So come on over and find us on El Camino Real. And if you have any friends who need to registered to vote, bring them over as well! What better way to make a difference and be a force for positive change on lazy June Sunday than to eat chili and get people ready for the election? : )
Yesterday, something amazing happened. Barack Obama came to speak at the convention, and I was able to see him up close. And as he actually spoke downstairs, I had a chance to see him speak from the base of the stage... And I saw the magic of Obama right there, as all of us were mesmerized and blown away.
I'd love to share more about my experience with Team Obama in San Diego yesterday, so why not follow me after the flip for more (including more photos)?
"I'm appalled at the money involved" in campaigns, said retiree Virginia Laddey, 85. "That's why I like MoveOn. We get heard without having $2,300 (the contribution limit)."
And yes, I got to meet Virginia last night at the MoveOn town hall in Irvine last night. Actually, I was able to meet quite a few terrific Democrats (and others) from all over Orange County as we met in Irvine to see what the 2008 Democratic Presidential Candidates had to say about ending the Iraq War. We all listened to what the candidates had to say, and we all came to our own conclusions.
Some were deeply impressed by what Dennis Kucinich had to say about ending the war, while others just couldn't understand how he's a serious candidate. Some were glad to hear Hillary Clinton come out strongly in favor of ending the war, while others still thought that she was "waffling" on whether she'd really withdraw all the troops out of Iraq. Many were convinced last night that Barack Obama has what it takes to end the war, while others still have many questions about the Illinois Senator.
So do you still have questions about the MoveOn parties last night? Well, go ahead and read the rest of today's OC Register piece on the Orange County meetings to see what OC Democrats are thinking right now about the candidates.
Well, tonight is your chance! Go see the MoveOn Iraq War town hall debate tonight, and learn more about what all the candidates think about the war. I can guarantee you right now that there's one in your neck of the woods, so you don't have to go too far to see all the Democratic Presidential Candidates... But I can't guarantee how long space will last, as these parties are filling up fast!
So what are you waiting for? If you're in Orange County, go to one of our local debate parties tonight. If you're somewhere else, go ahead and find a party near you. You'll get to meet other progressive Democrats in your area, and you might just find the right candidate for you tonight. : )
Sen. Barack Obama raised at least $25 million dollars during the first quarter for his presidential campaign, a total surprisingly close to the $26 million collected by his chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Obama actually may have raised more for the primary campaign than the former first lady, but that cannot be definitively known because the Clinton campaign has refused to say how much of its total is designated for the primary election versus the general election.
"This overwhelming response, in only a few short weeks, shows the hunger for a different kind of politics in this country and a belief at the grassroots level that Barack Obama can bring out the best in America to solve our problems," said Penny Pritzker, Obama's finance chair.
Oh, my! Watch out, everyone! This field is WIDE OPEN, and boy is it givine me hope! Follow me after the flip for more on this great development:
Sorry everyone, but I just can't help it! I spotted this on OC Blog yesterday, but the action only continues to heat up over at "Red County" Land:
When are we going to stop calling Mitt Romney a front runner in the GOP Presidential race?
Despite having likely raised and spent more money than the other candidiates thus far, Mitt Romney languishes at just 7% in California (see Jubal's post from yesterday).
At least that's better than he's doing in Nevada (4%), Florida (6%) and nationwide (3%), which is probably due at least in part to certain advantages he holds here in O.C.
Seriously, shouldn't a candidate to at least have come within shouting distance of double-digits to be called a "front runner?" In all these polls the guy consistently trails not one, but two people who aren't even in the race! Save your money, O.C. donors.
In its inaugural issue, Red County's print magazine called Romney the "real deal." As a Presidential contender, he quite clearly is not.
Come on, now! You know you want to follow me after the flip for more salacious GOP infighting... ; )
We'll watch a John Edwards DVD and join in a phone call where he will answer questions from around the country. You don't need to donate to come to the party.
Here's a chance for you to make a difference, and to build grassroots support for Edwards here in California. Come on, now! How hard is it to hop on over to your neighbor's house to find out more about the candidate that you like? I've said it before, and I'll say it again:
Why not take advantage of this real chance to revitalize the California Democratic Party? I am hoping that we in the progressive movement here will take this unique opportunity to breathe some new life into the Democratic Party here, as well as to get our neighbors excited about voting again. There's nothing like telling someone that his or her vote really matters... And now that our primary will be early and important, ALL OF OUR VOTES REALLY DO MATTER AGAIN!
We can continue to bitch and moan and whine and complain about everything that's wrong right now, and just see more of the same...
