All posts by caligal

Uncategorized

ACORN? Irony Abounds With Gov. Schwarzenegger

1 Comment

Governor Schwarzenegger was scheduled for a photo op at Acorn Woodland School a few weeks ago, but the visit was trumped by his need to visit the LA fires and locate hot barbells that day.

Acorn Woodland is located in East Oakland and is a living miracle. The community it serves is very poor, 85% of the kids qualify for the price reduced or free lunch program, 55% of the kids have limited English. In 1997, those darned ACORN activists began a community discussion about what to do with a blighted property in the neighborhood. They had a vision of a wonderful new school there. After years networking, building support and getting a bond passed to pay for it, Acorn Woodland Elementary was born as one of Oakland’s new small schools.

Why did the Governor think this was a great place for a photo op?

Test Scores. Acorn Woodland Elementary in Oakland is one of the state’s five highest-improving schools. They raised their API, or Academic Performance Index, 120 points in one year and nearly 300 in five.

Fanny Brown, East Oakland resident since 1968 and one of the school’s founders reminisces on the beginnings of Acorn Woodland here –>

He missed his photo op, and seems not to even know it was at a school founded by ACORN and in fact is even named Acorn. But hey, let’s demonize ACORN activists today. It’s the thing to do.

Uncategorized

Action Alert – Prison reform

If you care about prison reform, Yee’s SB 399 (JLWOP) should be a no-brainer. Plus it’s one step of many needed to build the narrative we need to rein in the prison budget and help elect Kamala Harris. Secure Democrats are utter fools to vote no on this.

Yee’s office is saying the bill may come up again on Monday, August 29. We have time to act if we get on it first thing.

Good strategic point made on the CDP Progressive Caucus discussion list:

The strategic thing to do is to look first to Dems in safe seats who aren’t standing up — that includes Mendoza, De La Torre, Nava, and Chesbro as well as Ma. If you’re a vote or two short, you might be able to get one of the endangered freshmen.

My Assemblywoman, Nancy Skinner, says Marty Block and Ted Lieu should also be contacted.  Contact info below. We can have some fun on Facebook & Twitter this weekend and make calls 1st thing Monday morning.

Block, Marty Dem 78th (916) 319-2078

[email protected]

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profil…

Chesbro, Wesley Dem 1st (916) 319-2001

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/…

De La Torre, Hector Dem 50th (916) 319-2050

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/…

Lieu, Ted W. Dem 53rd (916) 319-2053

[email protected]

http://www.facebook.com/profil…

Twitter: @tedlieu

Ma, Fiona Dem 12th (916) 319-2012

[email protected]

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profil…

Twitter: @fionama

Mendoza, Tony Dem 56th (916) 319-2056

[email protected]

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MrTony…

Twitter: @MrTonyMendoza

Nava, Pedro Dem 35th (916) 319-2035

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pedron…

Twitter: @pedronava

Here’s what the San Francisco Bay Guardian had to say about Fiona Ma’s vote last week:

http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2…

Legislators behaving badly

There’s only one country in the world that allows children to be sentenced to life without parole. Only one place on Earth where a 16-year-old can be sent to prison for life, without any chance at redemption. Only one place that doesn’t recognize that brain development, including judgment, isn’t complete until a person reaches his or her 20s.

And that’s the United States.

State Sen. Leland Yee, a child psychologist, had a very moderate bill in the Legislature this year that would have given juveniles sentenced to LWOP a chance after 15 years to be reconsidered for parole. That would put California somewhere close to the rest of the civilized world.

“SB 399 is not a get-out-of-jail-free card; it is an incredibly modest proposal that respects victims, international law, and the fact that children have a greater capacity for rehabilitation than adults,” Yee noted.

It cleared the state Senate, and should have cleared the Assembly Aug 24. But even with the Democrats firmly in control of that body, Yee failed to get enough votes for SB 399. And one of the people who refused to vote for it was San Francisco Assembly member Fiona Ma.

You expect this sort of shit from Republicans and from some conservative law-ond-order Democrats. But it’s inconceivable that a San Francisco Democrat would be against a bill like this.

