XPosted 4/13/2008 10:48 AM PDT on MyDesert.com in blog of BluePalmSpringsBoyz
The campaign Director for the Manual Perez, Democratic candidate for the CA 80th Assembly District seat to replace the termed-out, thank God, Bonnie Garcia, stood in front of the monthly meeting of the Desert Stonewall Democratic Club (DSD) and had the temerity to mislead the 45 or so members and friends of the club about Perez' stated positions on LGBT issues, particularly Marriage Equality.
Yesterday, April 12, 2008, the DSD under the chair of George Zander, conducted its monthly meeting at the Desert Pride Center from 10:20 a.m. until approximately 12:00 noon. During the course of the meeting, candidates and their representatives discussed the progress and status of their respective campaigns. Amalia Deaztlan, campaign director for Perez, spoke eloquently about Perez' campaign until she claimed that Perez supported Marriage Equality. Sources from DSD and the Pettis campaign inform this writer that the group erupted in incredulous comments.
As stated previously in this blog, Perez has had a number of occasions to speak publically on Marriage Equality and other campaign issues before the Coachella Valley Democratic Clubs and each time has refused to state that he will vote 'Yea' on the State Assembly Marriage Equality Bill. On other occasions, for instance at the Sun City Democratic Club meeting and elsewhere, Perez has stated that he is not part of 'the Alternative Life-style,' thus pandering to those whom he sees as anti-gay and anti-Greg Pettis, the leading Democratic candidate for the 80th AD and an openly-gay Cathedral City Councilman who clearly and unequivocably supports Marriage Equality and will vote 'yea.'
Based on a Post 4/11/2008 6:02 PM PDT on MyDesert.com in BluePalmSpringsBoyz blog
My first exposure to Statistics was in undergraduate school. One of our textbooks was Huff's "How to Lie With Statistics." (Before you question my Statistical knowledge, I also had two semesters, six credits, of Statistics in my Master's program, and another two semesters, six credits, of same in my doctoral program.) Oh, the perils of using statistics in either a naive manner or purposefully misrepresenting these little guys. Seems that bethcaskie, aka soyinkafan, the former a new blogger to mydesert.com has intimate knowledge of this text and put it to good use in her first posting re the Binder Poll recently released. Shame on bethcaskie for her misleading blog title and for the loose interpretation of the Binder Poll.
Bethcaskie entitled her piece, dramatically claiming that Manuel Perez, Vice-President of the failed Coachella Valley Unified School District board and Democratic candidate for the CA 80th Assembly District, leads in the Binder polling. Then she articulated that Perez and Greg Pettis, Cathedral City Councilman, were actually tied in the poll! How then is Perez ahead? This is a shameful misrepresentation of the facts.
In a brilliant parliamentary maneuver, the Victor Manuel Perez for CA 80th Assembly District campaign to replace the termed out, thank God, Bonnie Garcia (R-CA), the Perez forces by one vote were able to keep Greg Pettis, Mayor Pro-Tem of Cathedral City, from retaining the California Democratic Party endorsement for Assembly. (Perez is Vice-President of the failed school board in the Coachella Valley Unified School District.) However, the short-term battle victory may possibly cost the Democrats not only the 80th in the November general election, but also cost them the majority that they need to ignore the demands of the recalictrant minority Republicans in the Assembly.
A major factor developing in the campaign and one of which I have been consistently blogging on mydesert.com, the online edition of The Desert Sun, is the fact that Gary Jeandron, presumptive Republican candidate for the 80th AD is a boardmember of the Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD). Recently, the State of California Board of Education threatened actions and/or sanctions against 97 school boards across the state that failed to meet state academic goals and the requirements of the Federally unfunded 'No Child Left Behind.' As a result, California threatened sanctions against the PSUSD and the board for the academic failures in the District. Jeandron, as boardmember, and running for the 80th cites his education background and experience as instrumental to his qualifications for the office. However, the threatened sanctions are a major demerit and campaign issue.
This is relevant to Perez as he is Vice-President of the failed CVUSD board which according to the State, had more problems than any other school district in California this year.
Well, it is time for New Year's predictions. This is an opportunity to promote and provoke discussion and not an effort to tout my own seriously limited political prognostication skills.
