I'll be brief because I'm blogging this from my iPod. Barack Obama finished a good-sized rally where he kind of lost the crowd in the middle but ended well. It was pretty much the same stump speech we've heard; I'll elaborate later. But as we were leaving, we spied Obama campaign manager David Axelrod and asked him about Bill Clinton's very odd comment that he personally saw Culinary Union bosses threatening to stop workers from voting for Hillary.
Axelrod lost it. He said, "I don't believe it, and if Bill Clinton actually saw that, he can take it to the NLRB. This is the rankest form of voter intimidation I've ever seen." And with that, he stormed off.
It felt like being on Hardball for a second.
(for my money, if Clinton does claim he saw a union supervisor threatening to violate voter rights, then he should take it to the NLRB.)
So we're in the Obama press area awaiting his arrival (in about an hour, I'm told), and I had some time to write, and elaborate on what I told our Northern Nevadaticians over the phone.
We just got back from a Bill Clinton event in North Las Vegas at a local YMCA. There were about 150-200 people there, which seemed small to me. Bill came out and said he mostly wanted to take questions, and then proceeded to talk for about 45 minutes (hah!). It was a solid speech, completely extemporaneous, talking about the challenges we must face in the next four years and how his wife is best able to face them. But there was one glaringly strange moment.
Finally, the primary comes to Davis. Former President Bill Clinton will be speaking tonight at the ARC Pavilion (that's the Rec Hall to you old timers) at 9pm, in his second trip to UCD campus. The speech will be free and open to the public, doors will open at 8:15pm, with an opening performance from the Cal Aggie Marching Band-Uh (have they endorsed Hillary?).
Finally, the primary comes to Davis. Former President Bill Clinton will be speaking tonight at the ARC Pavilion (that's the Rec Hall to you old timers) at 9pm, in his second trip to UCD campus. The speech will be free and open to the public, doors will open at 8:15pm, with an opening performance from the Cal Aggie Marching Band-Uh (have they endorsed Hillary?).
While everyone's still in shock about N.H., I wrote this for today's Beyond Chron.
The polls in the final days showing Barack Obama with a double-digit lead in New Hampshire were not wrong, and I was not unreasonable - though a bit cocky - to gloat that the Clintons were history. Instead, what happened was 17% of New Hampshire voters made up their minds on Election Day. And Hillary Clinton's huge gender gap suggests that last-minute media attacks on her "crying" swayed women to her side. Just like Iowa, New Hampshire voters said that change was more important than experience - which continues to be her Achilles heel as the race moves to Nevada and South Carolina. Last week, the New York Senator was in danger of losing because voters saw her as "Clinton" - the establishment candidate who will carry on a political dynasty when voters want something new. But on Election Day, enough came to view her as "Hillary" who would create change by becoming the first woman President. This explains the unexpected result, and the tide of public opinion can still shift back.
Granted, he meant it as a joke to pump up partisan Hillary supporters at a campaign stop. But seriously. The guy is a jerk, and he simply can't help being part of the story. When people ask me why I hate Hillary Clinton so much, I tell them that 85% is due to the fact that Bill Clinton betrayed everything the Democratic Party stands for.
(not totally local, but I mentioned the Empower Change Summit yesterday, so I thought I'd update)
So I spent Saturday on the campus of UCLA, at the American Democracy Institute's "Empower Change Summit," a gathering of aorund 3,000 young people, to interact and discuss the ways in which they can be a force for social change. The ADI describes itself as a nonpartisan organization built on shared values (though they are, to be honest, typically progressive), dedicated to being a leadership gateway, inspiring people to create change on their own in a bid to make democracy more relevant to people's lives. The desire for a new model of political engagement, one that exists both within and without the electoral sphere, which foregrounds values and principles and encourages public citizenship and the change we can make in our daily lives, is noble. But it was unfortunately turned briefly into a world-class spin session during the closing speech by former President Bill Clinton.
David Dayen and I attended the EmpowerChange summit at UCLA today, put on by the American Democracy Institute. Bill Clinton gave an address, which I transcribed (rather roughly) and am pasting below the fold.
I didn't get the chance to attend any significant portion of any of the workshops that were offered at the summit; I caught the tail-end of the ecology workshop, but that was just about it.
