This Saturday is a Netroots post-mortem (I hope that's not and overly accurate description!) of this election in San Francisco. If you're going, and want to meet up at the lunch break or afterwards, I wouldn't mind putting some faces to the names I see here. There may even be one or two of you who want to
40 days from today - on May 18 - we will see two HUGE primaries for U.S. Senate. Even though these races aren't in California, they impact Democrats across the country and, well, the entire country as a whole.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak will try to upset Republican-for-decades Arlen Specter.
In Arkansas, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter will try to upset corporate lackey Blanche Lincoln.
These two races are tremendously important to defining who and what the Democratic Party is and what we will be fighting for.
If you can volunteer for these candidates (or encourage friends and family in Pennsylvania and Arkansas to do so), that would be amazing.
Of course, if you can help with a contribution to either or both via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page as soon as possible, it will make a big impact.
Polling shows that both Specter and Lincoln are at risk of - if not likely to - hand these Senate seats over to far-right-wing Republicans. (And, even if these two retain the seats, that's not much better on many key issues.)
Congressman Sestak and Lieutenant Governor Halter winning these primaries are critical to keeping these seats in truly Democratic hands. Your support can help make that happen! Please hop over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page right away to make a contribution - an investment in the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party to pull out an old expression - and show your support.
Thanks SO much for any support you can provide. 40 Days.
As many of you know, over the last five days, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, in partnership with a number of progressive organizations and blogs including Senate Guru, asked those in the netroots, "Should a Draft Sestak movement be created to take on Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary?"
The results are in and they are overwhelming. 85% of Pennsylvanian respondents and 86% of respondents nationally want Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak to challenge Arlen Specter in the 2010 Democratic Senate primary. The poll has even gotten the attention of Congressman Sestak, as the PCCC points out:
"I am honored that so many of you took the time to vote in the recent grassroots Straw Poll. Let me tell you, I and many others were paying attention. If I decide to run it will be in large measure because of the grassroots energy of so many people like you. Until I and my family make that decision, please accept my thanks and my best wishes as you continue be active participants in our people-powered democracy. Thank you so very much!"
Due to such an overwhelming response, a Draft Sestak Fund has been created on ActBlue. To contribute and further encourage Congressman Sestak to enter the race, click on the image below:
If you need any additional motivation to contribute to this effort to draft a real Democrat to oppose Specter in the primary, consider Specter's actions since announcing his Party switch:
1) Specter opposed the Obama budget.
2) Specter opposed the "cramdown" mortgage/bankruptcy reform, siding with banks over families.
3) Specter reiterated his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act.
4) Specter reiterated his opposition to President Obama's nomination of Dawn Johnsen to the Office of Legal Counsel.
5) Specter announced his support for Republican Norm Coleman over Democratic Senator-elect Al Franken in Minnesota's Senate race.
6) Specter promoted a website that appeared to raise money for cancer research but, in actuality, simply raised money for his campaign.
7) Specter denied reports that he told President Obama that he would be a "loyal Democrat" despite multiple reporters sticking to their story.
The netroots have displayed overwhelming support for Congressman Sestak to take on recently-Republican Arlen Specter. Help the effort by contributing to the Draft Sestak Fund.
More and Better Democrats. We in the netroots are the most vigorous champions of candidates who truly represent their districts, candidates who challenge the status quo and demand tangible changes in our government. If we had the power to create the quintessential strong Democrat, we'd be hard put to make up someone more authentic, intelligent, and schooled in the needs of his community than Manuel Perez.
Disclosure: I've been with this campaign since the 2007 CDP Convention.
Manuel Perez has a significant, double-digit lead over his Republican opponent and
is well-positioned to win back the seat for Democrats in California's 80th Assembly
That's the latest polling we have (Source: Heidi von Szeliski and Associates), and it looks good all over.
This has been a district made for Democrats to win since the last redistricting, and yet we've lost over and over. But now California Democrats are heading into the general of a key battleground for our 2/3 majority fight with four major factors in our favor: numbers, nominee, polling and ground game.
(Welcome Marta Jorgenson to Calitics. - promoted by David Dayen)
Hi, my name is Marta Jorgensen and I'm running...
Today, I am championing my candidacy for Congress to all of you here at Calitics, because it is time the citizens of California's 24th Congressional District had someone to fight for them, not for lobbyists and special interests. My opponent, Elton Gallegly - R, has a long history of ignoring the views and concerns of the people in our district, and I've decided that enough is enough.
