(An interesting essay, and an important challenge. – promoted by SFBrianCL)

At some point early last fall I got an email from a Berkeley grad inviting me to a Drinking Liberally event here in Oakland.

I went.  I drank.  I was liberal.  And, in the process, I met Matt.  

Matt and I rapped a bit and, as things go in the East Bay, subsequently hung out some more and had some interesting discussions about blogging and local politics.  I told Matt about how I had recently worked with this interesting Oakland progressive political activist, Joshua Grossman, who had some really vital ideas about local blogs and targeting for the 2006 Congressional races.  

Matt and I, inspired by some of Joshua’s thinking, discussed the incredibly underused power of local blogs, we talked about how blogging might impact the 2006 Congressional races.  Par for the course, eh?   Well, then something really interesting happened…

Matt went and did something about it.

Matt just didn’t found a blog.  That would have been simple enough.  People do that every .0005 seconds it seems.

Matt started a blog with the sole purpose of defeating Congressman Richard Pombo in California’s 11th Congressional District.  More than that, Matt got others involved, as well: folks like babaloo, VPO and Delta who volunteered to write and to attend events.  The blog these activist bloggers collaborated on, SayNotoPombo, has become, in my mind, a model for the interaction between netroots and grassroots activism on the local scale.

The folks behind SayNotoPombo went to political meetings…and then wrote about those meetings online. That’s sunshine. The folks behind SayNotoPombo got to know the writers in the local press, and then covered their coverage of the race in CA-11.  That’s accountability.  Matt and his colleagues created a website that became a “must visit” for everyone who cares about the outcome of one of the most important Congressional races facing our nation.  SayNotoPombo raises money and awareness about Democrat Jerry McNerney’s run to defeat Congressman Richard Pombo in an innovative way that just didn’t happen in 2004.

And that’s my challenge to the netroots today.

You see, CA-11 is just one of many, many local races that deserve this kind of coverage…this level of netroots involvement. SayNotoPombo has shown that one can have a big impact in a very short period of time.  It’s not too late to do the same thing with a Congressional or local race near you.

In fact, there’s never been a better time to start or join a local political blog.

Now, you may ask, what’s the ulterior motive here? What’s the catch?  What’s the downside?

Let me be honest and straight up.

When I left the Front Page of dailyKos and took the proverbial step of “doing my own thing“…I learned some hard lessons about blogging.  

It’s not the same out there on the wild, wild internet.  The number of readers you get on your little blogspot blog (or wordpress, or drupal, or typepad)…pales in comparison to the attention you can get here or the other big community blogs.  If you are looking for splash and the “thrill” of instant comments and recognition, if you’re looking for an “ego boost” or a hot discussion about what we all just saw on national TV…well, don’t get involved with local blogging.

On the other hand, if you are looking to make an impact, if you are looking to build something that has a cumulative effect on your community, if you want to write where the netroots rubber hits the road: then I would argue building or contributing to a local blog like SayNotoPombo is the most significant thing you can do.

In fact, I would go further.  I would say that if you believe that the time frame between this election cycle and November 2008 represents the moment when the netroots will play a crucial role in “Taking our Country Back” and “Crashing the Gates” then it behooves you to, in addition to participating here and your other favorite national blogs, get involved in local blogging.  If you can’t found a blog…then help with one that already exists.  (And there are so many exciting blogs out there begging for input.)

If you don’t live in a district with a contested race where a progressive is fighting to take our country back, then find one close to you and pitch in.  This is our chance to up our leverage; to make netroots mean something more than the outrage of the day.

Let me make this clear.  I’m a writer, not a politico. I’m best at expressing ideas in a way that get’s people exited and energized. My forte is getting people to see things in a way they might not have seen things before. But all that being said…in the course of working on my own small blog, in the course of working and discussing the 2006 elections with folks like Joshua Grossman and Matt, and in the course of doing a recent project on Progressive Electoral Politics on Booman Tribune one thing has become crystal clear to me:

We need to increase the leverage of local blogs. We need to make it so that when folks in the press say the “netroots” they mean local bloggers just as much as they mean the national blogs that get most of the attention.

