The recall war is continuing to deliver drama, with Senator Denham dropping a radio ad a few days ago which implicitly suggests that he shouldn’t even be eligible for recall.  As Capitol Alert recounts, “The ad…says: ‘When a public official is guilty of malfeasance or criminal conduct in office, the California Constitution provides for the right to recall.'”

But as Capitol alert and Don Perata’s spokesman both note, that’s just one reason for someone to be recalled.  CapAlert was good enough to track down the applicable portion of the law, which says: “Recall of a state officer is initiated by delivering to the Secretary of State a petition alleging reason for recall. Sufficiency of reason is not reviewable.”

I don’t recall any conduct by Gray Davis that was either criminal or contrary to law, but I guess that could be in the eye of the beholder. You may recall (ha!) that the petitions circulated back in 2003 said in part:

[Governor Davis’s actions were a] “gross mismanagement of California Finances by overspending taxpayers’ money, threatening public safety by cutting funds to local governments, failing to account for the exorbitant cost of the energy, and failing in general to deal with the state’s major problems until they get to the crisis stage.”

Now, Senator Denham may not personally or at least exclusively be responsible for “gross mismanagement” of anything, but last I checked, our current budget crisis (which is based on the budget that Denham’s obstinacy helped create) is cutting funds to local governments (which threatens local education if not safety), has failed to account for the exorbitant cost of energy, and rather obviously failed in general to deal with the state’s major problems before they got to the crisis stage.  So basically, the one example of a major and modern recall election fits exactly with the premise driving the Denham recall attempt.  But rather than actually defend himself, Denham has decided to to whine about being picked on.

It might be that there’s a reasonable case for Denham to make on this, but he sure isn’t making it with this “why is everybody always picking on me?” silliness.

( – promoted by Lucas O’Connor)

At a press conference this morning, San Francisco Police Commissioner and former Democratic candidate Joe Alioto Veronese threw his support to Mark Leno for State Senate.

Veronese was joined by Mayor Gavin Newsom, Assessor Recorder Phil Ting, School Board President Mark Sanchez, Supervisors Bevan Dufty and Sean Elsbernd, former Treasurer Susan Leal, and Firefighters Union President John Hanley.

Leno also announced the weekend endorsements of the California Nurses Association and the California Teachers Association. Leno spoke on how this is clearly a two person race between Leno and former Assemblyman Joe Nation. The campaign’s momentum since the CDP convention highlights how the progressive community is uniting to keep this seat from falling into the hands of a candidate who doesn’t even support single-payer health insurance and voted against Sheila Kuehl’s bill.

“As we look forward to the election of former State Senator Jackie Speier to congress tomorrow — fingers are crossed, we think she’ll do very well — I’m reminded that when Senator Speier was moving forward her landmark privacy legislation, consumer privacy legislation, that Joe Nation again not only would not support it, but was carrying legislative water for the banking and credit card industry that Jackie was trying to reform.”

Leno went on to remind people of Nation telling the papers that it was a “mistake” for Mayor Newsom to courageously advance marriage equality. As the sponsor of the first resolution in the country opposing invading Iraq, Leno also reminded voters of Nation’s opposition to a timetable for withdraw.

Video and more pics after the jump.

Mayor Gavin Newsom

Assessor Recorder Phil Ting

Mark Sanchez, who pointed out that he’s a Green Party member and they don’t usually support Democrats but he’s supporting Mark Leno.

You too can Mark Leno.

When Laura Richardson won the CA-37 race last year, it gave her a real advantage to defend her seat this year.  That makes Peter Matthews continued opposition interesting and, even more to the point, opens the question of what Brezenoff is talking about in the LB Post.  

Though it seems like just yesterday that the 37th district Congressional seat was up for grabs (it was, in fact, just last summer) there’s a Congressional election going on again this year, and it will be decided not in November, but on June 3rd in the Democratic primary. The Republicans, knowing they have to marshal their resources in districts they might actually win, have fielded no candidate. Perennial libertarian gadfly Herb Peters has stayed out of the race, and my party, the Green Party, is focused on grassroots organizing and internal party matters. There are three candidates, and they are all Democrats.

Call it a snoozer; I call it an opportunity. We can elect a representative with passion, integrity, creativity, and intelligence.

Or we can vote for the status quo.

( – promoted by Robert in Monterey)

This week, the California State Senate will be holding a hearing on SB 1295, a dangerous bill intended to weaken the power of the California Coastal Commission. I urge you to sign my petition below and join me in voicing opposition to this bill.

Click here to sign the petition!

For over 30 years, the California Coastal Commission has worked to safeguard 1.5 million acres of our coastline, fighting the good fight for our beloved California coast.

As the toughest defender of our coast, the Coastal Commission has faced various attempts to weaken its ability to advocate on behalf of our coastal environment. The most recent such attempt is SB 1295. This bill would eliminate the ability of Commissioners to appeal local government project approvals. I strongly oppose this bill, and any legislation that seeks to undermine the Commission's ability to provide effective oversight of projects along the coast.

On Tuesday, March 25th, at my request, the Santa Cruz City Council unanimously voted to officially oppose SB 1295 and communicate our opposition to our legislators and the Chair of Natural Resources Committee.

I urge you to join me in opposing the bill by making your voices heard prior to the State Senate hearing on April 8th, when this bill will come in front of the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

Click here to sign the petition!

We are about to enter in an intense round of primaries that will likely resolve the presidential noimnation and the online group Nation for Change is organizing a nationwide rally to support Barack Obama with the Bay Area rally taking place in Oakland.

Here is the info.

Obama Rally Nation for Change Rally – HOPE

When: April 19, 2008 – Saturday Noon

Where: Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland

What: Be a part of this historic event. Nationwide rally of Obama supporters united for change and success in the Pennsylvania Primary. Great speakers, special guests, music. (12th Street BART Station). Phone bank to PA at Obama HQ across the street after rally. Si, Se Puede in PA and N.C.

Information: www.nationaforchange.com email [email protected] Phone 510-759-2491

It’s time to do what we can to put this primary season away and I hope to see everyone there.