I was up half the night putting together this little video for the Courage Campaign's effort to fight the Republican dirty trick to split California's electoral votes and steal the Presidential election. We got a handful of semi-famous bloggers together (Jane Hamsher from Firedoglake, John Amato from Crooks and Liars, Howie Klein from Down With Tyranny, some Kos diarists, and more) and sent a message that we can fight this thing, energize California Democrats, and make the Republicans wish they never brought it up in the first place.
The Courage Campaign is setting up a conference call featuring Bradley Whitford of The West Wing to discuss the next steps. You can RSVP for it at the link.
The California netroots has been gung-ho on Brown as of last year, though McNerney's ultimately victorious effort against the odious Richard Pombo in CA-11 grabbed the lion's share of attention.
I'd say this underestimates the support in the CA blogosphere as of this year.
After seeing Gila's latest story on The Liberal OC, I've been thinking. I know, I know. That's a REALLY scary thought. But trust me, it's not scary.
All too often when we think of the netroots, we think of those big, glitzy, glamorous national blogs with all those hundreds of thousands of User IDs. We think of that huge convention in Chicago that just ended. We think big, and we think national. But when you really look at the big picture, the national scene is only a small part of it.
The SF Chronicle just caught onto this, and I'm glad to see them noticing. There's a giant segment of the netroots that hasn't been noticed much, but is nonetheless making a huge difference throughout California, and throughout the nation. Follow me after the flip for more...
It's been quite a wild week in the 42nd Congressional District. Ever since Ron Shepston announced that he's running against Dirty Gary Miller, there have been quite some interesting developments that have occurred in the race to replace Dirty Gary. We've had the bloggers talk about going offline. We've had the California Democratic Party go online to announce its new website targeting Dirty Gary. We've heard rumors that a former Republican politician might reemerge to challenge Dirty Gary in the primary. Oh yes, and what did Ron say about John Kerry?
Follow me after the flip for all the latest dirt on Dirty Gary...
Over the past few weeks, there has been a wealth of information in the series of posts regarding the first Congressional run by a member of the netroots, and a campaign run by members of the netroots. In fact, the entire list of posts is below, so you can go back and see the most excellent things that have been written about Ron Shepston and his historic run for Congress.
We were treated to posts that outline the district demographics, the incumbent and his myriad of ethical issues, the political landscape in the district as well as some of the very fine people who are working on this campaign, and why Ron is both an awesome guy and the right man for Congress (and no, those two terms are NOT mutually exclusive). But what I want to talk about is why this oh-so-very important on many levels.
(And if you're in Southern California, YOU can also meet Ron Shepston at EITHER ORANGE COUNTY DRINKING LIBERALLY TONIGHT! Come to Rancho Santa Margarita at 7:00 PM and/or Santa Ana at 9:00 PM tonight, and meet the candidate! : ) - promoted by Andrew Davey (atdleft))
Yesterday, if you made your way to DailyKos, The Liberal OC, or right here to Calitics, you probably got the word that the blogosphere's own Ron Shepston is running for Congress in California's 42nd district against Dirty Gary Miller. His campaign is being managed by DailyKos and Calitics poster Greg Diamond (aka Major Danby), and as you can see from his rollout yesterday Shepston's starting out on the right foot. He's already hit on many of what I consider to be the most important elements of a campaign that's insurgent and forward-thinking without abandoning everything good about traditional values and expectations. So, for these and the other reasons I'll dig into on flip, and in keeping with the newly established procedure for gaining Calitics endorsement, I nominate Ron Shepston to join Charlie Brown, Jerry McNerney and Mark Leno as an official Calitics Endorsed Candidate for 2008.
(Woo-hoo! A REAL netroots candidate in Orange County! What more could I possibly ask for? Oh yes, and you can also enjoy this at Daily Kos and The Liberal OC! ; ) - promoted by atdleft)
(photo from Wikipedia)
I posted this over at dKos but really wanted to put it here because it's such an important site in California netroots.
Caution is preferable to rash bravery - Sir John Falstaff, King Henry the Fourth, Part I
Falstaff may be beloved, but he was not who you wanted leading you into battle. Political challengers today need to be brave, brash, maybe even a little rash.
In World War II, when the gates came down in LCVPs (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), exposing the marines and soldiers inside to uncounted barrages of fire, they didn't sit around discussing whether it was prudent to charge ahead with the goal of defeating a formidable enemy. No one had to order them to go to give their lives; they just did it. They had a world to save and they gave their lives for a cause they believed in.
