Kos has an important post on 2010 marking a pivot for the grassroots and netroots from trying to take back the federal government from Republicans to reforming our Party and holding Democrats accountable.
If your local congresscritter is one of the bad apples, start organizing locally. Plug into existing networks or start your own. Begin looking for primary challengers. Do the groundwork. Don't expect help from the local party establishment, they'll close ranks. So tap into alternate infrastructures. Find allies in the progressive movement. If your local shitty Democrat is anti-union, approach the unions. They'd love to send this kind of message. If the Democrat is anti-choice, work with the women's groups. If the Democrat is anti-environment ... you get the idea. If you have access to professional networks and money, start organizing those.
Of course, this takes more than just bitching about your frustrations on a blog, damning a whole party for the actions of a minority more scared of Mr. 28% than of protecting the Constitution they swore to protect. This takes hard work. But now is the time to start.
Indeed. The activists that meet campaigning this fall will form the core of next cycle's primary efforts. Kos suggests looking at The Capitulation Caucus with emphasis on those who are also Blue Dogs. In California, that means:
Joe Baca, Dennis Cardoza, Jim Costa, Jane Harman, and Adam Schiff
Kos also praises Loretta Sanchez as one of only four Blue Dogs who didn't cave on defending the Constitution from retroactive immunity. And remember, Ellen Tauscher was a member of the Blue Dogs until she saw the successful primarying of Joe Lieberman and occupies a district designed for a challenge from the left (and west).
The following California Democrats caved on retroactive immunity and disregarded their oath to, "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic":
Joe Baca, Howard Berman, Dennis Cardoza, Jim Costa, Jane Harman, Jerry McNerney, Nancy Pelosi, Brad Sherman, Adam Schiff, Ellen Tauscher
Pete Stark did not vote. This is the list of those who are potential targets of the Blue America PAC vs Retroactive Immunity which as of now has raised $310,673 to, "fund accountability for congressmembers supporting retroactive immunity and warrantless wiretaps." This money isn't going to send thank you cards to the members who did defend the constitution, this is primary money and cold cash to dump Steny Hoyer from leadership (Rahm Emanuel also capitulated).
As the battle moves to the Senate, all eyes are on Barack Obama nationally and Dianne Feinstein locally [(202) 224-3841].
As for 2010 primaries, it will be interesting to see what comes out of this. Carole Migden's 3rd place finish showed that entrenched politics matters less in a modern media environment. Ellen Tauscher is again practically begging to be primaried and in that district she's walking on thin ice. Joe Baca deserves particular scorn as the only Californian to sign the Blue Dog letter to Pelosi pushing capitulation (and a primary of Baca could probably receive significant institutional support from former members of the Hispanic Caucus). McNerney has outdone himself in contracting a full-blown case of Potomic Fever during his first term, every time he makes a move I think about asking for a refund. And Harman and Berman voting to cover-up warrantless wiretapping isn't going to do much to quell the rumors that they are pushing this because they are worried about their own culpability on the issue.
If you live in one of this districts, please call your member and ask them why. Comments and diaries with responses are highly encouraged.
Advocacy group Families USA has put out a shocking report (PDF), "Dying For Coverage," detailing how Californians are impacted by a lack of health insurance. The number "47 million" that designates Americans without health insurance is too abstract and detached from meaning. Californians are dying because of their inability to afford or acquire insurance.
• Families USA estimates that more than eight working-age Californians die each day
due to lack of health insurance (approximately 3,100 people in 2006).
• Between 2000 and 2006, the estimated number of adults between the ages of 25
and 64 in California who died because they did not have health insurance was
nearly 19,900.
•Across the United States, in 2006, twice as many people died from lack of health
insurance as died from homicide.
The factors that lead to death include: 1) a lack of preventive care and screening, 2) unnecessary delays for medical care because of affordability concerns, 3) no access to care outside an emergency room, and more.
Some of our Democratic members of Congress have commented on the report.
