Charlie Brown was joined by retired General Wesley Clark recently in a special volunteer project to serve our troops overseas. In conjunction with Democrats Work, a national organization geared to get people involved in community-building volunteering, folks gathered to create care packages to send to troops currently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The sweltering Northern California summer couldn’t stop people from across the district from making their way to the Roseville Opera House. Over 100 men and women of all ages and political affiliations joined Charlie and General Clark in this project.

College students, veterans, mothers and businessmen alike joined together to show their support for the troops. Democrats, Republicans and Independents didn’t care about presidential choice or their stance on the war itself. Everyone gathered had one goal in mind: to send a small piece of comfort to the men & women doing their duty to protect our freedom.

Words and talking points from a political campaign seemed crass to Charlie, so our approach was non-partisan. This wasn’t about parties and their ideologies. It was about our soldiers and putting a smile on their faces, even if only for a brief moment.

After each package was personally created, our volunteers sat down and wrote personal letters for each box. General Clark and Charlie also wrote their own personal messages. One note, from a Republican, has been transcribed:

Dear Soldier,

I want to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for your sacrifice and service to our country. Without your service we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms that we hold…I sincerely hope that you enjoy this care package and that it provides you some comfort & entertainment in what we all know is a harsh environment.

Take care and thank you once again.

Another note, signed by a college student:

Dear Patriot-

We thank you for your courage, professionalism, and dedication to duty. You go in harm’s way every day to serve our country, and we are proud of your commitment. Please return safely as soon as possible.

Finally, a veteran of the Korean War wrote this note:

Dear Guys-

There aren’t enough words to describe my appreciation for the job you are doing four us & this great country. Saying thank you is only a starter.

I’m a Korean War vet-put in time in New Foundland, Battin Island (Goose Bay Labrador as well) as part of a joint services job building radar sites.

Stay safe & well…

With My Very Best Wishes

Thank you for helping us bring so many people together to do some good. Thank you Wes Clark, for your service to this nation and your willingness to roll up your sleeves & continue serving. And thank you Charlie, for taking leadership and proving that all political stripes can come together for our men & women in uniform.

(Sounds like fun! – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

4 Star Democratic Club, Dems for Israel, bloggers such as Dante Atkins (Hekebolos), Todd Beeton and California’s new Democratic National Committeeman Andrew Lachman have come together to organize a grassroots fundraiser for Alaska’s Democratic Congressional nominee Ethan Berkowitz in Los Angeles on Friday, September 19th at 6:30pm at 3077 Earlmar Ave., Los Angeles 90064.  You can RSVP via Act Blue, on Facebook or by calling Anna at (907)947-1628.

Berkowitz, a San Francisco native, worked as a fisherman, Alaska state prosecutor, and minority leader of the Alaska House of Representatives.  The Alaksa At-Large House race is part of the “Red to Blue” program of the most watched races in the country as his opponent, Representative Don Young, barely survived the Republican primary, winning by less than 300 votes.  Young is also under investigation by the FBI for his dealings with the same oil company involved in the indictment of Alaska’s Senator Ted Stevens.  

While Steven’s opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich is in a very close race, Berkowitz has pulled ahead to a 14 point lead in the recent Anchorage Press/Ivan Moore poll.  This looks like it could be a Democratic pickup.  Also, Berkowitz has debated Sarah Palin before, so he should have some great stories!

Why are we all in shock that a woman whose current residence is the Governor’s mansion in Juneau would be chosen as the GOP vice presidential nominee?  Perhaps it is because she is so cold to our view of democracy and women’s rights that her ideals could have a terrifying effect here in California. She is the poster mom for the film Juno whose storybook tale of a teenage pregnancy has become incarnate in Bristol Palin.  While her story is certainly played out in thousands of households across America, we all know the sugar-coated tale that winds from Hollywood to Alaska isn’t the norm for teenagers facing this monumental issue.

Teenage pregnancy is an issue that we Californians will be facing once again on our November ballot. Like a bad movie sequel, it’s a three time re-run for us in California.  Proposition 4 will force voters to assess the idea of promoting parental notification for underage abortions.  Twice before voters have rallied against this because they know it doesn’t really work.  Yet again we have to fight the fight for reproductive choice.

