October 2006 Archives

Here is the third in a series of discussions and reasons why Lt. Governor candidate Tom McClintock and Controller Candidate, Tony Strickland are too extreme for our state and need to be defeated in the coming election by voting for John Garamendi for Lt. Governor and John Chiang for State Controller. Not only are Garamendi and Chiang eminently more qualified for these positions, but they share our values for a California that honors hard work and is fair to working people, as contrasted with the extremist Bush administration mentality espoused by McClintock and Strickland that believes Corporate America can do no wrong and should not be accountable to taxpayers or their own employees.

Our friends at the California Labor Federation have supplied us with the following information about the voting records of these two right-wing extremists who believe corporate profits should trump people and any sense of responsibility of good corporate citizenship.

Their comments follow here :

Malcom "Tipping Point" Gladwell wrote a review for the New Yorker of Jared Diamond's Collapse at the end of 2004 that address Prop 37, the Oregon law that's nearly identical to Prop 90. There's an extended quote on the flip, but the whole thing is worth a read...

In keeping with our effort to get out the real records of these two extremists, Lt. Governor candidate, Tom McClintock and Controller candidate, Tony Strickland, we've asked major spokesmen and representatives of key environmental groups in California --the SIerra Club and the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) to explain just how out-of-touch these two candidates are when it comes to protecting our precious environment.

Regardless of how much money is spent trying to gloss over and ignore their Bush-like views of our precious communities and resources, the facts are still the facts and no amount of "powder and paint can make them look like what they ain't" as an old saying goes...... Their long histories of disrespecting our values is so striking, it is important that we make sure people who don't know about their records are given that information before they make their critical election decisions. There is just too much at stake for our beloved state to vote in ignorance.
Here's what our environmental watchdog groups have to say:

With the sudden infusion of millions of dollars primarily by a small but flush group of Tribes, the prospects of these two members of the radical fringe of the Republican Party actually having a chance at winning election in November has mobilized a whole group of progressive organizations to fight back----even though we don't have the kind of financial resources to level the money field. Instead, we've got the truth and once the word is out to California's voters, they'll be horrified at the careers and records of these two candidates.

Over the next several days, we'll be posting the records of Lt. Governor candidate Tom McClintock and his much less-intelligent, but equally dangerous clone, State Controller candidate Tony Strickland. Today we've got the women's community's perspective on these two and their voting records on issues of importance to women and girls.

It's beyond bleak and horrifying to think that these two ideological inflexible anti-pay equity, anti-choice, anti medical leave- and anti-just about everything that is important to progressives could be so close to gaining a foothold in controlling many of the important activities that direct our state and its future.

Take a look at what Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California NOW's PAC and NARAL Pro-Choice California have to say about the records of these two neanderthals. Then click to the sites listed below which provide the actual legislative report cards for past year voting records of these two.

We hope you will also pass this information along because we progressives don't have the millions of dollars necessary to combat the misinformation and distortions about these two that will attempt to portray them as protectors of the public. As you will see, they are anything but---Simply put, they're too extreme for California.

We've gotten a ton of questions about judges. This thread is a place to post information you might have on any of them!

It's hard to believe that all the hype and smoke-and-mirrors that the Governor's re-election team---brought to us by the George Bush re-election machine, has been able to so totally snooker the media and many others into believing that Arnold is a changed man.

Of course, his most recent unilateral act of totally ignoring the deal he made with the Democratic leadership in the legislature to get AB 32- the Global Warming bill passed notwithstanding, it looks like many Dems think he's an OK guy. The fact is: he's already laid-down-the gauntlet, signaling he's the same old guy who thinks he's king and doesn't have to play by the same rules as everyone else (Does this sound a little George Bushian---with his now familiar "Signing statements" after each piece of legislation where Bush says he'll interpret the bill as he chooses, irrespective of legislative intent or the clear meaning of the law he's signed). If it sounds familiar, it's because it is.
Arnold is taking yet another page from the Bush playbook that says it doesn't matter what I sign, it's what I say and decide to do that matters. No matter how they try to portray it, it's the same team and same playbook.

