Five years ago today, I went to check out the San Francisco protests with one of my interns. Today, I went downtown to Market and Montgomery at noon and in retrospect am quite glad I didn’t bring anyone with me. I did however, bump into my buddy Luke Thomas from Fog City Journal. You’ll see him in some of the pics below (with his bright pink SFPD press pass clearly visible against his black jacket). He’s also in the video, trying to protect his camera while he is treated like a human pinball. This is the craziest video I’ve ever shot.

Before the video, here are some pics to set the stage.

The casket approaches the intersection for a die in.

The die in begins.

Even the SFPD has a vlogger.

Cameras converge on the scene.

More cameras start appearing and lots of people taking cell phone pics.

Speaking of cameras, there’s Luke Thomas:

This was extremely peaceful at this point.

I mean, laid back even.

And then, this happened…

The speech yesterday took away any doubt I had about Obama standing up for what is right.  As an Edwards supporter I was wary of Obama’s fight, not when it comes to Democrats but when it comes to the forces of evil that I believe exists in our Country today.  Those forces not only benefit from a racial and class divide in our Country but they profit, profusely.

The politically expedient thing to do would be for Obama to leave his Church and to say that he no longer considers Wright to be an ally or a friend.  Would that be the right thing to do though?   I’ve heard many say that Obama would do anything to be President and the speech he gave yesterday proved to me that is not the case at all.  Obama took the high road, something so few politicians do, not in order to win votes but to declare that we cannot dispose of those we vehemently disagree with if we want to make any progress or change.

Obama displayed to me what he means by reaching across the aisle, that because we may not like what other people stand for we have to work with them if we are to get anything done.  Obama epitomized what he’s been saying throughout his campaign in this speech, that we cannot have politicis as usual anymore.

I believe that our racial divide will never be healed if we do not recognize the anger that exists among Americans, black, white or purple.  And rather than using this anger to divide us, as the Republican party has done for many years or how the Clinton Campaign has done this Primary Season. Obama understands that we have to embrace the anger and use it to change things for the better, for every single American, not just for one group.

Nothing can change if we don’t admit our most base anger and fears.  Nothing changes if we don’t air these grievances in the open rather than in the closed rooms and private conversations among our “own”.  If we cannot admit to have our own prejudice then there is nothing we can do to learn from it and grow past it.  The first step is admitting that we have a problem and I believe that many white Americans think there is no longer a problem for African Americans in this Country.

Why?  Because, it’s not overt racism.  We have grown enough to be able to know when to condemn such outright racism.  But I’ve seen it here when people still casually use the term ‘Mulatto’ and don’t understand the mean and racist undertones of the word.  Or in other places when people reject the symbols of the past without understanding that such images and stereotypes must be preserved so we don’t forget how hateful and overtly racist this Country was just a few decades ago.

Why is it so important to acknowledge this rage?  Because nothing will change until we stop pointing fingers and telling people that our own suffering, our own poverty, our own problems and our own histories are far more worse than anyone else’s.  

This time we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children.  This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can’t learn; that those kids who don’t look like us are somebody else’s problem.  The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy.  Not this time.  

This time we want to talk about how the lines in the Emergency Room are filled with whites and blacks and Hispanics who do not have health care; who don’t have the power on their own to overcome the special interests in Washington, but who can take them on if we do it together.  

This time we want to talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race, and the homes for sale that once belonged to Americans from every religion, every region, every walk of life.  This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn’t look like you might take your job; it’s that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit.  

This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag.  We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that never should’ve been authorized and never should’ve been waged, and we want to talk about how we’ll show our patriotism by caring for them, and their families, and giving them the benefits they have earned.  

I would not be running for President if I didn’t believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country.  This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected.  And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation – the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.  

If we refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the hurts from every single portion of our Country, from every segment and every County, from every cul-de-sac to every project, from every house on the hill to every home near the tracks, that all these places are what make us American, United, not divided.  Because it is true, divided we fall.  If we cannot look past our economic, cultural and social differences then we cannot change anything for the better.  We will spend all our time fighting about things that are true and that are wrong but we will never have time to find the solutions for any of them.

