Tag Archives: Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day!

On this day, 234-years ago, the leaders of what would become the United States declared independence from England, guaranteeing our freedoms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

As we join our families to celebrate this weekend, it’s important to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many for the freedoms we enjoy today.

How we conduct ourselves over the course of this campaign is one way to exercise those freedoms. The choices Dan and I have made in the course of our careers should be part of an open and honest dialogue with voters. That’s why I have called for a series of debates so the people can hear directly from us, instead of hiding behind handlers.

But questioning our patriotism has no place in this campaign. I love our country. I know Dan loves it too. But we have very different views on how to get our economy moving and people back to work.

I was born and raised in California, my parents’ experience taught me that if you work hard and play by the rules you can get ahead.

Those are the values that guide me. After listening to hundreds of people at campaign events and house parties, it’s clear we have to fight for more opportunity on Main Street, not Wall Street.

I’m running for Congress because I want everyone in this Great Nation to have the opportunity to enjoy the freedoms our Founding Fathers and generations of soldiers have fought and even paid the ultimate price for.

If we want to want to create more jobs here, we have to change the way things are done in Washington.

I look forward to meeting you at a house party or canvassing event soon. For more information, visit www.BeraforCongress.com

Happy Fourth of July!

Ami Bera

CA-10: On Independence Day, Let’s Celebrate Service

Happy Independence Day!

On the anniversary of the birth of our country, I wanted to take this moment to first thank all the men and women who proudly serve our country in the armed services. I also think it’s important to acknowledge Americans who have found other ways to serve our country – the Teach for America and AmeriCorps volunteers who work in America’s most desperate pockets to help create a more just and equitable society, the volunteers from community, religious, and non-profit organizations who selflessly devote time and money in their local communities, and the volunteers in the Peace Corps and NGOs who generate goodwill the world over while presenting America’s best face to allies and adversaries alike.

Forty-three years ago, my wife Patti and I heeded President John F. Kennedy’s call, left Berkeley, and embarked on a journey that would shape our outlook for the rest of our lives. We joined the Peace Corps and spent two years working on the eradication of small pox in rural southwest Ethiopia. We witnessed unimaginable suffering on an almost daily basis, but we understood that the work we were doing was not just vital to good people desperately in need of help but also served to demonstrate to the world abroad the goodness of America.

More over the flip…

Today I attended parades in Fairfield and Concord and will soon be in Antioch and Livermore. These are joyous events that bring us together in celebration of the blessings of our country. Around the world, people remain awash in disease, famine, widespread poverty, and senseless oppression, I’ve seen it firsthand, but there remains hard work to be done here at home. Almost 60 million Americans are uninsured; we have not done enough to reduce the harmful effects of climate change or to promote fair trade policies; and at dark points in our past, we have strayed from the values that unite us as Americans. But there is nothing wrong with America that can’t be fixed by what’s right with America, and we should be proud to be the leaders of the free world.

Today, as you join friends and family in celebration of America’s birthday, please take a moment to reflect on the blessings bestowed to us all. If you are not yet active in your local communities, get involved. And of course, I always recommend the Peace Corps to anyone interested in giving back. I recently read that under President Obama, interest in the Peace Corps has spiked. This dedication from young Americans gives me hope that our better days are yet to come. When you see the smiling faces of people whose lives are improved by your service, believe me, you will truly understand what it means to be free.

John Garamendi is the Lieutenant Governor of California, a University of California regent, a California State University trustee, and the founder of the Clean Seas Coalition. He was previously California’s first State Insurance Commissioner, Deputy Interior Secretary under President Bill Clinton, and a state legislator. For more information, please visit http://www.garamendi.org or follow him on Facebook and Twitter. He is a candidate for California’s 10th Congressional District.

This 4th of July, Celebrate Independence Day

raise-your-voice-blue-america.png Our friends at Blue America note Senator Dianne Feinstein is hiding under the covers at an undisclosed location:

Christy has put in tons and I mean tons of hard work finding out where our elected officials are going to appear over the fourth of July holiday. It seems some of them (*cough Diane Feinstein cough*) are using the “terrorist threat” to refuse to let their constituents know where they will be.

National security is a convenient excuse for so very many things.

So you’ll probably have a tough time seeing DiFi this Independence Day to ask her to honor her oath of office to defend the Constitution and filibuster retroactive immunity. But Blue America has a nifty tool for you to whip votes.

There is a great deal of disgust with Barack Obama’s massive flip-flop on retroactive immunity, but let’s remember that from day one it was Dianne Feinstein trying to undermine him and the Constitution. I feel sorry for Obama, Senators like DiFi put him in a lose/lose situation. And if you’ve seen much news today, you won’t be surprised that after flip-flopping on defending the Constitution he’s getting beat up all over by people concluding he’ll also flip-flop on Iraq. So give DiFi a call and give her a piece of your mind. Celebrate Independence Day and then go have BBQ or such to enjoy the 4th of July.

UPDATE: Senator Feinstein turned off the answering machine in her DC office and suggests calling a California field office. Numbers after the jump.

UPDATE II: Both her DC and LA offices automatically hung up after the message and the mailboxes are full at all of her other field offices. The online form is the only way to contact DiFi this Independence Day to ask her to support the Constitution. Turning off answering machines and hiding from the public? I think she belies her realization that constituents are pissed.

San Francisco

One Post Street, Suite 2450

San Francisco, CA 94104

Phone: (415) 393-0707

Fax: (415) 393-0710

The following counties are served by the San Francisco office: Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo, Yuba.

Los Angeles

11111 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 915

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Phone: (310) 914-7300

Fax: (310) 914-7318

The following counties are served by the Los Angeles office: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura.

