With one move, Governor Schwarzenegger could make California America’s hub for developing “green” clean-power technologies — which are going to be the growth industry of the 21st century — and do something that President Bush has only paid lip service to: really help to end America’s oil addiction.
Do it, Arnold. C’mon, just do it.
{snip}
Passage of Prop 87 would be huge. To begin with, it would be the perfect complement to the carbon reduction law that Arnold just signed. That law requires California to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Prop 87, for its part, sets a goal of a 25 percent reduction in oil consumption in California in 10 years. Today, California consumes about 16 billion gallons of gasoline a year, so a 25 percent reduction, if realized, would put California well on its way to meeting its new carbon emissions goal.
Of course Friedman is right on the issue of Prop 87, it would be a phenomenal resource for our state. But Friedman reveals his naivete of California politics, he has been suckered in by Arnold’s new “green” image. Perhaps he missed that executive order that pulled the legs out from underneath AB32. No, Arnold won’t endorse Prop 87, just like he wouldn’t sign Alan Lowenthal’s bill to clean up California’s ports. Arnold is just an actor, today he’s playing green. Tomorrow, who knows?
I am putting together another direct mail archive of mail from this fall election, but unfortunately I am only getting state ballot proposition mail and a handful of pieces from Democrats.
My district in SF has no race for Supervisor, and most of the people I rely on for samples aren’t getting much either, so I could really use any mail you’ve seen you’d like to see get reviewed on the site.
Al Gore will be in Berkeley today talking about Prop 87, the Alternative Energy Proposition. Here’s a link to the Prop 87 Website with all the stuff on there. It will be at noon at MLK Park in Berkeley. You need to sign up at their website to get a “ticket”.
The spot is a humorous play on the 2004 ad that accused liberals of being Volvo-driving, New York Times-reading, chardonnay-sipping…you know the rest. Here, we have the Californians who matter most (kids) tell us what they think of George Bush's special interest agenda taking root in California.
Please view it, rate it up, and spread it around. In addition, in order to keep it on the air, we’re looking to raise an additional $20,000. Any donations to the cause are greatly appreciated.
The ad follows up on our Stop Bush in CA campaign in which we frame 5 of November's ballot initiatives in terms that can really get Californians worked up — their relation to the Bush agenda. Yes, Bush is indeed on the ballot in California this November, especially in the form of two ballot initiatives on which we urge votes of No: Prop 85 & 90.
More on these dangerous propositions over the flip…
[UPDATE]Our ad got linked over at CA Observer and Political Muscle. Let’s try to really get this thing out there! Thanks!
From our Stop Bush in CA page:
Proposition 85:
If approved, Proposition 85 would require notification given to parents of a pregnant girl under the age of 18 when she seeks an abortion. Then, a 48-hour waiting period is mandated.
The issue of parental notification has a long history in California. To chip away at a woman's right to choose, abortion opponents use the idea that good parents should know about their children having an abortion. From this, they work to legislate good parenting.
Of course, good parents should be involved in a decision like this, but in reality, this law forces even girls who are scared of abuse to inform their parents of their pregnancy. Unfortunately, some children come from families where they just can't talk to their parents. Girls faced with the choice of an illegal, unsafe abortion or facing their abusive parents will often delay crucial medical care or perhaps even consider suicide. The real goal here isn't good parenting but rather a rollback of women's rights.
This is why nurses, doctors, and teachers all oppose Prop 85.
The potential for parental notification laws to endanger the lives of children, and the inability of government to impose good parenting means that you should vote NO on 85.
Proposition 90:
Municipalities have basic zoning and land-use laws on the books to protect our communities. Restrictions on big box retailers, adult book stores or huge subdivisions, for example, are intended to maintain a community's integrity.
What Prop 90 does is allow virtually anyone – including wealthy land speculators and developers – to sue our communities if any subsequent ordinances put on the books might cause them "economic harm." For instance, if a developer wants to build 1000 homes but your city limits growth due to traffic to 250 homes, Prop 90 allows the developer to sue your city to recover his lost potential "profits" from the 750 other homes. If the city can't pay then the land use law will be waived. And cities can't pay these frivolous claims if they want to pay for necessities like police, firefighters, parks and roads.
But 90 isn't just limited to development. According to the state's Legislative Analyst's Office, "these laws and rules could include requirements relating, for example, to employment conditions, apartment prices, endangered species, historical preservation and consumer financial protection."
