Alzheimers. It's a scary word, and when it was spoken tonight it caused an audible gasp to ripple through the crowd at the Candidate's Forum, sponsored by the Chico Enterprise Record and The League of Women Voters.
Representative Wally Herger's sudden and unexplained decision to skip the debate prompted even the Chico ER to editorialize against him, accusing him of "Campaigning From the Couch." Wednesday night, after Herger's representative read a few paragraphs of standard Republican talking points to a silent crowd, Jim Reed voiced his own suspicions about why Herger has been ducking him when he has willingly debated opponents in the past.
Where's Wally, and why won't he debate his opponent?
What can you do with a candidate who refuses to commit to a debate? Such is the case with 24 year incumbent Wally Herger. First he refused to debate his primary opponent, Tea Party favorite Pete Stiglich. Now he refuses to commit to a debate with his Democratic opponent, Jim Reed. Why?
Is Herger so cocky about winning yet another term that he can't be bothered with a debate? Is he too cowardly to debate his trial lawyer opponent? You make the call.
Literally make the call. Help us Contact Wally Herger and demand a debate before it's too late. Ask Wally why he won't debate Jim Reed on October 6th.
I really do have the worst congressperson in the world (he was, after all, the guy who god-blessed a self-proclaimed "proud right-wing terrorist" as a "great American"), and I will prove it to you below the jump. But first, let me show you the type of people who have been electing my congresscritter to office for the past 24 years.
That's the main thoroughfare in my little mountain town, and that's the mentality I get to live with.
But just wait until you hear the latest from my congressguy.
Wally Herger, CA-02, just prevailed in his primary against a teabagger, but will he survive this fall against Democratic candidate Jim Reed, who is far more in touch with the beliefs of his California constituents when it comes to drilling and environmental issues?
You might think a Republican would reconsider the safety of deep water drilling after the endless eruption of the oil volcano in the Gulf.
You would be wrong. Herger still maintains that with our superior 21st Century technology we can drill-baby-drill with no harm to the environment.
Those of us in the reality-based community, including Jim Reed, see it differently.
Last summer, Wally Herger (CA-02) held a town hall in Redding to supposedly get his constituents thoughts about healthcare proposals in congress. I say "supposedly" because if anyone went to one of these things, all you got was propaganda and distortions. Of course, none of this is new to any of the readers here. But what really made Wally stand out was one moment that sums up his arrogance and why he shouldn't be allowed to be someone who dares to call himself our representative.
In response to a man who described himself as "a proud right wing terrorist," Wally's first instinct was to say, "God bless you, there's a great American!"
As we all know, you can't win an election without a good candidate. But behind every good candidate are good people working their tails off. And in a grassroots campaign, every blade of grass makes a difference.
Jeff Morris has run what can only be called an insurgency campaign in California's 2nd Congressional District, challenging 22-year incumbent and Republican party-liner Wally Herger. Jeff's campaign has been run entirely by volunteers. Only one very low-paid staff member. Not one big corporate donation. A little bit of PAC support, but from PACs that a progressive can be proud of. The fact that it's a people-powered grassroots campaign was recently described with great clarity by a local newspaper:
When Wally Herger campaigns, his catering bills run in the thousands of dollars.
When Jeff Morris campaigns, he eats at McDonald's.
I've been posting quite a bit about Jeff Morris, who is running a tough campaign against Wally Herger in California's Second Congressional District. This post is going to be a bit different, because I want to talk about Jeff on a personal level.
Jeff is my brother. But that doesn't mean that we have always agreed. In fact, there have been times in our lives when we were at each other's throats like cats and dogs, Sunni and Shia, Yankees and Red Sox. That's all water long under the bridge, but my point is this: I would not be writing these posts if I didn't honestly believe that he's the best man for the job.
I thought it would be fun to share some family history so that you can better understand the forces that shaped Jeff Morris into the public servant he is today.
Democrat Jeff Morris and incumbent Republican Wally Herger met again this week to debate the future of California's 2nd Congressional District.