And we have to also acknowledge as a culture that race is not real and that it does not exist.  Culture and ethnicity exist but race was merely a term coined in order to keep certain segments of our United States subordinate to the “superior race”.  And many still argue and rail against this (and it’s valid, there are certain genetic disorders that are more prevalent among ethnicities) but my point is, the genetic differences that express themselves in “racial” characteristics are not what define our culture.  We saw this when people asked if Barack Obama was “black” enough.  Obama was raised in Kansas people, in a different culture and his skin color has no bearing on how he speaks and carries himself as a human being.  These are all merely enculturation and the influences of culture not genetics.

But what does this have to do with things?  We are all human beings, that’s all it comes down to and I saw Obama speak out and acknowledge not only the anger expressed by blacks in our Country but the anger expressed by whites, native Americans, etc.  

And as I drove my Five year old to daycare and we listened to this speech, I was glad to say she was there with me.  That in twenty or thirty years she can say she heard him speak when it happened and although she was too young to understand what he was saying, she was there and she now understands why it was so important for every single American to hear what Obama said regardless of who you support for President, no matter how you are registered and where you live.  It was a speech for every American not just supporters or detractors.  

I am proud to say that Charlotte was there and I’m hoping that it will help her understand how a strawberry blonde with freckles is genetically linked to the dark brown skinned Native American tribe the Mojave.

I’ve often suffered a personality flaw that allows me to forgive people for the most heinous things.  It doesn’t mean that I agree, that I condone or that I support their actions or their beliefs but that I embrace the part of them that is human and flawed.  I embrace the part of them that is a part of me and I embrace them for the same reason why I hope and pray others would forgive me my own trespasses.  If we cannot forgive, if we cannot walk a mile in anyone’s shoes but our own, then we cannot bring any change at all.  

(Crossposted from Medical Cannabis: Voices from the Frontlines, the blog of Americans for Safe Access. I work for Americans for Safe Acces.)

Yesterday, I joined advocates and providers in Sacramento to call on the State Board of Equalization to protect an important source of revenue – $100 million in sales tax collected annually by medical marijuana dispensaries.

After waiting through half a dozen unrelated tax cases to be heard before the board, I testified, explaining how this tax revenue is in danger, due to increased federal interference in the state medical marijuana program. In 2007 alone, the DEA raided more than 50 medical marijuana providers, and they embarked on a new strategy, sending more than 300 letters to landlords of dispensaries, threatening property owners with criminal prosecution and asset forfeiture. I also described reactions from elected officials – ranging from a statement by US House Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers questioning the DEA’s tactics to State Senator Carole Migden’s introduction of SJR 20, which calls for an end to federal interference and urging Congress and the President to establish policy consistent with the compassionate use laws of California.

I concluded my comments with a plea that would be echoed by all of the following advocates, asking the BOE to work with the Governor and state legislature to protect this source of state revenue, which has become increasingly vital to our state’s fiscal health in the face of budget cuts to important state programs.

Dale Gieringer of CA NORML spoke next, highlighting the amount of sales tax and income tax dispensaries contribute. He also discussed the problem of the DEA seizing assets from dispensaries. For example, the “Compassion Center for Alameda County paid $3 million in sales taxes before it was closed by the DEA on October 30th. In the process of seizing CCAC’s bank account, the DEA stopped a $348,078.49 bank transfer to the Board of Equalization, which the CCAC had transmitted just before the raid.”

Next, half a dozen current and former dispensary operators spoke about their experiences of DEA harassment. Lisa Sawoya, former director of Hollywood Compassionate Care in Los Angeles, explained that she had gladly paid sales tax to the state. But in July of 2007, her landlord – who had previously been very supportive – received a threatening letter from the DEA. Sawoya agreed to shut down the dispensary at the end of July, and her landlord subsequently called the DEA to tell them of the agreement. Then, on July 25th – days before she was set to close – eight DEA agents stormed into the dispensary, holding guns to employees heads, and seizing all of the money and medicine at the facility.

Bill Pearce, former director of River City Patients’ Center in Sacramento, explained that he too had willingly paid taxes – to the the tune of $700K over three years to the BOE and another $250K to the IRS and Franchise Tax Board. When the DEA raided him on September 26, 2007, they seized all of his assets, leaving him with nothing to support himself and his family, let alone to pay his legal bills.

