Daily Archives: September 6, 2007

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Doh! Arnold won’t “read or lead” on dirty tricks

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Arnold has had plenty of opportunities to read the dirty tricks initiative.  After all, I did drop off 2,148 copies of it last friday.  And we did fax him to make sure he acknowledged receiving them.  When Arnold repeated again yesterday that he hadn’t read it, it created the perfect opportunity to make this video. Matt Ortega and I stayed up late working on last night.

Take action.  Tell Arnold to Lead AND Read.

And if you want to reward good production hit the ActBlue.  And I am still looking for the last $180 or so on paying off the Kinkos bill.

The Courage Campaign email is below the fold.

Dear Julia,

Sometimes art imitates life. Or, in the case of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, “The Simpsons” lampoons his “leadership.”

Take just one minute to watch this funny YouTube clip right now. You’ll see how incredibly prescient the new “Simpsons” movie is about Arnold’s, er, “philosophy.”

And, with only one day left to pressure Arnold before the California Republican Party convention this weekend, you’ll be able to tell him what you think about it as well:

http://www.courageca…

Last Friday, Courage Campaigner and blogger Julia Rosen delivered your 2,148 copies of the so-called “Presidential Election Reform Act” to Arnold’s Sacramento office. We asked you to flood his office with copies of this dangerous initiative and you delivered. It appears that your action helped to educate Arnold about what the New York Times is calling an “elaborate dirty trick” to steal 20 electoral votes from California for the Republican presidential nominee.

What does Arnold think about this destructive initiative? You might be surprised by what he said yesterday:

  “I feel like if you, all the sudden in the middle of the game, start changing the rules it’s kind of odd, it almost feels like a loser’s mentality, saying I cannot win with those rules, so let me change the rules… I have not made up my mind yet in one way or the other, because I haven’t seen the details on it.”

“A loser’s mentality.” You said it, Arnold.

You can tell Arnold what you think about his characterization of the dirty tricksters after watching his YouTube cameo in “The Simpsons” movie:

http://www.courageca…

Funny thing is, Arnold will be joining many of those “losers” tomorrow at the California Republican Party convention. And what are his Republican cronies doing to prevent this cynical ploy to change the rules, lock down the White House, and keep us in Iraq for another four years?

Planning to enthusiastically endorse it, of course.

  Ron Nehring, the chair of the California Republican Party, called a potential endorsement a “significant step” and that the party could provide money or help gather signatures to qualify the measure […]. The move for the California GOP to back the initiative before it has even qualified – or even reported a campaign contribution – was driven, in part by “the hyperventilating on the part of the Democrats.”

  “Cynical ploy orchestrated by the blah blah blah,” said Nehring. “The vitriol and overreaction from the Democrats caught a lot of people’s attention from the party.”

“Blah blah blah.” You said it, Ron. Sounds like a “loser mentality,” if you ask me.

Needless to say, Arnold Schwarzenegger is probably the only person in the world who can kill this radical right-wing coup in its cradle right now. If he wanted to, he could terminate it at this weekend’s Republican convention. Unfortunately, as the future of our country and the world hangs in the balance, Arnold is playing dumb while sitting on 2,148 copies of the initiatives you sent him to read.

Time is running out to kill this dirty trick dead. Please take just one minute to watch the YouTube video and tell Arnold right now that he needs to read and lead NOW:

http://www.courageca…

While Arnold dithers and dallies, our movement to defeat the dirty tricksters is growing stronger by the day. Nearly 10,000 Courage Campaign members have pledged their strong opposition to this radical right-wing power grab, including Sherry Lansing (former CEO, Paramount Pictures), Sal Rosselli (President, SEIU-UHW), Bradley Whitford (“The West Wing”), Arianna Huffington (“The Huffington Post”), Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass, and L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti.

Now that Arnold has plenty of copies of the initiative – a document that only takes about five minutes to review – we need you to push him hard to “read or lead” right now.

No more dirty tricks. No more partisan power-grabs.

Not in California. Not in America.

http://www.courageca…

Thank you for everything you are doing to support our people-powered campaign for change.

