For all that talk of progressive politics, I frequently wonder why no true progressive challenges Cardoza (CA-18) or Costa (CA-20). While this sits in the back of my brain, I was spurred to writing something when I clicked channel down rather than channel up on the remote this AM and landed on CSPAN where Costa was holding forth on the need to set aside the Endangered Species Act to protect the farmers in his district.
Costa predictably follows the line of the Westlands Water District. This one says that the problems of not having enough water are all the fault of putting the needs of a little minnow called the Delta Smelt ahead of the needs of people. The only problem with this is that it is a lie.
Here are the facts:
Based on rainfall, run-off, reserves, the farmers in the Westlands District will not be getting enough water this year. However, the pumps at Tracy have not missed a beat. The water rights of the Westlands District are very junior, which means that everyone else gets their water before Westlands. Farmers with Senior right in the Sacramento River Valley will get 100% of their water. Those in the Friant District will get about ~80%. Westlands gets what they deserve. Someone had convinced these farmers to stop planing row crops where the land could be fallowed in a dry year and to plant orchards that require continued irrigation whether there is a crop or not. Bad business plan.
So, what about Cardoza and Costa. Well, they are part of what some call the Portuguese Mafia, a bi-partisan group of friends who have used their economic power in the dairy industry to control politics in the San Joaquin Valley. Back in 2006, as I sorted out the players in the Pombo race and why a realtor would have a joint fundraiser for Pombo and Cardoza, I was surprised to find the Portuguese Caucus in Congress. Yeah. Pombo, Cardoza, Costa, Nunes… all Californians from the San Joaquin Valley.
We took care of Pombo. It is time to take care of the other three. Along with Radanovich and McKeon, they form a might wall against real progress. The Editorial Board of the Badlands Journal understands this.
As Badlands pointed out recently, there is a new young couple among the Valley’s witless Democratic congressmen, the Costoza, replacing the Pomboza, which met a timely demise with the dis-election of former Rep. Richard Pombo, Buffalo Slayer-Tracy, in 2006. The swing man in both duos is Rep. Dennis CarAs Badlands pointed out recently, there is a new young couple among the Valley’s witless Democratic congressmen, the Costoza, replacing the Pomboza, which met a timely demise with the dis-election of former Rep. Richard Pombo, Buffalo Slayer-Tracy, in 2006. The swing man in both duos is Rep. Dennis Cardoza, Shrimp Slayer-Annapolis MD, who still claims to represent the 18th Congressional District of California, which includes three cities with some of the worst foreclosure rates in America, Merced, Modesto and Stockton and one county, Merced, with the second highest unemployment rate in the nation this month.
If the Democrats don’t challenge the Costoza in the primaries, and it does not look like they will, then I start looking to a Green to run an issue campaign… one for ecological sanity and the future of California.
Hopefully, someone will attempt to primary Cardoza.
I’ve never heard of the term “Portuguese mafia” being used to describe Central Valley Congressmembers but I must take issue with your use of it here and find it a bit offensive.
Just because Cardoza and Costa have similar friends in the Valley and Portuguese community with Nunes and Pombo doesn’t mean they’re all the same. Cardoza supported and continues to support Jerry McNerney. He’s more conservative than I’d like him to be but that’s more a reflection of his district. I don’t see any reason to primary him or Costa. The fact is when Pelosi and the House Democrats need them on key votes, they’re there.
I think we can all make a strong case that sometimes it’s necessary to primary our representatives, especially in deep blue districts like CA-36 but I have to disagree with it in the case of Cardoza and Costa.
I first heard that term from a member of the Stockton chapter of LULAC during the Pombo Campaign. I did not invent it.
I also did not invent the term “shrimp slayer” for Cardoza. That honor goes to the owner of the Badlands Journal.
Progressives need to get out of their comfortable coastal cities and start dealing with the Central Valley. The alternative is to relinquish a permanent strong minority to the Republicans.