I’m sure that’s what many think of when reading about politics in Orange County but it seems that Republicans in the State of California have not given in to the idea that the State is “Hopelessly Blue”. I hate to inform them, but I think they are in for a rude awakening.

Hoping to find a successor to popular Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and end the decadelong shellacking that most other Republicans have suffered when running for statewide office, a group of GOP leaders and well-heeled donors Wednesday announced plans to stock a “farm team” of candidates they hope will put their party back in power.

The organization includes former Gov. Pete Wilson and a crew of moderate Republican donors from Orange County.

Although they insist that potential candidates will be judged by their quality and electability — not their ideology — some conservatives are already critcizing the move as an attempt to undermine their leadership in the party.

….

“We are seeking winners, and winners come in different shapes. There is not a total template that they have to fit,” Wilson said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday.

“As governor I supported candidates, whether they were pro-choice or pro-life, if they were strong Republicans and strong candidates. You want people who are attractive [candidates], you want people of principle.”

LA Times

Now granted, this new group is hoping to edge the current crop of Republicans away from the social issues that have supposedly hobbled them in Statewide races (probably why the Governor is turning away from the gay marriage ban amendment) but as we know in Orange County, the State may seem hopelessly blue but it feels hopelessly red closest to home. And many Republicans who are from our neck of the woods are sticking to the party line with no new taxes, get rid of the damn illegals and make sure to put “In God we Trust” in all our City Council Chambers. It’s worked before and it looks as if Republicans are betting it will work again, but will it?

Hudson noted that a number of the Republican group’s board members also belong to the New Majority, which was founded primarily by Orange County executives who for years have tried to nudge the party away from social conservatives and their emphasis on issues such as abortion and gun rights. Also, many members of the new group have close ties to Schwarzenegger, who has complained that the state Republican party is “dying at the box office” because it remains too ideologically conservative on issues including healthcare and global warming.

But do they seem blind to one of the real issues here? The current State budget crisis has much to do with the fiscally conservative policies of our Governor and the small minority of Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (Our dog is the only Howard Jarvis member in our household, she pays ZERO taxes) Republicans that hold the rest of the State legislature hostage. I understand that in rough times that budget cuts are important but at what cost? Where do you stop and what do you call expendable? Our public school system, which is depended upon by not just Democratic parents has to be the fire line for me. There is a reason why we have Prop 98, the schools were promised that they would never receive LESS money than the prior fiscal year.

California Proposition 98 requires a minimum percentage of the state budget to be spent on K-14 education. Prop 98 guarantees an annual increase in education in the California budget.[1] Prop 98, also called the “Classroom Instructional Improvement and Accountability Act,” amended the California Constitution to mandate a minimum level of education spending based on three tests. Test one, used only for 1988 to 1989, requires spending on education to make up 39% of the state budget. Test 2, used in years of strong economic growth, requires spending on education to equal the previous years spending plus per capita growth and student enrollment adjustment. Test 3, used in years of weak economic growth guarantees prior years spending plus adjustment for enrollment growth, increases for any changes in per capital general fund revenues, and an increase by 0.5 percent in state general funds.

Wiki

There is a reason why this was passed 20 years ago, education should never be touched no matter how hard the economic times may be. It’s at this time that education must be kept at it’s strongest. Education is what will allow people during these tough times to still send their children to school, doesn’t that make sense? Isn’t this the most important thing that we can fund as a society? There should be no reason to cut the schools budgets to the point of harming public education when it is needed the most.

Republicans are sure that their “fiscal” conservative stances can weather such times but not at the cost of education. They need to realize that not just Democrats send their kids to public schools and this could be the very reason why Orange County may not be “hopelessly red”.  

Cross Posted from Daily Kos

I realize that Calitics is an exception to this and there are many here focusing on local issues and politics.  I just thought I’d share my big orange rant which went virtually unnoticed of course.

Crazy isn’t it?  Local State and Congressional candidates are also running for office and they need your help.  Many of the States have already had their Primary and I’m sure some of you who are still on the fence can’t wait to start working for the eventual nominee, but have you thought, you could be working for local candidates?

I know, many of you do and I commend you for that.  As someone who is trying to run their first Statewide contest the tasks are formidable and the chances slim for us but we have to fight and the Primary battle between the potential Democratic Presidential nominees feels like static.

