Coachella Valley High School's annual College VocTech night is on October 17th this year. Here's a clip from last year, featuring our region's most stalwart advocate for youth, schools, and communities. David Roth, Manuel's ally in education and my candidate from last year's CA-45th race, joins him at the end.
Watch Manuel Pérez exhort parents to advocate for our kids at every level. "Instead of the schools to jails pipeline, let's look at the schools to universities pipeline."
Get this man to the California State Assembly with us here.
There are no Senate seats up in California in 2008, and no statewide offices up for election, so the biggest seats outside of the Presidency will be in the House of Representatives. While we're 18 months out, I thought I'd give a snapshot of what races are most inviting for a Democratic pickup.
I'm going to concern myself solely with pickup opportunities, because the only realistic possibility of a GOP pickup is in CA-11, and I'm confident that Jerry McNerney and his grassroots army can handle whatever's thrown at him, plus he'll have the power of incumbency and the focus of the CDP. There may be some retirements that would make things interesting (Lantos, Stark, Woolsey), but those are very blue areas. So let's look at the best opportunities to add to the Democratic majority:
In the first couple centuries of European warfare following the introduction of gunpowder, giant medieval walls met cannons and explosives. Eventually, the cannons and sappers would blow a gap in the wall. Then a group of volunteers, called in the British Army "The Forlorn Hope", would charge the gap. Those men almost always died, but their sacrifice was necessary to draw the fire of the defenders and force them to expend their ammunition, so the second wave of attackers could get through the breach. Survivors, if any, were promoted to officer.
The 50-state, 435-district strategy requires that many Democratic candidates serve as a forlorn hope. These Democratic candidates ran in heavily Republican districts where they had little to no chance to win. But they forced the Republicans to spend money and resources simply to retain their seats, were there to take advantage of mistakes or scandal, and helped to build and energize infrastructure in those districts.
While we're all celebrating the victory of last Tuesday, let us thank the Democrats' forlorn hope -- they probably won this for us. In California, at least in the races I've been following, that means that I want to thank these candidates and all of their campaign staff and volunteers:
Charlie Brown, running against John 15% Doolittle in CA-04.
David Roth, running against Mary Bono in CA-45
Francine Busby, running again in CA-50 against Brian Bilbray
Bill Durston, running against Dan Lungren in CA-03
Jill Martinez, running against Elton Gallegly in CA-24
Roberto Rodriguez, running against Buck McKeon in CA-25
Thanks to all of you. You made this victory possible.
The spring is slowly returning to my step, thanks to Webb and Tester. But David Roth was not elected last Tuesday, and it hurt.
From David Roth
Thank you!
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Thank You. Thank you for the remarkable encouragement as we built the most impressive campaign in Riverside County History. Thank you for the unfailing support as we raised an unprecedented amount of money for a challenger in this District. And thank you for your hard, hard work as we knocked on literally thousands of doors and made thousands of phone calls -- and built a movement based on the need for change.
We made history on Tuesday with the most impressive performance of a challenger in memory in this district, and that is because of the movement we built together. We ran a campaign of integrity & honor -- and we are all the better for this remarkable experience.
As I said on Tuesday night -- change is hard. But we have started a ball rolling in the 45th Congressional District that cannot be stopped, and will only pick up momentum as the days and months pass.
A glorious day for David Roth (CA-45th) and our happy throng of Americans to march in the Desert Pride Parade in Palm Springs. Look who the gay community in Palm Springs is for:
GOTV precinct captains have our orders, the final call lists are getting together, and David, as usual, was talking with the voters all day. The local paper, The Desert Sun, recapped the candidates in today's edition. My home delivered print edition showed both candidates on the front page, with equal space devoted to their respective articles. Look how the web version formats it. The panic among the shills and GOP machine is palpable. GO ROTH!
Another Macaca Moment-- Help me publicise this!
by John Chapman
Sat Nov 04, 2006 at 09:14:10 AM PST
A Spanish language newspaper received an email from an employee at KNWZ 1140 AM which shows that Congresswoman Mary Bono approves of the term "Third World Toilet" when describing the city of Coachella.