What on Earth was Ma thinking? I couldn’t get her on the phone, but her communications aide, Cataline Hayes-Bautista, sent the following Ma statement:

“I did not come to my decision on SB 399 easily – it’s legislation that I have carefully reviewed and considered for months. While I acknowledge that some juveniles in the correctional system may have the capacity to be rehabilitated after decades of being incarcerated, I feel that we cannot reset a defendant’s clock 25 years later expecting a victim’s family will reset their hearts.

I know our District Attorneys do not take life sentences lightly. These crimes are limited to first and second degree murder offenses with a special circumstance which include the most troublesome crimes: murdering a peace officer, murdering to achieve a hate crime, committing a murder that’s especially heinous, murdering for financial gain, and murdering while escaping lawful custody.

All of these sentences were handed down after murder victims’ families had the chance to speak out and address the court on the impact of these murders. To re-open these closed cases to new sentencing hearings would re-open the wounds already suffered by murder victims’ families, forcing these victims to re-visit and re-live cases they were told had been closed forever. I think it would be unfair to these victims’ families to have to re-live these horrific crimes and for that reason I felt compelled to oppose this legislation.

There are already deliberative checks in place throughout the system where prosecutors, defense attorneys, jurors, and particularly our judges, have the ultimate discretion to choose a lesser juvenile sentence when sentencing a juvenile murderer. In addition, the Governor has the power to grant pardons and commute sentences. This already provides an avenue for juveniles to seek extraordinary relief if justice calls for it.

While I appreciate Senator Yee’s intent to create opportunities to rehabilitate juvenile criminals, these particular crimes rise to a standard in which we need to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.”

Sorry, but that’s just terrible. To say that the victims’ families are better off if juveniles — people who were too young to be fully responsible for what they did, and who in some cases didn’t even kill anyone (just being present when someone kills someone can be a life sentence) are locked up until they die is just kind of sick. I don’t know what else to say. Except to give an example of who is serving life without parole (from Yee’s press release):

One such case involves Anthony C., who was 16 and had never before been in trouble with the law. Anthony belonged to a “tagging crew” that paints graffiti.  One day Anthony and his friend James went down to a wash (a cement-sided stream bed) to graffiti.  James revealed to Anthony that he had a gun in his backpack and when another group of kids came down to the wash, James decided to rob them. James pulled out the gun, and the victim told him, “If you don’t kill me, I’ll kill you.” At that point, Anthony thought the bluff had been called, and turned to pick up his bike. James shot the other kid.

The police told Anthony’s parents that he did not need a lawyer. He was interviewed by the police and released, but later re-arrested on robbery and murder charges. Anthony was offered a 16-to-life sentence before trial if he pled, but he refused, believing he was innocent. Anthony was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Charged with aiding and abetting, he was held responsible for the actions of James.

Okay, this kid doesn’t belong in prison for life, without any chance of parole. Thanks, Fiona.

Uncategorized

How Blue Dogs Kill Hope + CDP Endorsement Process

Interesting piece up on Huff Po now:  Power Struggle: Inside The Battle For The Soul Of The Democratic Party 

Excerpt:

Since 1995, members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have collectively given $6.3 million directly to members of the Blue Dog and New Democrat coalitions, according to an analysis by the Huffington Post of data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. That’s not an overwhelming sum when the average winning campaign nowadays costs more than $1 million, but it represents one-sixth of all giving from one faction within the party to another. It doesn’t include the millions that progressives have given to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — rank-and-file members are supposed to cough up $150,000 every two years (though many miss that mark), committee chairmen $250,000 and up. The DCCC turns around and funnels that money to conservative Democrats in close races. Add to that the millions spent by organized labor and outside groups such as MoveOn.org, and it’s clear that progressive donors have become major financial benefactors of the conservative Democrats who battled to undermine their agenda. “That tension exists a lot,” George Miller says about the party’s demand that progressives fund their intramural rivals. “That tension exists a lot. And it’s real.”

….

The money flows almost entirely in one direction: The conservative coalitions have given progressives less than $600,000. While Blue Dogs and New Democrats have each given their fellow travelers $2.4 million in the past 15 years, members of the much larger progressive caucus have helped each other to the tune of just $1.3 million.

Progressives have received very little return on their investment when it comes to important votes. The 34 Democrats who voted against the health care reform bill in March have collectively received $2.1 million from progressive members. More than half of that sum came in the past five years.