But please remember this, 2008 represents a year that could change the political landscape for local communities, especially those who have been red for a long time now and the help from local activists could make the difference between winning and losing.  I believe this to my very core.

Today, Gary Pritchard for State Senate released it’s first press release.  The Republican candidate in our district just doesn’t get and is running on the same failed policies of the National Republican policy, these policies have done damage from every town and city and every State in the Union.  Small change must come with our anticipated big change.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gary Pritchard for State Senate

Today Gary Pritchard has announced that he has NOT been endorsed by the Orange County Young Republicans. (H/T to OC Blog)

http://www.redcounty.com/orang…

Citing the last seven years of the Bush administration’s dismal record for the country and record number of defections from the GOP ranks, Gary Pritchard celebrated his no endorsement by the GOP Young Republicans.  “I can’t believe Mimi Walters made such a blunder. Who in their right mind would want the Republican stamp of approval?” The economy is in the tank; Republicans have mismanaged the mortgage industry, The Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, The national debt, which is owned by China (What happened to “fiscal responsibility”?) and so many more things, why would Mimi Walters want to associate herself with so many disasters?  I have heard the Walters campaign is in crisis mode and are holding late night meetings to do damage control to figure out a way to distance themselves from the Republican taint.

At the state level the Republican Governor is laying off teachers left and right and closing State beaches because the budget doesn’t have room for lifeguards.  Locally they have Former Sheriff Corona on his way to the Clink, The Inmate Scandal at the Jails, Mike Schroeder and his endless number of frivolous lawsuits, Dina Nguyen’s suspect fundraising, and former Rohrabacher staffer convicted pedophile Jeffery Nielson in jail, who would want to be associated with that, how embarrassing.

I, Gary Pritchard, Democratic Candidate for the 33rd Senate District, am proud to say that I am endorsed by the Democratic Party of California and I encourage disaffected Republicans, Declined to State Voters, and Democrats to vote for me this November.

But get this, not only is Mimi Walters having her far right conservative endorsements endlessly paraded on the local blogs she’s embracing the hypocrisy that is hurting every working family in California.

Governor Schwarzenegger was scheduled visit and attend a “pep rally” for a South Orange County PRIVATE School yesterday afternoon.  Some of you are aware that California is facing a huge budget crisis and public schools are giving pink slips to many of their teachers, much to the detriment of their students and the public education system that so many working families rely upon.  I wrote about this at The Liberal OC…

The Governator visiting South County Tomorrow, Privately…

Yes, you read that right. The Governator is going to be making a public appearance at a private school in Orange County and to add insult to injury, thousands of parents of children in public school plan on protesting this appearance. Do you blame them?

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – Hundreds of parents, students and teachers from across South County are expected to surround a private school where the governor is rumored to be making an appearance Thursday to protest his proposed $4 billion cut to K-12 education.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is widely believed to be making an unannounced stop at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano for an afternoon pep rally.

St. Margaret’s spokeswoman Anne Mack referred all questions about the appearance to the governor’s office, which would not confirm his attendance.

“We respect the right of people to express their concerns through peaceful demonstration … and we want the very best for all students in Orange County and California,” Mack said in a prepared statement.

OC Register

The OC Register fails to point out the irony regarding the planned visit to a private school while the Governor puts forth that the best way to deal with the budget shortfall is to cut public education. South County schools are expected to lose a total of 46 million in funding to Capistrano and Saddleback School Districts which educate 85,000 children. What would this private school need a “pep rally” for? Are they laying off teachers and scaling back on their educational standards because of the Governor’s badly managed fiscal plan? Probably not.

So why bother Arnold? Why do you need to be shoring up support with private schools when the bulk of your constituents have children in public schools? Maybe Arnold will be urging this and other schools to hire the laid off teachers since they will probably have a complete landslide of applicants for private education. Can’t have their classroom sizes affected, now can we?

As Robert in Monterey has pointed out, Arnold could easily reinstate the Vehicle License Fee which would cost the average two car household an extra $300 a year and raise over an estimated six billion in revenue and short circuit these cuts (although the pink slips have already been handed out and the students have already been affected by the threat of cuts). For most families with multiple children, three hundred a year is much cheaper than having to send your child to a private school. I personally believe that public education is one of those things that warrants such action, but then you would probably just call me a liberal.

