Change continues as map-related changes continue to settle

by Brian Leubitz

Wally Herger’s new district, CD-01 is not really a toss-up district. It leans Republican pretty heavily, with a 43-31 Republican registration advantage.  Herger has never really been a real power broker of the House, but he has won reelection by at least 15 points since his first election in 1980.  But, he has been there for a while, and at 66, he’s deciding to hang it up.

Herger is your typical rural conservative Congressman, and will likely be replaced by another typical rural conservative, state Sen. Doug LaMalfa.  It is hard to imagine too much will change policy wise, except maybe LaMalfa might be a little more cautious about calling a self-described “right-wing terrorist” as a great American.  Not because LaMalfa won’t agree with the sentiments, but you know, he probably saw Herger get stung by that one.  

Some other Congressman are considering retirement as well.  Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) is now in a toss-up, tilt Democratic seat that he may not wish to fight out at the age of 77. Others might still be coming in the next month or so.

On the Senate side, Bob Herzberg, who still draws Willie Brown’s ire for falling down on the job on the term limits measure as Speaker, is mulling a run for state Senate against Fran Pavley in the newly drawn 27th district. Of course, that is only if the current maps hold for the June election, as there is still substantial doubt.  Sen. Steinberg has already endorsed Pavley, an incumbent used to running in a more Dem-friendly seat.  

While the 27th will still lean Dem with a 6 pt reg advantage, it also could end up with something of a fight.  Tony Strickland, who also lives in the new district, is expected to run for the seat of retiring Elton Gallegly’s CD-26 in Ventura County against a field of candidates that has not yet really distilled into anything cohere.  Asm. Cameron Smyth has been rumored to be considering the SD-27 seat as well. Quite the merry-go-round.

Anyway, Herzberg, a friend of the good government moderates and a co-chair of California Forward, will run to the right of Pavley.  The question is how this will work with the Top-2.  If Pavley is able to build a coalition of progressives, and there is a strong Republican (Smyth??), she could be in a strong position to be in a one-on-one with the Republican.  If no strong Republican gets in the race, and she’s in a one-on-one with Herzberg in November, she would be in more trouble.  Either way, the Ventura County senate race just got a lot more interesting (and annoying.)

The merry-go-round has to stop at some point, but until the uncertainty about the Senate maps ends with some resolution from the Supreme Court, don’t expect any real resolution.

Alzheimers.  It’s a scary word, and when it was spoken tonight it caused an audible gasp to ripple through the crowd at the Candidate’s Forum, sponsored by the Chico Enterprise Record and The League of Women Voters.

Representative Wally Herger’s sudden and unexplained decision to skip the debate prompted even the Chico ER to editorialize against him, accusing him of “Campaigning From the Couch.” Wednesday night, after Herger’s representative read a few paragraphs of standard Republican talking points to a silent crowd, Jim Reed voiced his own suspicions about why Herger has been ducking him when he has willingly debated opponents in the past.  

The Enterprise-Record:

Our view: When politicians don’t have to debate before an election, it’s not good for democracy.

Jim Reed will drive three hours from his home in Fall River Mills to speak at a candidates forum tonight in Chico. Wally Herger, the other candidate, won’t drive across town to do so.

The ER posited that Herger doesn’t have to debate because, well, he doesn’t have to debate.  He’s ahead in the polls.  His district leans Republican.  He’s held on to his seat for 24 years against opponents both serious and silly. He’s loaded with cash. Why take a political risk?  

But while it has become fashionable for Republican candidates to speak exclusively with Fox-friendly media, Herger has even spurned a debate proposed by his own natural allies. Jim Reed, a moderate Democrat who hasn’t hesitated to meet with any of the north state’s constituents, has spoken at Tea Party events, spurring the Shasta Tea Party to offer to host their own debate in hopes of luring Herger out. No dice.  

Unfortunately, Herger’s refusals to come out in the open have only fueled long-term speculation and rumors about his mental fitness to be re-elected. Reed had already suggested in an interview with Progressive News Radio that Alzheimer’s might be behind Herger’s suddenly reclusive ways, and in tonight’s forum he similarly didn’t pull any punches:

transcript: (emphasis mine)

So I’m Jim Reed.  I really wish that Wally was here tonight. I’m disappointed, not so much because you’re not going to be able to see the contrast between our political issues because you can go to our website and you’ll see what our views are on the political issues. You pretty much know that Wally Herger’s pretty much out there on the right wing; I’m pretty much in the middle as a moderate Democrat. But what we miss by not having Wally Herger here is to see the personal.  And a lot of you say, Well, he’s been in office for 24 years, we know what Wally Herger’s like.  But has he grown old and tired?  Or, does he have the fire in the belly?  That’s what we need to know.