San Diego

750 B Street, Suite 1030

San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: (619) 231-9712

Fax: (619) 231-1108

The following counties are served by the San Diego office: Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, San Diego.

Fresno

2500 Tulare Street, Suite 4290

Fresno, CA 93721

Phone: (559) 485-7430

Fax: (559) 485-9689

The following counties are served by the Fresno office: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne.

Another Groovy Surf City Independence Day!

(Cross-posted at Ditch Crazy Dana and Obama OC)

History was made again yesterday. Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Huntington Beach once again for the Fourth of July Parade. And once again, the OC Democrats had a fantastic time being a part of the largest Independence Day celebration west of the Mississippi River. And the party didn’t stop when the parade ended, as local activists pitched up tent by the pier to wake up the neighbors, and let them know about the importance of next year’s election. All in all, we all had a great time!

Follow me after the flip as I take you on a tour of the biggest and best party one could be at on the Fourth of July!

For twenty-five years, the Democratic Party of Orange County has been a part of the parade. And every year, we continue to delight the crowds with our rockin’ music and jubilant marchers. This year’s theme of our float was “Opportunity, Diversity, & Freedom”, and boy could everyone see all that and more yesterday! We had young Democrats and long-time Democrats who are still young at heart. We had gay Democrats and straight Democrats. We had black Democrats, brown Democrats, and white Democrats. We had Democrats supporting Barack Obama, Democrats supporting John Edwards, Democrats supporting Hillary Clinton, and Democrats supporting other Democratic Candidates for President. And what brought all us Democrats together yesterday was that we’re all part of the Democratic Party of Orange County, and that we all stand for the right of working families in Orange County to have that opportunity to succeed.

So who was there yesterday? Here I am (left to right) with our newest OC Democrat Mitch Star, the one & only Mike Lawson of The Liberal OC, and Elizabeth and Jason of Orange County Young Democrats (OCYD).

Here I am with (left to right) Garden Grove City Council Candidate Paul Lucas, Mitch, and Mike.

Here’s Former State Senator & Current California Medical Association CEO Joe Dunn with some young Democrats as they prepare for the moment of truth.

Here I am with the great Vern Nelson, the fearless Orange County organizer for Healthcare for All California.

And here’s the float in action!

Now all these great Democrats were a part of the parade, but they weren’t the only Democrats busy in Surf City! Obama OC laid out some blankets on the beach by the pier, put up a canopy, and got to work registering new voters and letting others in the ‘hood know about Barack Obama and the 2008 Election. We had over 30 new registrations yesterday, including a Republican and a Green who switched to Democrat because they’ve been inspired by Obama. And of course, we had dozens more come on over to our beach party, just to talk to us about the election and show their appreciation of us being out in the community.

OK, so a few of us Obama Girls did manage to get in the parade! ; )

And here’s our great booth!

Oh yeah, and could we have possibly held a beach party at a better location than this? : )

Yep, I’d say that yesterday was a huge success for OC Democrats! At the parade, we let the community know that we’re 454,000 voters strong and we’re making a difference for working families in this county. At the beach party, Obama OC showed the folks by the pier that there are progressives who care enough about changing the same old politics of despair and destruction that we get out in the community and let them know that hope is still here. Now what could be more American than this?

Perhaps a terrific fireworks show? What the heck, why not! ; )

March with the Democrats at the Surf City Fourth of July Parade!

(Cross-posted at Ditch Crazy Dana and Trash Dirty Gary)

What do you think of when you think “Fourth of July”? The American flag, perhaps? Fireworks? Independence? Apple pie? Ice cream? The beach? A parade? Well, what if I told you that you can experience all of that AND MORE on Wednesday?!

Yes, my friends, this Wednesday is July 4th. And yes, this means it’s time for the Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade, THE LARGEST INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER! And guess what? The Democratic Party of Orange County will once again have a fantastic float in the parade! Oh yes, and our fabulous Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez will be marching with us! Oh yes, and we need more people to march with us in the parade. Come on now, don’t YOU want to be a part of the parade?

So would YOU like to be a part of this world-famous All-American celebration? Follow me after the flip for more…

For the past 28 years, OC Democrats have been a part of this VERY OC tradition. We’ve had local elected officials like Former State Senator Joe Dunn and current State Senator Lou Correa join us in the parade. We always have the Young Democrats dancing on the float. Oh yes, and how about that float? Live music. Festive decorations. The American Spirit. What more could you possibly want?

So why NOT go? Join in on the fun. Just remember to COME EARLY TO FIND PARKING. Here are some details on what will be happening, courtesy of The Liberal OC:

The parade begins at 10:00 A.M. and ends at 12:30 P.M. Democrats begin gathering at 7:30 A.M. to march. We will have shuttle cars to take you to the staging area or to the handicap cheering section.

Shuttle Starts: 7:00 A.M.
Last Shuttle: 9:00 A.M.

Please come early, the traffic gets very busy and we cannot transport everyone at the last minute.

For parking and shuttling, drive to Seacliff Village, located at Goldenwest and Yorktown. Look for the Del Taco fast food restaurant. Then look for the signs saying “Democratic Parking.”

Oh yes, and before I forget, we should all remember that all marchers with the Democratic Party of Orange County entry must wear red T-shirts or polo shirts and blue jean or dark/navy blue shorts or pants. Get it? Got it? Good.

Well, I’m picking out my red shirt and blue jean shorts. How about you? The Fourth of July Parade may only be once a year, but it’s something that give us great memories to last us all year long. Why not be a part of these great memories?

To participate, simply show up!

If you have any questions, please contact Caren Bolinger at 310-293-8320 or email her at [email protected]

: )