So, we know that Republicans don’t get the double standard but the level of cluelessness is astounding.  Arnold was going to attend this pep rally at the request of the Republican Candidate for SD-33 Mimi Walters because her children attend this school.  Yes, you read that right, the Republican who is currently serving in the State Assembly and promising not to raise taxes at any cost has her children in private school

Look, they think we aren’t paying attention, that’s the only way I can describe this hubris, blatant and insulting to all of those people who work hard every day and who depend on the public school system.  Parents of children in this private school were actually upset that the visit was canceled because of the planned protests.  Yes, it’s absolutely true.

Apparently Arnold’s planned visit to St. Margaret’s was organized at the request of Mimi Walters, whose kids go to the school. (She’s responsible for what’s probably the largest education budget in the world but she can’t be bothered to send her kids to south OC’s public schools, which have some of the highest test scores in California.)

According to the Capistrano Dispatch, which is unequivocally the BEST local newspaper on the PLANET: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s motorcade pulled into downtown San Juan Capistrano Thursday evening amid hundreds of protesters criticizing his support of the Foothill-South toll road and deep cuts to education. Schwarzenegger entered the back room of El Adobe through the side gate and did not acknowledge about 300 people lining both sides of Camino Capistrano. There was no way he missed the sign-waiving, whistle-blowing crowd, that broke into chants of “Shame on You” and “Save Our Schools” when the CHP-escorted black SUVs arrived.

The demonstrations started at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School earlier in the afternoon: Schwarzenegger was supposed to attend a rally there in honor of the CIF-champion football team, but canceled because of the protests. A St. Margaret’s spokeswoman, who had declined to even confirm the governor was set to appear, said the school supported the right to protest. Not everyone did, though: Some motorists slowed, rolled down their windows and yelled at the protesters because of the cancellation.

H/t to Gila Jones

Please, prove Republicans wrong and start paying attention to local races and write your local papers and call them on this, it has to be done, just as McCain is getting a free ride from the media, so are all Republicans as long as the Democratic Primary keeps chugging along.  We have a chance to change things not just nationally but locally.

And to add, both Gary and I support Obama, not only has he run a far superior campaign, he’s going to have coattails and he’s going to bring a lot of good Democrats with him, as well as moderates and disappointed Republicans.  But no matter who the nominee is, I will work for either, we won’t see anything change with four more years of BushMcCain.

It is not something we take for granted.  Even though Gary is the only Democrat running the Party’s endorsement is very important not only ideologically speaking but because we care about what other Democrats think.  

Gary is currently driving down from Fresno as I type.  He drove up Friday night and stayed with a childhood friend of his.  In the morning he drove to San Jose and worked the floor for the day.  It was a great opportunity for him to meet and talk to other Democrats.  I wish I could have been there but I was left with the grueling task of taking my five year old and our puppy to the park.  Poor me.  🙂

Gila Jones was “invaluable” (to quote Gary) in helping him get delegates to his endorsement caucus.  Twenty delegates came and all voted in favor of endorsing him.  

So, it has been a busy week for us and this was our biggest concern.  We knew once this was done we could really take off as they say.  The website is up but content is still being worked on.  I am the “webmaster” which leaves much to be desired in terms of technical ability although I was helped out tremendously by webranding at Daily Kos.

We do have a treasurer though, which helps me since I know how important the FPPC document filings are.  They are important for a reason and we don’t take any of it lightly.  

So why the openness?  Because we promised to run our best campaign with what resources we have but I, speaking as the candidate’ wife, wants to share the process others and hopefully encourage them to take the leap in the future when the Party needs to get a “D” on the ballot.  If we don’t run then how can we win?

Gary got his business cards this week and we were helped by Geri at S&S Printers.  I can’t believe how willing people are to guide us through this overwhelming process.  I think part of the reason it is so “overwhelming” is due to the fact that both Gary and I work full time and we have our daughter, just like everyone else, finding the balance is important.

So our week was full of little victories and ended with a huge one.  And I’ve got to thank my puppy Sophie as well, walks with her around our neighborhood has allowed me to meet other Democrats, yes, Democrats that live just “around the corner” from us.  Everyone we talk to is excited to hear that there is not only a Democrat on the ballot but they are a neighbor of theirs.  