The costofwar.com shows the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are rapidly approaching $1 Trillion. 

That number right there is the biggest drag on our progressive hopes. 

We won’t get the real change we seek until we elect more progressives to Congress.

Re the CDP endorsement fight in between Jane Harman and Marcy Winograd:

California CD 36 (Harman) is deep blue. Democratic registration leads Republican by 18 percent. No Republican is going to win that seat. Why not support a Democrat who will stand strong for women, work toward improving healthcare AND support the rest of the CDP platform? Why should the California Democratic Party give its endorsement to a half-a-dem like Harman?

The CDP endorsement process is deliberately complex. It allows for second chances and political manuevering. The Party endorsement is a valuable commodity and deserves to require a series of trials to earn it. 

A question I have is this: I wonder if any electeds from the rest of the State handed some of their appointed slots to Harman for her local endorsement? I know my Assemblywoman up here in Berkeley gave some of her delegates to Karen Bass. I don’t like that part of the process, but that’s what we have. 

I think it’s appropriate there’s a path to to let the Convention as a whole make a final determination after all the inner manueverings for hotly contested races are done. It is indeed a statewide prize to be fought over. From past experience, I know delegates don’t overrule local endorsement votes lightly.

I think it’s a fair fight.

Uncategorized

Public option politics: Lessons for CA Majority Rule?

Below is a link to an excellent story on the changing political winds regarding a robust public option for healthcare (hint: good winds blowing!).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

The fight for the public option is instructive for those of us trying to get California on the right track.

The efforts of activists to pressure recalcitrant congressmembers to support a public option have managed to get the real issues out in the public eye. Once the public has understood the isses, support for a public option has grown and grown.

We need Majority Rule rule in the California legislature just as urgently as we need a progressive, affordable health insurance option.

Every single day, for months on end, we’ve been told “the public option is dead.” Yet all signs point to the real possibility of a good bill getting to Obama’s desk.

Why should we listen to the nay sayers who are telling us that the voters won’t support majority rule for our legislature? The answer is clear, we shouldn’t.

If we can, from the bottom up, take a giant step toward public health insurance in this country (and make no mistake, this has been a bottom up movement) we can also, from the bottom up, bring majority rule to California.

Yes we can.

http://www.camajorityrule.com/

Join the campaign and donate today:

http://www.actblue.com/page/ge…

Budget

Fix the CA Budget Now

2 Comments

Last night the Alameda County Dem Party voted unanimously to approve the following statement:

Californians deserve real solutions to the budget deficit. Responding to our economic crisis with an all-cuts budget will only make the state’s problems worse. Deep cuts to vital programs undermine our economic recovery and President Obama’s investment in economic stimulus, disproportionately harm the most vulnerable Californians, and go against our core values.

More than 70 percent of voters sat out the May 19 special election because it is the Governor and Legislature’s job to fix the budget. Polls show the defeat of the initiatives was neither an endorsement of an all-cuts approach nor a rejection of raising revenues.

Under Governor Schwarzenegger, California has seen $12.5 billion in tax cuts. Drastic spending cuts will irrevocably change the state we love. Californians support and deserve a state that provides for the common good and the needs of our residents, and we have the resources to make that possible. Cuts are not the only option!

Our state needs courageous leadership. We will support those who stand against an all-cuts budget, speak out for fair ways of raising revenue, and work to deliver a budget that invests in our future and protects all the people of our state. True leaders get their strength from the people they represent. We pledge to be that strength, and mobilize to support a sensible budget solution.

Please let us know if your organizations are organizing, lobbying, etc. on the budget too.

Join the statewide “Fix the CA Budget Now!” effort on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group….

Janet Stromberg

14th AD CDP Executive Board Rep

 

Budget

Who Forgot The Governor Vetoed A Budget That Passed?

9 Comments

A few days ago Dave Johnson of Speakout California posted a diary here: “Don’t Forget The Governor Vetoed A Budget That Passed” detailing the January budget bill that was immediately vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

But who actually forgot about it? Apparently the very legislators who passed it in the first place. There has been much bleating and hand wringing from Sacramento about drastic budget cuts since May 19th, but the one thing they could do quickly would be to put that budget right back on the Governor’s desk, then go on a statewide full court press talking about California’s revenue problem and the need for progressive tax increases.

