David Roth and Mary Bono sat in the same room today for an editorial interview with The Desert Sun.  Not a debate, she can’t handle that, but actual proximity, which is a stretch for our shrinking violet of a Rubberstamper.  Roth spoke for the citizens of the district, while Bono spoke on behalf of herself.  Cause, you know, she really loves this job, and she thinks she’s doing great.   Roth decimated her with some of those mean, liberal facts you’ve heard about.

So shallow, so oblivious, so pathetic next to David Roth who believes that politics is a noble calling – you really have to join me on the flip to know how stark the differences are in this CA-45th race.

Just in from the Roth campaign – Some highlights that you won’t necessarily see on the selected video excerpts available at The Desert Sun’s page.  :

1. She gets advice on earthquake preparedness from hurricane experts in Florida, yet represents a landlocked district prone to earthquakes
2. She receives her ethical advice from Dennis Hastert, leader of the Republican culture of corruption.
3. When asked, Mary Bono said her biggest regret was getting stuck in traffic on the way to a football game- even though thousands of American troops have lost their lives because of the Bush war in Iraq.

Yes, that was her actual response.  Asked what regrets she had over the course of her public service, Mary said she regretted only that she got stuck in traffic once on the way to a football game.  Nothing about the consequences of her votes.  No thought for the scores of tortured corpses that show up daily due to “the Iraq thing” that she thought would blow over soon.  Guess they slipped her mind.  Or the kids whose college aid she cut.  Or her votes to mine in National Monuments.  Or the seniors without prescriptions thanks to the doughnut hole.  From where Mary Bono sits, things are just peachy here in America.  She’s having a great time playing Congresswoman.  What’s our problem?

4. She has no plan for ending the war in Iraq.
5. Riverside County receives the second least amount of funding of all the counties in California and she doesn’t “consider it a congressional thing.”
6. Even though she counseled Mark Foley on his sexuality she still can’t decide if they had a personal relationship.
7. She is proud of voting for legislation that left millions of seniors and people with disabilities without any prescription drug coverage.

Here’s the “live blog” from reporters in the same conference room.  Their stenographic skills are spotty at best.  Presume a GOP slant when reading the notes, this paper’s editorial board and Bono’s campaign finance committe shared a member (until Roth pointed that out in public), and boy does it show in the daily coverage.  For a real live blog with Roth, here’s yesterday’s Blue America on Firedoglake.  Thank you, Howie Klein, Christy Hardin Smith and Jane Hamsher!

Apparently Mary Bono is not a bright nor an honorable person.  The Rubberstamp record tells us that, however it becomes most obvious when she speaks.  But David Roth is the antidote.  Upon arrival in Washington, he wants to implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations, undo the damage from No Child Left Behind, and fund Pell Grants to the level we need.  What will Bono do after Congress?  Horseback riding and hiking, she said.  (She works on that earthy image, much as Bush does.)  Good thinking, Mary.  Take a hike.

Crossposted from Daily Kos

Oops, I guess I missed it by a few minutes, but you can see the “transcript” and more info on Roth at FireDogLake.  David is running in the Plam Springs area against Mary Bono, she of no qualifications other than she was formerly married to the now deceased Sonny Bono. (who himself really didn’t have much in the way of qualifications, but I can cut him some slack b/c he was mayor of Palm Springs).  Check out the comments in the diary for the actual chat.

Meet David Roth with Alivia and Anita.  Mary Bono is terrified of this big, mean Democrat (pictured with his liberal family) and his mean, mean questions about Iraq, political corruption, and her votes attacking seniors, children, and disabled veterans.  She won’t debate, won’t even address a public forum without assurances that Roth won’t be scheduled the same day, as is the case with the Palm Springs Green Expo this weekend.  She’s petrified.  Now we have Mark Foley epitomizing the rot of Republican rule.  Let’s count the ways Mary Bono’s story “adjusts” to unfolding news reports, shall we?  