Next, I just have to remind Gary that it’s okay to ask for money, not only will we put it to good use but it’s going to be needed in November so we can raise the $7,000 needed to get a Statement on the Ballot.  So if you want to help?  Please donate!

Charlotte and Sophie resting…

My husband, Gary Pritchard, is running for State Senate in California’s 33rd district.  We have raised just over $600 (ActBlue sent our money to the wrong account and their number are wrong, I am hoping the will fix it, the last thing we need is incorrect records) and Friday, I hired someone to help us manage our money.  Crazy, right?

Not really, because I know we will raise more and I’m asking you to help me do this.  This is not a big race, I know, but a good Democrat has stepped forward to put a “D” on the ballot and we can’t do it on our own.

Gary’s birthday is Monday, he’s going to be 37 years old and I haven’t gotten him a present yet.  Last year I got him a membership to the NPR book club (oh so romantic, but the books were great and we donated to our local public radio station).  I’m at a loss this year and I thought, well, why not raise some money for Gary’s campaign?

This is my brazen plea for your help!  Why brazen?  We have no website yet and we don’t have much to share other than the fact that Gary stepped up when no other Democrat would file and run in this district.  It’s too red, it’s not “winnable”.  Phooey!

So my Party Loyalist of a husband said he would do it and we would do our best.  We have so many events coming up and many things we need to get for the campaign and I realize, we need to raise money.  On Thursday evening Gary his first speech as a Candidate and he got a very good reaction, it was encouraging for him.  Gary had nothing prepared, he just spoke for two minutes and told Democrats why he was running (Gary spoke at the pre-endorsement conference for our district).

Gary will be going to the State Convention at the end of the month and we will be going to DFA Training the weekend following that.  We will pay it out of pocket if we must but like many families, we are getting by.  Are we poor?  Hell no, we are not.  We are blessed with many things but I promised Gary and myself that we would limit our personal spending because it would get out of control very easily.  I almost feel guilty for admitting that.  The Republican candidates have both borrowed $100,000 each and raised five times as much.  We bought our first house at the end of 2006, even if we wanted to borrow money, we have negative equity, just as many Americans do, it’s not possible.

So, I thought I would share some things about us, especially the candidate of course.  We will be married 10 years on September 12th.  Both Gary and I are technically only children, crazy right?  Well, I have a half brother that I did not grow up with and Gary has step sisters that he did not grow up with.  Oh families get complicated, don’t they?

We have a five year old daughter named Charlotte Piper and a 7 month Weimaraner named Sophie.  Gary teaches at Cerritos College in their Music Department and he has a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from UCI.

Ethnomusicology is defined as “the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts.” [1] Formed from the Greek words ethnos (nation) and mousike (music), it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music. Jeff Todd Titon has called it the study of “people making music.” Although it is often thought of as a study of non-Western musics, ethnomusicology also includes the study of Western music from an anthropological or sociological perspective. Bruno Nettl (1983) believes it is a product of Western thinking, proclaiming “ethnomusicology as western culture knows it is actually a western phenomenon.” [2] Nettl believes that there are limits to extraction of meaning from an indigenous culture’s music due to perceptual distance of the Western observer from the culture. However, the growing prevalence of scholars who study their own musical traditions, and an increasing range of different theoretical frameworks and research methodologies has done much to address criticisms such as Nettl’s.

Wikipedia

His advisors Robert Garfias and Sam Gilmore are both lovely human beings, they nurtured Gary and encouraged him to keep going and finish his dissertation.  We are blessed to know them.  Robert is retiring soon and Gary was his last Graduate student.  What an honor for Gary.

Sam was patient and I know he enjoyed the Jazz Piano lessons that Gary gave him and they bonded over more than just Sociology (There is not an Ethnomusicology degree at UCI so he had a committee degree that also included Frank Cancian, James Newton and Anthony Seeger).  Gary played piano for one of Sam’s son’s Bar Mitzvahs and that was quite a celebration, we were also honored to be included in such an important day.

So, Gary got his Ph.D. (Which yes, we are still paying for and will be for a very long time) and he’s teaching full time.  The students adore him as well as the faculty and staff.  Gary has always been the more likable of the two of us, I tend to stick my foot in my mouth and I’ve learned the hard way what the phrase “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” means.  

