In case anyone would like to talk about…not Jerry McNerney, here you go. While all that chatter should head for the threads devoted to such, we’ll choose tonight’s song in honor of his explanation. Comin complete with some funky footwork, so shake your incredulous groove thang: Breakestra – Getcho Soul Together.
“Gotta get yourself together and make that move”
And wild we chat, Catalina burns
This just in from McNerney’s Chief of Staff:
I want an end to the war in Iraq. But ending the war must be done in the most responsible way.
Today, I followed my conscience, after evaluating what I considered to be the most effective method of bringing America’s involvement in this conflict to an end. That is why I voted for the supplemental bill and against the McGovern bill.
I am reminded every day of the terrible cost of this conflict. In fact, on Tuesday, I received notice that a Marine from Manteca was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Our brave men and women in uniform serving in Iraq are caught in the middle of a religious civil war.
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Hundreds of billions of dollars have already been spent.
We have been fighting in Iraq longer than it took us to win the Second World War.
I feel strongly that ending the war must be done in a way that respects our soldiers, honors our veterans, provides the best chance to reduce the violence in Iraq, and prevents the violence from spreading to neighboring countries.
That’s why tonight I voted again – for the third time – for the supplemental plan, which I believe is the most responsible course to take. It’s the only way to ensure that Iraqis begin to take responsibility for Iraq.
The supplemental plan I voted for provides the framework to end this conflict by bringing about a diplomatic solution, which experts from across the political spectrum recognize is the only way to end the war responsibly.
I could not, in good conscience, vote for legislation like the McGovern bill that included neither specific provisions to bring about a diplomatic solution nor funding for the needs of this newly created generation of veterans. The supplemental does both.
We have to be tough but smart to bring about a responsible close to the war in Iraq. Continuing the war any longer than necessary would be unconscionable.
This was a vote of principle and one I stand behind.
I just saw this on Total Buzz. Now I have a feeling that this would be better as a “Quickie“, but I wanted a little more space to give my heartfelt thanks to Mike Levin. Mike Levin took over as Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Orange County about eight months ago. Back then, the party headquarters was in complete shambles. The office was cluttered with old boxes filled with old papers, and the dust was literally covering the original paint color of the walls. Mike Levin came in, and he cleaned shop. The first time I walked in the office after he took over, I was literally astounded that the office was actually clean and orderly!
But of course, Mike did much more than just clean the office. He helped give this party a clean bill of health again. Thanks to Mike’s fantastic leadership, Democrats held the 34th State Senate District by helping Lou Correa win that historically close election last year. Thanks to Mike, OC Democrats fought hard like never before in the effort to fill the County Board of Supervisors vacancy (left by Lou when he became a Senator) with Tom Umberg. And overall, Mike has been a part of this successful effort to make the Democratic Party relevant in Orange County again.
And now, it’s time for him to move on from here. Follow me after the flip for more on where Mike Levin is going from here…
Well, I guess Martin Wisckol’s question has now been answered:
County Democrat boss Frank Barbaro displayed his sincerity in cranking up the party’s local activity level when he hired Mike Levin in September. The young Stanford graduate took the reins as executive director and immediately proved himself to be sharp, responsive and energetic. At one point I think I ask Barbaro how long he’d be able to keep him.
I got the answer today. Levin is leaving next month for the Bay Area and a job with Better Energy Systems, whose first product, the Solio, is a solar charger for small electronics.
But hey, there’s no reason for us to fear. Current Political Director Melahat Rafiei will likely take over as Interim Executive Director of the party. And boy is this a good thing! Melahat has done great things for DFA Orange County, and she fought hard in the 46th Congressional District as Jim Brandt’s campaign manager. I’m very confident that she’ll do a great job for our party, and that she will only help the Democratic Party continue to strengthen in Orange County.
But still, I’ll miss Mike. I’ll miss his shrewd political sensibility, and I’ll miss his pragmatic approach to idealism (or is that idealistic approach to pragmatism?). I’ll miss his sunny smile, and I’ll miss that take-charge attitude he brought to the party office. We’ll all miss Mike here in OC, but that shouldn’t stop us from wishing him the best of luck up in the Bay Area! : )
(now in also at DailyKos)
It seems pretty clear that many people in the netroots who worked hard for Jerry, donated time and time again are pretty upset with the new Representative today. Heck, even Ellen Tauscher found a way to vote to get us out of Iraq today.
No Representative will ever be perfect, especially those in more moderate districts. But this was a vote of conscious today and McNerney failed that test. I think all those who walked those precincts, threw Jerry fundraisers and made calls on his behalf deserve an explanation for his vote today.
There was not a lot of time for us to get a chance to help whip votes on this legislation. Personally, I think that is why I feel so blindsided on this. There was no indication until just shortly before the vote that McNerney might be a no.
I doubt that many of us will be satiated by any response, but it will help repair the damage done today.
Please join my in calling for an explanation in the comments and on your own blogs.
[UPDATE] I just sent an email to his Chief of Staff, who I met at the Brew House, with a link to the above and MyDD, FDL and DWT response posts. I am sure Eden is around reading the response. Hopefully, we can get a response today or tomorrow.
[UPDATE II] I heard back from his CoS, who says a response should be coming tonight. I will update again when I get that.