Crossposted at Daily Kos

First, Mary Bono said she had “no personal ties” to Foley on Monday, October 2nd.  Trouble is, the reports of her nickname for Foley (“Hollywood” – hey, I thought she hated Hollywood) were already printed on September 30th in the Herald Tribune, and on Oct. 2nd in USA Today

This report, by The Desert Sun‘s DC reporter was filed on October 3rd, but our GOP mouthpiece of a local paper didn’t run it as Diane Marrero wrote it (this version lives only on Lexis/Nexis, as far as I know):

HEADLINE: Foley close to Bonos

BYLINE: DIANA MARRERO

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:  Rep. Mary Bono and her late husband, Sonny, had ties to former lawmaker Mark Foley, who recently resigned from Congress amid scandal.

An avid rock fan, Foley became friends with Sonny Bono after the two joined the ranks of House Republicans in 1994.

But Bono, R-Palm Springs, denied having any personal ties to Foley on Monday, adding that she was shocked to learn the Florida Republican had reportedly sent explicit Internet messages to teenage boys.

Her spokesman, Jason Vasquez, said Bono did not know whether her late husband and Foley had been close.

“The inappropriate conduct by former Rep. Mark Foley is unacceptable and abhorrent,” Bono said in a statement. “Mr. Foley’s actions go against the values and responsibilities upheld by Congress. If he has violated the law, he should be prosecuted.”

In an interview with the Palm Beach Post in 2003, Foley said he had been friends with the couple. He loved the entertainment scene so much that Mary and Sonny Bono began calling him “Hollywood,” he told the Post.

Sonny Bono and Foley formed a Republican Entertainment Industry Task Force to boost ties between Republicans and entertainment industry executives.

When Sonny Bono died eight years ago, Foley was among a group of lawmakers who flew to California for the funeral. Later, Mary Bono sold Foley her late husband’s 1994 Jeep Wrangler.

Before Sonny Bono died, the former singer helped raise campaign cash for Foley. In 1998, the Florida lawmaker gave Mary Bono a $1,000 contribution, for her campaign to succeed her late husband in Congress.

Mary Bono now co-chairs the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus, of which Foley was a member. Mary Bono has also worked with Foley on legislation, signing on as a co-sponsor earlier this year on a bill Foley introduced to strengthen Congress’ scrutiny over the sales of ports and other properties to foreign buyers.

—-

Contact reporter Diana Marrero at [email protected].

What did The Desert Sun go with?  This article, on October 4th, by local guy Keith Matheny instead:

Bono on Monday said she had no personal ties to Foley. Bono’s spokesman, Jason Vasquez, said Bono did not know whether Foley and her late husband, Sonny Bono, were friends, though they did co-found Republican Entertainment Industry Task Force to boost ties between Republicans and entertainment industry executives.

Mary Bono called for a “comprehensive investigation” of Foley’s activities.

“Mr. Foley’s actions go against the values and responsibilities upheld by Congress,” Bono said. “Should it be determined that he has engaged in acts which have harmed children or put them in jeopardy, he like any other person must be held accountable. If he has violated the law, he should be prosecuted.”

 David Roth was more direct:

La Quinta Democrat David Roth, running for the 45th Congressional District seat currently held by Bono in the Nov. 7 general election, accused Hastert of covering up Foley’s actions and called on him to resign.

“It’s one more thing that disgusts people about their government,” Roth said. “I will never turn a blind eye to corruption, cover-up and inappropriate behavior.”

As Mary Bono’s initial denials are clearly not operative, she gives us this on October 5th:

Rep. Mary Bono knew her former congressional colleague Mark Foley was gay, wasn’t publicly admitting it, and that it “haunted him for some reason.”

“I would tell him, ‘It’s fine you’re gay; just be open and honest about it,'” Bono said after an event at Palm Springs airport Wednesday morning.

Wait a minute!  Isn’t that a personal remark to make to someone with whom you have “no personal ties?”  -Come on out of the closet, stranger, hey, nothing personal-  Please.