Gary’s biggest side interest is music (which really isn’t a “side” interest, his whole career is about music).  He got his BA and MA in conducting and plays a few instruments although the piano is his favorite.  Gary has been in a few bands and continues to gig on occasion. Felt (Their myspace – www.myspace.com/feltmusic) is alive and well and they put a CD out in 2001.  Gary also plays with the same guys in a blues band called “The Metropolitans”.  This candidate has YOUTUBE video of the band playing “The Wind Cries Mary”! (Hat tip to Mark Wein, the lead singer to both bands and a very talented musician).  The other players are Martin Torres (Gary’s other wife) and Scott Francisco (in Felt not the Metropolitans) and Tyler Walton.

So what does Gary believe in?  He’s a Democrat and he believes that we are the better party, seriously and we are not afraid to say so.  Even though we do believe that we honor and respect the opinions of our friends and neighbors who are Republican.  Why?  Because we are part of a community and fighting with our neighbors and with those who don’t agree with us will not get anything done for anyone.  It’s not worth it.  We would rather just speak for our beliefs and let that be what convinces them rather than a heavy stick.

Gary believes in Universal Health Care, Access to affordable education and the separation of Church and State.  There is more than one way to balance a budget, how about cutting useless earmarks and raise useful taxes (The ‘Sloophole’ is one example of this and included in the list of “Republicans” is the candidate he will most likely run against in the GE, Mimi Walters.)  The California Assembly decided giving tax breaks to yacht owners rather than trying to help fix California’s budget shortfalls was more important.  The hardest hit in these shortfalls?  Yep, Education.  

The Assembly also refused to close loopholes for Oil Companies.  You read that right.

The Assembly Republican Caucus yesterday voted against legislation to close tax loopholes on big oil companies and dedicate $1.2 billion to preventing the layoffs of teachers throughout California.

The legislation, AB 9XXX, called for California to join every other oil-producing state by placing a severance tax on oil produced in California. Some 21 other states, including Texas have the tax. Under the bill, oil companies would be prohibited from passing along the tax to consumers at the pump. The Board of Equalization would be given the authority to monitor and investigate instances where producers or purchasers of oil have attempted to gouge customers.

“Last week, Assembly Republicans sided with yacht owners and this week they’re siding with Big Oil,” said Senator Art Torres (Ret.), Chairman of the California Democratic Party. “Clearly, the Assembly Republicans’ values are out of sync with their constituents, particularly when thousands of teachers across the state are receiving pink slips.”

California Majority Report

And one of the best of all, Mimi Walters has proposed a new law that would require people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

Mimi Walters Introduces Voter ID Bill

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblywoman Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Niguel) introduced Assembly Bill 2317. AB 2317 will require voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

Walters’ bill requires those registering to vote to provide any one of the following documents proving citizenship:

A valid birth certificate;

A United States passport clearly showing the applicant’s passport number;

United States naturalization documents, or official certificate of naturalization from the government of the United States and verified by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; or

Any documentation as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-603).

“Fair elections are critical to the confidence the public has in our representative government. In order to ensure that each citizen’s vote counts, we must ensure that others who are ineligible do not vote fraudulently,” said Walters. “AB 2317 is an important step in ensuring free and fair elections.”

Red County

Am I naive to think that if someone is in this country illegally that they would spend time worrying about voting?  This is just more red tape and bureaucracy that we can’t afford and would only serve to discourage many people to register to vote!  And I’m talking about citizens.  I want to know why the Republican Party is not utilizing current laws already on the books to enforce the laws to prohibit the hiring of illegal workers?  In the long run, that would save California the most money out of anything we could do!  

Or how about rather than building a wall, invest in Mexico and try to help them bring their living and working standards up to ours.  We can’t disown them as neighbors, it’s not like selling my house when I get in a tiff with neighbor.  This is a permanent issue which will need more humane and permanent solutions.  It’s easy for Californians to blame immigration on all our woes, but it’s always more complicated than that, isn’t it?

I have written about this at The Liberal OC and feel strongly about the issue.  I sincerely believe that the cultural influences of our neighbors below us is valuable and important.  It’s not just, keep “those” people out, “those” people are here.  They are our friends and neighbors, they are the people who help keep this State running.  It really comes down to putting people before the need for “cheap labor”.

