The video can be viewed here. Jerry holds up well, but not great. All in all, I would have to give this one a toss up. I’m going to bet that the Chronicle endorses Brown, simply because Pooch really is far to the right of the general population of California, doubly so than the population of SF.
Daily Archives: October 6, 2006
CA-11 Debate Reaction and Enter the DCCC
(See also Progressive 11th’s roundup here – promoted by SFBrianCL)
The DCCC apparenlty likes some numbers that it has seen on the CA-11 race. Hank Shaw of the Stockton Record is reporting that the DCCC will place a $100K bet on Jerry McNerney for this race:
National Democrats are finally recognizing that Pleasanton wind energy consultant Jerry McNerney’s campaign against Tracy Rep. Ricard Pombo is for real: They are polling in the district right now, and this survey will determine whether they’re in for a penny, or in for a pound.
They’re reportedly in for at least $100,000, however, according to several sources both here and in Washington DC. Should the D-Trip’s polling show something similar to McNerney’s survey (41% Pombo, 40% McNerney) you can bet they’ll start slinging the cash the way the National Republican Campaign Committee already has been doing since late August. (Stockton Record Blog 10/06/06)
Well, I say about damn time! All the internal and other Dem-leaning polling has shown Jerry with a small lead or within the margin of error. I don’t know if the DCCC will release their new polling, but we’ll probably get at least some antecdotal data based upon whether more than the original $100K is put into the district. I’m glad that at least Rahm can recognize his mistakes (i.e. getting involved in the primary without asking anybody in the district). Jerry will make a great Congressman.
The “Debate”
The Tracy Press Candidate forum went well, or so I am told. I of course couldn’t muster the time to haul my butt to Tracy during Rush Hour. For that, I apologize. I would have really liked to get some video of the Forum up on the Internets. As of right now, I haven’t been able to find any coverage on YouTube or anything. If you have any video, let me know! So there’s a bunch of coverage. A quick roundup on the flip. Of course, if you have anything else, feel free to write your own diary or add a comment to this one.
There was a large audience – standing room only. I would estimate that McNerney supporters outnumbered Pombo supporters by about two to one. Jerry McNerney spoke very strongly and very passionately, while Pombo seemed pretty defensive the whole evening.
McNerney, who was unusually aggressive in the forum, said attacking Iraq was a “mafioso” act of vengeance and a distraction from the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
“Iraq was a failed state in 2001, and Iraq is a failed state today,” McNerney said. “And wanting to kill them over there instead of here is Tony Soprano morality.
{snip}
But McNerney’s reference to the mafia irked Pombo’s wife, Annette, who is Italian.“She wasn’t thrilled with that,” Pombo said. “I don’t know why he said that. Maybe he thinks I’m Italian.”
Wow, Pombo thinks everything is about him, huh? Pombo, Pombo, Pombo. Don’t you think that the mafioso quote describes Bush. You know, HW was a target of an assasination attempt by Saddam Hussein, so mafioso style revenge by his son. Pombo just misses that, huh? Either he doesn’t understand the situation and the backstory (a reasonable possibility with Pombo, he’s never been one to get too cozy with reality) or he’s just trying to play some games with nationality. How funny would it be if Pombo started crying racism. What a joke.
Terrorism, the Iraq war and energy dwarfed local issues during the only scheduled debate between Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, and Democrat Jerry McNerney on Thursday, with Iraq sharply dividing an already-partisan crowd.
{snip}
Pombo’s campaign manager, Carl Fogliani, later told the Tracy Press that the loud show of support for McNerney’s Iraq war position came from liberals that live outside the 11th Congressional District. The six people from the crowd of about 400 who were interviewed by the Tracy Press said they lived within the district, which stretches west to include Dublin, Pleasanton and San Ramon.
Does Pombo have any support for this assertion? Umm…well, not so much. He jsut likes to blame everything on “outsiders”. Well, Tricky Ricky, you have some good ol’ fashioned home-grown grassroots enemies now.
(CA-45) “This Iraq thing will blow over” -Mary Bono
David Roth LIVE!
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. 