Rick Jacobs
Chair
Courage Campaign

P.S. You are absolutely amazing! On Labor Day, we asked you to help us defeat this dirty trick by contributing “20 for 20” — $20 dollars to save 20 electoral college votes – and building our netroots infrastructure by using ActBlue to process your small-dollar donations. In a little more than 48 hours, 352 of you have raised $9,781 (average donation: $27.79!). Due to its focus on small donations, ActBlue IS campaign finance reform.

Your amazing support helped Courage shoot to the top of the ActBlue “standings” as the third “hottest” group on the site. That’s great, but we’re not settling for number three. To keep up our community momentum and continue to build our movement, please dig deep and make a contribution in any amount you can afford. Help us kick this dirty trick to the curb right now:

http://www.courageca…

Uncategorized

The End-of-session Drama begins

(An interesting back-room story. – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

This article written by:  Former Assembly Member, Hannah Beth Jackson of Speak Out California

This is the truly crazy-making time of the legislative year, when hundreds of bills line up on the floor like airplanes on a crowded runway. And productivity isn't measured by the quality of the bills being considered but rather by the number that are disposed of on the floor each day. With over 700 bills waiting for take-off or otherwise, it's a madhouse. Several bills have already been or will be delayed, postponed or canceled while most of those lined up will take off for the Governor's desk where their fate will be decided within thirty days of their final vote. An action alert is up, here. But read on for the details.

It is chaos, exhausting and usually a productive time. But this is also the time of year when egos and hard-feelings from past slights, disrespect or other machinations force otherwise important measures to languish and die, often even before hitting the runway.

Such is the fate of Senator Joe Simitian's bill, SB 412 which would required the Liquified Natural Gas supporters to demonstrate an actual need for the product before any LNG terminals could be built in California. This seems like a no-brainer in that these plants are enormously expensive to build and often present serious environmental concerns. It would only make sense that before California allow any to be constructed under those conditions that we prove they are actually necessary. With that in mind, the measure should have made it to the floor—but was held up in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, along with several other important measures that had been developed and passed not only through their “house of origin” (the Senate) but had made it beyond all the Assembly committees to find a hoped-for temporary resting place in the Assembly before being released for floor vote in that house. In SImitian's case, he had no such luck. Was it the nature of the bill and lots of opposition? Nope. Not in this case.

It was more a victim of the all-too-common tension between the “upper” and “lower” houses of the legislature. Considered by many to be the genius of our Founding Fathers and their creation of the bicameral system of government where bills must pass through two, separate legislative groups-the Senate and the Assembly (similar to Congress where the Senate and the House of Representatives often do battle), it often translates down into petty or ego-driven disputes. In this case, the holding of Simitian's bill is more a battle of power and ego where the upper and lower chambers are feeling slighted by each other. When that happens, good ideas and hard-fought bills are often the victims of political infighting. Such is the case with SB 412–and many other measures now neglected on the Appropriations Committee floors of each house.

The good news is that there is still time to resurrect SB 412 and that's just what we here at Speak Out California are hoping will happen. On Tuesday, September 4th, we sent out an action alert to our subscribers asking them to contact the Speaker of the Assembly, Fabian Nunez, and urge him to release this bill from the Appropriations Committee so that it can be heard. While often bills can wait until next year, there is a time constraint on this measure that requires its implementation this year. Why?

In essence this bill does two things: It requires the state to do a LNG Needs Assessment as part of its Integrated Energy Policy Report before approving placement of an LNG terminal in California. If we don't need it, why force it on our communities?

It also clarifies that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires strong alternatives technology analysis so that if an LNG terminal is approved for California, it will be the safest design with the fewest impacts.

With enormous cost and profit possiblities, there are several companies moving forward full-throttle to become California's LNG supplier. The longer we delay in requiring these standards, the less likely we will be able to justify imposing them after millions and millions of dollars have been spent developing plans, permits, etc. that the process requires. Unless we pass this legislation into law this year, it will be too late to impose these important criteria on the companies developing their proposals as we speak.