Does Mary Bono call for Denny Hastert to resign?  Heavens, no.  But she would support a special prosecutor, she claims in her latest canned appearance in front of a safely GOP crowd.  

This concerned parent of “What do you tell your children” fame, had no idea that her friend Mark – strike that – colleague Mark was ever inappropriate with Congressional pages.  No idea at all.  I don’t buy it, even given the empty headed things Mary has said in the past:

May 5, 2006

Bono Sings the Blues, Paying for College on $165,000 a Year

The rising cost of a college education is one of the key higher-education issues in Congress, and one member this week helped explain why, in a very personal way. According to an article (subscriber only) in Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Congress, Rep. Mary Bono, a California Republican, said on Wednesday that her government salary of $165,200 a year was not enough to send her son Chesare to college this fall.

Speaking at a hearing on consumer issues, she said that were it not for the music royalties of her late husband, Sonny Bono, “I could not afford college for my son.” Among her many expenses, she said, were new cars for herself and for Chesare, Roll Call reported. Both vehicles came equipped with a satellite radio and a Bluetooth wireless connection to the Internet.

  Oblivious remarks about living expenses aside (and boy, does that remark tell you all you need to know about Bono), all parents of teens have this particular radar, as Barbara Boxer pointed out.  I just don’t buy it.  And if Mary Bono truly found this whole disgusting affair to be a shock, then she’s too willfully blind to serve the nation.  But we all knew that already.

David Roth LIVE!  

The Roth campaign (CA-45) has new videos.   This latest, “Blow Over,” notes Mary Bono’s total obedience to the Bush/Cheney idiocy.   May 2004, Mary Bono said, “I think this Iraq thing will blow over …”  that was over 2000 dead Americans ago.

For the next, let us all halloo his name to the reverberate hills, and all hail the glorious Howie Klein of Blue America, who gave the Roth campaign (among many others) “Had Enough”

Here’s Roth on the campaign trail, it’s called “Change Washington”.  Regarding Mary Bono, she claims she had “no personal contact” with Foley, though Sonny and Mark were big buddies, Mary and Sonny nicknamed Foley “Hollywood,” and Mary sold Sonny’s Jeep to Foley after Sonny’s death.  “Foley, who?”  I don’t buy it, Mary.  Why no condemnation of Foley, back when it could have spared a few kids, as you condemned Clinton?  Any wonder why this Bushbot won’t debate David Roth?

Please help us kick her complicit butt out of Washington, and elect David Roth.  

Cross posted at Daily Kos

( – promoted by SFBrianCL)

When Mary Bono first came to Washington, she made herself immediately useful to the House GOP leadership in its assault on Clinton.  Does anyone remember Susan Carpenter McMillan, pictured with Bono and Paula Jones?  {Shudder}  Mary Bono gave us “What do you tell your children?” back then, but we have yet to hear any similar parental concern over the House pages that her buddy Mark Foley covets.  Here’s Bono with Foley and Connie Mack as they yuk it up with Kelly Preston. What do you tell your children about Uncle Foley, Mary?  What’s that?  Still can’t hear you.  How about torture?  No?  Student aid?  Healthcare?  Why are you one of the worst for children and seniors?  Silence.  Still can’t find her, either.  Bono won’t debate, and David Roth told the 100+ supporters outside her office last Wednesday – don’t bother asking for debate, she’s clearly too frightened of a public airing of her record.  Just ask her to go home.  Had Enough?  H/t: Blue America and Howie Klein for these fabulous videos!

David Roth has a great new video from the campaign trail, as well.  And a stinging retort to the local GOP rag, The Desert Sun, who has a member of its editorial board on Bono’s finance committee, but somehow keeps forgetting to mention that in print. 
Here’s who David’s got:
And this beautiful family:

And the enthusiastic support of our local unions, Democratic clubs, teachers, mayors, 21st Century Democrats, Barbara Boxer’s PAC for a Change, and -hell, check the whole list.  David converts Republicans to his side on contact.  He’s that good.  Bono has incumbency, Abramoff $$$, and corporate fat cats on her side, but I believe that her constituent support is shallow.