There are so many good candidates who aren’t getting the focus they deserve. There are so many GOP villains out there who are getting away with a easy road to reelection simply because the netroots are so busy hyping the national outrage of the day that we simply cannot give Deborah Pryce or Elton Gallegly or Robin Hayes the attention they deserve.

If you ask me, that’s a crying shame.   And that’s where local blogs come in.  When neighbors criticize a candidate, when we talk to each other and organize…that’s when the powers that be get nervous.

I’m going to ask each of you to do me a favor tonight. Pick a GOP incumbent or a progressive candidate from your region on the list below (selected for their “B-list” yet winnable status) and click on the “google blog search” that I’ve hotlinked to.

Make this race and the local blogs covering it “yours”. Adopt it. Take it on. Follow the stories and issues that surround your race or candidate or blog. Put the local blogs that cover it in your favorites bar. Write about them here on Calitics. Or, if you think you can do better, then by all means, start a local blog of your own. Better yet, get some activist friends to join you like Matt did. (And if you have a blog or race or candidate who’s more important…by all means…list it in the comments below.)

I know this sounds goofy, but I’m convinced that it’s only when the online energy of the netroots links up with the offline activism expressed in local blogs that we will truly start to turn the tide.  2006 is when netroots must link up with grassroots.  The Lamont campaign was a great example of that.  As SteveinMI pointed out last night, there’s so much more work to do.

It’s not too late.  All I’m asking you to do is click…and then get involved at the level you can.

::

Western Region:

Heather Wilson (GOP Incumbent, NM-01, opposed by Democrat Patricia Madrid)

David Reichert (GOP Incumbent, WA-08, opposed by Democrat Darcy Burner)

Jon Porter (GOP Incumbent in NV-03)

Jack Carter (Dem, US Senate, NV)

JD Hayworth (GOP Incumbent, AZ-05)

Ed Perlmutter (Democratic Candidate CO-07 Open Seat)

Elton Gallegly (GOP Incumbent, CA-24)

Debra Bowen (Democratic Candidate for California Secretary of State)

Ted Kulongoski (vulnerable Democratic Governor of Oregon)

Gabrielle Giffords, Patty Weiss and Jeff Latas (Democrats running for the open seat in AZ-08)

Dennis Rehberg (GOP incumbent Montana At Large)

David Dreier (GOP, CA-26, lean GOP district, tough one)

Jim Ryun (GOP, KS-01) or, the longer shot effort by Dem John Doll in KS-02 (h/t Scout Finch).

Midwestern Region:

Mark Kirk (GOP Incumbent in IL-10)

Deborah Pryce (GOP Incumbent in OH-15)

Pat Tiberi (GOP Incumbent OH-12)

Joseph Knollenberg (GOP incumbent MI-09)

Claire McCaskill (Democratic Candidate for US Senate, MO)

Tom Latham (GOP, IA-04)

Amy Klobuchar (Democratic Candidate, US Senate, MN)

Gil Gutknecht (vulnerable GOP incumbent, MN-01)

Chris Chocola (vulnerable GOP incumbent IN-02)

Bruce Braley (running for the open seat in IA-01)

Paul Ryan (GOP, WI-01, tough one)

Thaddeus McCotter (GOP, MI-11, another tough one)

Steve Chabot (GOP Incumbent in OH-01)

Eastern Region

Curt Weldon (a vulnerable GOP incumbent in PA-07, opposed by Joe Sestak)

Jim Walsh (below-the-radar incumbent in NY-25)

Frank LoBiondo (an incumbent in NJ-02 who’s got to be feeling the heat now)

Jim Saxton (GOP, NJ-03)

Paul Hodes (running against GOP incumbent Charlie Bass, NH-02, h/t Miss Laura)

Tim Murphy (GOP, PA-18)

John McHugh (GOP, NY-23)

Charles Dent (vulnerable incumbent, Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District)

Deval Patrick (Dem Candidate, Governor MA, h/t dnta)

