Among Democrats, my lead is even starker: 37 percent favor me, 23 percent favor DeSaulnier, 18 percent favor Buchanan, 13 percent favor Woods, and only 2 percent are undecided. Most importantly, our great team of volunteers is effectively converting the support identified in the Survey USA and other polls into actual votes cast. Among those who have already voted, our considerable lead holds: 27 percent voted for me, 18 percent for DeSaulnier, 13 percent for Buchanan, and 10 percent for Woods.
Our lead holds among all demographic groups, including Obama voters, men, women, all age groups, all races, all levels of educational achievement, and all income levels. Our support is broad based and diverse. As the only candidate who has represented all corners of the 10th Congressional District, the voters know where I stand. As CBS 5 explained, "DeSaulnier and Buchanan have failed to make inroads since CBS 5's last poll 16 days ago."
Clearly, with Election Day fast approaching this Tuesday, we like where we stand.
The poll explains the what, but it fails to explain the why. I'm proud of the campaign we've run. We're convinced the polls are a reflection of voter support for a positive issues-based campaign that has emphasized solid Democratic principles and experience that can deliver results.
If you saw the Olympics last night, you might have seen the bold new ad by Al Gore's "We" campaign:
Today, the "We" Campaign launched a new national television ad aimed at promoting the campaign's challenge to repower America -- by generating 100 percent of America's electricity from truly clean sources within 10 years.
The ad, entitled "Switch," (http://www.wecansolveit.org/switch) features Americans of all backgrounds -- rural and urban, blue collar and white collar -- making the change from fossil fuels to cleaner, renewable forms of energy by symbolically "turning on" a giant, 25-foot light switch. Actor William H. Macy narrates the ad.
"America's three great national challenges -- our economy, national security and climate change -- can all be addressed by switching to renewable energy," said Cathy Zoi, CEO of the nonpartisan Alliance for Climate Protection, which is managing the "We" Campaign. "The Olympics are a time for all Americans to reflect on our nation's achievements and what we as a people can do together. Choosing the right path and repowering our nation is something we can do, and something that will benefit us all."
Just as "change" is the key word in this election and mistaking the mood of the electorate helped cost Hillary Clinton and her supporters the nomination, the key word for the next cycle is likely to be "switch" and misjudging the electorate will have the same results.
Last week, Vice President Al Gore presented the American people with a challenge: meet 100% of our electricity needs through renewable energy within 10 years. Al would be the first to acknowledge this is not a minor task. And yet it is an urgent one, a challenge that will require a transformation in how we invest our time and money, and how we view ourselves.
I wanted to respond to Al Gore's call by asking two things of each of you:
1. Include your voice with the millions of others expressing support for this mission
2. Be part of collective solutions to make it a reality
(Cross posted from Daily Kos and various other places. This diary talks about issues important to all, including Californians. If you want to protect the coast from off-shore drilling, the change in Teamster policy is a good thing. As the Blue/Green coalition grows, it's good for all of us, no matter where we live. It's the future. I also included the updates from Daily Kos in this diary)
This is big.
Great news for all of us who seek a Blue/Green Alliance! The Teamsters today left the ANWR coalition, a group in favor of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Jim Hoffa has just announced that the Teamsters are pulling out of the coalition supporting drilling in ANWR and are shifting their support to efforts to build coalitions with green groups to create a sustainable energy economy around sources like solar, wind and geothermal.
"We are not going to drill our way out of the energy problems we are facing-not here and not in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," Hoffa told labor and environmental activists at an Oakland, Calif., summit on good jobs and clean air. "We must find a long-term approach that breaks our dependence on foreign oil by investing in the development of alternate energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power."