Iowa Caucuses. On the National level, I predict that John Edwards will either win the Iowa Caucuses or will come in a close second. On the positive side, Edwards has a strong grass-roots organization across the 99 counties of Iowa, especially in the rural counties where the vote is weighted. Edwards also has strong support from Iowa labor which is well-versed in getting-out their vote. Also, the polls are showing upward movement on Edwards part. and downwards pressure on Clinton and Obama, though Clinton seems to have stemmed the tide.
Hillary Clinton has the endorsement of the Des Moines Register and is so set on preventing Barack Obama from doing well in Iowa, that when she is faced with elimination at the caucuses, her people will encourage her caucus goers to throw their support to Edwards. Obama is relying on college students especially to turn-out the vote. Unfortunately for him, this means that a 20-something has to debate between staying home on winter break and partying with friends and intimates versus returning to freezing cold Iowa to walk precincts and to work. My guess is this is a no-brainer for a college student. Also, with the Bhutto assassination, foreign policy comes to the fore, and this is Obama's area of weakness. The last two Presidents elected with little to no foreign policy experience? Pres. Jimmy Carter and Pres. George W. Bush. Carter has only shown foreign policy expertise during his only term in office when stipulating that morality be a central concept when using diplomacy while Bush has yet to show anything approximating foreign policy accumen. I am afraid that Obama sees relations between Chicago, IL and Gary, IN as a foreign policy issues. I do not think that the American people are ready to again provide on-the-job training re foreign policy.
Prediction: John Edwards finishes first, Hillary Clinton finishes second, Barack Obama finishes third in the Iowas caucuses.
(xposted from mydsert.com as bluepslmspringsboyz)
More insightful predictions below the flip...
(Xposted on the www.mydesert.com website, the online version of the Desert Sun)
As indicated in my blog earlier this week on www.mydesert.com "It's the Economy Stupid, 2008 Version," the housing market in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley has been struggling for months if not years. (refer to that post for the current statistics). In an online article today on www.yahoo.com, the National sales figures have now been released. The news just keeps getting worse for the economy and for the poor management-as-usual of the Bush Administration.
How can the Repugnants expect to be relected to the White House and to return to power in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives with their continued disastrous economic policies?
The Yahoo reporter, Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer, reports (see the entire article):
"WASHINGTON - Sales of new homes plunged last month to their lowest level in more than 12 years, a grim testament to the problems plaguing the housing sector.
"The Commerce Department reported Friday that new-home sales tumbled by 9 percent in November from October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 647,000. That was the worst showing since April 1995, when the pace of sales was 621,000.
"The sales pace for November was much weaker than economists were expecting. They were predicting sales in the weakest sector of the economy to drop by around 1.8 percent, to a pace of 715,000.
"The median sales price of a new home dipped to $239,100 in November. That is 0.4 percent lower than a year ago. The median price is where half sell for more and half for less.
Well, Christmas, Chanukkah, and Kwanza 2008 have come and gone. Now, Election 2008 is in earnest.
The economy does not bode well for the Repugnants in 2008. For several months now, the housing market in Palm Springs, and in California as a whole has lagged in the doldrums. According to the The Desert Real Estate Report, the current housing price trend in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley is positive, but the median price of a home in the area is still down 12.8% from the high of $487,000 set in February 2007. The median price of condos is down 10.4% from the high of $385,000 set in March 2006. Condo sales are down 10.2% month-to-month, down 25.4% compared to November 2006. Year-to-date, condo sales are off 22.7%.
Waiters and service industry employees discuss the failing local economy, empty tables, and declining earnings that suggest decreasing revenues for hotels, resorts, and restaurants in Palm Springs and the other resort communities. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar with respect to the Canadian currency could damage the one source of increasing tourism and revenue.
This week, Target, Sears, and other retailers announced less-than-expected retail sales and sales increases during the just-finished holiday shopping season. Visitors report near-empty malls and retailers during the shopping season. Sure, the retailers are awaiting the cashing-in of the gift cards, and, sure, Amazon.com announced enormous sales increases over 2006, but the writing is on the wall. U.S. retailers are suffering. And, when retailers suffer during the holiday season, the U.S. economy suffers.
The Repugnant social experiment with sub-prime mortgages as a means of stimulating the housing market and the economy during the run-up to the elections of 2004 and 2006 has created a world-wide drift towards recession. The New York Times states:
"The business of lending money to the millions of Americans with tarnished credit ratings -- or none at all -- has always been a walk on capitalism's wild side."