Nancy Johnson (vulnerable CT incumbent GOP Congresswoman, CT-05)

John Bonifaz (Dem voting rights champion for MA Secretary of State)

Jeb Bradley (NH-01, another vulnerable notheastern GOP incumbent)<

Phil English (under-looked at GOP incumbent in PA-03)

Melissa Hart, (GOP incumbent in PA-04)

Shelley Moore-Capito (the GOP West Virginian Congressperson, deserves our attention)

Southern Region

CW Bill Young (GOP incumbent in Florida-10)

Clay Shaw (GOP, getting a run for his money in FL-22)

Robin Hayes (GOP incumbent, NC-08 v Dem Larry Kissell)

Jim Webb v. GOP George Allen for US Senate in VA (h/t Delicate Monster)

MZM encrusted Virgil Goode in VA-05

Charles Taylor (GOP incumbent in NC-11, hot race)

Mike Rogers (little known in Alabama-03)

Thelma Drake (a GOP incumbent in VA-02 who I really hope gets some attention)

And three longer shots….Erik Fleming, Candidate for US Senate in Mississippi

Steve Sinton (Democratic Candidate for Congress, Georgia)

Anne Northup (the incumbent GOP Rep from KY-03, more Conservative than district by a mile)

That’s forty names in four regions.  I know there are easily forty more races that bear watching and giving our best efforts to.

What I’m asking is simply that you pick one and dig in.  Make it your own, just like Matt did with SayNotoPombo.  Better yet, team up with some activist friends and “blur the line” between netroots and grassroots and found your own blog.  Working on a local blog will pay off as the local press pays attention to you; and, I can guarantee you, you will get google hits from Washington D.C. as GOP Congresscritters read up on what you’ve exposed them for.

That’s a great feeling.

It is not too late, and this race for the heart and soul of our government will not go to the swift but to the persistent.  

Friends, that’s us!

::

Update: For those serious about starting a local blog from scratch please read this essential, but unfortunately-titled, essay by Chris Bowers.  Very worthwhile tips and a must read for local bloggers to be.

Local blogs mentioned in the comments section from the original diary on dKos:

asmokefilledroom (PA)

northcoastblues (OH)

bluejersey.net (NJ)

Calitics (CA)

Yankee Doodler (Northeast)

Blue Granite (NH)

NH-02 Progressive (NH-02)

Louisiana Fourth(New tonight! LA-04)

states roots project.org (USA)

truthandprogress (USA)

bluemassgroup (MA)

Juanita’s (TX)

the word from AZ’s fifth (AZ-05)

NotGeorgeAllen (VA)

rochester turning (NY)

art of the possible (NY)

the rural partriot (NY)

the walsh watch (NY-25)

SoapBloxChicago (IL)

ryan’s take (MA)

Ellen’s Tenth (IL-10)

Charlie Brown For Congress (CA-04)

SquareState.net (CO, but you knew that)

NYCO’s blog (NY)

Green Mountain Daily (VT)

My Left Nutmeg (CT)

Democracy for New Mexico (NM)

Pacific NW Portal (WA, OR)

Fireside 14 (IL-14)

Blogolodeon (CA-04)

Take 19 (NY-19)

Take41 (NY, State 41, Brian Keeler)

SkiptheLifeFantastic (MN)

OH 2nd (OH-02)

Blue Stem Prairie (MN-01)

NJ-05 (NJ)

Long Beach Politics.org (CA)

DeminSouth (SC)

LeftyBlogsVA (VA)

Santa Barbara Progressive

(I posted much of this on DailyKos yesterday, but what with Lieberman, 100K users and terror, it’s probably better to share with more of a California-oriented audience!)

Riding on the wave of energy stemming from YearlyKos, I’ve been enjoying my involvement in the California Clean Money Campaign.  The more I learn about this effort, the more I believe in it and its promise. Is it perfect? No. But Californians have a historic opportunity to enact real reform, one we might not get again soon. And clean money proponents are aware of some shortcomings and already looking to the review process to remedy them should it pass.