I will say that this was probably the only speech I've attended as media in which the media got the worst seat in the house. We were shunted all the way to the back corner of Royce Hall for the speech.
I'll be checking in periodically (Wi-Fi permitted) from UCLA at the Empower Change Summit, an event sponsored by the American Democracy Institute, a new-ish organization dedicated to youth engagement. We know that the youth vote turned out in record numbers in the past two elections, and their activism and empowerment is crucial to creating a truly progressive society. Today's event includes a bunch of workshops and speakers, including a keynote from former President Bill Clinton. I'm in as media, so hopefully I can realize my dream of yelling out at the press conference "Mr. President, Mr. President!" and being called on, and continuing to yell "Mr. President, Mr. President!"
Anyway, both Dante (hekebolos) and I will be there, so we'll let you know what's going on.
She continues to hold big leads in the primary race here, but that might change depends on what happens in Iowa and New Hampshire. Field Poll (PDF) results here. You'll find all the typical numbers there, she has 45% to Obama's 20 and Edwards' 11. (Dem Race Field Poll) But today's Field Poll release was slightly different, more focused on Hillary, and uses data from back in the Clinton era to track her. There's some interesting points there.
Most pointedly, Bill Clinton is really, really popular here. Always was, and always will be. Even during the dark days during the impeachment era, he was still clocking in at 54, 55 percent overall, and today he's still at that 57% mark. Hillary, occasionally strays below that magical 50% mark. She's at 48-39 Favorable now, but her peak was only at 55-39 in October 1999. More over the flip.
Bill Clinton is in San Diego tonight hosting a fundraiser and I won't be there. Can't afford it. $500 to get in the door. Unless I suddenly don't need to pay rent next month, it ain't gonna happen. Maybe you're like me, and you constantly wish that someone would hold a kickass fundraiser that you can afford? Well now somebody is. If you're in driving distance of San Diego, we expect to see you at the Calitics Quarterly Fundraiser.
We've got office seekers and holders at the federal, state and local level. We've got the beloved local blogger Terry Williams (terryfaceplace) and notoriously non-prolific blogging gadfly Lucas O'Connor. We've got the San Diego Drinking Liberally crew led by founder Jesse Rubin, so you know it'll be a party. And most importantly, we have tireless, brilliant and criminally underappreciated activists from throughout the San Diego area.
We don't have Slick Willie, but we have a chance for you to pitch in and have a great night for $20, $40, or whatever it is you can afford. We don't quibble over pennies. What we're after is the passion. See you Wednesday.
Here are today's wild and wonderful OC stories that you just have to see to believe!
- TABOR for All? In yesterday's OC Register, Rep. John Ken-doll Campbell offers us an "American Taxpayer Bill of Rights" to fix all the fiscal woes that those "tax and spend Democrats" are already creating:
The road back to fiscal sanity in Washington is likely to be a long slog, unless Republicans are willing to boldly recommit ourselves to the principles that earned us the reputation as the party of lower taxes and less government. Today the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of approximately 100 fiscal and social conservatives in the House, will do just that when we unveil the American Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Unfortunately for Ken-doll Campbell, Dan Chmielewski ain't buying any of this "TABOR talk".
But Republicans are hardly the party of less government. The size of the California government rose under Ronald Reagan. It rose under Pete Wilson. And it's risen under Arnold Schwarzenegger. The size of the Federal Government grew under Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
The president who actually reduced government: Bill Clinton, under the RE-GO initiative led by then VP Al Gore shrunk the size of the Federal Government to the lowest point since the Kennedy Administration.
- And you say only Iowa and New Hampshire have town hall meetings? Nope, not true... 'Cuz we'll be having a series of them in Santa Ana over the next month. OK, OK, we won't have anyone "famous"... We'll just be talking with our city leaders about youth issues, business development, neighborhood concerns, and more. Ryan Gene has more about it at Orange Juice.
- Advantage Janet? In case you forgot, our Special Election for County Supervisor is still in court. However, there was an interesting turn of events inside the courthouse yesterday. Peggy Lowe has the latest in Total Buzz. And finally...
- "Do I stay or do I go?" Ellyn Pak talks about that grueling decision that thousands of Anaheim Hills and East Orange residents had to face as the threat of fire loomed over their neighborhoods in today's OC Register.