December 20, 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).
A chilly desert night became a cold desert night while proud, progressive, Democrats joined helped throngs of locals, visitors, and prospective voters understand the shift of the Coachella Valley from red to purple with blue in the offing.
The Democratic clubs were represented as usual with Desert Stonewall Democrats (DSD) staffing the tables thanks to George Zander, President of DSD, Bob Silverman, Treasurer of DSD, and Randy. Re full disclosure, BluePalmSpringsBoyz iz a member of DSD. Eleanor Jackson staffed another table for the Democrats of the Desert.
More details about Palm Springs Village Fest Voter Registration and Democratic Presidential Candidate Tabling below the flip...
Although the Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) tops the list of California school districts facing state takeover, according to The Desert Sun, 98 districts statewide - including the Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) - face sanctions because of lagging student achievement.
Interestingly, a Repugnant candidate for the CA 80th Assembly District to replace the termed-out Bonnie Garcia, is a board member of the PSUSD. Gary Jeandron, is a board member of the PSUSD. His website reads: Gary Jeandron, The Choice for Good Education. Included in his list of endorsements are the now-discredited Arthur Block, Former PSUSD Board Member, Mike McCabe, Former PSUSD Board Member, and William Diedrich, Former PSUSD Superintendant. Should we then laugh or cry.
Where was Jeandron himself during this developing crisis? What has he or has he not contributed to the failure of the PSUSD to meet student achievement goals? It seems that this is a collosal failure of leadership on Jeandron's part. Just sayin'.
December 13, 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).
Very chilly desert nights and very hot progressive Democrats feted throngs of locals, visitors, and prospective voters.
The Democratic clubs were represented as usual with Desert Stonewall Democrats (DSD) staffing one table thanks to George Zander, President of DSD, Bob Silverman, Treasurer of DSD, and Tracy Turner, Vets for Peace. (Full disclosure: BlueBeaumontBoyz iz a member of DSD.) Eleanor Jackson staffed the table of the Democrats of the Desert.
Greg Rodriguez made an unexpected visit to the Registration and Candidate Information tabling with his two boys in tow. Rodriguez is an activist with the Hillary Clinton for President campaign, Yes on Measure E School Bond Issue, and is expected to run for school board in the Palm Springs Unified School District. But, more importantly, the boys were a hit as usual with the Democrats. One wanted to know why the stop lights were not functioning on Palm Canyon. BlueBeaumontBoyz suggested that he bring it up to Caltrans and to the local Department of Transportation (the lights are non-functioning during Village Fest). Rodriguez overheard and cautioned that the boys were likely to vocalize their concerns at the next City Council meeting. Two more articulate and victorious Democratic candidates in the making, we are sure.
Rob Simmons, member of the Palm Springs Airport Commission and an activist with the Barack Obama for President campaign also joined the DSD attendees in a spirited discussion re the current Presidential campaign and the early caucus and primary states. Richard Oberhaus, campaign manager of the Greg Pettis for 80th Assembly District campaign discussed the progress of the campaign, upcoming endorsements, and Pettis' amazing 50th Birthday celebration on Sunday in Cathedral City.
Rodriguez, Simmons, and Oberhaus discussed the upcoming January 3, 2008, Iowa Caucus viewing party planned for Look in Palm Springs. More details to follow.
George Zander, President of the Desert Stonewall Democrats, ran a great meeting today. The montly DSD meeting took place at the Desert Pride Center and had between 45 and 50 progressive Democratic political activists in attendance.
Those in attendance included Bob Thomas, Co-Chair of the Palm Springs Democratic Club, Steve Pougnet, newly-elected mayor of Palm Springs, Ginny Foat, Palm Springs City Councilwoman, elected last week as Palm Springs Mayor Pro-Tem, and Palm Springs power-broker, Rick Hutcheson newly-elected Palm Springs City Councilman, Craig Ewing, Palm Springs Planning Director and newly-elected boardmember of the Desert Water Agency, and April Hildner from No on C. John Williams, an appointed Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation boardmember and defeated candidate for Palm Springs City Council, Greg Pettis, Mayor Pro-Tem of Cathedral City and candidate for the CA 80th Assembly District to replace the termed out Bonnie Garcia, Richard Oberhaus, Pettis' Campaign Manager, Paul Marchand, Cathedral City Councilmember, Greg Rodriguez from Yes on Measure E and the Hillary Clinton for President campaign, Robert Simmons, Palm Springs Airport Commissioner and supporter of the Barack Obama for President campaign, and Paul Clay and David Hunsicker, candidates for the CA 45th Congressional District to replace Mary Bono also attended.
