Nurses: Get on Board Phone Bank Buses

Cross-posted at Daily Kos and MyDD.

During Schwarzenegger’s special election, the California Nurses Association received a great deal of attention for aggressive politics after Ahnold talked of “kicking their butts.” This year is no different with the nurses taking aggressive tactics to the battle for Proposition 89 – The Clean Money and Fair Elections act.

How aggressive? Well how many initiative campaigns get reviewed by the industry website All Hip Hop?

Now CNA is (literally) rolling out six mobile phone bank buses, with 24 lines a piece and wrapped in signage. This will allow the ability to drive to hospitals for shift changes and let nurses easily phone bank before or after shifts.

The San Francisco Chronicle’s John Wildermuth wrote:

Hit the road with the nurses for Prop. 89

With modern politics now tied to focus groups, tracking polls, TV attack ads and the other oh-so-serious — and often oh-so-boring — accouterments of California elections, there’s almost no time for good, old-fashioned political stunts that at least added a little life and personality to the voting business in years past.

The exception: The California Nurses Association, which is out on the hustings backing Proposition 89, the campaign finance initiative. CNA members on Wednesday afternoon opened the union’s “Get On the Bus,” campaign, which will put nurses on six colorfully decorated buses driving across the state promoting Prop. 89. […]

Earlier this month, it was street theater in Sacramento, as Prop. 89 backers joined a Jack Abramoff impersonator to string a million dollars in phony money from a lobbyist’s office to the headquarters of the California Chamber of Commerce, which is opposed to the measure.

They’ve also brought a guy dressed as Batman to a number of their events and even projected a 40-foot “Bat-signal” on a building where Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was having a fundraiser.

They’re also probably the only campaign to have its own rap song the three-and-a-half minute “About Time for 89,” written and performed by Colette Washington: “It’s about time for Prop. 89, what’s going on in Sac Town is blowin’ my mind…”

Check out a new video where Colette performs at the launch of Get on the Bus. Big Pharma and Big Oil and Big Money may be able to spend whatever it takes to preserve the perverse status quo, but creativity and hard work are our slingshot in this David vs. Goliath battle. Get on Board!

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Proposition 89 | Video | Donate

CA-50: NC Times confirms that Bilbray is being investigated by Grand Jury

(For more on this, see Words Have Power – promoted by SFBrianCL)

We knew it, we knew it, we knew it!

http://www.nctimes.c…

The North County Times is now confirming what the Busby campaign and the blogger have known for a couple of weeks now…

” A neighbor of Republican 50th District Rep. Brian Bilbray said Thursday that he was subpoenaed to testify before a San Diego County grand jury in August and spent about an hour and a half answering questions about whether Bilbray lived in his Carlsbad neighborhood.”

Stay tuned for more info on this.

Another O.C. GOP Voter Fraud Scandal: 11 Arrested

Yesterday the OCRegister blog reported (here and here) that “between 9 and 12 persons” were arrested in connection with a voter registration fraud scheme in which more than 100 Democratic and Independent voters had their registrations switched to Republican. The LATimes picked up the story this morning too, reporting the number of arrests to be 11. This scandal is in addition to the well-known Tan Nguyen voter fraud/racist vote supression scandal. The O.C. GOP really has some issues. This is what you get with single-party rule and no accountability.

Odds and Ends 10/27

Lots of stuff, let’s get to it.  Make sure you take a look at the videos. Teasers: A terrible fire, Obama-mania, Mehlman is watching you, Survey USA poll, VoteVets against Doolittle, Letterman on Schwarzenegger and more!

  • First, there’s a bad fire near Palm Springs. Four firefighters lost their lives fighting the blaze, which is believed to have been arson.  My sincere condolences go out to the families, firends and co-workers of the brave firemen. Let’s catch those bastards. Tough to transition to politics, but it must be done, so…
  • It’s Obama-time.
  • Arnold knows a lot about you. Does that scare you? Well, get used to it. It’s Ken Mehlman’s thing.  They get the vast voter file, make sure they know everything you buy (yeah, those grocery cards do something) and predict if you are their kind of voter.  Spooky, but it helps win elections…ick.
  • Prop 85 is cool, unless  you actually have, you know, bad or abusive parents.  And that never happens with pregnant teenagers; I’m certain there is no correlation there at all!  Naivete is great!
  • The O.C. really doesn’t learn its lesson.  They want to go back to Merrill Lynch, you know their broker when they went bankrupt.
  • Another day, another depressing poll (SurveyUSA). (h/t to cali_girl_in_texas) This one has Arnold up 55-37.  SurveyUSA has always had Arnold higher than the other polls.  I don’t know if they push leaners, but I’d suspect that’s the case b/c their undecideds (currently 8%) are lower than other polls. 
  • Also from that poll: Feinstein is up big over Mountjoy (59-33); it’s possible that she might get 60%.  Hey, maybe she can pull some people to the poll.  GO vote for DiFi! 
  • Also, Prop 86 continues to enjoy a slight lead (52-46).  BigTobacco has poured a lot of money into this one, but it’s always hard for a ciggy tax to lose.  This one will likely be close, but I expect it to pass by the skin of its chinny, chin, chin.
  • Over $500 million on this year’s election. That’s disgusting. It’s like the No on 89 Campaign is making the case in the other direction.  There is just a ridiculous amount of money floating around.  The only real winners? Consultants. Hey, how come I’m not getting some of that money! (In full disclosure, I suppose I do. But the amount of money I get for those ads -> … well, it barely pays for the hosting of the site)
  • ANSWER is having an anti-war rally in SF on Saturday. Hey, people, shouldn’t you “activists” be knocking on doors to get Pombo or Doolittle out of office. Wouldn’t that be a teensy-weensy bit more effective?  Can’t we have a rally on Nov. 8?
  •  