For the next, let us all halloo his name to the reverberate hills, and all hail the glorious Howie Klein of Blue America, who gave the Roth campaign (among many others) “Had Enough”
Here’s Roth on the campaign trail, it’s called “Change Washington”. Regarding Mary Bono, she claims she had “no personal contact” with Foley, though Sonny and Mark were big buddies, Mary and Sonny nicknamed Foley “Hollywood,” and Mary sold Sonny’s Jeep to Foley after Sonny’s death. “Foley, who?” I don’t buy it, Mary. Why no condemnation of Foley, back when it could have spared a few kids, as you condemned Clinton? Any wonder why this Bushbot won’t debate David Roth?
Please help us kick her complicit butt out of Washington, and elect David Roth. 
Cross posted at Daily Kos
California’s Capital Resource Institute — Isn’t This Illegal?
(The best part? John Doolittle (R-CA-11) is on the board of this “Institute” – promoted by SFBrianCL)
Cross-posted from Seeing the Forest
I became aware of California’s Capital Resource Institute because they mailed out a “Christians vote your conscience” e-mail today that was remarkably similar to those sent by Dobson’s Focus on the Family and others, encouraging people to vote for Republicans without technically using the word “Republican.”
When more Christians apply their biblical values at the ballot box, there will be a significant change in our government – more godly leaders will be elected to office and our laws will once again uphold the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage, and religious freedom.
… Just two years ago “Values Voters” made a huge difference in the 2004 election. Together we can make a huge difference in this one too.
Their website states, “Capitol Resource Institute is California’s leading pro-family grassroots advocacy group.” They are a 501 (c)3 : from their donations page:
Capitol Resource Institute, 1414 K Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814. Your donations to CRI are tax-deductible under IRS code section 501(c)3.
The advisory board consists of Republican elected officials and a talk show host. Their Voter Information asks “Is Your State Legislator Family-Friendly?” and links to a Republican Party site: [note – PDF] http://www.californiarepublicanassembly.com/pdfs/CRALegislativeScorecard2005.pdf. Republicans score high, Dems score low. Duh.
501 (c)3 tax-exempt organizations are prohibited from conducting partisan operations, as Capital Resource Institute appears to be doing. This organization appears to be little more than a front group for the Republican Party, set up in a way to give tax breaks to party supporters. The Christian Coalition’s tax-exempt status was revoked for exactly this reason.
And look who shares the same offices: Pacific Research Institute. (More info here.) From the PRI website:
Sacramento Office:
1414 K Street, Suite 200
Court of Appeal rules against Same Sex Marriage
Well, Round 2 goes to the Homophobes. The Court of Appeal ruled against the City and County of San Francisco in their case against the State to allow same-sex marriages.
The 2-1 decision, which reversed a San Francisco Superior Court judge’s ruling, was a defeat for gay-rights advocates, who have looked to California courts to follow the lead of a 2003 ruling by Massachusetts’ high court legalizing same-sex marriage in that state. The California Supreme Court is expected to have the final word in the case sometime next year.
In today’s ruling, the Court of Appeal in San Francisco said the boundaries of marriage are up to the Legislature, which passed a law in 1977 defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. State voters reaffirmed that decision in a 2000 initiative that denied recognition to same-sex marriages in other states.
“The Legislature and the voters of this state have determined that ‘marriage’ in California is an institution reserved for opposite-sex couples, and it makes no difference whether we agree with their reasoning,” Presiding Justice William McGuiness said in the majority opinion.(SF Chronicle 10/5/06)
Well, it’s not really a big deal because this would have been stayed pending appeal if SF had won the case. Ultimately it’s going to be up to the State Supreme Court. Nonetheless, this is a disappointing result. The Court basically said that seperate but equal is hunky-dory with them.
That’s not hunky-dory at all. Mark Leno will be introducing his gay marriage bill in December and Phil Angelides has already said that he would sign it. So, you still think electing Arnold will make no difference all you wavering Dems? It will.
CA-Gov: Arnold steps in it again
( – promoted by SFBrianCL)
UPDATE: I’ve posted on YouTube now. I moved the text of the quote to the Extended. Here you go:
Arnold Schwarzenegger has stepped in it again. He just can’t keep his foot out of his mouth with respect to immigration issues. His quote today, caught on video this time. The Governor has even been so kind as to load it up on the internet. I’ll have it in YouTube in a few minutes.