I was therefore disappointed to read this press release from the California Teachers Association stating their opposition to Proposition 89, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act. I’m apparently not alone. In fact, in volunteering I’ve met several CTA members who have expressed concern about the union’s stance. 

So here’s a question for California teachers — what are you hearing?  And do you agree with the CTA? If you listen to the CTA, you are certainly not hearing the whole story. In the release, we hear several one-sided arguments:

It does nothing to enforce current campaign contribution limits or to limit how much the wealthiest citizens can spend on their own campaigns, while limiting the participation of small businesses, labor unions and non-profit organizations in the political process,” said Barbara E. Kerr, President of the California Teachers Association.

It may not limit what wealthy citizens can spend, but she neglects to note that it does have a provision so that their opponents receive matching funds to level the playing field.  And it’s interesting that she leaves large corporations of her list of organiziations that would be regulated.  As it is, the individual voter is the one whose participation is most limited without Proposition 89. 

“California faces many public finance challenges,” said Larry McCarthy of Cal Tax. “Our roads need fixing, our schools need help, and our health care system is in trouble. What we don’t need is to spend precious tax dollars on political campaigns by candidates and elected officials.”

What we DO need is to see our precious tax dollars spent efficiently and on projects that benefit Californians. When money controls the process, this can’t happen – we are instead faced with a litany of abuses. The amount set aside for Prop 89 amounts to about 0.1% of the California budget. Doesn’t it seem like a worthwhile investment to help make sure the other 99.9% is wisely spent?

Significant portions of similar measures in other states have been declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ah, and so that means that the crafters of this initiative haven’t learned from those measures?  Give them some credit. Adam B did a great job of explaining some of the differences when the Vermont campaign finance laws were invalidated.

It’s ironic that the CTA calls the initiative “deceptive” when their press release seems to deceive the membership through selective withholding of key facts. And what a sad shame that an organization that rallied along with the nurses against Arnold for denouncing them as “special interests” are now living up to that designation.  Teachers, I hope you’ll learn more on your own about the initiative and then join the nurses and individually  support Prop 89 for real election campaign reform. Just remember the words of our own Governator:

“Special interests have a stranglehold on Sacramento. Here’s how it works: Money goes in. Favors go out. The people lose. We need to send a message: Game over.”

(More Lamont spin…this time from the GOP – promoted by SFBrianCL)

It didn’t take long for the Lamont spin to make its way into California politics.  Let’s take a look at what they’re saying. (in the Contra Costa Times.

…on the flip.

If Democrats want ultraliberals to speak for their party, “they risk the (presidential) election of 2008,” said California GOP spokesman Patrick Dorinson. “A slice of Democratic voters in a blue state like Connecticut bought it, but I don’t think that message sells across America.”

It’s just too bad Dorinson is a California GOP spokesman and not one from Utah, one of the few remaining states where Bush has a positive net approval rating.

First of all, this is typiacl of any spin: they hide the premises so that when they make their conclusions sound reasonable.

If ultraliberals were in fact taking over the Democratic party, it would be a concern for 2008.  Lamont isn’t an “ultraliberal.”  There’s problem number one.  Second, Lamont’s position on the war agrees with 60% of Americans, something pointed out in the article.

And the war is not popular in California, and neither is Bush. 

“…the state’s GOP described the outcome as symptom of a party out of touch with middle America.”

Again, unfortunately, this is the Left Coast, not middle America.  Maybe they should worry about how it plays here!

I don’t give Angelides much chance in this election.  If he’s going to make a run at it, he’ll need to confuse Arnold and Bush, which shouldn’t be that hard.  Part of doing that would be to reverse this spin.

P.S. Send an email to Lisa Vorderbrueggen complimenting her on that article.  She actually consulted experts (ie REPORTED) instead of just copying down the he said she said.

(Great work auros… – promoted by SFBrianCL)

I’m going to see if I have the time to post a regular — not daily, probably, but every two or three days — Angelides news digest.