Today, those of us who would defend the Constitution have a new fight. Today, as a Democrat, a veteran, and a longtime member of this community, I’m marching off to that fight.
(OMG, I can hardly wait for the 18th! : ) - promoted by atdleft)
It is a rare privilege to be present at the creation of something extraordinary--but it is an even rarer priviliege to be the first to announce that creation to the public. Today, I am greatly honored to introduce to the netroots community and the world the creation of a new kind of campaign--a campaign of bloggers and onine activists, run by bloggers and online activists, managed by managed by online activists, and with a homegrown blogger as its candidate.
And it's not just any campaign: it's a campaign for Congress. It's a campaign against one of the most corrupt and reactionary Republicans on Capitol Hill (which is really saying something). It's a campaign that, until a few short months ago, had no credible Democratic candidate to offer--until that is, someone stepped forward to take on the challenge. And that someone turned out to be one of us.
It is a rare privilege to be present at the creation of something extraordinary--but it is an even rarer priviliege to be the first to announce that creation to the public. Today, I am greatly honored to introduce to the netroots community and the world the creation of a new kind of campaign--a campaign of bloggers and onine activists, run by bloggers and online activists, managed by managed by online activists, and with a homegrown blogger as its candidate.
And it's not just any campaign: it's a campaign for Congress. It's a campaign against one of the most corrupt and reactionary Republicans on Capitol Hill (which is really saying something). It's a campaign that, until a few short months ago, had no credible Democratic candidate to offer--until that is, someone stepped forward to take on the challenge. And that someone turned out to be one of us.
OK, everyone reading this knows we need better collaboration. Here are a couple quick steps:
The Grassroots county committees need to get on ActBlue. This is an easy way for local parties to raise solid money online. San Diego and San Fernando Valley are already leading the way. Then, come here and tell us how it is working so other counties can learn.
The netroots need to explain the netroots to the establishment. I highly recommend this video. In conjunction, help local Central Committees get on Actblue and help the politicians come here.
The elected officials need to come around for a conversation.
I want more discussion on unity, please offer ideas in the comments, but I think these three concepts are a good place to start.
Updated: Original title: Netroots 101 for Democratic Women of the Desert
By request of Sandra Stone, president of Democratic Women of the Desert, and George Zander, president of Desert Stonewall Democrats, I took my fellow Democrats down the rabbit hole with me. Many of our best Democratic activists here in the desert are still unfamiliar with a lot about the blogosphere, and I hope to bridge the gap a bit. Word got around after Howie Klein's visit with Democrats of the Desert last May. These are politically savvy, experienced Democrats who show up, fundraise, canvass, and phonebank. Time to join forces more effectively. I want them in here.
I've pulled some notes together and collected pertinent links. The goal is more Democrats from the CA-45th active in the blogosphere. Follow below the flip for the working outline of Netroots 101, a friendly introduction to the blogosphere:
After witnessing the damage inflicted on [Former Senator George] Allen by Democrat campaign staff, Markos Zuniga is serious. Democratic Party activists are to be armed with high-tech video equipment looking to preserve any visible or audible mistakes committed by Republicans during public speaking appearances (not just from stages and podiums, but presumably private conversations on public grounds).
So what is it about progressive bloggers that's scaring the living daylight out of seasoned Republican insiders? Why are they so afraid of us? Follow me after the flip to find out...
(Oooh! Sounds like it was a lot of fun! : ) - promoted by atdleft)
Howie and Irwing came to talk to Democrats of the Desert yesterday, and it was fantastic. Howie has an encyclopedic knowledge of our district, our neighboring districts, and the interests that the DCCC and PFAW have in challenging our GOP incumbents. Our members are longtime veterans of local politics in most cases, and they were amazed at how much they didn't know about the current landscape. I'm still getting emails about how great it was, and as I hoped, more people want to get active in the blogosphere.
Howie told how he got into blogs, gave us a bit of his own history of political activism, and took many questions on what we can do here in Riverside County: how to stop eating our young, how to overcome the blind paternalism that Mary Bono enjoys, what's coming next for crooked Jerry Lewis, and many other great questions that I lost in my previous draft diary. Damn. More good stuff on the flip:
This is the equivalent of going on MTV 20 years ago and telling Down Town Julie Brown that MTV is nice, but Casey Kasem is all that matters when it comes to Rock and Roll.
UPDATE: A lot of us crossed the bridge to the 21st century, please join us!