So here we are, on the cusp of the General Election of 2006, with Dems unsure of whether to give this flip-flopping politician another chance and actually considering it. Of course, the mainstream media is so star-struck that it has ignored these transgressions and lined-up with the rest of the seduced paparazzi to photograph every staged event and well-scripted interaction this governor has---without seriously questioning or challenging his conduct or statements. For those of us with more discerning priorities, Assemblymember and Speak Out supporter Mark Leno has put together a list of the ten reasons why all Democrats---and certainly progressives, should vote for Phil Angelides for Governor.
Here they are:

[crossposted at dailykos and mydd.]

There have been a lot of main stream media stories over the past few weeks about how great the RNC get out the vote operation is doing, including one on Sunday in the SF Chron about the Schwarzenegger operation. These stories usually include an obligatory paragraph about how disorganized the Democratic side is by comparison.

You'll be shocked to know that your sources in the corporate media may not be telling you the entire truth here - although in this case it really isn't their fault. The Voter Activation Network (VAN) is a web based voter contact database and tracking system that a number of state Democratic parties and other organizations are using to keep track of their field and direct mail operations. (Full disclosure: I'm the project director of California VoterConnect, and as of a few months ago we are a customer of theirs.)

The folks running this system have a unique perspective on how we're doing. On the flip is a letter from one of the principals of this organization (published here with his express permission) with some perhaps surprising and potentially great news...

We just received this urgent message from groups in the thick of the political battle this year. We are passing it along to you to remind you just what is at stake and urge you to make sure all your like-minded friends and colleagues don't let it happen. Please excuse some of the grammar and formatting here; at this point in the campaign urgency is the first and only thing.

This scenario might sound somewhat dramatic but it is certainly a real possibility when progressive candidates and ideas are being outspent by such significant margins. T.V. and mail are powerful tools, but we believe the internet is as well. So with a lot less money, but a lot more of what is right on our side, here's an update on what the latest and serious events could produce in this election year:

California could very well go red. The casino-owning tribes have just announced a multi-million independent expenditure against Democrats John Garamendi and John Chiang. The mud-slinging ads will begin as soon as this week.

With the trifecta of oil, insurance and now, casino-owning tribes, along with 60,000 Far Right phone bankers culled from faux non-profits and evangelical churches, just about every constitutional office is in play in Democratic California. A recent estimate by the CA Repub Party shows, with the influx of gaming money, and Arnold's coattails, that the Republicans have a significant chance of winning (in addition to the Governor's seat):
Lt Gov
Secty of State
Controller
Ins Com'r
Treasurer...and
Attorney General...they are suing Jerry Brown now...

We say we want clean money and universal health care in CA....not with this crowd.

Moreover, no matter who the Dem nominee is in 2008, it is imperative that the unholy alliance in CA between oil, insurance, casino-owning tribes and the Far Right be exposed and more, eliminated, or no Democrat will stand a chance in California in 2008.

Pls educate your friends and neighbors and encourage them to vote Democratic for the entire slate. Also, if they/you have not yet gotten involved in this election, now is the time to start, esp with those who will now be facing multi-million dollar negative ad buys from the casino-owning tribes....long-time supporters to Tom "Mr. Family Values" McClintock."

Click more for more information about where we're at...

If there was any question about the importance of defeating this awful measure, take a look at what long-time activist Robert Redford thinks of Prop 90. This mail was sent to NRDC members but it's as good a summary as is out there of where people are at on this and what the issues around this terrible proposition are...

Dear NRDC Member,

"We had no idea."

You're going to hear that a lot if Proposition 90 passes next month. Millions of people are going to wake up the morning after Election Day and wish they'd read the fine print.

Please don't be one of them.

We asked progressive icon and Speak Out California supporter State Senator Sheila Kuehl to share with us her thoughts on the races for statewide office this election year. The following is her typically thoughtful and articulate analysis of the priorities we progressives must express as we cast our ballots on the future of our state. With no other women on the statewide ticket, this is an opportunity to identify a new and rising star, but most importantly, to assure we protect the integrity of our democratic system, our vote. Here's what Senator Kuehl had to say:

The most important election in the state this year is not the race for the Governor's seat. It is the race for Secretary of State. State Senator Deborah Bowen, the only woman running in California for any statewide seat, is the Democratic nominee. The Republican is Bruce McPherson, who was appointed by Arnold Schwarzenegger after the resignation of Kevin Shelley. As the 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections have (hopefully) taught us, everything could be at stake, not only 2006 but, more importantly 2008, depending on the outcome of this race.