(I'm under a mountain of work, so I have a lot on Netroots Nation stored up, but this from our pal Paul about the Pelosi/Gore session is good. And BTW, I asked the Iraq question. - promoted by David Dayen)
It's no surprise that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi got a tough reception at Netroots Nation - as bloggers asked about the Iraq War, impeachment and (of course) FISA. Pelosi passed the buck on all of these issues - saying that she's let House Judiciary Chair John Conyers handle executive contempt, blamed Senate Democrats for selling out on FISA and said that only electing Barack Obama will get us out of Iraq. When Al Gore popped in to make a surprise appearance, the crowd gave a hero's welcome to the ex-Vice President - posing a sharp contrast with Pelosi. Bloggers cheered Gore's ambitious environmental agenda to make the United States 100% free of fossil fuel energy by 2019. But nobody bothered to ask Gore why he didn't push for this 15 years ago when he could have done something about it. Meanwhile, Pelosi's excuses frustrated the audience - but they each have an element of truth to them. On the other hand, if Pelosi says she "doesn't have the votes" in Congress to get what we want, she should start being more supportive of primary challenges that bloggers wage against bad Democrats.
As you've all seen by now, Al Gore is saying we need to go clean within 10 years. That is why he showed up at Netroots Nation. Today, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is launching his campaign for Governor online at the Netroots Nation conference in Austin. But the big question for Newsom is whether he is a third as committed as to fighting Global Warming as Gore. You see, there is a potential ballot initiative in San Francisco to go 100% green, not in 10 years, but by 2040: The Clean Energy Act. Sounds common sense for a gubernoratorial candidate to support you think, but Newsom's consultant is already blanketing the city with lies about the idea of San Francisco kicking the habit. Tim Redmond says in this week's San Francisco Bay Guardian:
A progressive measure that would make San Francisco one of the greenest cities in the nation will be on the ballot this fall. It's designed to lower energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote green-collar jobs. It has all the elements that Mayor Gavin Newsom has been talking about in his high-profile speeches, press conferences, and celebrity appearances. It's a perfect vehicle for a mayor who wants to stand out as a candidate for governor of California. It has the backing of some of Newsom's close allies, like state Sen. Mark Leno.
That's why Newsom ought to support the Clean Energy Act.
Indeed. As a young San Franciscan who will deal with the fallout of Global Warming, I hope Newsom will follow the best practices of hundreds of cities. Cause you do what you've done and you'll get what you've got -- PG&E has shown they are far more interested in greenwashing than green jobs and green energy. I want to see this pass, I'd even be willing to work on it despite not working on a citywide in SF since working for Newsom's first mayoral election. Will he greenwash today or lead 1/3 as much as Al Gore?
UPDATE: So Newsom gave a great speech supporting exactly what the Clean Energy Act will do. So will he side with his political consultants or with his beliefs on moving towards clean energy? Will he support the Clean Energy Act?
Al Gore is now on stage talking about, guess...the environment. No slideshow as of yet.
UPDATE: He's going over facts. Apparently the entire North Pole ice shelf will be gone in the summer in 5 years. Yikes! But don't worry, you can keep driving your Hummers. Waterworld was a great movie!
UPDATE: Nice dig in on Bush. It doesn't make any more sense to drill out of our crisis as to go into Iraq when Bin Laden was in Afghanistan.
An hour after the start time, Nancy Pelosi is on the verge of actually taking a question. Updates to come.
[Update] First question asks about inherent contempt. The Bush administration is "tearing up the constitution and saying we rule. This is a monarchy." Crowd goes wild over the notion of Karl Rove held in contempt. "Justice Department has advised the US Attorney not to prosecute the case." Interesting needle she's threading here- the power of Congress should be more respected but Congress is powerless to do more than it already has.
Gina Cooper asks if Karl Rove will be arrested and thrown in the Congressional jail. Crowd goes nuts, Pelosi punts.
[Update] Second question wonders what the gain was that balances out telecom immunity. Again, short version is 'it's not my fault, the Senate did it.' She's not wrong but I'm not sure how it helps. Pitching the exclusivity argument which is garbage as decided by the court which covers her district. Americans are protected by domestic spying, the Inspector General will be super, etc.