As I mentioned over the weekend, Bill Clinton will be in San Francisco this afternoon at 5 pm to campaign for Prop 8. You can get more info and tickets here.
But, some more exciting news. Bill will be campaigning for Jerry McNerney in Stockton tonight at 9PM. I know it's kinda late for a political rally, but you know what, it's timed perfectly for a live shot on the evening news.
Laura Bush, the Bush without ~60% disappoval ratings, will be in the Sacto area today to campaign for Pombo and Doolittle. These two critters are running scared. So, if you can make it to Stockton, please, please, please do so. You can get more information on Jerry's site or at this dKos diary.
WHO: President Bill Clinton, Jerry McNerney, nominee for Congress from California's 11th Congressional District, Democratic candidates for local, state, and federal office
WHAT: Public Endorsement and Democratic Get Out the Vote Rally
WHERE:Stockton Jet Center, 6364 South Lindbergh Street, Stockton, CA
WHEN: Wednesday, November 1, 2006, 9:00 p.m.
HOW: Individuals are strongly encouraged to pre-register here. Individuals who pre-register will be provided with an electronic ticket and VIP admission.
Yup, that's right, the Big Dog himself will be in San Francisco to campaign for Prop 87. He'll be headlining a rally at City Hall on Wednesday afternoon. It's at 5PM, so hopefully you'll be able to make it. Tickets and More Details here.
Bill Clinton was in Los Angeles on Friday to promote Proposition 87, which would force oil producers (not consumers) to pay taxes on oil at the wellhead in order to fund renewable energies.
Prop 87 will move California toward energy independence with cleaner fuels, with wind and solar power. There are people who don't believe you can do it. I do. Look at Brazil. Don't you think you can do it if they did it? They run their cars on ethanol.
Clinton on the myth that 87 is a tax on consumers:
Now, I know the oil companies have trotted out some economists in their ads. But let me ask you something: If they really thought you were going to pay for this, would they be spending all that money trying to convince you to vote against it? You need to know that California is the only state in America without any kind of extraction fee on its natural resources on oil.
Clinton on the larger picture of Prop 87:
California is being given an opportunity and an obligation to do something remarkable to save the planet and improve our national security and create the next generation of good jobs for the American people. That's what Prop 87 represents to me.
Bill Clinton is coming to town tomorrow to campaign for Proposition 87. He'll be appearing at the Murphy Sculpture Garden at UCLA at 9:15am for a rally.
“[The Clinton Global Initiative] was designed to tackle big global challenges in bite size pieces,” President Clinton said. “This is a very, very good thing to do and, since California is our biggest state, it pumps 190 million tons of pollution into the air from cars, trucks and buses that run on gasoline and diesel every single year. This is a big deal. I’m very grateful to them.” (Prop 87 Blog)
The DCCC apparenlty likes some numbers that it has seen on the CA-11 race. Hank Shaw of the Stockton Record is reporting that the DCCC will place a $100K bet on Jerry McNerney for this race:
National Democrats are finally recognizing that Pleasanton wind energy consultant Jerry McNerney's campaign against Tracy Rep. Ricard Pombo is for real: They are polling in the district right now, and this survey will determine whether they're in for a penny, or in for a pound.
They're reportedly in for at least $100,000, however, according to several sources both here and in Washington DC. Should the D-Trip's polling show something similar to McNerney's survey (41% Pombo, 40% McNerney) you can bet they'll start slinging the cash the way the National Republican Campaign Committee already has been doing since late August. (Stockton Record Blog 10/06/06)
Well, I say about damn time! All the internal and other Dem-leaning polling has shown Jerry with a small lead or within the margin of error. I don't know if the DCCC will release their new polling, but we'll probably get at least some antecdotal data based upon whether more than the original $100K is put into the district. I'm glad that at least Rahm can recognize his mistakes (i.e. getting involved in the primary without asking anybody in the district). Jerry will make a great Congressman.
The "Debate"
The Tracy Press Candidate forum went well, or so I am told. I of course couldn't muster the time to haul my butt to Tracy during Rush Hour. For that, I apologize. I would have really liked to get some video of the Forum up on the Internets. As of right now, I haven't been able to find any coverage on YouTube or anything. If you have any video, let me know! So there's a bunch of coverage. A quick roundup on the flip. Of course, if you have anything else, feel free to write your own diary or add a comment to this one.