But never before has this ballot proposition had a limelight example like we do today.

Unlike the previous propositions, the opposition now has a teen pregnancy, pro-life family bursting across every media outlet courtesy of the McCain camp.  An atypical example readily available for the opposition to hold up for voters as a typical prototype.

While we can all dislike Palin’s ideology, we also must realize, like or not; that she represents a large population of women.  Palin represents my sister-in-law, who is anti-choice and staffs a teenage pregnancy hotline encouraging girls to not get abortions. My sister-in-law and women like her can neither be ignored nor should they be disrespected.  They vote too and they hold their ideals as dear as we Democrats do.  And, for us as Californians, this is particularly challenging because teenage pregnancy is an issue that Prop 4 will force Californians to face once again on the November ballot.  As critical as we are of her as a candidate, we should not overlook the fact ruthless forces behind this attempt to chip away at the Roe v. Wade stone will surely hold up the Palins as an example of how “easy” it is for a pregnant teenager to tell her parents about her predicament. Previous parental notification initiatives failed narrowly; Prop 85 in 2006 failed 46/54, and Prop 73 in the 2005 special election failed 47/53. A nationally recognized poster family can make this margin far narrower or tip the scales.

Who’s behind Proposition 4, anyway? It is funded almost entirely by two men, James Holman (publisher of the San Diego Reader) and Don Sebastiani (a winemaker and former assemblyman). Together they gave over 2 million of the 2.4 that funded the entire movement for it. The fact that this is the project of two guys is story enough, and surely if they are willing to throw two million of their own dollars at this initiative, they will have no problem making an example out of Bristol Palin.

(Note: Planned Parenthood has provided the most funding in the movement against these types of propositions and it is time that we help Planned Parenthood defeat this proposition. Donate visit the Campaign for Teen Safety website at http://www.noonprop4.org. ) The fact that this is the project of two guys is story enough.

This initiative continues to have the boomerang effect on the ballot circling back around for a third time. However, Proposition 4 is more precarious than the first two because it damages families as well as teens. Proposition 4 calls itself “family notification,” but in reality it’s a cruel process that would force scared pregnant teens who wanted to notify an alternate family member to report their parents to law enforcement.

In Juneau, Palin, though adamantly pro-life, said this about her daughter: “Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents.”   The key word is decision.  If all teenage girls were lucky enough to have forgiving and supportive parents like Sarah and Todd Palin they might all consider notifying their parents, but statistics show that’s not the case.

This is one reason why I think that Sarah Palin’s unyielding pro-life stance is so dangerous. Will her daughter’s pregnancy validate teens having babies? Can her actions be construed as a role model for young girls?

Teen pregnancy is a complex bipartisan issue that requires multi-faceted answers.  Blanket, one-dimensional thinking cannot solve this problem — And don’t get me started on Palin’s even more narrow views on gun control or even global warming.  Palin doesn’t think outside the box and therefore she isn’t the right leader for America in the 21st century. Palin’s rigid worldview makes her to archaic a leader for the 20th century, let alone the 21st.

Right now, as we are all focused on the national debate, serious challenges face us at home here in California. We must stay focused on the issues, not the personalities to make sure that our rights for teenagers, women, and as citizens remain our choice.

Vote NO on Proposition 4. If you would like to help, please visit The Campaign for Teen Safety for more information.

Bettina Duval is the founder of CALIFORNIA LIST, a network to elect Democratic women to California state government.

September 14, 2008.  Nevada City, Northern CA.  

  Southern Californian career politician Tom McClintock, fresh from a 2 month gridlock in the CA State Senate, where he has led the Republican effort to bankrupt the state during the fiscal crisis by refusing to sign  any budget (entire career ) , and still advocating Republican style tax cuts for the wealthiest during a 17 Billion dollar shortfall,   was spotted at the Constitution Day Parade in the California Sierra this Sunday.    McClintock, who is terming out of the CA State legislative offices,  and is in between runs for Lt Gov and Gov,  is searching for another job in the public sector he has made a career out of disparaging.  Lucky us. The consultants picked our district.

Meanwhile, thousands of state workers and vendors cannot pay their bills because of layoffs and the state stiffing them.  (edited update from this morning’s original post)  Now Mr. “family values” has gone back to “work” to try to throw nearly a quarter of a million children off the Medi- cal rolls.