I was filling up my scruffy Saturn in Palm Desert yesterday, and a cheerful blonde with a gleaming Escalade asked me about my Roth for Congress bumpersticker: “ROTH for Congress – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents United” it says.  “So what’s Roth?” she asked.  “Democrat,” I said, “he’s running against Mary Bono for Congress.”  “Oh, well, I’m a friend of Mary’s,” said she.  “I’ve heard she’s a lovely person,” I said, “I just believe her votes are all wrong, 90% in lockstep with a very bad leadership.”  So we chatted amiably, and found we agreed that Bono is bought and sold by big money, LOVES to be in Congress but isn’t entitled to that sweet job (it belongs to us), and that Roth’s positions are better for the country and the district.

But she’s going to Mary Bono’s upcoming fundraisers, I imagine she always has.  Bono’s supporters have little idea what she’s really up to in Washington, like most Americans, they don’t think about it much.  This one bristled a bit when I noted that Roth is an education expert, and would bring a stronger take on public schools and higher ed than Bono has.  (Bono cast the deciding vote to cut $14 billion from federal student aid, while whining that her $165K salary isn’t much when faced with USC tuition.  Bono’s wealth is maintained by Sonny Bono’s royalties added to her $165,000 Congressional salary.  This evidence that Bono Just Doesn’t Get It gets right through to parents I talked to today while walking the precincts in Indio.  But I digress.)

Mary’s friend shared Bono’s total lack of interest in public schools, “My kids are in private schools, and I’ve had it with public schools, they’re so bad, I don’t want to pay for any of it.”  Wow.  Rather than assail her selfishness and anti-American disregard for the public good, I assumed a spoiled Republican POV and asked her a question she would consider seriously:  I know what you’re saying, but what about when these kids leave public schools?  These will be our neighbors, our community.  What kind of neighbors will these kids be?” 

“Well, she’s a woman, and that’s great, you know.”  “Well, yes,” I said, “that is great, but just ask the other women we’ve got, ask Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, Lynn Woolsey and Loretta Sanchez, they’re all for Roth!”

She laughed, our cars were gassed up, and we smiled and went our separate ways.  If this is a typical Bono supporter, then Bono’s support is simply a matter of default, and a broad misapprehension of Bono’s legislative priorities.  She’s a Bushbot and obedient tool of the House leadership.  Bono is a follower, and this week her leadership is in meltdown.  Will she show her face in public around here?  Probably not, unless you pay big.  But we will get a real public servant to represent us Congress when David Roth wins.  Help kick Mary Bono’s complicit butt with your contribution here.

Crossposted at Daily Kos

First things first:  “Roth-A-Palooza” Rock Concert in support of David Roth’s run for Congress

This Saturday, September 30, 2006

9:00 PM

Rock Garden Cafe

777 S. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs, CA 92264

Local bands for Roth:

Sound Asleep

MECHE

Save Us Now

The Movie Colony

The Feedbacks

Bernice & Alex

$5 cover   Let’s hear it for Juan Carlos Sanchez, rocking field organizer, pictured (left) with our own kickass David Roth.  You can’t fool the youth.  Which brings me to Bono.

Once a young widow filling Sonny Bono’s seat, Mary Bono has grown up to be a reliable Rubberstamp Republican and Bush toady.    Bono voted for torture.  Bono thinks we’re making “inroads” in the Middle East.  (Does she ever see the news?)  Bono cast the deciding vote to cut $14 billion from federal student aid.  Today (UPDATE: actually, on 9/23, to pre-empt Roth’s scheduled talk on schools) she had the AUDACITY to tout the endorsement of a measly fifteen “educators” (actually, school board members, trustees, and administrators), and lay this eloquence on us:

“I have worked hard in Congress to pass legislation that will hold public schools more accountable for the education provided to our children and to ensure that everyone has access to the best education,” said Congresswoman Bono.