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is a supporter and friend of Greg Pettis for Assembly.
According to Richard Oberhaus, Campaign Director for the Greg Pettis for 80th Assembly District Campaign, as of yesterday, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 440 has now endorsed Pettis in his race to replace Bonnie Garcia. IBEW Local 440 has long been active in Coachella Valley politics and Progressive Democratic circles.
Chuck McDaniel, a IBEW Local 440 leader and activist, is also a co-leader of the newly formed Desert Hot Springs Democratic Club, is a member of the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee, and attended the recent Pettis Campaign for 80th AD website preview.
Garcia, aka Barfcia due to her various verbal indiscretions and embarrassments to the District, is currently termed out and, pending defeat of the proposed ballot initiative to extend term limits, cannot again run for re-election.
The good news for Proud Progressive Democrats is that the Coachella Valley is trending blue with recent wins by Steve Pougnet for Mayor of Palm Springs, by Rick Hutcheson in the Palm Springs City Council, by Karl Baker in the Desert Hot Springs City Council, by Greg Pettis in the Cathedral City City Council, by Craig Ewing in the Desert Water Agency, and No on C. Garcia barely won re-election in the last race against a little-known candidate, Steve Clute, who did not have the backing of all of the Democratic clubs because of his opposition to Marriage Equality.
In addition, Democrats now out-register Repugnants by 9% of the voters, i.e., 13,000 votes! The voter registration figures are also trending Democratic across the district from Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, and Cathedral City in the West Valley to Indio, Coachella, and even Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, and Palm Desert in Down Valley.
Pettis has a well-funded, well-oiled candidacy and has already outraised all of his competitors combined in FundRace 2008! In addition, Pettis already has endorsements from four of the local Democratic clubs, including the Pass Democratic Club, Desert Stonewall Democrats, Inland Stonewall Democrats, and San Diego Democratic Club.
Other labor organizations already endorsing Pettis include Building Trades of California, Cathedral City Professional Firefighters, and San Bernardino/Riverside Central Labor Council.
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is a supporter of Greg Pettis' amazing campaign for the CA-80 Assembly District seat.
I received this Press Release from the Greg Pettis for CA-80 Assembly District, a seat occupied by the termed-out potty mouth Repugnant Bonnie Garcia.
For Immediate Release November 27, 2007
For More Information Richard Oberhaus 760-413-7938
PETTIS LAUNCHES BID FOR ASSEMBLY WITH DISTRICT-WIDE TOUR AND WEB LAUNCH
El Centro - Veteran Cathedral City Councilmember Greg Pettis officially kicked off his campaign for the open 80th Assembly District seat today, surrounded by supporters in front of the El Centro Regional Medical Center and Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
Pettis pledged to use his two decades of experience, building relationships and working on issues that benefit families to create a healthier California.
"I'm launching my campaign in front of a hospital because it is the symbol of hope for a better tomorrow. It's time to extend that hope to the 6.5 million uninsured Californians as well as individuals and businesses who are struggling each week with the high cost of health care," Pettis said.
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is a supporter of Greg Pettis for CA 80th Assembly District and blogs under the nom de plume BluePalmSpringsBoyz in mydesert.com.
Tonight, at the Campaign Kick-Off tonight, the Greg Pettis campaign for the CA-80 Assembly District previewed its new website at www.gregpettis.com which will be officially launched tomorrow, November 27, 2007. Then, Cathedral City Council veteran and Mayor Pro-Tem Greg Pettis officially launches his bid for the 80th State Assembly District seat. The CA-80th AD seat is currently held by Repugnant Bonnie Garcia.
The Campaign Kick-Off Event tonight at the Cathedral City Public Library was extremely well-attended and included presentations by Pettis, Richard Oberhaus, Campaign Director, and Pettis' campaign consultant. Those in attendance included elected officials, political activists, media representatives, and campaign volunteers.