The video is available here. Wally looks slick as can be, comfortable with the camera, clearly well-practiced, as well he should after 22 interminable years in office. If you like professional politicians with fancy suits and enormous war chests, Wally's your guy. Me, I like my candidates with some substance and ideas. If they don't shop at Neiman Marcus, so much the better.
I originally listened to the radio broadcast streaming online, so if either candidate was sweating profusely or wandering aimlessly around the stage, I wouldn't have known about it. What I did notice was the way in which Wally Herger appeared to have no original thoughts of his own. Was I listening to Herger? Bush? McCain? The ghost of James Watt? Often, it was impossible to tell.
The editors of Redding's Record Searchlight appear to have done Democrat Jeff Morris an incredible favor by endorsing Republican incumbent Wally Herger in the race for California's 2nd Congressional District.
Normally, this kind of endorsement would not be something that the challenger's supporters could cheer about. This time, it appears that the Searchlight's action backfired -- big time.
Judging by the comments to the editorial and other community feedback, the paper has unleashed a wave of fury and outrage that will likely show itself at the polls, a wave that will carry ol' Wally into retirement where he belongs.
Something very interesting is happening to Northern California's Second Congressional District.
The party affiliation of registered voters in this enormous rural district, which has for years been considered a Republican stronghold, has shifted from conservative to progressive, from red to purple. Believe it or not, in some counties in the district, voter rolls are a lovely shade of blue!
Trinity County -- blue. Butte County -- blue. Siskiyou County -- purple and projected to be blue by the election. Yolo County -- purple. Yuba County -- purple. Wow!!
Jeff Morris is running an impressive grassroots campaign to replace Wally Herger in California's Second Congressional District. Last week, Jeff earned the endorsement of United Public Employees of California, LIUNA Local 792 -- the first congressional candidate endorsement in the local's history.
Jeff has also received endorsements from the Five Counties California Labor Council; Carpenters Local Union #1599, Redding; the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO Committee On Political Education; the Operating Engineers Union No. 3, District 70, Redding; and UAW, Region 5.
Meanwhile, Wally received an embarrassing 4% rating from the AFL-CIO in 2007, just a baby step up from his truly dismal 0% rating in 2003.
There is a growing consensus in California's Second Congressional District that Democratic candidate Jeff Morris has a good chance of taking out long-time incumbent and party-line Bush supporter Wally Herger. Jeff, who has received endorsements from elected officials statewide and others including former presidential candidate Pete McCloskey, recently received the endorsement of Take Back Red California, "a grassroots coalition that connects northern California Democrats in urban counties with northern California Democratic activists working in rural counties." Here's what they had to say about Jeff:
In Jeff Morris, Democrats have found a grassroots-based candidate, with a wealth of policy experience at the local level, who will mount a serious effort to unseat entrenched Republican Wally Herger and strengthen and reenergize Democratic organizations in this district.
Doesn't this sound like someone who could change "traditionally" red District 2 to blue? I think so. The Take Back Red California folks seem to think so. And we're not alone.
Last week, Democrat Jeff Morris officially kicked off his campaign to unseat long-time incumbent Wally Herger in California's 2nd Congressional District. In my last post about my brother Jeff, I mentioned that he would have to get past the backwards-looking conventional wisdom, which says that this district is a shoo-in for the Republicans. I argued, as do many others, that this is the year when a well-qualified candidate like Jeff Morris can win, regardless of the political makeup of the district.
Jeff, who has already garnered support from both Democrats and Republicans among his fellow county supervisors, proved me right by landing a huge endorsement from someone who spent years on the Republican side of the aisle -- former Congressman and real GOP maverick Pete McCloskey. Speaking last week, McCloskey lauded Jeff Morris as "a tough and honest leader who will be a welcome change to the 2nd District."
(Moved video up top as it is pretty gosh darn funny. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
Yesterday, we told you about California Democrats who were holding events to celebrate the 73rd birthday of Social Security. Their intent was to both pay tribute to the program that has been a lifeline to millions of seniors for over seven decades AND to condemn John McCain and Republican members of Congress who are eager to privatize the system and let the corporate greed-mongers of Wall Street make a bundle.
For instance, Jeff Morris, the Congressional Democratic candidate who is going head-to-head with Wally Herger in CA-02, held his campaign kickoff at the Social Security office in Redding.