Okay, so this is my rant, I would have Gary look this over if it weren’t supposed to be a surprise.  You want to hear from the candidate, soon.  The following is his rough draft of his Biography for the Democratic Party.  The thing is, it could be completely different by the time he submits it to the Party (for the Convention at the end of the month)

Gary Pritchard is an energetic and optimistic candidate who maintains an openness to finding new solutions to the educational, economic, and energy issues that our district and state will face over the next four years.

Gary is a 37 year old California native who lives in Aliso Viejo with Heather his supportive spouse of 10 years; Charlotte their exuberant five year old daughter; and Sophie the family’s high-strung weimaraner.

He was born in the Central Valley town of Bakersfield where he lived for the first nine years of his life until his family moved to the small mountain community of Oakhurst located near the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park. In Oakhurst, Gary spent much of his childhood nurturing a life long love of the arts and environment.

Gary’s professional background is in education. He completed college in Southern California where he attended Chapman University, the Claremont Graduate School, UCLA, and UCI. He holds a Ph.D. in the Social Sciences and is a tenured professor in the Fine Arts and Communication Division of Cerritos College where he has taught since 1999. During the summer, he also teaches at UCI.  

At Cerritos College, Gary has served as a department chair, sat on curriculum and program review committees, co-authored grants for the National Endowment of the Humanities and federal vocational education programs, and chaired tenure committees. He has reviewed textbooks, authored new curriculum including distance education courses, and has participated in local and national conferences and symposium on issues ranging from education to culture and politics.

Growing up in Oakhurst instilled in Gary a strong sense of community, family, and the importance of volunteerism. These values drive Gary’s enthusiasm for serving as your next State Senator.

So, please help me give Gary a great birthday and a great start to the campaign.  We need the money!  We both believe in public financing but we aren’t there yet, so please help us finance his run so the Republicans will know we are serious!

Both Gary and I support Obama (Gary voted Obama in the California Primary) and we were inspired to stand up for what we believe in.  We both took this phrase very seriously, “Be the change you want to see”! Gary is considered young for a candidate but why should we wait?  And Gary is not just another old white guy (not that there is anything wrong with that, (some of my favorite people are old white guys!).  Gary’s background is unique, his father was a white boy from Bakersfield and his mother, Esperanza, was a Native American, a Mojave Indian. Esperanza’s father was a Mexican native and her mother was 100% pure Mojave Indian, not many of them left, sad to say.  As far as I know, he would be the first Native American State Senator in California.  

So, please help us out!  I offer up the following symbolic increments of $3 (for the month he was born), $17 (for the day he was born), $37 (for Gary’s age) and if you are feeling very generous, $71 (For the year Gary was born).

Thank you!

And to honor St. Patrick’s day, here are some photos from our new favorite place to walk with Charlotte and our dog, Laguna Niguel Regional Park.  Gary likes to run around the lake when he has time.  This was my first visit and I took some photos.

So, another day and another diary.  I’ve been pondering the Obama experience issue, especially since my husband is running for State Senate in California.  Yes, this is going to be a big topic for me because it’s so close to home.

How does having a PhD in music and holding no prior office qualify Gary for the Senate or for any office for that matter? Just wondering.

Posted by: Curious at February 21, 2008 03:52

http://www.californiaprogressr…

Or for any office for that matter?  Hm, this was a shocking sight since Gary has just started running and so far we’ve been told he doesn’t have much of a chance.  

But the main issue is, experience is relative, isn’t it?  This argument is being used again and again against Obama and I find it to be one of the weakest.  How do you get experience being President anyway?  You become one.  No one can ever be fully prepared for one of the hardest jobs in the world, so who is to say what experience would qualify someone to lead the free world?

Gary, my husband, is just running for State Senate and it used to be that serving your community in this manner wasn’t a one way ticket to a new career.  And we feel that the thing that qualifies him the most is the fact that he’s had quite a bit of life experience in his 37 years.  Gary has been through almost every form of the California public school system and he’s put himself through that system without help except for loans.  

Gary was born in California and he’s attended k-12, two different community colleges and two UC’s.  He teaches at a community college and has also taught at UCI as a guest lecturer and a summer school instructor.  Gary has direct contact with those who are in the California school system and understands the challenges many of his students face.  And seeing as though our daughter Charlotte will be entering this school system this September, we have a vested interest in it’s ability to form the characters and the minds of our children.  