  • VoteVets.org will be launching an ad against John Doolittle. Like their other ads, it really gets to the heart of the issues.  Doolittle raised his pay, but doesn’t help veterans.  Charlie Brown is a veteran and understands veteran issues.  He will actually vote for veterants, not just pay lip service. Here’s the video:
  •  And finally, a bit of fun. Here’s David Letterman’s Top Ten Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Voting for Arnold Schwarzenegger:
  • Recommendations for Nov. ’06 Election

    DAN KALB’s RECOMMENDATIONS – NOVEMBER 2006 BALLOT

    Governor – PHIL ANGELIDES
      California is a blue state that deserves a real Democratic Governor.  Mr. Angelides will enact progressive reforms in health care, provide more funding for public education, and ensure strong protections for our environment. 

    Lt. Governor – JOHN GARAMENDI – The Republican candidate in this race is the most right-wing state legislator in office today.  Mr. Garamendi will use this office to promote Democratic values and help protect consumers and the environment.  We must stop McClintock from getting elected to this position, which is only a heart-beat away from the Governor’s office.  www.garamendi.org

    Secretary of State – DEBRA BOWEN – Ms. Bowen will make sure our voting systems are free from corruption.  She is a strong, no-nonsense person who will stand up to local election officials who, all too often, don’t seem to be terribly concerned about having the best voting equipment available.  The appointed incumbent is a nice enough guy, but this job requires someone tougher.  Vote Bowen.  www.debrabowen.com

    State Controller – JOHN CHIANG – Mr. Chiang is probably the most qualified person to run for this office in my lifetime.  He is an elected member of the State Board of Equalization and a former tax law specialist with degrees in finance and law.  He has worked for Democratic elected officials in the past and will be a hard-working Controller.  www.chiangforcalifornia.com

    State Treasurer – BILL LOCKYER – Mr. Lockyer, our current Attorney General, will win this office rather easily.  That’s fine, since he would be much better than his Republican opponent. 

    Attorney General – JERRY BROWN – The office of Attorney General is the second most important office in the state.  Whatever you may think of Jerry Brown, he will no doubt be a much stronger Attorney General than his Republican opponent when it comes to protecting consumers and the environment.  We can’t afford another right-wing attorney general in our state.  Vote for Jerry.  www.jerrybrown.org

    Insurance Commissioner – CRUZ BUSTAMANTE – This race is a disappointment with two rather mediocre candidates for an important statewide office.  The Republican candidate, STEVE POIZNER, is a multi-millionaire with no relevant experience in this area.  The Democratic candidate, Bustamante, has been a lackluster Lt. Governor.  Nevertheless, I choose Cruz, although I there are folks I respect who will be voting for Poizner. 

    United States Senator – DIANNE FEINSTEIN

    Member, Bd. of Equalization –
      Seat #1 – BETTY T. YEE
      Seat #4 – JUDY CHU

    State Senate
      2nd S.D. – PAT WIGGINS
      6th S.D. – DARRELL STEINBERG (Excellent!)
      8th S.D. – LELAND YEE
      10th S.D. – ELLEN CORBETT
      12th S.D. – WILEY NICKEL
      26th S.D. – MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS

    State Assembly
      6th A.D. – JARED HUFFMAN (strong enviro!)
      11th A.D. – MARK DESAULNIER
      12th A.D. – FIONA MA
      13th A.D. – MARK LENO
      14th A.D. – LONI HANCOCK
      16th A.D. – SANDRÉ SWANSON
      18th A.D. – MARY HAYASHI
      79th A.D. – MARY SALAS