Too risky? Follow me below the fold:  

Apparently not. It seems California voters might finally be ready to talk about such things. The question is, are Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Senate President pro tem Darrell Steinberg ready to lead or not?

UPDATE by Brian: To get full details about this poll, see the full polling memo, or this slideshow on the poll. Both are also available here

SPECIAL ELECTION MESSAGE FROM VOTERS:

CUTS AREN’T THE ANSWER FOR BUDGET MESS

Survey reveals voters defeated Prop. 1A because they

are tired of gimmicks, not because it extended tax increases

SACRAMENTO, CA — Proposition 1A failed because voters want real solutions and an end to political gimmicks, not because the measure extended tax increases, a survey conducted by a leading California research firm demonstrates. The survey of 1000 California voters, conducted May 16 to May 20, reveals that voters are deeply distrustful of Sacramento’s elected leaders, with 74% of voters believing the special election is another example of the Governor and Legislature’s failure to do the job they were elected to do….

Driving Tuesday’s low voter turnout and the overpowering opposition to Prop. 1A was the fact that voters simply do not trust the leadership in Sacramento….

Revenue options supported by a strong majority of voters include:

*      Increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages (75% support)

*      Increasing taxes on tobacco (74% support)

*      Imposing an oil extraction tax on oil companies just like every other oil producing state (73% support)

*      Closing the loophole that allows corporations to avoid reassessment of the value of new property they purchase (63% support)

*      Increasing the top bracket of the state income tax from nine point three percent to 10 percent for families with taxable income over $272,000 a year and to eleven percent for families with taxable incomes over $544,000 a year (63% support)

*      Prohibiting corporations from using tax credits to offset more than fifty percent of the taxes they owe (59% support)

While voters strongly support these options to help California increase its revenue, voters are strongly against specific spending cuts proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

*      76% oppose cutting public school spending by $5.3 billion

*      73% oppose cutting funding for state colleges and universities by $1.2 billion

*      68% oppose cutting the state’s funding for health care services by $1.1 billion

*      62% oppose cutting the state’s funding for homecare services by $494 million

Uncategorized

The California Democratic Party Needs Hilary Crosby for Controller

2 Comments

The California Democratic Party (CDP) Convention will be in Sacramento, April 24 – 26. Delegates will elect new Party Officers. With all the wrangling and agony we’re having regarding the California budget, it amazes me that the CDP, as the home base for Democrats, has had very little visibility and is letting the media paint the budget problem as a ‘spending problem’ rather than what it is, a revenue problem. The fault, we are told, lies with the “legislature” not the Republican legislators, which we all know is the true case.

We need a State Party on the forefront of this and other issues. California has arguably the strongest grassroots activist and donor base in the nation (maybe the world) yet the CDP has little relationship with the thousands of volunteers and small dollar donors who will be needed to power a Democrat to win the Governorship and other offices in 2010. Hilary Crosby, seeking election as the Party’s Controller, has the right finance skills and relationship to the Democratic grassroots to help bring the CDP to the 21st Century. Here is some information from her website (http://hilary4controller.org/):

Our Seat at the Table for Critical Party Decisions

As Party Controller, Hilary Crosby will be our seat at the table to make sure our grassroots voices are heard and our knowledge and experience are factored into critical decisions. Successful Party fundraising and implementation of the 58-County Plan will depend on both sound financial management and on a strong partnership between the Party and its grassroots. Hilary is the candidate with the right finance skills and perspective to strengthen and build the California Democratic Party.

     Individual Donor Plan

Expand CDP fundraising base with aggressive Individual Donor Program. The CDP currently raises less than 8% of revenues from individual donors, yet California Democrats donate millions for political aims. The CDP needs to make the case to its voters as potential donors. Tie fundraising to specific goals: 58 County Plan, help Democratic office holders fight back against Republican dirty tricks, support Democrats running to unseat Republicans, support Democrats running for non-partisan office. Fill the pipeline. Form a training/collaborative network for DCC and Dem Club treasures to manage ramped up local fundraising.

THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE

    Grassroots Activist

President, El Cerrito Democratic Club

Member, Contra Costa County Democratic Party Central Committee

Treasurer, West Contra Costa County United Democratic Campaign

Assistant Treasurer, Take Back Red California

    Professional Financial Skills

Bookkeeper for the ACLU of Northern California

Controller for HERE Union Local #2

Treasurer and auditor of local PTA

Professor of nonprofit management for the University of San Francisco Nonprofit Management Masters degree program

CPA, Partner in woman and minority owned accounting firm for 15 years for nonprofit organizations: education, health policy, environmental justice, media, the arts, social justice, access for all and law

Served on fundraising committees for organizations and political campaigns. Meaningful financial information bolsters fundraising.  

Uncategorized

Did Some Homework for DNC Vote at CDP Exec Board Today

2 Comments

I’m a new Executive Board Member and this morning will be the first time I get to vote for California’s delegation to the Democratic National Committee.  We will elect 19 delegates, nine women, nine men and the next highest voted getter for #19.

Here are my picks and why:

Mal Burnstein – for co-founding the CDP Progressive Caucus, maintaining solid focus supporting grassroots progressive activists.

Mayme Hubert – also for co-founding the Progressive Caucus and for co-founding Take Back Red California, working diligently to elect Democrats to upset Republicans in northern California.

Karen Bernal – for her steady focus on ending the Iraq war and occupation and many other things.

Ralph Miller – for many things, but especially for being a key person who helped Howard Dean get elected as DNC Chair (he handled Latino outreach)

Norman Solomom – for tirelessly efforts to open up the mainstream media to public scrutiny, and communicate progressive issues far and wide.

Barbie Deutch – for her excellent grassroots work on behalf of single player health care, election intecrity, clean money elections, etc.

Jo Olson – for Co-founding the CDP Progrsssive Caucus and her very effective work getting a commitment to single payer health care into the Party Platform

Brad Parker – for brokering a strong net neutrality Resolution and getting it supported by the California Democratic Party

Melehat Rafiei – a very dynamic young woman from SoCal who got started with Howard Dean and has been going like a house-a-fire ever since.

Chris Stampolis and Mary Ellen Early – DNC incumbents who supported Obama as early as February.  They were a tiny minority of CA DNC members who seem to have seen the Iowa results and figured out the future of the Party was going to be Obama.  That’s when I did too.

Christine Pelosi – for being an honest broker as Chair of the Platform Committee and for initiating the Platform listening tours around the State to get input from all who care.

Garry Shay – for Chairing the Rules committee with integrity, and being willing to assist and guide new CDP delegates through the process of formulating proposed rules correctly and negotiating the process.

Time to get out of my bathrobe and slippers and head on down to Burlingame to vote!

California

Dear Bob – Here’s another story

3 Comments

Dear Bob,  Thanks for the apology.  Now I’d like you to listen to me for a bit (since you walked away, calling me “worse than Bush” when I tried to talk to you in Anaheim).

My great grandmother was a nurse, and also a Democratic Committee woman in Astoria New York from 1917 – 1920 on behalf of getting the vote for women. 

My grandmother was a single mom, supporting her two daughters, mother & father during the Great Depression making lampshades as a seamstress.  She lived in the Bronx and worked at this job in Manhattan until she was 73 years old.  She was a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. 

My mother was a union member (as a nurse and as a postal worker) as well as an activist for fair housing in the 1950’s and 1960’s. 

I come from a line of hard working women, be it for survival or principle. Without making my mother rise from the grave in protest, the last thing I could ever be is an “armchair activist.” 

My dad managed to survive WWII as a B-25 bomber pilot with just a little shrapnel in his leg as a souvenir.  He was also a smart, hard drinking, friendly, jazz musician. If he was alive today to hear all the stuff about “the greatest generation” he would have laughed and seen the hype for what it is.  Every generation faces it’s own challenges, and different individuals handle those challenges differently, depending on their background, life experiences and personal human nature. 

For the past four and a half years plus, I have spent nearly every waking hour finding ways to bring more people to the movement, and nurturing the social network we need to keep at it – to take our country back from the Republican scum who are running it and (sad to say) the clueless Democrats who think the political landscape hasn’t actually changed.  I work full time at my day job, and another 20 – 30 hours a week for my country. 