{snipped)

Let me end by saying this. We have a debate, Wally Herger and I have a debate scheduled for October 25th, to be televised on KIXE. I am absolutely convinced that wouldn’t have happened but for a newspaper article that came out from a Chico paper last week that identified some unusual behavior and suggested that maybe he’s not willing to debate Reed because he has an illness, perhaps  Alzheimer’s.  The next day, we had a debate [scheduled].  Now that was the right thing for Wally to do because the easiest way to just get rid of a rumor like that, a terrible rumor, and that’s a terrible disease, is to debate.  But the problem with choosing October 25th for that debate is, it should have been today.  If on October 25th he finds an excuse why he can’t be there, he gets called back to Washington, there’s just not enough time to reschedule it. So, and it even suggests that maybe this is a ploy that he never intended to debate at all if he doesn’t show up on October 25th. So anyway, let’s stay tuned, I truly hope he will.  I’m Jim Reed running for Congress. I ask for your vote. Thank you.

Stay tuned, indeed.

Where’s Wally, and why won’t he debate his opponent?

What can you do with a candidate who refuses to commit to a debate? Such is the case with 24 year incumbent Wally Herger.  First he refused to debate his primary opponent, Tea Party favorite Pete Stiglich.  Now he refuses to commit to a debate with his Democratic opponent, Jim Reed.  Why?

Is Herger so cocky about winning yet another term that he can’t be bothered with a debate?  Is he too cowardly to debate his trial lawyer opponent?  You make the call.

Literally make the call.  Help us Contact Wally Herger and demand a debate before it’s too late.  Ask Wally why he won’t debate Jim Reed on October 6th.

Herger has refused to debate Jim Reed four times.  He refused to debate twice in August when he was on recess from Congress.  He refused to debate in September when he was on recess. When Herger’s spokesperson vaguely promised a debate in October, Jim Reed and the Chico League of Women Voters quickly set up a debate venue for October 6th, well before absentee ballots would be returned….but again, Wally refused.

Even Herger’s primary opponent, Tea Party favorite Pete Stiglich, is growing annoyed with Herger’s stalling tactics.  Stiglich’s campaign also tried mightily to wrest a debate from Herger’s campaign .  Herger strung him along until the last minute, and then conveniently fell back on the rationale that he would not debate fellow Republicans.  

Said Stiglich in a recent editorial supporting the Democrat’s repeated calls for debates:

I realize I run the risk of being accused of jumping onto the Reed bandwagon by supporting his call for debates. Trust me, nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, I’ve jumped upon the growing bandwagon of everyday folks demanding accountability, honesty and a healthy command of the facts from all those who seek or hold elected office.

Candidates should welcome the opportunity to engage in rigorous political debate. In fact, they should pursue it. What better opportunity to showcase one’s command of the facts and leadership on the many critical issues facing America today?

Dare I say, let the debates begin.

Now there’s a Tea Partier I can whole-heartedly agree with.

What last-minute excuse will Herger have for refusing to debate Jim Reed?

And, more importantly, how can we, the voters, make Herger accountable?

You may think this doesn’t matter to you if you don’t live in California’s Second District, but this election does affect you.

Why?

Because Herger believes he will be the next Chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee if he is elected.  

Because Herger has circulated a petition in the House of Representatives to Repeal and Replace Health Care Reform, even though doing so would add $455 billion dollars to the deficit, according to a letter by Mike Crapo of the Congressional Budget Office.

Contact Wally Herger and demand a debate before it’s too late!

Debate Jim Reed on October 6th.

email: [email protected]

Washington D.C. office:  (202) 225-3076  fax: (202) 226-0852  

Chico, CA Office:        (530) 893-8363  fax: (530) 893-8619

Redding,CA Office:       (530) 223-5898 fax: (530) 223-5897

 

Jim Reed, the Democratic Candidate for Congress in CA-02, needs your help.  Jim has been flying his Cessna all over the large and diverse Second District, showing he’s willing to engageall voters in the district. He’s ready for a rousing debate– don’t let Wally weasel his way out of it!

Call Herger’s office, or make a donation to Jim Reed’s campaign now!

Jim Reed has been endorsed by Ruby’s List: A Rogue Network of Progressive Organizers.

Wally Herger, CA-02 (the public praiser of a self-proclaimed “Proud right-wing terrorist”) is introducing a petition in the House to repeal and replace Health Care Reform because “the American people” don’t want it.  Polls disagree.

Twenty four years of Wally’s World is enough.  Peek below the fold to see how you can help retire this 24 year incumbent and replace him with Jim Reed.

Don’t Republicans Have Something Better to Do?

House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia plan to announce Wednesday that they’ll support two discharge petitions – one from Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) to repeal a portion of the law and a forthcoming petition from Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) to repeal the entire law – and encourage other Republicans to follow suit.

Herger’s petition is the more radical of the two:

Rep. Herger’s forthcoming discharge petition would force a vote on his bill, which would repeal all of ObamaCare, including the provisions enacted through the reconciliation process, and replace it with the common-sense solutions Republicans have put forth.

This move on the part of Reps. Boehner and Cantor seems cynically calculated, since no one expects repeal to succeed now, and only serves to keep the health care issue on the front burner for upcoming midterm elections.