    Member of Congress
      8th C.D. – NANCY PELOSI – Future Speaker of-the-House
      9th C.D. – BARBARA LEE
      11th C.D. – JERRY MCNERNEY – This is our best chance in California to pick up a seat in the House.  The incumbent, Mr. Pombo, is one of the most anti-environmental and pro-Bush members of Congress in the country.  Go to www.jerrymcnerney.org to see how you can help get Jerry elected. 
      12th C.D. – TOM LANTOS
      27th C.D. – BRAD SHERMAN 

    STATE PROPOSITIONS:

    1A – NO – Transportation Funding Constitutional Amendment.  This Amendment would prohibit the state from using the sales tax revenue on motor fuels for any purpose other than transportation funding as specified in the previously approved Proposition 42.  This is too restrictive.  Prop 42 was a mistake; this amendment would just make it worse by reducing much-needed flexibility in tough economic times.  It deserves a ‘NO’ vote. 

    1B – Yes – Highway Construction and Repair, Transit Expansion, and Air Quality Bond Act.  This bond proposal will fund improvements and repairs to highways and local roads, as well as seismic upgrades of bridges.  Also provides funds for public transit and air quality mitigation near ports.  There are many things to not like in this bond proposal, but there are also some good things.  Additionally, we need to get this type of bond out of the way, so we can focus on High Speed Rail in 2008. 

    1C – YES – Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Bond Act.  This bond proposal will fund important shelters for battered women and their children, as well as new housing for low-income senior citizens.  Also provides home ownership financial assistance for disabled residents and accessibility upgrades in apartment buildings. 

    1D – YES – K-12 and University Facilities Bond Act.  This bond proposal will fund much-needed construction and renovation of public school facilities to relieve over-crowding, improve seismic safety, repair deteriorating school buildings, and fund vocational education facilities throughout the state.  Includes higher education facilities as well. 

    1E – YES – Flood Disaster Prevention Bond Act.  This bond proposal will fund repairs and renovations to existing flood control structures, including levees along the delta. 

    83 – NO – Sex Offenders Punishment, Restrictions and Monitoring.  This is a costly and mostly unnecessary initiative that will let every city and town expand residency restrictions for all sex offenders, even misdemeanor violators who served their time decades ago.  It would also require an expensive and unproven lifetime GPS tracking system that could take law enforcement resources away from going after truly violent predators.  See www.cacj.org for more info. 

    84 – YES – Water Quality, Parks and Natural Resource Conservation Bonds.  This bond initiative authorizes $5.4 billion in bonds for improvements in water management and drinking water quality, protection of rivers, natural lakes and coastal fisheries, improvements in flood control projects, acquisition and enhancement of local, regional and state parks, protection of coastal watersheds and wildlife habitats.  More info at www.Yeson84.com. 

    85 – NO – Parental Notification and Mandatory Waiting Period for Abortions by Minors.  This Constitutional Amendment would mandate that doctors deny an abortion to teenagers until the parent is notified and a waiting period has gone by. This measure creates onerous procedures for minors, including those in troubled families, to ob-tain a lawful abortion.  More info at www.NOon85.com. 

    86 – YES – Increase in Cigarette Tax to Fund Health Programs and Emergency Room Expenses.  This initiative adds an additional 13¢ tax per cigarette to fund hospital emergency services, nurse training programs, nonprofit clinics, children’s health care coverage, heart disease, stroke and cervical cancer programs, and tobacco control research, among other health-related programs.  More info at www.Yesprop86.com.

    87 – YES – Alternative Energy Funded by Oil Extraction Fee on In-state Oil Producers.  This initiative creates 10-year oil severance tax to fund much-needed clean energy and alternative fuel incentives, research and development.  All other oil-producing states currently have an oil severance tax except California.  Endorsed by Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.  More info at www.Yeson87.com.

    88 – YES – $50 Property Parcel Tax to Fund Public Education needs.  This initiative creates a modest $50 per parcel state property tax earmarked for much-needed public education expenses.  This is supported by Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. 

    89 – YES – Public Financing of Political Campaigns and Campaign Spending Limits.  Known as the California Clean Money initiative, this proposition creates a system of public financing of state political campaigns funded by a minor increase in the corporate tax rate.  This will likely reduce the influence of private corporate contributors.  Supported by CA Common Cause, League of Women Voters, and the Alameda County Democratic Party.  More info at www.Yeson89.org.

    90 – NO – Regulation of Private Property and Limits on Government’s Ability to Adopt Certain Laws.  This Constitutional Amendment is an extreme proposal that would cost taxpayers and local governments millions of dollars and make it much more difficult to enact new land use, housing, and consumer and environmental protection laws.  This is not merely about eminent domain—it’s about private interests versus the public interest.  Please vote NO!  More info at www.NoProp90.com.

    Selected local races/measures below…

    Non-partisan City Offices, Special Districts, and Judicial Races (Dan’s recommendations, cont.)