"This new Families USA study highlights a sad statistic that more people in our country died from lack of health insurance than from homicide between 2000-2006," U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) said today. "In California alone, nearly 20,000 people in that time frame died because of being uninsured."
"Our nation has more people in jail than anywhere else in the world in its effort to combat crime," Stark said. "Yet, we allow 47 million people to go without health insurance-which translates into going without needed medical care-each year. It's time to take action and combat the real killer in our country-the lack of universal health care."
"It is appalling and irresponsible that more than eight working-age Californians die due to lack of health insurance each day," U.S. Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) said today. "In California , 60 percent of the uninsured are Latinos, which means that nearly five Latinos die each day because we cannot ensure access to quality, affordable health care."
"I am fighting in Congress to improve the health of communities of color and strongly support improving access to health care for all populations," Solis said.
When Republicans talk about "cost control" in medical care, they want a world very much like this. They believe that the problem with health insurance is that people have too much of it. They would rather it be limited and used only when necessary, and they would rather Americans hold out and comparison shop when they are ill or infirm. In other words, the conservative vision of health care aligns with the for-profit insurance company vision which directly leads to 8 dead Californians every single day.
As we pick up the pieces from the failure of health care reform from earlier this year, this powerful report shows the dire need to repair the broken system and ensure affordable care for everyone.
This was and probably could/should have stayed a quick hit, but I'm in a mood.
Rep. Mary Bono Mack and her husband Rep. Connie Mack are joining forces to form the new America Supports You Caucus. Reps. Adam Schiff and Allen Boyd join them as co-chairs. The group will, at least in part, serve to highlight the Pentagon service that provides veterans with links to support services (instead of providing those services?).
I'm all for connecting veterans with support services and all, but at some point you can't wave that miniature American flag hard enough to hide that you aren't actually serving members of the military as well as you should. How fast before this becomes a de facto test of support-the-troops devotion?
Open Thread yourselves as well. Fun with Metronomy's Radio Ladio on the flip.
Via Newseum, here's how Barack Obama's victory over Hillary Clinton in South Carolina is playing above the fold in today's California's Sunday papers:
Bakersfield Californian: Obama routs Clinton in S.C. North County Times (Escondido): Obama romps in South Carolina LA Daily News: Obama defeats Clinton in rout in S. Carolina LA Times: Obama easily captures strongest win yet in S.C. Modesto Bee: Obama crushes Clinton in South Carolina primary Sacramento Bee: Obama's big win sets up next fight San Diego Union-Tribune: Obama thrashes rivals in S.C. San Francisco Chronicle: OBAMA WINS BIG IN S. CAROLINA Orange County Register: Obama runs away with S.C. Contra Costa Times: Obama nets huge win in S. Carolina
More after the flip and please use the comments to let us everyone know what you're doing and seeing locally.
Woohoo! Jerry did it! Jerry McNerney has managed to become the most un-progressive Democrat of the entire California congressional delegation. For those keeping score at home, Jerry's 82.45 was about a half point lower than the next CA Dem, Jim Costa, that progressive stalwart, at 82.97. And for all the talk of Harman changing her ways, she's still worse than even Joe Baca, almost 7 points worse from a very safe Dem seat.
For all of you CA-45 fans, "moderate" Mary Bono came in with a stellar 4.42 Chips are Down score. So, for all the bluster of the SCHIP vote, she's still dancing the same jig as the rest of her party.
On thing must be said, the Speaker has done an excellent job at preserving unity amongst the caucus. Whether that means she's being too incremental and/or ineffective, or just laying down the law is the big question. The reason her approval rating, and the Congress in general, is down has a whole lot to do with the fact that little has changed on the Iraq front. So, would it be better to have a speaker who is more willing to take risks? Perhaps, but the impediment of the president always lingers over her head, veto pen in hand. So, whether the unity is really there, is an open question. Full data over the flip.
(I was working on a similar post, but I'll still post my own, with all CA data and some other miscellany. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
The problem with most scorecards is that they are written by lobbyists concerned with always getting the votes of potential supporters. Thus, there is an equal weighting while in the real world not all votes are equal. In fact, regardless of everything else, some votes are dealbreakers and when they show up on scorecards as one of 12 votes or something, it looks silly. However, Progressive Punch has a new "when the chips are down" scorecard. After the flip is the ratings of CA's congressional delegation, in descending order.