If that email really belongs to Rep. Bono, then she belongs far from public office, just as George "Macaca" Allen does. What a disgraceful crew. I posted it on dKos, too.
Our teachers want Democrat David Roth for Congress. From the local paper, The Desert Sun:
“Unlike the current Congresswoman (Rep. Mary Bono) representing the 45th Congressional District, David Roth has a clear understanding of what our public schools need to be successful,” Carole Bailey, a teacher from the Desert Sands Teachers Association, said in a news release.
.......Supporters say Roth had strong understanding of the impact of the federal “No Child Left Behind Act” on regional school systems.
......“Roth is someone educators know they can trust to do what is right and best for the students we teach and for the communities where we live,” Bailey said.
Al Gore's appearance in Berkeley was very energized. That man still has a lot of motivation to work for issues that are important to him. And, all of a sudden, he's an impassioned speaker. Berkeley Bubble has it covered.
Charlie Cook's National Journal Campaign Race Rankings have bumped CA-11 and CA-04 up the charts. CA-04 (Charlie Brown vs. John Doolittle) has moved up to #46 from #41. CA-11 (Jerry McNerney vs. Richard Pombo) has moved up to #34 from #37. Neither race has received anything in the way of support from DCCC, but this is the year that we need to take these two crooks out.
Speaking of Doolittle, juls notes on dkos that he's pulling out all the negative tricks in his arsenal now. His latest? Calling people at all hours with a robocall that leads in with "Let me tell you more about Charlie Brown." Dirty and desperate...that's our 15% Doolittle!
More from CA-11 and CA-04: The USA Today, which I think has the highest circulation (I could be wrong), has a story about Doolittle and Pombo's connections to Jack Abramoff. Wow, more national attention for our dirty duo. You know, corruption never loves the light. Let's get the flood lights on these 2 crooks.
More from CA-11: McNerney is challenging a Pombo ad. Apparently Pombo didn't feel that it was really that important that he follow the rules. He didn't properly "I approve this message" on the end of the ad. Bad crooked Congressman, bad!
In other races, The Rogue on dkos points out David Roth's (CA-45) latest achievement of getting on the DCCC's emerging races list. You know that list is to me? Rahm's list of races that he will take credit for if they win, and he will blow off if they lose. But, Roth is a hard charger and would be a great Congressman.
I had a date with my husband to see Jackson Browne open for Tom Petty last night. I stood him up for Senator Barbara Boxer, Rep. George Miller and David Roth at the Smoketree Room in the Palm Springs Convention Center. Photo by Omar Ornelas, The Desert Sun.
They were electrifying. All Democrats should be as clear and strong as Miller and Boxer are, and thankfully, Roth is one of them.
Roth wrote an OpEd challenging the pro bono stenography of our local paper, which to its credit, it printed. Roth's "Blow Over" video passed 3,000 hits on YouTube. Roth came close to winning the Blue America ad buy. Finally, finally, the DCCC added Roth to the Emerging Races list. Well, OK, then.
The SoS debate is today at 2PM (webcast here), we hope to live-blog it either here or at dKos. More details on that later. Teasers: David Roth (CA-45), Debra Bowen, Margaret "legend in her own mind" Fortune, GOP gay purge, trouble for the bonds.
David Roth and Mary Bono sat in the same room today for an editorial interview with The Desert Sun. Not a debate, she can't handle that, but actual proximity, which is a stretch for our shrinking violet of a Rubberstamper. Roth spoke for the citizens of the district, while Bono spoke on behalf of herself. Cause, you know, she really loves this job, and she thinks she's doing great. Roth decimated her with some of those mean, liberal facts you've heard about.
So shallow, so oblivious, so pathetic next to David Roth who believes that politics is a noble calling - you really have to join me on the flip to know how stark the differences are in this CA-45th race.
Oops, I guess I missed it by a few minutes, but you can see the "transcript" and more info on Roth at FireDogLake. David is running in the Plam Springs area against Mary Bono, she of no qualifications other than she was formerly married to the now deceased Sonny Bono. (who himself really didn't have much in the way of qualifications, but I can cut him some slack b/c he was mayor of Palm Springs). Check out the comments in the diary for the actual chat.