Julie Bornstein, the Democrat running to unseat Mary Bono Mack in CA-45 also held an event, to open her new campaign office in Palm Springs, with a special emphasis on celebrating 73 years of Social Security.
But Beverly and Leonard's celebration in CA-03 took the cake, so to speak...
Today is the birthday of Social Security, and Democrats around the country will be celebrating the program that has provided stability and dignity to seniors for the last 73 years. During the last few years, George W. Bush, John McCain and the Republicans in Congress have done their best to try to dismantle the protections that Social Security has built over the years.
"The American people said 'no' to George W. Bush and John McCain when they tried to privatize Social Security, and they'll say the same loud and clear to John McCain this November for promising more of the same," said DNC Chairman Howard Dean. "The same people who brought you Enron can't be trusted to gamble away the Social Security trust fund on the ups and downs of the stock market. John McCain is wrong on the privatization of Social Security, and he's the wrong choice for America's future."
Throughout the US, Democrats will be visiting Republican legislators and taking them copies of this birthday card. Here in California we have several special events taking place.
Up in CA-02, Democratic Candidate Jeff Morris, who is challenging the do-nothing Republican incumbent, Wally Herger, will be holding his Campaign Kick-Off at the Social Security Office in Redding. If you're in the area, stop by and meet him and his wife, Judy, and their many dedicated supporters.
Where: Social Security Office, 2195 Larkspur Office, Redding, CA 96002
When: Thursday August 14th at 9:45 am
Down in CA-45, Julie Bornstein, the Democratic candidate who is challenging Republican Mary Bono Mack, will be celebrating both the Social Security Birthday and the opening of her campaign office in Palm Springs. There's a rumor that cake may be involved...
Where: 1027 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
When: Thursday August 14th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm
Democrats in Yolo County are fired up and ready to go. They met last night at the historic Palms Playhouse in Winters for a rally sponsored by the Western Yolo County Democratic Club.
Over 100 people came out to listen and cheer as guest speaker CDP Chairman Art Torres, along with candidates Lois Wolk (SD-05), Mariko Yamada (AD-08), and Jeff Morris (CA-02), talked about "Why Rural Families are Voting Democratic - Taking Back Red California."
Oh, and the old-time music and the free spaghetti dinner weren't exactly deal-breakers either.
The speaking schedule was full. In addition to the politicians, there were local food and farm activists, as well as local organizers like Claire Black-Slotton, the executive director of Yolo United, and Ryan Loney, the Northern California Field Director of Students for Barack Obama and an Obama delegate to the Denver convention.
(bump cause I like congressional and numbers - promoted by Lucas O'Connor)
Turnout from Tuesday's primary by party. Every district with a Republican leaning PVI plus Barbara Lee just for fun and comparison's sake. Of the Republican leaning districts, Dem turnout was higher in 8 and close in several others. Might be an interesting November. Just sayin.
Numbers on the flip.
Update: I should have mentioned in the first place, there are still no Democratic candidates in CA-02, CA-19, CA-22, or CA-25. Turnout was dead even in the 19th and higher for Dems in the 25th, just for starters.
TJ at Loaded Orygun has been doing some great work gettig to the bottom of the 2002 Klamath River fish kill, an incident that recently gained more prominence when a recent Washington Post article detailed the influence of Vice President Fourthbranch in the decisionmaking process.
TJ has been filing Freedom of Information Act requests to determine what the level of involvement was for political officials in the region. Most of his findings concern Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and his inserting himself into the scientific debate over whether to hold water for river salmon and attempting to influence it on the behalf of self-interested farmers who wanted that water for irrigation.
But a California congressman also figured into this issue: Rep. Wally Herger of CA-02. The "pages" in the blockquoted text that proceeds refer to TJ's FOIA page request.
Throughout the US, Democrats will be visiting Republican legislators and taking them copies of this birthday card. Here in California we have several special events taking place.
Democrats in Yolo County are fired up and ready to go. They met last night at the historic Palms Playhouse in Winters for a rally sponsored by the Western Yolo County Democratic Club.