No Child Left Behind has been a categorical failure and this administration has also failed to deal with the immigration issues that are facing not just the state of California but the entire Country.  What good has their experience done for us?  What good has it done for you?

Obama does not lack the experience and he will surround himself with advisers in order to help him through this uncharted territory.  It’s what every President does, they don’t run the Country so much as set the tone.  For me, the tone of Obama is much more appealing than that of Clinton.  As much as she deserves to be the nominee I don’t believe she is our best chance to win.  What does ready on day one mean?

And I should know the power of “Yes we can”, because it’s the only way to take on any challenge, the only way.  Why even bother if you start off chanting, “No we can’t”.  Why?  And so that alone sets the right tone.  It doesn’t mean it won’t be difficult and it doesn’t mean everything put forth by Obama as President will go through, but I do believe in the power of “Yes we can”.

Gary is running for California State Senate because no other “D” had stepped forward to do so.  I already outlined this in my first diary about his run entitled, ‘Choosing to be inspired, a candidate’s wife and a grassroots campaign’, but I don’t think I will ever be able to say this phrase enough,  “If a Democrat doesn’t run then how can a Democrat win?”.

So who represents the experience candidate in this race?  Mimi Walters is currently in the California State Assembly and she recently voted with the party line to keep intact a loophole that allows yacht owners to avoid certain taxes.  That’s right, yacht owners.

It might not seem like such a big deal if it weren’t for the fact that California is facing a 16 billion dollar shortfall and is threatening to cut funding to the states already hurting school system.

School districts across California have begun trimming services and preparing to lay off teachers in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget, which could cut about $4.8 billion in education funding this year and next year. Educators say it’s the worst financial crisis they can remember.

…

“There isn’t a whole lot of fat left to squeeze. You squeeze now by cutting jobs and teachers,” said Bill Hedrick, president of the Rialto Education Assn. “We expect some of our members not to have jobs next fall. That’s the reality of the situation.”

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the state’s largest, could have a $560-million deficit next year, an amount that would affect classroom programs. The district already had agreed to trim almost $100 million from next year’s budget to comply with county guidelines before Schwarzenegger’s announcement in January of his fiscal plan, which includes $460 million more in potential.

Now the closure of this loophole (or sloophole as they call it around here) for yacht owners would not help much in the long run, but doesn’t it seem rather odd that someone with so much “experience” (10 plus years in public service according to her website) would want to protect yacht owners rather than public schools?

So you see, this experience argument is used at many levels of Government from State Senators to Presidential candidates and to me it holds very little water.  Over and over again, experience politicians have put the interests those who need little help over the interests of those who need the most help.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that Obama is without his own baggage and it baffles me when people completely exclude the fact that he served in a state senate for years before moving on to the US Senate.  But I also don’t believe that he lacks the experience needed and as I said, it’s the tone that matters.

“Yes we can”.  See, this is something that has won me over, because why even bother running if you don’t think you can win, right?  “No we can’t” isn’t the best way to start any fight and both Gary and I have decided to go the same route, “Yes we can”.  

And sadly, people don’t vote on issues as much as they used, it’s just a fact.  But then again, I don’t believe Obama is lacking on substance either, I’m impressed with his proposals for transparency in Government and the lack of mandate is not a deal breaker for me.  “Progress not perfection” is another favorite saying of mine and if Obama can take us from 47 million uninsured to 15 million uninsured, I see that as a first step.  Anyone who argues for a system that is anything other than single payer cannot say they are for Universal Health Care, it’s just a phrase that’s been thrown around rather lightly (Remember Hillary was calling all of their plans UHC?  Yes, she left out Kucnich too).

And, I’m happy with his education plan as well, he does have a plan, such as all this.  Does it mean every element is perfect?  NO.  But he does have substance and he does ideas.  OH yes and he does have “words”.  Those are important to me too, “Yes we can” does matter to me.

Early Childhood Education

   * Zero to Five Plan: Obama’s comprehensive “Zero to Five” plan will provide critical support to young children and their parents. Unlike other early childhood education plans, Obama’s plan places key emphasis at early care and education for infants, which is essential for children to be ready to enter kindergarten. Obama will create Early Learning Challenge Grants to promote state “zero to five” efforts and help states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school.