To introduce myself, I am the chair of the Santa Clara County Grassroots Steering Committee for Angelides ’06.  Note that I am in no way paid or controlled by the campaign, nor can I speak on their behalf.  Opinions expressed herein are solely my own.

That said, I’m devoting my spare time to trying to make sure Phil is the next governor of California.  If you’re in Santa Clara County (or even on the broader Peninsula), and interested in this effort, feel free to drop me a line at [email protected], to get on my mailing list.

On, to the news…

Last week, Bill Clinton came to town to kick off a fundraising drive.  Tapped out after the primary, the campaign is far behind, but it does seem to be raising money faster than Team Arnie.  Phil has already been successful in rounding up small contributions.  But a few of these big, multimillion dollar events will help fund the TV war.

Adding to the previous good-government endorsement of Prop 89, Phil announced that he is in favor of redistricting reform, as long as it’s done in a principled fashion (unlike the blatant power grab Arnie put on the ballot last fall).  This really should be the final nail in the coffin of the canard that Phil is a “machine candidate”, because of his history of involvement in the mechanics of the party.  You don’t build a political machine by reforming finance and redistricting to favor citizen participation and even-handedness.  I don’t expect the meme to actually die; the lie “Al Gore claimed to have invented the internet” has never died, either.  But, the facts do speak for themselves.

Over in Arnold-land, the gubernator torpedoed an effort to rein in the shady practices of some conservators, people who are supposed to administer the affairs of the elderly.  The LATimes did an excellent expose last year on how some conservators make a business out of fraudlently getting seniors declared incompetent, effectively imprisoning them, and stealing all their money; in some cases over the objections of the senior and their children.

Also, it emerged today that Arnold’s “running mate”, Republican LtGov nominee Tom McClintock, has banked a good deal of funds through the good graces of Mel Gibson.  This isn’t too surprising, considering that McClintock’s campaign manager from the Recall election thinks religion trumps the Constitution.

What’s missing from the coverage of the McClintock’n’Mel story, thus far, is any discussion of how Arnie has been trying to partner up with Tom to keep his conservative base happy, while simultaneously distancing himself from his 2005 efforts to push the right-wing agenda, and to return to a more moderate image with independents and conservative Democrats.  Why isn’t anyone talking about how ridiculous this is?

Oh, wait, I’m asking for reporters to actually think, in the presence of a movie star, rather than simply standing their starstruck…  Never mind, then…

cross-posted at The Courage Campaign

Yesterday it was revealed that state senator and Republican candidate for Lietenant Governor, Tom McClintock, had distributed a fundraising letter penned by Mel Gibson on four occasions to raise money for his campaign.

In the letter, Gibson wrote:

”When I find that rare politician who will stand his ground for what is right — no matter what the pressure or consequences — I take notice.”

And that…

the senator stood solidly for principles that might not be politically correct — but that were right and true.

Yikes.

He continued…

“I don’t often support political candidates,” Gibson wrote, “But I love this state, and I believe it is worth fighting for.”

Finally, the actor promised, McClintock will make the office of lieutenant governor into the kind of “bully pulpit that will be essential to produce the longterm political change that is so deperately needed in California.”

As you can imagine, Gibson’s damage control soon gave way to McClintock’s, who yesterday vowed to not use the letter again.

When the whole thing came down with Gibson recently, “Tom was disillusioned by it,” said Devereux. “He said basically stop using the letter, and make sure it doesn’t go out anymore.”

But the senator’s woes just won’t seem to go away. Today, the AP is reporting that McClintock is distancing himself from Mel even further. About Gibson’s anti-Semitic tirade:

”I deplore them and I disassociate myself completely from them,” McClintock said.

McClintock said Gibson’s remarks did a disservice to the image of Christian conservatives…” I think he did a great deal of damage,” said McClintock.

Well, those words are fine, but we at The Courage Campaign think Senator McClintock should go even further. We’re calling for him to take a stronger stance against intolerance and give all the money that was raised as a result of Mel Gibson’s letter away to the Museum of Tolerance.

Sign our petition HERE and tell Tom McClintock give the money away today.

There is no room for intolerance in Sacramento.