[Update] Gina asks "who exactly is supporting this?" Damn good question. Still pushing a Constitution or Bush dichotomy, but I'm not sure that she's actually coming down on either side. The Senate bils are bad the Senate votes are bad etc etc.
[Update] Jeffrey Feldman asks from the floor "Can you tell us what you think government should be?" Build majorities in House and Senate, win the White House. Jokes that wider margins will increase bipartisanship. Talking about elements of health care reform which is nice but not an answer to the question. "Science is the answer" to something. "Science, science, science, and science...We have an innovation agenda." 3rd point is infrastructure, tracking from the Erie Canal to the Bush Administration and the focus on destroying Iraqi infrastructure over building American infrastructure. 4th (and final?) Energy security. There's a moral responsibility to be secure in our energy? International competitiveness. "Awfully proud of Barack Obama going overseas today." McCain would love that one.
[Update] Silent protesters are moving through the room. New question: Should the government bail out GM like it did Chrysler several decades ago? "Help them be competitive" and help them innovate. How are we going to help the workers losing their security? Distinction between helping GM and helping workers. Answer is health care as a competitiveness issue.
Jeffrey gets a question from Natasha Chart regarding abstinence-only education. Funds to effective sexual education programs? "Abstinence-only...is dangerous to the health of our young women." Feldman asks about Abstinence-only earmarks, Pelosi wants us to give her a better Congress. Mentions the Contraception/abortion debacle at HHS. "If you don't like abortion, you should love contraception...It's catering to a radical right wing view and it should be stopped."
"Just say stop if you've heard enough on any subject."
[Update] "Universal broadband is part of our innovation agenda...we must have it be universal." "The whole country has to be wired." It's about health care and family values and education and every other one of her preferred talking points. Two solid ones in a row. Pelosi brings up net neutrality on her own, strongly supports. Objections during FISA but her "bigger disappointment [with the telecoms] was their objection to net neutrality." The people standing in the way are the ones who didn't innovate in the first place.
[Update] Audience question: Why are our soldiers being forced to beg for care packages? They shouldn't, but emblematic of broader failures. "We owe them better than the policy we have." GI Bill and veterans health care, "when you come home we'll send you to college." Nearly 1/3 of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans are seeking mental health treatment. "Build a future worthy of their sacrifice." Win in November. Feldman pushes back: there seems to be an absence of the broader discussion of how we're going to take care of them. Pelosi: The administration doesn't care about the troops, what more do you need to know? (How about...what are you going to do about it?)
[Update] Final stage question from Gina is on Al Gore's energy plan and...Al Gore is here as our surprise guest.
[Update] "...hold elected officials accountable." Thank you. absolutely essential that we have...a well informed citizenry that is involved and engaged." We represent the edge of government reform. On to climate change in the way only Gore can.
[Update] Gore's speech is over and he's taking questions with Pelosi from the floor. First question, would you consider a role in an Obama administration. Gore responds that his preferred role is as one who expands the political space for elected officials and bring about a public opinion sea change to make the atmosphere more amenable to change. Second question is on the carbon footprint from meat production which he addresses without saying much. Mountaintop removal is third up. Really going to bat for coal miners and bashes the irresponsibility of mountaintop removal and coal companies- calls liquid coal insane. "We've got to walk and chew gum at the same time" by getting off foreign oil AND off fossil fuels.
Pelosi's back and thanking Gore for being great. Says we have a choice between yesterday and tomorrow.
[Update] Pelosi's pushing the Use It Or Lose It program, "looking for an excuse, not a reason" to drill in ANWR and Outer Continental Shelf. She's been absolutely great on this issue as I mentioned in Robert's liveblog yesterday.