Elected officials in attendance, included Ginny "Ma" Foat, Palm Springs City Councilwoman, Paul Marchand, Cathedral City City Councilman, Pat Hammer, Cathedral City City Clerk, and Karl Baker, Desert Hot Springs City Councilman-elect. Political activists in attendance included George Zander, President of the Desert Stonewall Democrats, Bob Silverman, Treasurer of the Desert Stonewall Democrats, and Chuck McDaniel, President of the Desert Hot Springs Democratic Club. Other political activists included Bob Mahlowitz, Chair of the Palm Springs Office of Neighborhoods, Robert Marchand, Chair of the Cathedral City Public Arts Commission, Sonia Marchand, Jono Hildner of the victorious No on C pro-environment campaign, Roger Tansy, Bill Cain-Gonzalez, and many others.
Media representatives included a reporter from The Desert Sun, The Observer and BluePalmSpringsBoyz, bloggers from mydesert.com, and BlueBeaumontBoyz.
Pettis discussed the strengths of his campaign, including strong financial backing, sizable electoral base, significant relevant experience, and support in the Hispanic and Latino communities. Pettis reported that his campaign has already raised more monies than that raised by all of his Democratic opponents combined! Pettis also reported significant electoral support in each of his election campaigns in Cathedral City, one of the largest cities in the 80th AD. Amazingly, Pettis garnered even more support in the Hispanic and Latino communities during his last re-election campaign than he did in the Anglo community! Pettis reviewed his primary campaign themes including:
Health Care: Affordable and Accessible Medical Coverage for All Californians
Economy: Good-paying Jobs and Opportunities for All Californians
Clean and Safe Environment
Regarding health care, Pettis said:
"It's time to extend the hope of affordable and accessible health care to the 6.5 million uninsured Californians as well as to individuals and businesses who are struggling each week with the high cost of health care. California also requires a vibrant economy, clean and safe environment, and superior schools that give all of our children the opportunity to live their dreams."
As noted in my earlier post, CBS affiliate Channel 2 is being sued by a terminated employee for wrongful dismissal and will be investigate for possible illegal activity. Apparently, according to the lawsuit, the General Manager (unnamed) provided unlawful shall we say 'rebates' on political advertising.
This is what we know:
(1) Employee approaches GM of CBS affiliate Channel 2 to bring possible illegal nature of payments to GM's attention
(2) Employee is terminated
(3) CBS affiliate is owned by Jim and Jackie Lee Houston of Palm Springs
(4) Jacqueline Lee Houston donated well over $10,000 to the Republican National Committee in 2004
What we do not know is what political campaigns benefited from the alleged illegal activity. Was it a current campaign? Was it the Weigel for Mayor of Palm Springs campaign? Or, was it a past campaign? Was it the Bonnie Garcia campaign(s) for CA 80th AD? Was it the Mary Bono campaign(s) for the CA-45th Congressional District? Was the CBS affiliate Channel 2 illegally funneling funds to one or more of these campaigns?
When will the press investigate and bring the details out into the open? Or is it the job of the bloggers and diarists to do the job of the free press? Where is the Desert Sun in all of this. Why is not the Desert Sun investigating the allegations?
Just received this press release from the Greg Pettis for Assembly campaign. Pettis is Mayor Pro-Tem of Cathedral City and is running for the CA 80th Assembly District. He announced endorsements from California's top elected financial leaders this week, including Former State Controller Steve Westly, State Controller John Chiang, Board of Equalization member Judy Chu, and Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee Mark Leno.
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is a financial supporter to the Greg Pettis for Assembly campaign.
Democratic candidate for California 80th Assembly District, Greg Pettis, received the sole endorsement of the National group Democracy for America on October 15, 2007.
The organization, which was started by former Vermont Governor Howard Dean in 2004, is a grassroots network dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government.
"Inspired by the presidential campaign of Howard Dean, Democracy for America (DFA) is a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government-from school board to the presidency. DFA fights against the influence of the far right-wing and their radical, divisive policies and the selfish special interests that for too long have dominated our politics."
DFA Executive Director Thomas Hughes said:
"Greg Pettis has been building Cathedral City one block at a time. His sound financial management has led to thousands of new jobs and increased revenue for the city. His conscience has led to progressive solutions like a first-time homebuyer program, cleaning up Salton Sea and protecting open space for generations to come.
"We are confident he will continue this record of success in Sacramento to find solutions to improve California's health care system and combat global warming."