For more information on this important measure, and to send a request to the Speaker, check out our recent action alert:
http://ga4.org/campaign/ActNowforCaliforniasEnergy Future

Of course, there are many measures that suffered a similar fate and many more that are on the floor of both houses during this last, frenetic week of activity. With 700 bills to consider, there will be days with votes on 100 bills or more. Some move within seconds and the most difficult take up to hours, especially in the Assembly where often all 80 members feel compelled to speak. It is definitely the most interesting time of the legislative year and often the most chaotic. Remember it was at this point in 1996 when the ill-fated electricity de-regulation bill took off, only to crash and burn on the watch of a totally new and unsuspecting legislature years down the road. We  can only hope that this year the legislature will escape that fate. That answer, though, may not be known for some time.

For now, we can only keep our fingers crossed and take heed of the Hypocratic oath  to “do no harm”. As in each and every legislative session, we shall watch and see.

California

Cunningham Conspirators Getting Punchy

“On no occasion did I contemplate he would be vacationing in Greece pending sentencing,” [U.S. District Judge Larry] Burns said.

Thus continues the sands through the hourglass of the Cunningham corruption scandal.  Burns ruled that the case against mortgage broker and co-conspirator Thomas Kontogiannis will continue despite objections from his nephew’s lawyers (nephew John Michael is also on trial for money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice).  Michael’s lawyers claim that Kontogiannis has continued to engage in fraud with full knowledge of prosecutors since his plea in February.

What fraud?  Well, ongoing mortgage fraud from New York apparently.  Mr. Kontogiannis has been a busy boy though as, despite surrendering his passport and agreeing to only leave the country in the company or with the permission of federal agents, he’s been chilling on vacation in Greece.

But w- w- w- w- wait it gets worse.

In court papers filed last month, [Michael lawyer] Granger also revealed that in 2005 Kontogiannis’ daughter had bought the Long Island home that was owned by the uncle of Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Halpern, who is one of the prosecutors in the case against Michael and Wilkes. The uncle died in 2003, and the home was bought from his estate.

Granger had argued this was a conflict and that the entire U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego should be removed from the case, or that Halpern should be banned from it.

Now clearly, Granger is just throwing absolutely everything against the wall and hoping something will stick.  Obviously, Carol Lam has already been removed for actually enforcing the law, and removing what remains of the office seems rather silly.  But it drags things out and muddies the waters.

The next date to watch for is October 2 when the Brent Wilkes trial kicks off.  Prosecutors say that Kontogiannis will “probably not” be called to testify if the case goes well, but he’s presumed to be cooperating with government lawyers.  Many twists and turns still to come on this one, and if Duke Cunningham (R-Tuscon Federal Correction Insitution)’s jailhouse confession is any sort of teaser, we’re in for quite a ride.

Uncategorized

What’s Goin’ on?

I wanted to get to a bunch of stories today, but my time is somewhat limited. So, I'll condense them together.

  • Term limits. Remember Dave's congratulatory statement on the term limits initiative getting onto the February ballot? And that it was by less than a thousand signatures? Well, with the sampling methods that the state uses, a change of one or two signatures being ruled valid in the random selection makes a big difference. And that's what happened for this one.  The Chronicle reports that Riverside, San Bernadino, Contra Costa and Alameda counties changed their count after discovering mistakes in their rulings on a couple of names. How many signature does just one of the samples affect? Well, just over a thousand, coincidentally. So, the four or so ruling changes threw the initiative over the top. Methinks Sen. Perata and Speaker Nunez came very, very close to disaster unnecessarily.
  • A lot more bills have passed between chambers and out of the legislature and onto the Gov's desk. Frank at CPR has more on a whole slew of passed legislation here and here. Remind me again why one of the best reporters in Sacto isn't making seven figures? 😉
  • Garry South thinks Arnold will run for Senate. It would certainly make for an interesting race, but then again, this is coming from the man who brought Joe Lieberman from the front of the pack in 2004 all the way up to…um a 3-way tie for 3rd place! (aka 5th in Iowa)
  • A TSA employee was fired for posting union materials in the break room at OAK. A federal court has now said the suit can go ahead. The TSA, incidentally, was deliberately designed to be anti-union. Another great experiment to eliminate organized labor by BushCo.
  • Arnold is getting into his pronouncement mode. Of course, there was dirty tricks. Yesterday, the Governor announced that he's still in favor of the bloody video game ban for minors.  Lucas reminded me that this is the governor whose movie career includes, chronologically, conan the barbarian, conan the destroyer, the terminator, commando, predator, red heat, total recall, terminator 2, true lies, eraser, end of days, terminator 3. Pot, I'd like to introduce you to kettle. I'm thinking Jingle All the Way should have been banned just because it was terrible, but I suppose taste is subjective.
  • And, one more pronouncement: Arnold is leaning towards vetoing the Out of Iraq ballot measure.  Apparently, he's against all this democracy hooey. “Well, I think if you want to get the message across that the people of California are against the Iraq war, I think every poll has done that. To show that the California people are against the war. I, in principle, don't like non-binding resolutions, because it's a federal issue, not a state issue.” (KCRA 9/5/07) Because, you know, it would be sooo expensive to put 20 more words on the ballot and count the votes? If we have to have the third election, we might as well let the people make a statement.
Uncategorized