Four other dispensary operators from Berkeley, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa, told their stories of DEA harassment, and explained that though they continue operating their dispensaries, they live in fear. Their landlords could evict them at a moment’s notice, or worse, the DEA could raid them, seize their assets, and they could face federal charges.

All of the BOE members seemed to listen closely, and I could hear exclamations from those seated in the audience who had not been aware of this dire situation. After we spoke, BOE Member Betty Yee addressed the Board, conveying the sense of responsibility and obligation she felt on this issue. She expressed her concern, not only for the tax revenue generated by dispensaries, but also for the patients who depend on these facilities for access to their medicine. She urged the BOE to work with state officials to ensure protection of dispensaries from DEA attacks, echoing the statements she made in a recent opinion piece co-authored by Senator Migden.

I left the meeting feeling that we had been listened to and that the BOE may take further steps to protect our community.

Ron Oden, former Mayor of Palm Springs, is just starting his introductory remarks.  It’s a packed room here at the Palm Desert Library’s Community Room.  I recognize many faces here, the Democrats have been waiting for this for a long time.

I’ll do my best to transcribe below.

Oden:

Two elected offices:  Desert Community College District, and 80th AD.  She’s been elected here, not once, but twice.  She knows this area, and has history here.  Last Dem elected to the 80th, I remember how excited we were to win that seat, and I believe we’ll be excited again.

Elected Caucus Chair in her first term, ranked as the top legislator in her class in the Assembly.  Tapped by Gray Davis to head up Housing and Community Development.  Active, involved, will get the job done.

For the last ten years she’s run an affordable housing nonprofit.  Articulate, approachable, knowledgeable.

Great pleasure to introduce our rep for the CA-45th

Julie Bornstein (paraphrased):

Introduced Ralph Waite (Pa Walton, for those netroots folks who remember The Waltons).  Introduced other local leaders.

Built Ted Williams field with a grassroots group, made her realize how important it was to know the needs of your community.

Couldn’t sit comfortably by on the sidelines  at this time.  Call for the honorable traditions of our country.  Honor, accountability, fairness.

Why has government asked our military to serve repeated tours when

Why special benefits for corporations

Whey when affordable healthcare so hard to afford, leaders refuse to help.

Affordable housing.

Fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq.  For the killed, injured, loved ones of such, a notable day.  26th birthday of her son Ryan, serving in Iraq for the DoD.

Tactics on prisoners that are abhorred.

Properly care for our injured.

Diminished our credibility, capacity to address conflicts

Three trillion dollars, with CA carrying a disproportionate cost.

Cut taxes, borrowed overseas to pay for this.

Who isn’t fearful about the economy?  Food prices up, people can’t feed their children, jobs going overseas, healthcare out the window.

I have the expertise in housing and economy.

We can relegate the American Dream to the history books, or renew its promise.

Regain respect of community of nations, clean energy, affordable healthcare and decent, affordable housing.  Reestablish accountability in govt and responsibility to the taxpayer.

Ship of state is floundering, but this ship is ours to right.  

wanted to do that when she came here.  Children raised here, mother died here.  

I’ve been perusing some of the reaction in the local papers on the qualification of the Jeff Denham recall on the ballot, and there’s some interesting stuff in there.  From Hank Shaw in the Stockton Record, we learn that Denham has been harvesting money for months, and given the lack of campaign finance limits in a recall election, expect more Chamber of Commerce members to fork over big novelty checks.

Denham has been raising money hand over fist to defend himself. He collected a $50,000 check from Oakdale Sierra Tel, a telecommunications company, late last week and has amassed more than $300,000 so far. As the target of a recall, Denham can raise cash in unlimited amounts.

Telecom company, ay?  Not that Denham has anything to do with the FISA fight, but telecoms aren’t exactly popular figures in districts with a 45-36 registration advantage for Democrats.

As for who the opponent will be, it looks like there are two potential candidates, former Assemblymember Simon Salinas and Merced County District Attorney Larry Morse.  Morse claims that Perata contacted him last month about running.

After the meeting, Morse said he spoke with Denham about the offer as a courtesy because there are never any secrets in Sacramento; he didn’t want the senator learning about it from someone else.

Morse ran for Assembly in 1996 and lost to Dennis Cardoza, and also considered a run for Senate in 2002, which would have pitted him against Denham.