   * Expand Early Head Start and Head Start: Obama will quadruple Early Head Start, increase Head Start funding and improve quality for both.

   * Affordable, High-Quality Child Care: Obama will also provide affordable and high-quality child care to ease the burden on working families.

     K-12

         o Reform No Child Left Behind: Obama will reform NCLB, which starts by funding the law. Obama believes teachers should not be forced to spend the academic year preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests. He will improve the assessments used to track student progress to measure readiness for college and the workplace and improve student learning in a timely, individualized manner. Obama will also improve NCLB’s accountability system so that we are supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them.

         o Make Math and Science Education a National Priority: Obama will recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession and will support efforts to help these teachers learn from professionals in the field. He will also work to ensure that all children have access to a strong science curriculum at all grade levels.

         o Address the Dropout Crisis: Obama will address the dropout crisis by passing his legislation to provide funding to school districts to invest in intervention strategies in middle school – strategies such as personal academic plans, teaching teams, parent involvement, mentoring, intensive reading and math instruction, and extended learning time.

         o Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities: Obama will double funding for the main federal support for afterschool programs, the 21st Century Learning Centers program, to serve one million more children.

         o Expand Summer Learning Opportunities: Obama’s “STEP UP” plan addresses the achievement gap by supporting summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged children through partnerships between local schools and community organizations.

         o Support College Outreach Programs: Obama supports outreach programs like GEAR UP, TRIO and Upward Bound to encourage more young people from low-income families to consider and prepare for college.

         o Support English Language Learners: Obama supports transitional bilingual education and will help Limited English Proficient students get ahead by holding schools accountable for making sure these students complete school.

     Recruit, Prepare, Retain, and Reward America’s Teachers

         o Recruit Teachers: Obama will create new Teacher Service Scholarships that will cover four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate teacher education, including high-quality alternative programs for mid-career recruits in exchange for teaching for at least four years in a high-need field or location.

         o Prepare Teachers: Obama will require all schools of education to be accredited. He will also create a voluntary national performance assessment so we can be sure that every new educator is trained and ready to walk into the classroom and start teaching effectively. Obama will also create Teacher Residency Programs that will supply 30,000 exceptionally well-prepared recruits to high-need schools.

         o Retain Teachers: To support our teachers, Obama’s plan will expand mentoring programs that pair experienced teachers with new recruits. He will also provide incentives to give teachers paid common planning time so they can collaborate to share best practices.

         o Reward Teachers: Obama will promote new and innovative ways to increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on them. Districts will be able to design programs that reward accomplished educators who serve as a mentor to new teachers with a salary increase. Districts can reward teachers who work in underserved places like rural areas and inner cities. And if teachers consistently excel in the classroom, that work can be valued and rewarded as well.

     Higher Education

         o Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit: Obama will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Obama will also ensure that the tax credit is available to families at the time of enrollment by using prior year’s tax data to deliver the credit when tuition is due.

         o Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid: Obama will streamline the financial aid process by eliminating the current federal financial aid application and enabling families to apply simply by checking a box on their tax form, authorizing their tax information to be used, and eliminating the need for a separate application.

And, this is something I want to teach to my daughter, “Yes she can”.  So many times girls are told that there are things they just can’t do, not happening here.  She can do almost anything she wants if she puts her mind to it.  So shouldn’t we all be saying, “Yes we can”?

So, experience matters, it just depends on what kind of experience you are talking about and tone matters too.  Yes, we have our work cut out for us, not just in this very red district in a very blue state, but Democrats across in the country in every district need to be saying, “Yes we can”.  

You can earn your ‘A’ is a post by the California Democratic Party at Calitics and they gave a shout out to Gary for choosing to run.  It made our day!

Many of you probably remember when Gov. Howard Dean issued his now-famous citizens’ report card:

       * If you vote you get a “D”

       * If you donate money to your candidate you get a “C”

       * If you do all of that and volunteer you get a “B”

       * But if you do all that and run for office, then and only then do you get an “A.”

Well, we’d like to start out by saying that our hat is off to all Democrats running for office, like Gary Pritchard for his “A” performance in California’s SD-33.  

But Gary doesn’t have to be the only Calitician to earn an “A” this year. We are in the midst of another electoral race, one that not very many people know about, but one which is of utmost importance to California Democrats.