Finally responding to question about improving accountability. She didn't really have a response and folks are starting to get rowdy. More questions from the audience:
[Update] Wind turbines on high voltage towers? Gore says that expense is a concern, and power lines aren't necessarily where the wind is blowing. Mentions T-Boone Pickens who is not exactly the best friend in this group. "When we make an all out commitment then some of the problems...subside." Quick bash of No Child Left Behind. E-waste disposal is next- there needs to be a lot more progress.
Pelosi responds to a question about how Congress will respond to Al Gore's ten year challenge. Last year's Energy Bill is her example of forward Congressional progress- a tough vote- and notes that renewable electricity standards passed over the fossil fuel PACs. Will bring it up again, but again punts responsibility to the Senate and tells us to build bigger majorities. NCLB: Not enough funding, revisit with a new president, will not be renewed this year.
[Update] Fresh round of four questions from the floor. Gore: we will still have a problem with a Dem in the White House and bigger majorities.
Vice President Al Gore recorded a video and wrote an email to Courage Campaign members about the importance of investing in education even during a time of economic crisis.
In it Al Gore asks for people to respond back to him directly on Current.com with either a video response or text. They have a pretty nifty tool that will detect a webcam on your computer and let you respond right there, just scroll down to the bottom.
On Monday, I went to the capitol and filmed 18 different Assemblymembers responding to Al Gore. Dave has been cutting them into individual videos and uploading them. Below the fold is the rest of the email from Gore. I had hoped to be able to embed those videos from the Assemblymembers here, but the code from Current is not playing nicely, so you will have to click the link to see.
Assemblyman Anthony Portantino AD-44, Assemblywoman Betty Karnette AD-54, Assemblyman Dave Jones, AD-09, Assemblyman Kevin DeLeon AD-45, Assemblyman Ed Hernandez AD-57, Assemblyman Hector De La Torre AD-50, Assemblyman John Laird AD-27, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine AD-40, Assemblyman Lori Saldana AD-76, Assemblyman Sandré Swanson AD-16 and there are a few more coming including Speaker Karen Bass.
Dear Julia,
I don't write emails like this often.
But, with Californians facing a massive budget crisis and potentially devastating cuts to education, I feel compelled to speak out. As members of the Courage Campaign community, I hope you will speak out as well.
Al Gore, the former Vice President and presidential candidate who won the national popular vote in 2000 has made his first political statement during the bruising presidential primary season. He is moving on from his global warming victory to fully endorse same-sex marriage rights.
In 1983, 50 corporations controlled the vast majority of all news media in the U.S.
...
in 2000, the number had fallen to six. Since then, there have been more mergers and the scope has expanded to include new media like the Internet market. More than 1 in 4 Internet users in the U.S. now log in with AOL Time-Warner, the world's largest media corporation.
In 2004, Bagdikian's revised and expanded book, The New Media Monopoly, shows that only 5 huge corporations -- Time Warner, Disney, Murdoch's News Corporation, Bertelsmann of Germany, and Viacom (formerly CBS) -- now control most of the media industry in the U.S. General Electric's NBC is a close sixth.
"It is my greatest hope that those who read this book will choose to become part of a new movement to rekindle the true spirit of America." - Al Gore in The Assault on Reason
For those of us entrenched in the Draft Gore movement, we think we know exactly what that means.
And in California, we have been going full bore to qualify him for the Democratic Primary, whether he runs or NOT. The beauty of it is, that if he doesn't want to be on the ballot, he can simply ask Secretary of State Debra Bowen to remove his name. And by law, she will have to.
And it will not have been a wasted effort. We will finally have our Shermannesque statement. Thus far, we have had nothing close to that.
We are 3 weeks away from the deadline, and are on the cusp of doing it, and things have gotten weird...
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is a supporter or the Pougnet, Hutcheson, and Williams' campaigns for City Council of Palm Springs.
(Don't forget to either mail in your Vote By Mail by Tuesday, November 6, 2007, postmarked November 6, 2007, drop off your Vote By Mail ballot at your local precinct, or vote on election day, November 6 at your precinct!)
