Blackwater Parachutes into San Diego State's Halftime

On Saturday night, the San Diego State Aztecs hosted BYU to close out their regular football season. The game was the 3rd Annual Fleet Week-sponsored game, rescheduled from October 27 because of wildfires. The Fleet Week Foundation describes the game like this:

San Diego State University plays in this third annual Fleet Week Football Classic. Pregame and half-time shows will feature flyovers, parachutists, the Navy Region South West and SDSU bands, and a tribute to our wounded warriors at Balboa Hospital and Camp Pendleton as well as a tribute to members of the Legion of Valor.

The festivities have a wide range of public and private sponsors and it's fun for the whole family right? Well, for at least the second year in a row (probably all three), the halftime show included an American flag being parachuted onto the field by members of a nation parachutist team...who happen to work for Blackwater and use parachutes emblazoned with the Blackwater logo.

Attached is the promotional video from last year's (2006) Fleet Week. You can skip ahead to the 2:43 mark to see the Blackwater parachutist bringing in the giant American flag. If you want, you can also zip over to about the 3:09 mark to see the flag being dragged across the field during landing.

Fleet Week events, which go on year round, are to honor veterans. I've attended several of them and in my experience they've been good opportunities to pay tribute to veterans. So I have a hard time understanding how Blackwater fits into the puzzle. They consistently undermine the work being done by our armed forces around the world and especially in Iraq. It seems a particularly unfortunate inclusion in the festivities; made all the more uncomfortable given that the Blackwater recall election culminates on Tuesday (12/11).

I spoke with Steve Becvar of the SDSU Athletic Foundation, which was involved in planning the event. He explained that this is the third year that Blackwater-affiliated parachutists had played a role in the Fleet Week game. He emphasized that the school was not seeking to make any sort of political point, simply to partner with the Fleet Week Foundation to honor veterans.

But despite what may well have been the best intentions of event organizers, Blackwater has NO business honoring veterans. Blackwater profits from war and has a vested interest in prolonging any military struggle as long as it increases revenue. They are, in fact, naturally at odds with everything that our veterans should be honored for. They dishonor the flag and all the people who have bled for it whenever they or their representatives try to wrap themselves or the Blackwater logo in the American flag.

Blackwater knows what it does. And they know that they're nothing next to the members of the actual military. Past that, they know that their only hope for success or survival is to blur the distinction between their criminal behavior and the valor of American servicemen and women. As the Potrero vote peaks, I hope San Diegans and Americans everywhere refuse to be tricked. Blackwater is hoping for honor by osmosis, but they end up literally and figuratively dragging the reputations of our soldiers through the mud.

If people wanted yet ANOTHER reason to resist at every opportunity Blackwater's plans for a training facility in Potrero, here you go. They've taken advantage of SDSU and the Fleet Week Foundation to undermine what otherwise could have been a wonderful evening for veterans. But Blackwater doesn't serve the United States or its ideals. Blackwater serves the dollar. And they have no business being remotely affiliated with veterans or current servicemembers.

So from San Diego to Blackwater: Get out and stay out.

Cross posted from Calitics

Thursday - Quick Hits

Hoffa rallies Teamsters at Otay border crossing to protest NAFTA rules allowing Mexican truck drivers. UT

Fire Chief asks the city for second fire fighting helicopter. UT

Mayor Sanders signed Alcohol Beach Ban. UT

City changes vendor for Red Light cameras. UT

Bomb threat at UCSD medical center deemed a hoax by authorities. UT

Sting nabs six unlicensed contractors in the RB area. UT

Economic downturn is starting to show some signs here in SD. UT

Hard hit Inland Empire face some job cuts now. NCTimes

Prominent OC Republican headed to prison for Sex Crimes

Very interesting events just up the I-5 in Orange County. On Tuesday, Jeffrey Ray Nielsen a prominent OC Republican with close ties to Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and OC Republican Chairman Scott Baugh pleaded guilty to "two felonies: committing lewd acts on a 12-year-old Virginia boy and 14-year-old Orange County boy."[Link]

Nielsen, who is the son of former Fountain Valley Mayor Ben Nielsen, went to Washington in 1994 to work as an aide for Congress Rohrabacher.