(more below the fold)

McClintock was last seen on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento, with a group of ersatz border vigilantes who run email scams, calling for the resignation of the mayor of one of California’s largest cities and saying the Federal Government should cut funding off to San Francisco and Los Angeles.    Way to balance that budget, Tom.

On to the parade appearance.  Shame how campaigning gets in the way of collecting funds for his next run for office.

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September 14, 2008. Nevada City,CA. The Constitution Parade.     Waiting for Godot.  Can you find the Republican Candidate in this photogragh?                  Yes, Tom McClintock.  This is a parade about the Constitution, with much historical content re the Civil War,  so we’re going to remind you that the Constitution  of the United States applies to all peoples of all races, all creeds, all beliefs, and all colors, and that Congress shall establish no religious test for office.   You don’t get to pick and choose.

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       Somewhere in Ventura, a village is missing its Umbrella.  We found it.  

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What, no Swiftboat?  No effigies?  Where’s Steven?  Where’s John?       Note.  That’s my caption, not a quote.  And that’s Charlie Brown (D, Roseville)  on the left side of the photo, watching the McClintock (R, Anywhere I Get a Per Diem ) entry come down the street .  Tom’s clutching the straw hat instead of the straw man here.  

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Walk on by.  

Surrounded by at least 6 supporters, Southern Californian Republican Tom McClintock is safely escorted past Democratic Candidate for Congress Charlie Brown, (USAF Lt. Col, retired,) at the Nevada City Constitution Parade on September 14, 2008.  Duty, Honor, Country.  Real Person vs. demogogue trying to scare people.  

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Peek- A – Boo !  I won’t debate You !

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Can we load him back into the moving van yet ?  

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What about the cut – out doll ? Will that fit in the bus ?

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Return to Sender. Address Unknown.  No Such Number.  No Such Home.

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And that’s what happened.  And now you know.   When I checked the Republican blog last night, the blogger was still insisting that people in Florida could see Chinese oil drilling rigs off the coast stealing all of our oil.  Along with the hanging effigy garbage.  You know who’s running for President.  You know what that implies.  Does this not make you sick ?  You know from my last diary who’s paying for Tom McClintock to try to take over our district.   Please help us send McClintock back to wherever it is he exists in his alternate reality universe.  Get the word out.  We need the truth.  

http://www.charliebrownforcong…

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photos by diary author.  

Disclaimer: I do some work for Measure H, but my opinion on this issue was decided before I took the job.

In today’s Beyond Chron, author and activist Randy Shaw talks about Measure H. While I totally respect that there are opposing points of view on Measure H, and respect Randy personally, as you read the article it’s important to make note of a few things that Mr. Shaw missed that are important when talking about the true impact of Measure H.

For example, when discussing the Board of Supervisors’ new ability to issue revenue bonds, without a vote of the people, the provision is referred to as innocuous, when in fact the measure, as written, allows the board to issue revenue bonds to take over any utility, not just a power utility.

That means that without any oversight by citizens, the Board could vote to issue bonds to seize Comcast cable television, build a wifi network, etc. None of this has anything to do with the goals of clean energy – but it’s all legal under Measure H.

More importantly, at a time when San Francisco’s affordable housing stock is in short supply, we need to ask ourselves if San Francisco needs to be getting into the power, cable television, and WiFi business. Surely affordable housing (which is also on the ballot) is of more immediate concern to San Francisco’s residents at this time.

Also, while the article gives one account of past public power initiatives, it does not mention Sup. Mirkarimi’s role as campaign manager for the last public power measure before voters in 2001. This is a significant point to remember when reading Mirkarimi’s analysis and motivations to put Measure H before the voters.

As a past manager of the 2001 public power measure, he’s got plenty of reasons to want a re-match years later on behalf of public power. And as a potential mayoral candidate running on the left side of the San Francisco political spectrum, he needs to once again prove his bona fides vis a vis public power in order to secure a Guardian endorsement.

None of these reasons match up with the urgent priorities for San Francisco at this time. Measure H wraps an old idea in a new, misleading wrapper, and it’s important to keep this in mind as one reads the Beyond Chron article.