California’s Canada: Oregon’s Bush Stamp

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Up in Oregon, California’s Canada, Sen. Gordon Smith continues to be a Bush Rubber Stamp. Sure, he’s starting to come around on the Iraq debacle, but isn’t it amazing how that happens every 6 years? You know, Senators try to moderate their record or what not.  Well, few are buying Smith’s contrition up in Oregon.  The Democrats are excited about the possibility of a pickup in Oregon. Some of those Oregon Dems have put up StopGordonSmith.com. Some facts about Smith’s “moderate” voting record:

–Anti-Choice Record. Smith has earned a 15 percent score from pro-choice advocates.

–Voting 90 percent with President Bush. Yes, Smith agrees with nine out of 10 decisions this president makes! 

–Anti-Environment Record. Smith has earned a 14 percent score from environmental advocates.

–Veterans Record. Smith earned a failing, 40 percent score from Disabled American Veterans. (Stop Gordon Smith)

There are two candidates in the race on the Dem side right now. Jeff Merkley is the DSCC’s recruit and is the Speaker of Oregon’s lower house. Even given that, he seems to be quite popular amongst the OR netroots. Steve Novick was at yKos and is a very smart, intelligent, and articulate progressive. The rap on him seems to be that most insiders don’t think he’s all that electable. I don’t know about all that, but if he was elected, man, that would be awesome.

Uncategorized

Nurses vs. Sell-Out Pols: Campaign Update

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Nurses vs. Sell-Out Politicians: California’s Battle Royale

The final days of California’s legislative season are here and there is at least one issue of national important left to be decided: will insurance companies get their dream bill handed to them by an unholy alliance of sell-out Democrats and Governor Schwarzenegger? 

The Schwarzenegger-Nunez bill distorts healthcare reform by forcing more Californians into the arms of the insurance companies, thereby increasing their revenue, power, and ability to meddle in medical decisions.  The California Nurses Association, other unions, and the state’s healthcare reformers, are turning up the fight to block this harmful bill with op-eds and a new advertising campaign, coming on top of mail pieces we’re already sending into the state.  The insurance advocates are worried and sending out their attack dogs, but new polls suggest they have an uphill battle.

We’ll take a quick look at the campaign …cross-posted at the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association’s Breakroom Blog, as we organize to make 2007 the Year of GUARANTEED healthcare on the single-payer model.

Take it from Deborah Burger, RN, President of the California Nurses Association:

In alliance with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Democratic leaders of the state Legislature, led by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, are rushing to enact a substandard health reform plan that will not reduce the health insecurity of California families.

They’re apparently even willing to jeopardize Sen. Barbara Boxer and their own party’s slim hold on the United States Senate along the way.

Those of you in California may not be aware of the rumors about Schwarzenegger challenging Boxer for Senate in 2010, but here’s how it plays out:

Here’s the deal: Nuñez and some other Democrats are actively working with Schwarzenegger to put together a “compromise” healthcare package.

Schwarzenegger, the main architect of that plan, gets to claim credit for supposedly solving the state’s healthcare crisis using “bipartisan consensus.” As collateral damage to Democrats, Schwarzenegger can tout this deal to boost his candidacy against Boxer in 2010.