      Oakland City Auditor – COURTNEY RUBY

      Oakland City Council (District #2) – AIMEE ALLISON – This is a tough choice.  There are two quality candidates running for this seat.  On balance, I’ll go with the one who supported Ron Dellums for Mayor and appears more willing to push the envelope. 

      Berkeley Mayor – TOM BATES

      Berkeley City Council (#7) – KRISS WORTHINGTON

    Judge, Superior Court (#21) – DENNIS HAYASHI

    A.C. Transit District (#3) – ELSA ORTIZ
    A.C. Transit District (#4) – ROCKY FERNANDEZ
    A.C. Transit District (a.l.) – REBECCA KAPLAN

    BART Board (#4) – CAROLE WARD ALLEN
    BART Board (#8) – EMILY D. DRENNEN

    East Bay Municipal Utility District (#4) – ANDY KATZ

    East Bay Regional Park District (#1) – NANCY SKINNER

    Peralta Community College District (#3) – LINDA HANDY

    Peralta Community College District (#5) – WILLIAM RILEY

    Peralta Community College District (#7) – ABEL GUILLEN (qualified new voice for this district!)

    El Cerrito City Council – JANET ABELSON, SANDI POTTER

    Richmond City Council – JIM ROGERS, MARIA VIRAMONTES

    San Francisco Supervisors –
      District #2 – MICHELA ALIOTO-PIER
      District #4 – This is a rather disappointing field of candidates for the Sunset district.  I urge you to vote for HOUSTON ZHENG as your 1st choice, then JAYNRY MAK as your choice #2.  Mr. Zheng will not win, but voting for him could be a way to protest the mediocre field of candidates available to you.  Of the leading candidates, I give the edge to Ms. Mak. 
      District #6 – CHRIS DALY (strong progressive who deserves re-election!)
      District #8 – ALIX ROSENTHAL – Mr. Dufty has served this district reasonably well and has done a better job overall than some had suspected; however, Ms. Rosenthal is a bright, energetic attorney who is endorsed by the S.F. League of Conservation Voters and the local Sierra Club group.  On balance, she gets my recommendation. 
      District #10 – SOPHIE MAXWELL (excellent incumbent who deserves re-election)

    San Francisco Assessor – PHIL TING

    San Francisco Public Defender – JEFF ADACHI

    San Francisco Community College Board of Trustees – JOHN RIZZO, LAWRENCE WONG

    San Francisco Board of Education – There are more than three good candidates running for S.F. School Board this year.  Worthy candidates include (in alphabetical order) Bayard Fong, Dan Kelly, Kim Knox, Kim-Shree Maufas, and Robert Twomey.  Maybe others as well. Vote for 3 only. 

    Justices of the State Supreme Court –
      JOYCE L. KENNARD – Retain – YES
      CAROL A. CORRIGAN – Retain – YES

    LOCAL Ballot Measures…

    Oakland City Ballot Measures:

      Measure M – ? – Police and Fire Retirement Invest-ments.  Removes certain investment restrictions for the old Police/Fire Retirement System (PFRS).  Could lead to some risky investment decisions. 

      Measure N – YES – Library Bond Measure.  Library improvement and expansion bond to construct new Main Library and renovate selected branches.  Needs 2/3 vote. 

      Measure O – YES – Ranked Choice Voting.  Creates an Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) system for local elections that allows voters to rank their choices for a given office.  Saves money by avoiding costly runoff elections and will likely reduce negative campaigning. Please Vote YES!

    San Francisco Ballot Measures

      Measure A – YES
      Measure B –  ? (no recommendation)
      Measure C –  ? (no recommendation)
      Measure D – YES
      Measure E – YES
      Measure F – YES
      Measure G – YES
      Measure H – YES
      Measure I – YES
      Measure J – YES
      Measure K – YES

    Other Jurisdiction Local Ballot Measures

      Berkeley Measure G – YES – Greenhouse Gas Emissions
      Berkeley Measure I – NO – Condo Conversions

      Fremont Measure K – YES – Open Space Protection

      Los Angeles Measure H – YES – Affordable Housing

      Santa Clara County Measure A – YES – Conservation of Hillsides, Watersheds, and Agricultural Lands

      Sacramento County Measure L – YES – Public Power
      Yolo County Measures H & I – YES – Public Power

    Arnold fundraisers

    A few interesting fundraisers for Arnold Schwarzenegger fundraisers:

  • Tonight: A fabulous fundraiser with Sean Hannity in Sacramento.  Wow, that will be great.  So, Arnold is a moderate, huh? Then why the right-wing talk show hosts?
  • Nov. 1: Sony Pictures Studios.  The Price has been SLASHED from $500 to $250, featuring some well C-List celebs like Jim Belushi (John is the funny one…well he was)
  • Do you peeps know of any other funny fundraisers?