Governor’s full quote:
Question: You just talked about assimilation here today. Are you concerned that if the Angelides campaign releases more tapes that on those tapes there’ll be disparaging remarks you make about ethnic groups that are not assimilating. Are you trying to get ahead of an issue that you think is coming at you?
Schwarzenegger: I think it is something that I have been talking about for many, many years. The people always ask me what was the secret to your success here in America, and I always say that number one it’s the land of opportunity; that anyone can make it in this country if you work hard. But by working hard, what do we mean by that? That means, not just working, physically working, but it means that you make an effort to become part of America. That you learn the language, that you learn the history of America and that you learn the way Americans do business. And you have to become part of America. And that is very difficult for some people to do especially, I think, for Mexicans because they are so close to their country here so they try to stay Mexican but try to be in America so there’s this kind of back and forth and what I’m saying to the Mexicans is you’ve got to go and immerse yourself and assimilate into the American culture become part of the American fabric. That is how Americans will embrace you. That was my, I think the secret, if there is one, to success. I was embraced by the American people because I love America, I learned the language and I made every effort to become an American. That is I think what this is all about. So it has nothing to do with anything else. This is my advice, someone can take the advice or someone can ignore the advice it’s perfectly fine with me. But it’s my advice, as an immigrant, how to be successful in America and how to be accepted in America.
Our campaign kickoff was a lot of fun. Now it is down to work
First the important part, we need help! We can’t do it without you:
Our West County Democrats campaign office is open!
* Open everyday starting this Saturday October 7 until Election Day.
* Our goal is to get out the Democratic vote for state candidates
in West County
* Phone banking every day; precinct walking on selected days.Location: 3431 D MacDonald Ave, Richmond (Corner of MacDonald and 35TH.)
Saturdays 10AM – 2PM
Sundays 12NOON – 6PM
Mon – Thursday 1PM – 8PM
Fridays: 10AM – 2PMWe will target Permanent Absentee Voters starting Saturday.
No need to reserve a seat. Just show up and Dial for Democrats!Email [email protected] for more information
West County Democrats, an alliance of Richmond, Pinole, Hercules, San
Pablo and El Sobrante Democrats .We are a group of voters who don’t want to see Schwarzenegger walk away with another term. More than that, we think that Phil Angelides is the right person for the job!
I don’t know what more to say! Please ask questions!
Here is the rundown on our kickoff, that ran in the Globe (despite what the caption says, that isn’t Betty Yee in the picture):
RICHMOND GRASSROOTS IN ACTION
The West County Democrats held their first rally in Richmond on Saturday, September 30th, and it was a great success. Co-chairs Councilmember Tony Thurmond and Mayor Irma Anderson kicked off the celebration for our Get Out the Vote effort, located at 3431D Macdonald Ave. across from Lovonya DeGean Middle School. The event drew an enthusiastic crowd, which featured civic leaders including Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee, County Supervisor John Gioia, Councilmember Jim Rogers, and many local activists. Local candidates Antonio Medrano for West Contra Costa Unified School District and Myrna Lopez for Richmond City Council and members of the California Democratic Party also cheered on our efforts.
Speakers addressed the goals of the Democratic Party and expressed excitement for Phil Angelides as a candidate for Governor. They highlighted that Angelides’ leadership has already helped families save for education and helped local teachers purchase their first homes and put down roots in their communities. They also emphasized that as our governor he will continue to focus on people that need help, cutting taxes for those who really need it, improving schools, and expanding access to health care.
It was also a family event with Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi’s daughter, Janet, and his grandchildren enjoying the community event. The Garamendi grandchildren contributed to the festivities by drawing a mural encouraging everyone to vote for Garamendi for Lieutenant Governor because “he’s 4 kids.”
“The heart of our effort is to bring the community together to invest in our government. We want voters to understand that they can make a difference when they take an active roll by voting,” said a spokesperson for the group. The West County Democrats will be educating voters about Democratic candidates to help elect them to public service. They are asking volunteers to help make an investment in their community with time and effort.
Contact the West County Democrats at 510-233-9809 or [email protected] to volunteer. They will be running a phone bank effort at their office at 3431D Macdonald Ave. on Saturday, October 7th between 10am and 4pm. Coffee and refreshments will be available.
We had a great start. With the help of just a few of you, we can make a better future!
(hee hee, kind of cheesy, but I just couldn’t help myself!)