During this period, Nielsen befriended a seventh-grade Virginia boy he met as a church youth counselor. For years, Nielsen engaged in sexual conduct with the boy (including in public), tried to convince the boy he was homosexual, and wrote a series of love letters to the boy after he moved back to California to enter USC law school.[Link]

Upon his return to California to attend law school, Nielsen went to work for Orange County Republican Assemblyman Scott Baugh.

He socialized with Baugh. He derided liberals with Baugh. When Baugh left Sacramento and negotiated a job with the powerhouse law firm of Manatt Phelps
& Phillips in 2001, he convinced the firm to hire Nielsen with him. It was during this time that Nielsen found a Westminster high-school freshman in an online gay chat room. Prosecutors say Nielsen repeatedly picked the boy up from school for sex. . . . The boy shared his experiences with a classmate, who promptly told school counselors.

When police arrested Nielsen, a prominent GOP activist at the time, The Orange County Register failed to tell its readers. In fact, the paper—some of whose staffers enjoy cozy relationships with local GOP leaders, including Rohrabacher and Baugh—waited more than three years to mention Nielsen’s arrest. Worse, while Nielsen awaited trial for molesting the Westminster boy, the Register’s Richard Chang helped to bolster the accused pedophile’s reputation in the community. In an article, Chang didn’t mention the charges, but rather praised Nielsen for volunteering to help homeless puppies from the Katrina disaster in New Orleans.[Link]

It is interesting to note that much like the Orange County Register, both the Flash Report and Red County have failed to make mention of this story.

Democratic Consultants Fabiani and Lehane to work against Writers Union

This afternoon the LA Times reported that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have brought in three political consultants to assist them in the public relations battle with the striking Writers Guild of America.[Link] Democratic consultants Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane, together with Republican consultant Steve Schmidt were retained by the Alliance to shore up its public image.

The advisors will take over the role of Barbara Brogliatti, who has been guiding the group's public relations strategy for much of the last 25 years. The former Warner Bros. executive recently stepped down from her day-to-day role, though she will remain as senior advisor to the group, which has been locked in contentious contract negotiations with writers over pay for new media.

The move reflects a concerted push by the alliance to take a more aggressive approach in its public relations after polls conducted by Pepperdine University, Fox News and SurveyUSA showed widespread public support for the writers, now in their fifth week of a strike.[Link]

Republican Steve Schmidt, prior to working for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as his 2006 campaign manager, held a high position in the Bush White House, "including serving as the lead strategist on the confirmations of John G. Roberts Jr. and Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the Supreme Court."[Link]

Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane have a long history working for Democrats. They served as senior aides and advisors to both President Clinton and Vice President Gore. In 2004 they were both strategist to General Wesley Clark during his presidential campaign.

For the last several years Fabiani has been working for the San Diego Chargers in their attempt to convince taxpayers to pay for a new stadium for the team.[Link] Lehane on the other hand has played the role of "freelance political pundit" quoted occasionally in print and appearing on television. He has also played the unofficial attack dog role for Clinton campaign.[Link]

That two very prominent Democratic consultants are working against a labor union in a high profile strike is extremely troubling. The fact that both have close ties to the Clinton political machine, someone should ask the Clinton campaign if they support Fabiani and Lehane in their present efforts?

Wow! Is it the 1950s again?

I have always suspected that the crazy wingnuts really wished the Cold War had never ended. The Global War on Terror, just doesn't arouse the same primordial emotions that the Cold War did. After all, there were duck and cover drills in school, and if your neighbor was incline to read novels from Dalton Trumbo and beleive in civil rights for African-americans, you could openly suspect him of harboring leftwing sympathies. Those were the good ole days for the wingnuts.

Apparently Mike Spence didn't get the memo that the Cold War is over. For the president of the California Republican Assembly, the Cold War is alive and well. In a post he wrote yesterday on the Flash Report, he discussed the efforts of human rights groups to protest a Chinese sponsored float in the upcoming Rose Parade.[Link] What struck me with his post was the use of outdated language. It has been a long time since I have seen terms like Red China and Chicoms thrown around so casually. Here is some advice Mike, take the your copy of Red Nightmare out the VCR and put it on the bookshelf before your blow a gasket.