Nuñez could then get the governor’s support for extending his term as speaker.

This constellation of events may be dandy for a career politician or two, but it leaves behind a lot of other Californians, who will have to contend with a poor healthcare bill full of holes.

Of course, worst of all the, the pro-insurance corporation fake healthcare bill will make things worse-AND blunt, at least temporarily, the public demand for genuine healthcare reform.

AB 8 does nothing to rein in rising insurance premiums — up 87% nationally this decade — or rising co-pays, deductibles and other health fees. Which means that costs, already unaffordable for far too many, would continue to spin out of control.

The bill fails to limit rising prescription drug costs, especially notable at a time when Schwarzenegger has just eliminated funding for his “voluntary” drug price restraints that were so ballyhooed last year by the governor and the authors of AB 8.

It is not universal, as many of the currently uninsured would remain without access to care. It fails to assure uniform, comprehensive benefits, and therefore perpetuates an increasingly multi-tiered health system based on the ability to pay.

And, most critically, the plan reinforces and expands an insurance-based system — the source of much of the present crisis — thereby subverting real reform for years to come.

Ironically, Fabian Nunez has been sending his political operatives out to attack California’s nurses:

CNA has walked away from the four million Californians without health care 

First of all, nurses are patient advocates.  Accusing nurses of abandoning their patients is a grave insult.  Taking huge campaign contributions from insurers, pushing a bill to give them more power, and *then* insulting nurses is just, well, bizarre and wrong.

The good news is the public is on our side.  While the approval ratings for the legislature languishes near the margin of error, a new Gallup poll today finds that nationally a wide majority of American support labor unions, and of course nurses always rank as the most honored profession. 

That’s one reason why people are turning against this fake healthcare reform-and hopefully the advertising campaign we’ll be launching today will speed things along (check today’s Sac Bee for the first ad). 

If you live in California, why not take a second and tell the legislature what you think? If you don’t live in California, you can still advocate for the national single-payer bill.

To join the fight for guaranteed healthcare (with a “Medicare for All” or SinglePayer financing), visit GuaranteedHealthcare.org, a project of the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, California

The Coming Republican Platform Battle

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Among other sources, the AP reported yesterday on the many issues up for debate as Republicans consider overhauling their current platform.  Schwarzenneger has lined up support from GOPers in the legislature to move away from divisive (and presumably NOT post-partisan) “values” issues like gun control, abortion and gay rights.  Arnold is pushing for a more practical, Reagan-worship focus, hoping to distill things down to just low taxes, strong defense, and small government.  And if you think those three items were intentionally ordered to contradict themselves, you’re quite right.

It’s hardly news to find the Governor at odds with the socially conservative wing of the Republican Party, but what’s been brewing for a while has the potential to boil over at the Republican Convention as the battle over the state party’s soul comes to a head.  While Schwarzenegger thinks it might be time for the Republican Party to abandon platform points like overturning Roe v. Wade and opposing gun registration, President of the California Republican Assembly Steve Pence laments that “[t]here’s a move afoot to make sure the Republican Party stands for nothing… [it’s]…a direct assault on Republican Party principles.”

State GOP chair Ron Nehring for his part says the party is in the midst of a “healthy discussion” and has a draft platform with fun terms like “one man and one woman and “the unborn.”  Bob brought us Nehring’s excitement over the “significant step” of endorsing the Dirty Tricks maneuver and in the same day, while jockeying for position heading into the debate, Julia noted Schwarzenegger belittling the Dirty Tricks Initiative.  One wonders if there are broader implications as Reagan worship squares off against “values.”  Is this a sign of the unholy Republican alliance finally splintering in the face of reality?

San Diego

Susan Davis Pushes Touch-Screen Ban

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Brad Blog was all over it yesterday as Susan Davis (CA-53) sought to add an amendment to Rush Holt’s Election Reform Bill that would ban all DRE (Direct Recording Electronic) voting machines. The bill finished the day still in committee, so feel free to make some calls today urging support of the amendment.  Target members of the Rules Committee to make sure it gets attached, and (to echo the call from BradBlog) let your own representative know they should insist on a DRE ban before voting for the bill.  BradBlog also notes that the amendment has been endorsed by MoveOn, Verified Voting and VoteTrustUSA.