November 1, 2007 - Palm Springs Village Fest Voter Registration and Candidate Information Tabling at Palm Canyon & Arenas, Palm Springs, CA, Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Adult beverages enjoyed thereafter at the local pubs).
Hot desert nights and progressive, Support-the-Troops/Stop-the-Insanity Democrats. Milling crowds of locals, visitors, and voters. I was able to discuss my letter-to-the-editor in today's Desert Sun with the other progressive Democrats at Village Fest. The theme of my letter was the incompetence of Bush and Mary Bono R-45 and the expecancy that their promises re helping the victims of the Southern California wild fires are probably empty given nature of the promises made to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Years following Hurricane Katrina, and New Orleans, a great American city, and the Gulf Coast remain devastated.
The Democratic clubs were well represented as usual with Desert Stonewall Democrats staffing one table thanks to George Zander, President of the Club, Bob Silverman, Treasurer, Bill Gonzalez, and Randy. The Democrats of the Desert staffed another table thanks to Eleanor, and the Palm Springs Democrats staffed another table as well.
Hopefully, we will see visits from Greg Pettis, Steve Pougnet Mayor-elect of Palm Springs, John Williams, City Councilman-elect of Palm Springs, and Rick Hutcheson, City Councilman-elect of Palm Springs at the next Village Fest. Remember, Tuesday is Election Day. You must vote on Tuesday or have your Vote-by-Mail postmarked by then to make a difference in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley!
More exciting details below the flip...
October 25, 2007 - Palm Springs Village Fest Voter Registration and Candidate Information Tabling at Palm Canyon & Arenas, Palm Springs, CA, Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Adult beverages enjoyed thereafter at the local pubs).
Temperate desert nights and progressive, Support-the-Troops/End-the-War Democrats. Large crowds of locals, visitors, voters and refugees from the Southern California fire storms surrounded the tables. Many people from the mountain resorts, coastal cities, and San Diego County attended Village Fest. One family donated funds for John Edwards' campaign materials and the young daughter nabbed an Edwards button to wear! German tourists from Laguna Beach sought refuge in Palm Springs from the smell of the smoke and the haze. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families deeply affected by the Santa Anas.
Here is the flier that I distributed at Village Fest:
Question: Who provides support and protection during National crises?
Answer: The National Guard
Question: Where is 50% of the California National Guard and its supplies?
Answer: Iraq
Question: Who is responsible?
Answer: George W. Bush, the most incompetent President in U.S. history.
Question: Who refuses to accept responsibility?
Answer: George W. Bush (I guess in some respects, Bush is the answer.)
The Democratic clubs were well represented as usual with Desert Stonewall Democrats staffing one table thanks to George Z, President and Bob S. The Democrats of the Desert staffed another table thanks to Eleanor, and the Palm Springs Democrats staffed another table as well.
Greg Pettis, Mayor Pro-tem of Cathedral City and Candidate for CA 80th Assembly District, spent two fun hours at the Democratic Club tables in order to raise awareness about his plans for the campaign and the 80th AD. His visit came close on the heels of his endorsement of former-Sen. John Edwards for President 2008. April Hildner, of No on C, discussed the massive funding by the proponents of C for advertising. We wonder where that money is from.
Hopefully, we will see visits from Pettis, Steve Pougnet Candidate for Mayor of Palm Springs, John Williams, Candidate for City Council of Palm Springs, and Rick Hutcheson, Candidate for City Council of Palm Springs.
(I'd like to know as well... - promoted by David Dayen)
Democracy for America has been buzzing all day about the statement released by our Executive Director Arshad Hasan. Here one of the reasons why:
Our challenge to Al Gore: Jump In or Drop Out!
And another:
Despite the fact that Al Gore has not announced that he will run and wasn't even included in the endorsement poll, DFA members have seized the power and written him in. With over 65,000 votes cast so far, the time has come for Vice President Gore to make a decision.