When George Bush stole the 2000 election I waited in vain for Democrats in Congress to object.  When he began marching us to war in 2002 (we now know he began much earlier than that) I waited for the Democrats to hold up the Stop sign.  When Howard Dean spoke up, I heard the call and began the hard work of reclaiming my country for sensibility and decency. 

As far as I’m concerned, nothing is the same since November 7, 2000. 

Also, I learned that I can’t ask what my Party will do for me, I have to ask myself what I can do for my Party. 

I’m not the only one to have come to this conclusion. 

Briefly:  We want veto-proof Democratic majorities in both The US Congress and the California legislature.  We want universal, single payer health care.  We want free and fair elections.  We want a political system in which officeholders are beholden to voters instead of donors.  We want a competent government to take care of the tasks that are properly the responsibility of the commons.  We want our taxes to pay for useful infrastructure.  We want an economic system that provides opportunities for all to live decently, and an end to our tax dollars subsidizing war profiteering.  We insist on the protection of our earth.  We want a government that earns the respect of the world and provides leadership to other nations and peoples for their common benefit. 

We are here to work in partnership on this mission.  There are 10s of thousands of others like me in California.  I’m pretty sure we speak for millions of voters.

If you can work with us (and really it ought to be clear by now it’s a good idea to do that) that would be super.  If you can’t, well, we’ll see what happens. 

caligal
aka Janet Stromberg
Chair East Bay for Democracy Democratic Club
14th AD Executive Board Representative
Co-Chair Berkeley Albany Emeryville United Democratic Campaign

California

Hey CDP – What’s the Plan?

22 Comments

(Check out the comments. – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

The main points of Art Torres’ 2007 “58-County Strategy” for the California Democratic Party (CDP) are cited below.  Following each heading from the 58-County Strategy text are comments and/or questions on specific goals.  I would like to know what they are.  I posted this yesterday on a discussion list for delegates to the California Democratic Party (on which lurk Party brass).  No responses so far.  Can anyone fill in the gaps?

VOTER REGISTRATION AND CONTACT

1.  What are the 2008 Statewide numerical goals for:

  A. Number of new Democratic voters to be registered, and

  B. Number of Decline to State voters to be re-registered as Democrats?

2.  How many California voters does the California Democratic Party intend to contact by phone in 2008?

3.  How many California voters does the California Democratic Party intend to contact in person in 2008?

4.  How many voters will the California Democratic Party contact by mail in 2008?

5.  Whose job is it to assure the 2008 goals (if they exist) are met?
COLLATERAL MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

1.  What voter contact system will the California Democratic Party use in 2008?

2.  Will Democratic volunteers have the ability to created targeted lists for voter contact?

3.  Will Democratic volunteers have the ability to update the voter contact system with notes on voters, updated contact information, etc.?

FINANCE/TREASURER’S ASSISTANCE

The California Democratic Party’s commitment to train local Democrats on financial requirements is commendable.

LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE

The CDP’s “liability insurance program” for county committees and clubs to cover events, fair booths, fundraisers and other organizing activities is very helpful.

COMMUNICATIONS

Will the California Democratic Party provide an online interactive feedback service so that average Democratic volunteers can get answers to their questions and offer feedback on best practices?

TRAINING

Does the California Democratic Party have specific goals for numbers of people to attend campaign training in 2008?  For example what are the specific goals for training of the following groups:
1.  Local candidates for non-partisan offices
2.  CDP Regional Directors
3.  CDP County Chairs
4.  CDP County Committee members
5.  Democratic Club Chairs and officers
6.  CDP Delegates from ADs
7.  Appointed CDP Delegates
8.  Grassroots Volunteers
9.  Netroots volunteers

RESEARCH AND RECRUITMENT

1.  Does the California Democratic Party have a commitment to recruiting and supporting a Democrat for every partisan office in the State?

2.  Does the California Democratic Party have a commitment to run a Democrat in a certain percentage (or even 100%) of non-partisan races in which there is a Republican incumbent or a retiring Republican?

In short, we need clear goals and lines of responsibility in order to:

· Build the Democratic brand,
· Obtain a veto-proof majority in the State legislature,
· Infuse California State Government with our professed values, and
· Do our part to obtain a veto-proof majority in the US Congress.

In solidarity with all California Democrats,
Caligal