“I want to return control of our schools to the parents and get them more involved in the teaching process. This is essential for restoring our commitment to basic academics and to making sure that every child is given the same opportunity to thrive and succeed” said Congresswoman Bono.

Yes, you heard her, she just bragged about her part in pushing the infamous “No Child Left Behind” farce on our innocent children and their beleaguered teachers.  That was her defense against Roth’s stinging indictment yesterday of Bush and Bono’s big idea for our schools:

No Child’s over-emphasis on test results has “made our schools into accountability factories,” Roth said.

The federal law creates billions in unfunded mandates for schools each year, Roth said, and doesn’t take into account the diversity of students and their different learning styles.

Vouchers and privatization of education aren’t the answer, Roth said.

“If we would put as much energy into supporting our public schools as we do into creating alternatives to them in the private sector, we would be in an entirely different place,” he said.

Roth is a commissioner on the California Student Aid Commission, and served as a deputy to the president of Occidental College.

He was also involved in forming the Pathways to College Network, a national program to increase the number of minorities and other underrepresented groups of young people graduate from high school and move on to institutions of higher learning.

One of Roth’s key staffers, Arnie Kaminsky, is a retired teacher, he has credibility on education.  David Roth, California Student Aid Commissioner (and youngest ever President of said Commission), internationally recognized expert on education reform, David has credibility on education.  All Mary Bono knows about public education is that USC tuition sure puts a cramp on even a rich parent’s style.  

How long, Lord?  How long must we listen to “public servants” like this, when the country is aching for serious leadership?  Bono has $500,000 more than Roth in campaign funds.  Show her it will never be enough.   Help us get David Roth to Washington, and let’s Take Back the House!  

Crossposted at Daily Kos

( – promoted by SFBrianCL)

Too few of our Democrats are truly music to the ears.  Barney Frank is one of that eloquent, ballsy few.  Smart, funny, and particularly compelling when he’s stumping for my Democratic challenger, David Roth.  

Yes, I MET him in a Roth supporter’s Palm Springs full-to-the-brim house last Saturday (forgive the delay in posting, the kids shorted out my keyboard that same morning).   A lovely man.  He told us not to whine about how corrupt and unfair the rightwing is – they’re not going to stop.  Democrats have to beat them in GOTV, we have to walk our precincts, and we have to give David money.
Mary Bono called Barney Frank to prevent this appearance.  Let’s discuss that on the flip:

 We have a great candidate, (and here Rep. Frank digressed a bit to assure us that despite the game face they put on it, campaigning is hellish and exhausting.)  Barney Frank told us that we are the lucky ones, with a race that can actually flip a district, and a candidate ready to win it.  This CA-45th district that has been smugly Republican forever, until now.

Frank and his partner used to have dinner with Sonny and Mary, they go back twenty years.  About Bono, Barney Frank said, Mary Bono is a very nice person.  But unfortunately (paraphrased as best I can),  Mary Bono’s completely in line with the right wing GOP faction in charge, has been since playing her role precisely as cast on the  Senate Judiciary Committe during the Clinton impeachment.  She had some good votes, but only when they made no difference to the GOP bosses.  “She’ll bring you ice in winter.”  

This is a crucial political decision being made in November.  Barney Frank, kind as he is, had to tell Mary Bono he was coming to Palm Springs to speak on behalf of David Roth.

Congressman Frank reminded those in attendance how lucky they are to be involved in one of the very few competitive Congressional races in the nation. The Congressman also remarked that if Democrats didn’t win back a majority of Congress, “You ain’t seen nothing yet,” referring to what the Republicans will do if they retain control.

A rare public appearance:  Our local medical marijuana advocates interviewed Bono on tape .  Watch it.  Just as Barney Frank said, she seems nice enough, but well-rehearsed to defend an absurd policy.  Not about to deviate from the party line.  If you like what the Republicans serve up, keep her.  