The clock is ticking. We are deep into the 11th hour. There are fewer than 90 days until the first votes are cast. And filing deadlines to be on the ballot start closing in just days.
You deserve to know. Is Al Gore in or out?
Voting is still open until November 5 at midnight, and there is plenty of time for any candidate to win. All your candidate needs is your vote right now:
"Organizers of California Draft Gore, a grassroots campaign to put Al Gore's name on the California presidential primary ballot, announced today that the campaign has volunteers located in or assigned to all of the state's 53 congressional districts.
Originally convening on websites like algore.org, meetup.com, and draftgore.com, California Gore supporters quickly built the infrastructure necessary to take advantage of the California Election Code, which allows for a candidate's name to be placed on the ballot if at least 500 registered Democrats' signatures are obtained from each of the state's congressional districts.
"In less than sixty days we have filled almost all of the campaign coordinator positions," said Patrick McGovern, the Los Angeles regional campaign coordinator. "With estimates of over 1,000 volunteers statewide, we are a broad cross-section of Californians."
One of the first of many Gore '08 groups to move beyond petitions and pleas, the California campaign's well-organized grassroots volunteers are optimistic about its chance of success. California Election Code allows signatures to be collected from October 8th through December 4th, and Berkeley campaign coordinator Gabi Baty believes that the campaign will meet that deadline because "we have people ready to hit the ground running."
"There's no doubt we'll succeed. The only question is, how quickly. The sooner it's inevitable that Al Gore will be on the ballot, the sooner he'll take notice," mused San Diego coordinator Ben Cooper. "We want Gore to realize that we've ignited the 'new movement to rekindle the true spirit of America,' he described in The Assault on Reason. We're not trying to pressure him to run. We're planning to inspire him."
Many of the campaign's volunteers view their efforts in this light. "We're doing our part to help him make a decision," said Beverly Flynn, a campaign coordinator from Turlock who had never been involved with politics until she joined California Draft Gore.
Baty agrees. "Our work to get him on the California ballot may encourage Gore. He may find himself at the front of a wave that's pushing him forward."
Campaign organizers are still recruiting volunteers for the signature-gathering campaign. Though California Draft Gore counts many seasoned politicos among its members, it also attracts political newcomers. Linda Morreale, is one such volunteer. Why Gore and why now? "It feels important," she said. "Of all the choices, he's the best."
For more information on the campaign or to contribute to California Draft Gore's campaign, visit www.california4gore.org.
About California Draft Gore:
California Draft Gore, a grassroots organization, is a Federal PAC. The organization and its website are not affiliated with or authorized by Al Gore, any candidate or candidate's committee."
This is something new in American Politics…
Don't discount the efforts of real people doing what, for the longest time only spin machines, special interest money and professional campaign people did, pick their choice for President. We have a right to make this civic action, it's our job as citizens. It is not the outcome that is so significant but the process being done. I think Mr. Gore will agree with that and is quite fascinated by our work. We exemplify what he talked about in the Assault On Reason. Just look at past popular movements in this country such as the Civil Rights Movement. I'm sure people discounted them in the beginning. Don't be so quick to judge, it takes time to test out these things.
If you have a mind, use it, if you have a voice, speak it, if you have political will,
exercise it. I thank God for Al Gore. God bless America and God bless this beautiful earth.
For full disclose, I am involved in this effort, and as a matter of fact I first pointed out the relevant laws at the beginning of the year.
Just in case you didn't think there were enough Democratic Presidential Candidates, those that are voting in the California Democratic Primary on February 5th seem likely to have another choice: Al Gore. The effort to put Gore on the ballot is definitely picking up steam, and they are going to be all over the state next week as the period in which they are allowed to collect signatures begins. I was unavailable over the summer, but the idea was picked up by Roy Gayhart who built an amazing grassroots effort that is going to be successful and has started to get some attention.