Are Republicans actually serious about taking away popular existing benefits and lowering the deficit?

Democrats have argued that Republicans want to rescind benefits that have already reached the public, such as the ability to keep kids up to 26 years old on their parents’ health plans and $250 checks to seniors in the Medicare “doughnut hole.”

“Have they thought about what it would mean for the American people?,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), assistant to the speaker. “[R]epeal would cause the deficit – which GOP leaders claim to be so concerned about – to skyrocket. Repealing health care reform would be a big win for special interests, but it would be bad news for working families and the future of our country.”

It’s not surprising they would choose Wally, since Herger votes the straight Republican party line 96% of the time (including the occasional mistake). Perhaps they should come right out and say what they really mean– that “the Republican people” don’t want Health Care Reform. It’s nothing but bad news for the “Party of No” if Obama and the Democrats succeed in actually helping the middle-class.

Wally Herger is out of touch with the needs of his district. Herger still maintains that with our superior 21st Century technology we can deep-water drill-baby-drill with no harm to the environment. Herger hasn’t felt the sting of the recession like his constituents, since his wealth puts him in the Top 10% wealthiest Congresspeople , while his constituents average $22,876. According to Jim Reed,

He has placed the Republican Party above the people of his District.  He has gotten lazy and has failed to aggressively seek Federal spending in his District. There are 10 Counties in the District but more than 1/2 the voters are in either Butte or Shasta Counties. Pathetically, these two counties get less than 60% of the national average in federal spending for rural counties across the country; this amounts to $3 Billion below the national average per year.

California’s beautiful second district deserves better.  Here’s how you can help.

Jim Reed’s campaign has attracted the notice of a highly-placed Washington D.C. political consultant who appreciates insurgent campaigns against incumbents.  He likes what he sees here and is willing to take on Reed’s campaign if the following goal is met:

Our goal is to raise $150,000 in both small and large donations during the month of July.  If we meet this goal we will have the services of this Washington D.C. political consultant for a minimal fee.

July is the month to give Jim Reed the greatest leverage against Wally Herger.  Making a contribution now in the month of July is making a down-payment on the future of California’s Second district, on retiring Wally Herger, and on adding a Democratic seat to the house. Any donation, no matter how small, will help.

Help us Retire and Replace Wally Herger.  24 years is enough!

In my previous post about the Wally Herger (R-Redding) incident wherein he praised a self-described “right-wing terrorist” as a “great American”, I lamented that there was no good video to really put the incident in perspective.

Fortunately, the CDP has corrected that: they’ve found the full video.  I got this from the CDP communications team just a little bit ago.  Enjoy.  You know, it’s sad.  Congressman Herger spends the entire time watching the guy rant with a wry smile.  And given the fact that most of the crowd appears to be terrorist sympathizers, there’s nothing he can really do without incurring the wrath of his constituency.  Just watch as Congressman Herger–who no longer deserves that title, if he ever did–chooses demagoguery over loyalty to American values and ideals:

Pathetic.

Incidentally–if you’re interested in helping the CDP publicize Wally Herger’s despicable actions to his constituents, just click here.

As stunned as I was to hear Virginia Fox stating it was a hoax not a hate crime…just merely a person that was killed during a robbery…sexual orientation had nothing to do with it.  My representative, Wally Herger, is also on the same page.  But in his case, he claims HR 1913 is a bill that will “persecute.”  Yep…he thinks it is really just those dangerous thought police at work.

He voted against HR 1913 saying “it takes a dangerous course to criminalize thought.”  He stated that the bill would provide federal funding that “will lead to the persecution of pastors, bible teachers and others Christians exercising their right to free speech and expressing their religious beliefs.”

He further stated that “all crimes are hate crimes” and that “all crimes should be prosecuted equally, regardless of the motivation.”

He said “hate crimes eliminated through legislation is unjust and fundamentally un-American.” “…HR 1913 “would afford preferential treatment to a special class of people requiring that only some people be treated equally under law.”  (This sentence is just plain baffling…it makes no real sense.)

He further stated that “this violated the constitutional principle of equal justice under the law and goes directly against freedom of speech and religion.”  Then he said, “Under this legislation, religious leaders or members of religious groups could become subject to criminal investigation or prosecutions for expressing their constitutionally protected beliefs.”

And then, “the bill would separate people based on sexual orientation, gender identity and other vague terms.”  He continues, “the bill was written to be vague so as not to have much limitation.”  “It also means federal funding could be used to implement state hate crime laws and undermine First Amendment rights.”

Well…Wally Herger was always a rubber stamp voter for everything Bush.  Now he voted against HR 1913…a very much needed bill…by saying it will cause persecution against Christians and infringe upon First Amendment rights.

We’ve got to continue to expose these idiots!  So, I guess he believes if you voted Yes on 8 in California, they are gonna be gunning for you.

Wingnutia I tell you…