David Roth is running because he can’t stand still, he likes to joke.  But he gets serious when he talks about Iraq, America’s leadership, our healthcare, our kids.  And as he said last Saturday, Mary Bono is out of touch, out of sight, and come November – out of office.

Democrat – David Roth.

Rubberstamp Republican Mary Bono accuses David Roth of being one of the dreaded “Hollywood Liberals.”     Please.  You know that the GOP smear machine is in meltdown mode when a Rubberstamp Republican can’t even tailor the Rove/Mehlman lines to fit her challenger.  David Roth is liberal, but hardly Hollywood.  He fights for access to college for all students here in California and around the world.  Roth is an education expert and career public servant.  How fabulous!

More thoughts on Rep. Bono’s quite reasonable fear of a debate with Democratic challenger David Roth, and her newfound hatred of Hollywood below.  

Photo by Nicholas Snow

We only see Rep. Bono in our district if there’s a red carpet or a chichi gala involved.  David Roth is talking about the health care and education.  Roth deplores the waste in Iraq.  He’s accepted The Desert Sun’s call for a public debate.  Bono is ducking.

Perhaps that’s because Mary Bono, despite being a USC grad and Hollywood widow, has a typical Rubberstamp Republican record.  Bono co-sponsored HR 4437, the bill that criminalizes aid to dying people.  She rates among the worst Representatives for children and seniors, and among the best for Corporate America.   Bono does stand up for the rights of the recording industry (isn’t that in Hollywood?)  to retain their royalty income.  As she pleaded at the time, how could she afford college tuition on her measly Congressional salary if not for Sonny Bono’s royalties?  How about her constituents’ chances at affording college?  Mary Bono cast the deciding vote to cut $14 billion from federal student aid.   That’s reprehensible, even for a GOP member of this Congress.  And Mary Bono thinks she can avoid her constituents, duck a debate, and smear David Roth as a “Hollywood Liberal” with an onslaught of big money.  Today’s Desert Sun article on her ongoing romance with Connie Mack is typical of the press Bono gets, it’s rarely about the voters and our lives.  It’s nice that Ms. Bono is having a good time, but Congress should be working on national security, restoring our foreign policy, and bettering Americans’ lives.  Here’s what Bono’s working on, apparently:

Bono, Mack continue building relationship

Keith Matheny * The Desert Sun * September 2, 2006

A romance of Congressional proportions continues – and is bi-coastal.

Rep. Mary Bono confirmed to The Desert Sun in December that she was “exclusively dating” fellow Republican Rep. Connie Mack IV of Florida.

They’ve since appeared together publicly numerous times, including at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January and during President Bush’s visit to the Coachella Valley in April.

Mary Bono can snarl at her Hollywood peers all she likes if she thinks that will help her get re-elected, I call it hypocritical and unfair.  Hollywood liberals are loyal Americans, too, and they didn’t get us into Iraq and spend our children’s future and our country’s honor.  Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Gonzales, et. al, did that, and Mary Bono supported them.  Still does.  

CA-45th deserves so much better.  Support David Roth here  

(I’m thinking of doing my hair like that. – promoted by SFBrianCL)

Yesterday’s Desert Sun gave Republican Mary Bono’s panic attack a nice spin today.  Bono: Campaign fundraising easier this time

Bono campaign chairman Marc Troast said Friday that the campaign hopes to raise an additional $300,000 between now and election day, which would put it near $1.2 million – nearly double the $600,000 Bono raised for her last campaign, two years ago.

Pure Rovian absurdity:  I have to raise double the usual amount to hang on to my seat this year, so I couldn’t be more serene and upbeat!  

Bono evidently plans to hide in her bunker and throw money at the voters this year, and hope that the big mean Democrat, David Roth, just goes away.  Sadly enough, as we all well know, that can work for Republicans.  But voters in the CA-45th aren’t necessarily buying it this year.  They want a debate.  Mary’s got the bankers, David Roth needs the rest of us to win this one.  Contribute  here

Crossposted from DailyKos