Help us send a message this November that George Bush's regressive right wing agenda is not welcome in California. View our ad, The Future of California, and spread the word that a vote against 85 & 90 is a vote against George W. Bush.
Another week closer to the election. We are now only 15 days away from it now. Teasers: Prop 86, Props in general, Prop 90, Debra Bowen, Money, prop 85 and Latino voters, Gary Miller and Arnold Schwarzenegger is a politician…shocker!!
The national NAACP has overriden the state chapter’s decision to oppose Prop 86, and now officially endorses the cigarette tax. There had been a big hulabaloo about the fact that the state chapter’s president had taken some money from cigarette manufacturers before deciding to oppose the proposition. Whether this was the reason for the national decision is … unclear.
George Skelton thinks there is a bit too many spending props on the ballot. My take: Hmm, perhaps this is better defined as the work of a legislature. Oh, my bad, Prop 13 cuts off the legislature from making any revenue decisions.
The Sierra Club thinks that Prop 90 is the “most evil ballot measure.” Well, that sounds about right.
Frank at CPR has a commentary on Debra Bowen’s race and her SF Chronicle endorsment.
Dan Walters thinks the disgusting amount of money isn’t that big of a deal, and that reform couldn’t possibly help. I have an idea: Money isn’t speech! So put that in your pipe and smoke it Scalia and Scalito. Rich people should not be able to purchase elections. Buckley is wrong.
Prop 85, aka Prop 73, again, will likely be close again. Peter Hecht thinks the Latino vote will be critical.
CA-42: A race that should have been. Gary Miller is completely corrupt, and we have nobody there.
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.
(I heard the concert was amazing, too.) Boxer lives here and votes here now, another boost for Democrats in the 45th. Senator Boxer was thrilling, a woman of valor, as always. Rep. Miller had us clapping and stomping, but he’s wary of the evil eye, as we all should be. David was ebullient (the room was packed), but still dead serious. We have to outwork them, they all said, because we need David in Washington. It just feels so good to be a Democrat this week, I believe we will. Everybody get on the Roth-mobile, we’re about to stun a Republican enclave. Get David Roth there with your cash here
This is big and shows that Steve is finally getting some big-time coverage after building a campaign into a grassroots movement.
In its November issue, the national publication made endorsements for all 435 of the coming elections for the U.S. House of Representatives, and for all U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races on the fall ballot.
Here’s the money quote:
…Campbell “blinded” by loyalty, ideology…
It looks like more and more people are catching on to what Steve’s been saying. From the very beginning John Campbell has been nothing but a puppet to the Bush administration. When you look at his web site as pointed out here you know that Campbell doesn’t have an idea what a Congressional Representative is supposed to do.
Esquire gets it and is helping spread the word.
This is no Democrats-right-or-wrong magazine Esquire votes for the person. An email from the campaign points out that:
The magazine did endorse many other California Republicans, including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in his re-election bid.
We may disagree with some of their choices but we salute their integrity.
In the California 48th, Esquire says that Republican incumbent John Campbell lacks the independence and vision to deserve re-election: “On issues from the war to taxes, he is simply blinded by loyalty to the White House and by ideology.”
Young is the California Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate for the United States House of Representatives in California’s 48th District. Born in Southern California and raised in Utah, he is a successful attorney who has spent years representing working families in the courtroom.
And in another paragraph highlighting that Esquire gets Steve they point out that
Young’s campaign is founded on a five-point plan to restore vitality to the American economy and reduce America’s record deficits. His positions include: restoring outsourced middle class jobs, ending the occupation of Iraq with honor, offering a multi-pronged solution to immigration, improving educational opportunities for all, protecting pensions and preserving our environment through conservation and innovation.
Buy the magazine and read the entire endorsement. It’ll be worth it.
(Well, he’s plunked down half a mil already. maybe a few more threatening letters and he’ll make sure nobody votes for him! – promoted by SFBrianCL)
Despite being repudiated both Republicans and Democrats in Orange County, Tan will not give up his failed campaign.
Congressional Candidate Tan Nguyen, whose campaign has been implicated in the infamous Orange County “Hate Mail” mailer, has just announced that he will still be running against incumbent Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove). Tan stated that “there is no crime committed”, and that “armed police terrorized my family and my campaign” when the police searched his home and his campaign office for evidence.