Deb is running a few points ahead and will win if she can raise the necessary monies. For more information about her campaign, Go now to her website at www.debrabowen.com or contact her at: Debra Bowen for Secretary of State, 578 Washington Blvd. #409, Marina del Rey 90292.

I have served in the Legislature with Deb, in both the Assembly and the Senate, for all the 12 years I have been there and there is no one smarter, more honest, more committed to public service and more attuned to the ways in which elections can be stolen, compromised or thwarted. She must be elected.

On the flip... some history on why this race is so critical in California:

If the economy doesn't feel like it's really improving to you (even though the numbers might suggest otherwise), here's a pretty good summary of why from the Center for American Progress. The dow may keep going up, but that's not doing much for most of us out here!

In a move that raises serious doubts about whether Governor Schwarzenegger intends the new laws he trumpets to have any teeth, the Governor vetoed legislation sponsored by California's Attorney General Bill Lockyer that would have kept the playing field level when our state's top cop tackles corporations that violate California's laws. Schwarzenegger's veto is also a slap at taxpayers, who foot the bill for curbing illicit activities, and should be able to recoup those expenditures when the lawbreakers are caught and the People of California win in court.

The stakes for our state are enormous. If you visit Attorney General Lockyer's website, you'll see case after case where he won billions of dollars in refunds for California consumers, forced polluters to cease spewing toxins into our air or dumping them into our water, stopped tobacco companies from handing out free cigarettes to kids, curbed securities frauds perpetrated on stockholders and employees, cleaned up phony charities that ripped off donors, reined in lumber companies from decimating protected forests, and enforced hard-fought civil rights laws.

Great article in the SF Chron today about the Republican party civil war that's just getting under way. The only thing it's missing is an identification of why exactly it is that their revolution is falling apart, which is that their governing philosophy never made any sense and still doesn't. Libertarian-anarchist extremist and conservative movement darling Grover Norquist's thoughts, charming as ever:

"I'm more radical than these idiots who are whining that we haven't gotten there fast enough," Norquist said. "I work every day trying to move the party and the government toward the more-freedom and lower-tax position. I know why things aren't moving faster -- because it's difficult."

(Emphasis added.) "More-feedom and lower-tax:" that is the essence of the problem. The American people simply do not agree with the relentless conservative obsession with the sole kind of freedom they care about, the freedom that comes from owning property. The vast majority of us like the freedom that comes from having education and opportunity available to everyone. We like the freedom that comes from security, whether it's related to retirement or the availability of high paying jobs or (we wish!) health care. Those freedoms are utterly incompatible with a relentless program of tax cuts and attempts to starve "the beast."

The Republicans have run into the problems they have not just because they're corrupt, which at this point they have carried beyond anyone's wildest imagining, but because it turns out that the people they represent really don't mind the beast. They don't think of it as a beast at all. The Republican revolution has failed because of the weakness of the underlying philosophy. The coming progressive revolution will no doubt find new and interesting ways to fail and falter, but it won't be because of the underlying philosophy.

People like Tony Blankley, Gingrich's former press secretary and now the editorial page director of the conservative Washington Times, are in denial:

"As much as I wish the Republican majority had controlled spending better, I don't have the slightest doubt that if the Democrats were in, particularly if they had a Democratic president, the spending would increase and the deficit would increase. So you're not going to gain anything."

What, like under Clinton? Look at the numbers, Mr Blankley. As Phil stated unequivocally in last night's debate: Bill Clinton showed us the way to run an economy and starving the "beast" has nothing to do with it. Lowering taxes and protecting the wealthy doesn't give anyone more freedom, it just turns our economy into a kleptocracy. It's time for this philosophy and its adherents to find new lines of work.

The November 7th 2006 election is proving to be an epic battle for defining the future of our state. There are several outstanding progressive candidates and reforms on the ballot - as well as some truly scary conservative ones. See our 2006 General Election Voter Guide for the details...

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