Since becoming district attorney, Morse said he’s made progress in office and hasn’t considered any other elected slot.

“I’m not sure what set of circumstances could induce me to leave,” he said. “When the president of the Senate asks to talk with you, you probably owe him the courtesy of talking to him.”

Morse is apparently big on courtesy.  If he did run, would he let Denham in on his ad information and oppo research because he “doesn’t want him to learn about it from someone else”?

Um, go Salinas.

Meanwhile, Denham’s campaign consultant is really on the ball.

“The bad news for Perata, who started this recall, is this vote will take place right in the middle of the debate over the 2008-09 budget,” Denham campaign consultant Tim Clark said.

Yes, exactly!  And voters don’t want their schools dismantled and their teachers fired.  It was also amusing to hear hired gun Kevin Spillane say in the Fresno Bee that the recall has Sacramento ties.  Right, because you’re the salt of the earth from Stanislaus County, right?

I am liking the aggressive reaction from the Dump Denham folks.

Perata spokeswoman Alicia Trost referred calls to Paul Hefner, spokesman for the “Dump Denham” recall campaign.

“The voters have caught on to Jeff Denham. They’re recalling him for the same reasons people take unsafe toys off the shelf and tainted meat out of supermarkets-because they’re no good, and because we deserve better,” Hefner said in a statement.

This should be a fun 76 days.

Abel Maldonado is one of the most vulnerable of the Senate Republicans facing reelection this year. Democrats hold a 40-37 edge in registrations in SD-15 and the district was given a D+7.8 rating in cali_girl_in_texas’ latest rankings. And he has a long, conservative voting record – including a 20% lifetime rating from the California Labor Federation (as of 2006). Maldonado’s moderate reputation should be put to its strictest test yet in 2008, with a very Democratic turnout in November and a Republican Party having to defend a record of economic crisis and budgetary disaster.

So why is it that NO Democrat filed to run for the SD-15 seat?! Is Maldonado being given a free pass?

When the filing deadline came and went on March 7, I was curious to see who was going to be the Democratic opponent in SD-15. As I called the registrar’s offices in the five counties that make up this long district (Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara) I discovered that apparently nobody had filed. The CDP’s online organizers helped investigate, and ultimately concluded that there was no Democratic candidate, as the candidate filing status at the Secretary of State’s website confirms. Although former Assemblywoman Rebecca Cohn (who had represented AD-24, Santa Clara County, from 2000 to 2006) had expressed interest in a campaign for the SD-15 seat, no actual candidacy materialized.

As one of the most winnable Senate seats on this year’s ballot, not having a candidate is a pretty big failure. And it obviously begs the question why this failure happened. Since it is the leader of the chamber that is responsible for candidate recruitment – in this case, Don Perata – this quote from last summer, from an August 2007 George Skelton column (now in the LA Times pay-only archives), is worth remembering:

If the Senate’s top Democrat — President Pro Tem Don Perata of Oakland — has anything to do with it, Maldonado will survive. “I’d be happy to go down to Santa Maria any time and knock on doors and say what a solid guy he is,” Perata says. “I just admire him. I was just blown away by what he did, by his courageous stand on principle.”

This refers to Maldonado’s break with the Senate Republicans – including Jeff Denham – and voting for the Democratic budget during last summer’s standoff. As I explained at the time, however, this vote should not have been construed as overriding his long right-wing voting record. Maldonado voted against AB 32, and supported the Democratic budget only after Arnold promised to line-item $700 million in health care spending out of the final budget.

One quote alone from August 2007 does not prove Perata gave Maldonado a pass, but it is also cause for serious concern. Were Democratic candidates discouraged from taking on Maldonado? Was this a case of the failure of the local netroots, or a failure of Senate Democratic leaders, or a failure of a party system that centralizes candidate recruitment when this is perhaps better handled by local Democrats?

As we await these answers, it is worth keeping in mind the possibility of a write-in campaign to put someone on the June ballot – and give Maldonado the Democratic challenger he so richly deserves. According to the SoS website a write-in candidate would need 3,689 votes in June to be placed on the November ballot. Surely there is someone in this district, from Los Gatos on down to Santa Maria, who is interested in taking on this task.