One of the things that Republicans learned to do really well in the early 90s was branding. In the modern era of marketing, the impact is really hard to overemphasize. People are increasingly relying on branding information where they were once using real data. That stinks, but it's the way the marketing game is played these days. So, we either play it or get steamrolled by it. I bring this up to point out our own failings within the state to build the "Democratic" Brand. So, I poked around a few Congressional (electoral websites) for some good practices and some bad practices.
...who just signed on to a letter to the President vowing not to appropriate any more money to the Iraq debacle for anything other than a fully funded withdrawal. Kudos to these 12:
Lynn Woolsey
Barbara Lee
Maxine Waters
Ellen Tauscher
Diane Watson
Bob Filner
Hilda Solis
Grace Napolitano
Linda Sanchez
Mike Honda
Pete Stark
Lois Capps
If you read Calitics you would know that, after much introspection, liberal House members from California - Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, Diane Watson and Maxine Waters - have relented and voiced their support for the Iraq appropriation which would set an end date for the conflict.
Steve Maviglio reads Calitics but didn't before he clicked send about twenty minutes ago and slathered the egg upon his face, especially considering that the California progressives' shift to support of the bill was only the single biggest political story going on since this afternoon. And the article is a doozy. It shows a knee-jerk hatred of liberalism (and principles, for that matter), a defend-the-leadership-at-all-costs mentality, a thuddingly poor understanding of the fact that you might want to check Google News before you blog, and... wait for it... a hat tip to Ellen Tauscher for her work on helping whip the bill.
We all write things we'd rather take back, but I get the sense that this is the norm and not the exception over there.
I got this via email from the Progressive Caucus. I happen to be among those who believe that passing this supplemental is the best way we can start ending this war.
It is our Californian Progressives who are dropping their opposition and are letting this pass. Congresswomen Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, Maxine Waters and Diane Watson will vote in favor of the leadership, despite their reservations on the substance.
UPDATE III:Our friends from Color of Change stopped by to say, "Big news -- James, our director, talked with a credible reporter who talked with Carolyn Kilpatrick, who, after being pressed, said that there is a Fox debate in the works, it just hasn't been announced." Is Barbara Lee going to let this happen?
UPDATE II:ColorofChange worries that the CBC Institute is still in talks with Fox and says, "This is no time to let up the pressure. They could be waiting for it to blow over so they can announce next week."
UPDATE:No need to call, the CBC Institute made a smart move, Fox lost out to CNN. Huge victory for Color of Change and a great day for the Democratic Party
Can a couple of Californians -- armed with little more than internet connections and the truth -- change the Congressional Black Caucus?
Fox News has a horrible record of attacking Black people, leaders, and cultural institutions. But at this very moment, the Congressional Black Caucus Institute is negotiating to partner with Fox to host presidential debates prior to the 2008 elections.
For the CBC Institute to partner with an organization like Fox News-given its hostility to Black political interests-would be shameful. You can help prevent them from making this serious mistake by calling on them to drop negotiations with Fox [...]
Given its record, Fox News shouldn't enjoy the support of Black political or cultural institutions connected to the Congressional Black Caucus. We believe the CBC Institute will change course once it realizes that Black America, if not all of America, is watching. Please join us in making sure they hear us, loud and clear:
I figured this might be a nice thing to share, since a lot of people don't know some of the downticket races and props so much... again these are my views, and not that of Calitics.
Hi everybody, so I filled out my absentee ballot and already sent it in, it's the only way to fly in Oakland since our know nothing Elections Supervisor bought a bunch of Sequoia systems fraud machines despite popular outcry... anyway here's how I voted:
Partisan Offices - statewide
---- Governor - Phil Angelides Lt. Governor - John Garamendi Secretary of State - Debra Bowen State Controller - John Chiang State Treasurer - Bill Lockyer Attorney General - Jerry Brown Insurance Commisioner - Cruz Bustamente (with waffling) United States Senate - (blank) or Diane Feinstein (see below) United States Representative - Barbara Lee State Assembley - Sandre Swanson Judges - re-elect
Statewide propositions. Proposition 1A-NO! Propositions 1B-1E Yes. Proposition 83 - NO!! Proposition 84 - Yes Proposition 85 - FUCK NO!!! Proposition 86 - Yes Proposition 87 - HELL YES! Proposition 88 - No Proposition 89 - YES YES YES! HELL YES!! Proposition 90 - NO!
---
City of Oakland
--- Measure M - yes Measure N - YES! Measure O - YES YES YES!
