The No on 8 campaign is fighting back today against our opponent's targeting of African American voters with misinformation about Barack Obama's position on Prop 8. Volunteers are passing out a new flyer in heavily African-American precincts and churches. Flier is below the fold along with more pictures.