Pettis said he was thrilled to have DFA's support.
"DFA is a group that not only supports fiscally responsible and socially progressive candidates, but they do so from the ground up. Like me, DFA believes you win elections one vote at a time, sharing your ideas and committing your neighbors to help. That's been my record on the City Council and that's how I'm going to win this election."
DFA joins a long list of endorsements for Pettis including the California Building Trades Council, Riverside/San Bernardino Labor Council, Victory Fund, Riverside Mayor Ronald Loveridge, Palm Springs City Councilmember Ginny Foat, Cathedral City Councilmember Paul Marchand, El Centro City Councilmember Sedalia Sanders and former Coachella Mayor Juan DeLara.
Pettis is considered the Democratic frontrunner in the race to replace Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, who will be stepping down due to term limits. His status has been determined in that he has raised more money and has more donors than all the other Democratic candidates combined based on the last filings with California's Secretary of State.
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is an financial supporter of Pettis.
In a press release dated October 4, 2007, Greg Pettis announced that the Victory Fund has endorsed his campaign for the CA 80th Assembly District which is held by the termed-limited Bonnie Garcia, R-CA.
The Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender candidates and their political campaigns. The Victory Fund staff helps to recruit, screen and train qualified candidates and to assist them in raising the necessary funds required to run for political office.
Re full disclosure, BBBz is an enthusiastic supporter of the Pettis campaign for the CA 80th Assembly District.
It is time to update the information that I provided earlier regarding voting and voter registration in the Coachella Valley. As indicated in that post, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, and Coachella all gave the John Kerry/John Edwards ticket majorities in 2004. In my earlier diary entry, I informed you that the registration across the Coachella Valley are heartening for the progressive movement. The more recent registration figures not only bear this assertion out, but allow for even greater optimism.
As you can see, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Desert Hot Springs are becoming increasingly Democratic at the expense of the Repugnant registration figures in each city. Palm Springs has increased its Democratic registration from 44% of the electorate to 45% while the Repugnants have decreased from 36% of the electorate to 35%. Likely Democratic voters increased in percentage from 60% to 61% in Palm Springs.
Cathedral City has increased its Democratic registration from 38% of the electorate to 39% while the Repugnants have decreased from 45% of the electorate to 44%. Likely Democratic voters increased in percentage from 52% to 53% in Cat City.
And, Desert Hot Springs has increased its Democratic registration from 33% of the electorate to 34% while the Repugnants have decreased from 49% of the electorate to 47%. Likely Democratic voters increased in percentage from 47% to 49% in DHS.
The percentage of Indio's registered voters who are Democratic declined from 45% to 44%, but Repugnants remained at 40%. Likely Democratic voters decreased in percentage from 58% to 57% in Indio.
Finally, in Coachella, the percentage of the electorate that identifies as Democratic remained at 64% while those signifying as Repugnant increased from 24% to 25%. Likely Democratic voters remained at 73% in Coachella.
While on the whole, Democratic registration and likely Democratic voters increased in the more Democratic cities, they also held their own in the less Democratic cities such as Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, and Rancho Mirage in the Coachella Valley. So, the trend continues. The Democratic Party is becoming stronger in its presence while the Repugnants are becoming less so. Perhaps the local so-called newspaper will take note and move from its reactionary extremism to a more moderate tone in order to maintain its readership. Otherwise, they run the risk of extinction.
According to the Sacramento Bee, the Assembly Republican Caucus staff has produced an update on voter registration numbers statewide and by Assembly district. The numbers are based on a county by county survey of registrars reflecting voter registrations by the end of June 2007. Amongst the key findings:
Repugnant Assembly Districts where Repugnant voter registration decreased the most included the 80th Assembly District where Repugnant voter registration decreased by 3,540.
Terrific news for the CA 80th Assembly District. Voter registration figures, donations, numbers of volunteers, good issues, and an expectation to win will combine to help us say 'Adios, Gonnie Barcia (who is termed out), and the Repugnants (who are freaked out) at last!'
Voting and voter registration figures have long been trending Democratic in the Coachella Valley. As indicated in my earlier post, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, and Coachella all gave John Kerry/John Edwards ticket majorities in 2004. Given the mood of the electorate, it is clearly expected that these five cities, and probably more, will give the Democratic nominee a majority vote in 2008 as well.