I'm guessing that at tonight's Calitics' Actblue Celebrations there will be a lot of discussion about the votes to condemn MoveOn. The CA delegation split 50-50 in the senate and 16 yea and 17 nay in the house -- wedged successfully by the GOP in half. After the flip is the scorecard.
I wanted to take this opportunity to praise my congressman, Adam Schiff. He's technically a blue dog and if I have one complaint about him it's that he plays it way too safe for no apparent reason -- he won 64% of the vote last year. So, lately, it's been nice to see him step up (with votes in support of withdrawal from Iraq and an amendment to the Intelligence Authorization Bill to strengthen FISA) and step out into the spotlight on USAGate.
As a former assistant US Attorney in Los Angeles and a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Schiff has brought his expertise and credibility to bear in the Gonzalez hearings (notably telling Gonzalez he felt he should resign to his face.) Today, Congressman Schiff has introduced the House version of the no-confidence resolution against Gonzalez.
Yesterday citizens took to the streets in front of Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff's Pasadena, California offices to send him a clear message. STOP funding the WAR. This afternoon, the anti-war protest briefly became a two-front effort, (see update below) at the offices of Schiff and Republican David Drier. Why Adam Schiff, and why now? Schiff sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee soon to decide on legislation that could result in Bush being allocated another 200 billion US taxpayer dollars to pursue the illegal occupation and war in Iraq. Schiff states that he is opposed to Bush's escalation - but is that enough? Schiff voted for the Iraq War resolution, and year after year he voted to give Bush billions upon hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to keep our soldiers in Iraq to kill and be killed in an illegal war. Schiff now says that he opposes Bush's policy, but rhetoric does not equal action. Congress can bring the war to end by cutting off the flow of cash. There are lives in the balance, and there is already enough money in the pipeline to bring our troops home safely.
[Please follow me below the jump for updates, photos and video]
This is video from yesterday, the first of a three-day "occupation" project at Rep. Adam Schiff's Pasadena office. Rep. Schiff's office greeted the protesters with cookies and a signed letter:
"I will work with Representative Murtha, the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi to ensure that our troops have everything they need, to hasten their redeployment from Iraq, and to begin bringing our combat forces home ... Our work (against Bush's escalation) will not stop here. The next step will be to use the power of the purse to change direction."
As diaried here today, Congresswomen Woolsey and Waters and Lee have H.R. 508, a comprehensive plan to bring the troops home and support efforts in the region to reach a reconciliation. She is working on her colleagues from inside the tent; we must do the same from outside. Call your Representatives. Participate in local action. Do what needs to be done to get us out of this war. The video is below.
I don't think we talk enough at Calitics about Iraq. It's true that there is not a lot that can be done at the state level to effect the debate, although Carole Migden is offering legislation opposing the war. But the California Congressional delegation will have a lot to say about the future of Iraq and America's involvement in it. I've already expressed my disappointment with Henry Waxman's reticence to challenge the Administration on funding and bringing the troops home. He is but one of several Southern California Democrats who have consistently voted to continue our involvement and enable this Administration's crucially poor judgment in perpetuating this foreign policy disaster. Now the activist community is striking back and putting more pressure on local legislators to act.
Next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, from 11 AM - 6 PM, I will join other anti-war activists, some of them leaders of local LA Democratic Clubs, to conduct non-violent civil disobedience. As part of a nationwide Occupation Project, we will occupy Congressman Adam Schiff's office at 87 North Raymond in Old Town, Pasadena (Los Angeles area).
The demand? Schiff, who voted for the war again and again, must stop funding the US occupation of Iraq.
Risking arrest, we will sit-in, block the entrance, leaflet cars, and demonstrate outside Schiff's office, just as Voices for Creative Non-Violence and Code Pink occupied the offices of Senators McCain and Clinton recently.