Or we can get up and take action to change this! If we really care about building a grassroots movement here, then why don't we use this primary as a way to start growing it? If we're so concerned about the "media ad buys" and all the consultants, then why don't we get out there and start growing some real grassroots? No, the candidates cannot meet all of the voters in California... BUT ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER CAN! If we don't like the status quo, then why do we keep whining about it? Why not just get out there and CHANGE IT?!
The opportunity is now here... We just have to get off our duffs and TAKE IT!
And yes, the opportunity is now TONIGHT in Santa Cruz, Anaheim Hills, Irvine, and elsewhere in the state. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start growing those grassroots! : )
This past Saturday, 12,000 of my closest friends and I gathered in Oakland to see (or in some cases, just hear...) Barack Obama speak. It's nice to see Senator Obama giving the public some face time while he swings through our state to do what we know every presidential candidate must: make a withdrawal from the ATM that is California.
After the rally the senator headed off to the Mark Hopkins Hotel in SF for a fundraiser but not before wowing the crowd in Oakland. As one would expect, Obama gave a variation on his stump speech in which he rails against cynicism and offers something different, what he calls the politics of hope. And judging by the crowd's reaction, at least those who were close enough to see the senator, hope is much more than just a buzzword...the optimism in the air was palpable. It felt almost celebratory. As Frank wrote HERE, this phenomenon is real.
Over the flip, my take with video of most of his speech and some photos. I think I can safely say that Saturday will go down as my most memorable St. Patrick's Day ever.
OK, so you probably know by now that I wasn't able to see Mitt Romney on Friday in Dana Point. However, Jon Fleischman did. While I was out in the cold, he was in on all the action... And yes, Fleischman now has his account of the Romney fundraiser up on FlashReport.
Here are some of Romney's "Greatest Hits" from Friday's swanky fundraiser. For more videos, go to Jon's blog.
UPDATE:by Brian...As long as there is some space here, let's talk about tonight's activities. There are going to be lots of Iraq War vigils all over the country. Four in California are listed in the event section, but there will be a lot more. Moveon.org has an archive (by Zip) here.Check it out if you are so inclined...
For more pics from Saturday's event, as well as a little verbal explanation, follow me after the flip...
Why doesn't the Republican Party like its own voters? Why won't the GOP candidates talk to the people who will be making a huge decision next February? Why do the candidates only come to Orange County for the big money, and avoid everyone who could not possibly afford to join the big money at these extravagant fundraisers?
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today moved California's presidential primary from June to February, giving the nation's most populous state a greater stake in selecting nominees and shaking up the 2008 political calendar.
"Now California is important again in presidential nominating politics ... and we will get the respect that California deserves," Schwarzenegger said during a bill-signing ceremony.
Hopefully, all of us will now use this opportunity to truly SHAKE THINGS UP. Now that California voters will now be "The Deciders" in who gets the party nomination, let's get out there and tell our family, friends, and neighbors why their votes matter. I know I'm excited about the change, and I'll explain to you why I'm so excited after the flip...
Well, did Todd know that there were Republicans in there? Check out the article on Hillary's fundraiser in The Laguna Beach Independent:
Among the guests... were several Republicans. "They have said to me point blank, 'she may have swayed me'," [Clinton Campaign's Southern California Finance Committee Member Terry] Baker said. "They couldn't wait to get in line to get their picture taken with her."
Host Stevan Gromet, a self-described conservative Republican and like Clinton, a Yale law school graduate, surprised guests with his introduction. "I am looking for pure, transcendent, charismatic leadership," Gromet said... "And what I heard from Hillary was an earnest and serious discourse about our country's political ailments, cast in terms and concepts that went beyond party politics... So if Hillary and I are two separate dots, her talk last week was definitely a connection between those dots with a bold line."
So what is it that's swaying Republicans to Hillary's side? And is it in any way related to the reasons why many progressive Democratshave turnedagainst Hillary? And is winning the hearts and wallets of big Orange County donors enough to help her win California, and win the nomination?
I'll be in Dana Point on Friday to track down Mitt Romney as he hits up the big Orange County Republican donors for money. So how about you? It would be great if we had a Southern California group that tracks down these Presidential hopefuls as they visit the super-rich donors and spend time with them, and it would be even BETTER if this group were to ask these candidates why they don't talk to all the rest of us about their plan to get out of Iraq, or about their plan to provide health care coverage to the 47 MILLION PEOPLE in this nation who have none, or simply why they spend all this time with a select few when ALL OF US plan to be voting next February as well...
This past Saturday, 12,000 of my closest friends and I gathered in Oakland to see (or in some cases, just hear...) Barack Obama speak. It's nice to see Senator Obama giving the public some face time while he swings through our state to do what we know every presidential candidate must: make a withdrawal from the ATM that is California.