Meet David Roth with Alivia and Anita.Mary Bono is terrified of this big, mean Democrat (pictured with his liberal family) and his mean, mean questions about Iraq, political corruption, and her votes attacking seniors, children, and disabled veterans. She won't debate, won't even address a public forum without assurances that Roth won't be scheduled the same day, as is the case with the Palm Springs Green Expo this weekend. She's petrified. Now we have Mark Foley epitomizing the rot of Republican rule. Let's count the ways Mary Bono's story "adjusts" to unfolding news reports, shall we?
The Roth campaign (CA-45) has new videos. This latest, "Blow Over," notes Mary Bono's total obedience to the Bush/Cheney idiocy. May 2004, Mary Bono said, "I think this Iraq thing will blow over ..." that was over 2000 dead Americans ago.
When Mary Bono first came to Washington, she made herself immediately useful to the House GOP leadership in its assault on Clinton. Does anyone remember Susan Carpenter McMillan, pictured with Bono and Paula Jones? {Shudder} Mary Bono gave us "What do you tell your children?" back then, but we have yet to hear any similar parental concern over the House pages that her buddy Mark Foley covets. Here's Bono with Foley and Connie Mack as they yuk it up with Kelly Preston. What do you tell your children about Uncle Foley, Mary? What's that? Still can't hear you. How about torture? No? Student aid? Healthcare? Why are you one of the worst for children and seniors? Silence. Still can't find her, either. Bono won't debate, and David Roth told the 100+ supporters outside her office last Wednesday - don't bother asking for debate, she's clearly too frightened of a public airing of her record. Just ask her to go home. Had Enough? H/t: Blue America and Howie Klein for these fabulous videos!
First things first: "Roth-A-Palooza" Rock Concert in support of David Roth's run for Congress
This Saturday, September 30, 2006
9:00 PM
Rock Garden Cafe
777 S. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs, CA 92264
Local bands for Roth:
Sound Asleep
MECHE
Save Us Now
The Movie Colony
The Feedbacks
Bernice & Alex
$5 cover Let's hear it for Juan Carlos Sanchez, rocking field organizer, pictured (left) with our own kickass David Roth. You can't fool the youth. Which brings me to Bono.
Too few of our Democrats are truly music to the ears. Barney Frank is one of that eloquent, ballsy few. Smart, funny, and particularly compelling when he's stumping for my Democratic challenger, David Roth.
Yes, I MET him in a Roth supporter's Palm Springs full-to-the-brim house last Saturday (forgive the delay in posting, the kids shorted out my keyboard that same morning). A lovely man. He told us not to whine about how corrupt and unfair the rightwing is - they're not going to stop. Democrats have to beat them in GOTV, we have to walk our precincts, and we have to give David money.
Mary Bono called Barney Frank to prevent this appearance. Let's discuss that on the flip:
Rubberstamp Republican Mary Bono accuses David Roth of being one of the dreaded "Hollywood Liberals." Please. You know that the GOP smear machine is in meltdown mode when a Rubberstamp Republican can't even tailor the Rove/Mehlman lines to fit her challenger. David Roth is liberal, but hardly Hollywood. He fights for access to college for all students here in California and around the world. Roth is an education expert and career public servant. How fabulous!
More thoughts on Rep. Bono's quite reasonable fear of a debate with Democratic challenger David Roth, and her newfound hatred of Hollywood below.
Bono campaign chairman Marc Troast said Friday that the campaign hopes to raise an additional $300,000 between now and election day, which would put it near $1.2 million - nearly double the $600,000 Bono raised for her last campaign, two years ago.
Pure Rovian absurdity: I have to raise double the usual amount to hang on to my seat this year, so I couldn't be more serene and upbeat!
Bono evidently plans to hide in her bunker and throw money at the voters this year, and hope that the big mean Democrat, David Roth, just goes away. Sadly enough, as we all well know, that can work for Republicans. But voters in the CA-45th aren't necessarily buying it this year. They want a debate. Mary's got the bankers, David Roth needs the rest of us to win this one. Contribute here