Davis’ office told BradBlog that the amendment was relying on Leadership and the Rules Committee allowing it.  I think you’ve all met Nancy Pelosi already, you know where to find her.  Louise Slaughter chairs the committee, and California members are Democrats Doris Matsui and Dennis Cardoza, and Republican David Dreier who serves as the ranking minority member of the committee.  Leverage galore Californians.

For sure, much respect to Susan Davis for stepping up on this issue.  Debra Bowen has deservedly gotten a lot of attention in California for spearheading an overhaul of the voting system, but now another Californian is kicking things up a notch at the national level.

Davis has been consistently good when it comes to protecting the integrity of elections.  In March she introduced the Mail-In Ballot Tracking Act requiring states to provide, via phone and internet, tracking capabilities for mail-in ballots.  She’s also been pushing the Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act for several years.  The bill would amend the Help America Vote Act by requiring all states to provide the option of vote-by-mail to everyone regardless of circumstance in federal elections.

All over California and the blogosphere we’ve been whipping up opposition to the Dirty Tricks Initiative, but there are many challenges to fair elections.  There’s a chance for real reform to get shoved into the Holt Bill, so let’s hope for movement and see if we can’t help it along.  And when you’re done, don’t forget to give Susan Davis props for standing up for democracy.

Environment

Protecting the California Condor

Since we’re in the last week of the regular California legislative session, there will be a flurry of bills, and as always Frank D Russo at California Progress Report has the madness well in hand. Here is his first report on this week’s September legislat-a-thon.

I noticed among the long list of legislation that AB 821 (Nava) passed the Senate on a straight party line vote with Democrats voting to ban lead ammunition in the habitat of the California Condor, and Republicans voting to allow the practice to continue.  The giant bird with the 10 foot wingspan was once a common sight throughout North America, but by 1987 only 22 remained. One of the primary factors that drove the condors to near extinction was lead poisoning.

carrion carry on…there’s more…

In 1987, all of the surviving condors were captured and placed in a captive breeding program in an effort to save the species. Over the past several years, the success of the program could be measured by an increasing population and the reintroduction of the birds to their natural habitat over California, Arizona and Baja California. But once again, lead is causing death and illness among the condors. Incredibly, we saved the species only to release them back into the wild to face the very same environmental threat. At one time it was thought that a substantial native population of condors would be established in the wild by 2015 but that date has been pushed back 5 to 10 years now because of lead poisoning.

Condors are scavengers, and will eat the remains of animals that were shot with lead bullets, and since lead breaks apart upon impact, the poisonous fragments and dust can be spread throughout the carcass and ingested by a flock of hungry birds. Since reintroduction of condors to the wild, at least ten have died from lead poisoning, and others have been made very ill.

There have been many successes with reintroduction of the condors to the wild. The current population of 140 free condors continues to grow. The goal of connecting the isolated groups of birds from multiple habitats into a contiguous, natural range was given a huge boost earlier this year with the sighting of a California Condor in San Diego ‘s back county for the first time since 1910. If we protect this habitat, someday soon the condors range will once again stretch from northern California, and into Baja Mexico.

There are those who claim that there’s no proof that lead bullets are the culprit, however last year a study was released showing the strong link between the lead isotopes in bullets and identical isotopes found in the blood of diseased birds. Between the strong scientific evidence and the easy availability of alternative products of equal quality, there is no reason to continue to pollute our environment and kill our wildlife with this toxic metal.

There are actually 49 other birds of the world that are poisoned by lead ammunition, but the negative effect is particularly dramatic with condors who have long natural lives, and a slow reproductive cycle. They simply can’t breed fast enough to replenish the population lost to poisoning.

According to CPR there was floor debate on AB 821, but the Democrats in the Senate overwhelmingly passed this smart bit of legislation. It will now go back to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments. I’m really pleased about this progress, because I see it as the best bet to avoid a tragic ending to what has been a crowning success in species conservation and wildlife reintroduction programs in California.