Wednesday - Quick Hits

San Diego schools Superintendent Carl Cohn has found himself a new job at SDSU School of Education. UT

City of Chula Vista has decided to eliminate 112 jobs, through retirements, layoffs, and the elimination of vacant positions. UT

City Council denies community group an environmental review of Navy Broadway Complex Project. UT

A group of activists in Chula Vista submitted signatures to qualify initiative for electing City Attorney. UT

SANDAG and North County coastal communities move ahead with sand reclamation project. NCTimes

Much touted layoffs by Mayor Sanders didn't remove workers from from city rolls. VOSD

Stand up for livable wages in San Diego's future!

From Center on Policy Initiatives:

Action Alert: Stand up for livable wages in San Diego's future!

CPI will be at City Hall tomorrow to fight Mayor Sanders' attempt to remove living wage jobs as a goal of development and land use. This flagrant giveaway to the low-paying tourism industry must be stopped!

If you can't come to City Hall, please call or e-mail Councilmembers today!

In the 11th hour of updating San Diego's General Plan, Sanders has attacked the city's established living wage policy by deleting all mention of livable wages or "self-sufficiency wages" from the draft plan.

The General Plan sets guidelines for all land-use decisions, including what developers are allowed to build. It must be restored to promote living wage jobs with healthcare coverage!

In addition, the Mayor's changes pave the way for the city to begin providing incentive subsidies to hotel developers even when they're creating poverty wage jobs. Click here for more information and to see the wording Sanders slashed from the proposed update.

Please come to a special meeting of the City Council's Land Use and Housing Committee tomorrow (Wednesday) at City Hall, 202 C Street, downtown.

Otherwise, please call the committee members listed below or send them an e-mail.

• Councilmember Jim Madaffer, Chair: (619) 236-6677
• Councilmember Toni Atkins: (619) 236-6633
• Councilmember Tony Young: (619) 236-6644
• Councilmember Ben Hueso: (619) 236-6688

Insist that our City's plan for future growth must combat the growing income gap in San Diego! We want economic prosperity for all working people, not just hotel developers!

San Diego City Council Grows Balls

So, it finally happened. The San Diego City Council actually overrode a mayoral veto yesterday. With a 5 to 3 super-majority, Councilmembers Atkins, Frye, Hueso, Madaffer and Peters showed Mayor Jerry Sanders that public policy is more important that public relations. The controversial "toilet to tap" study that the City Council approved earlier this month was vetoed by Sanders, partially because of the "yuck" factor. Well, wake up Sanders - you are already drinking treated sewage that is put into the Colorado River upstream. Cost may be an initial factor, but Sanders should realize the potential costs for our economy as we face another drought. Kudos to the City Council, for showing true leadership in this time of crisis. And where was Mayor Sanders? According to his spokesman Fred Sainz "at the movies". (This was written in the union tribune, and I refuse to link to that rag).

Without a viable Democrat in the race, Mayor Francis is sounding better and better to this progressive everyday.

Tuesday - Quick Hits

As circulation continues to fall, the UT cuts newsroom staff by another 12%. Another example of the failure of conservatism. VOSD

City Council rightly votes to override mayor's veto on water recycling. VOSD UT

Border Patrol agent finds tunnel and 15,000 pounds of chronic inside shipping container near Tecate. UT

County Supervisors to consider pay raises for D.A. Bonnie Dumanis and Sheriff Bill Kolender. UT

Silicon Valley business sentenced to prison for selling military grade night-vision googles to the Chinese. UT

County fire authority moves closer to being. Only problem, they need to come up with the money. UT NCTimes

Needing a new home, Children's Museum has decided not to house charter school that shares its name. UT

Under performing charter schools, leave financial burden upon SDUSD. VOSD

Electoral College Initiative is Running out of Time

The SacBee is reporting tonight that State Election officials are saying that backers of the California electoral college initiative are at risk of missing the June ballot. Election officials said it will be difficult to finish counting the signatures in time for the January 24th state deadline.[Link]

Despite a recommendation from Secretary of State Debra Bowen that the proponents submit the signatures to the counties three weeks ago, they have yet to submit the necessary signatures. Supporters of the initiative need 433,971 signatures to qualify for the ballot. They are aiming at collecting 700,000 signature to ensure that they have enough to qualify for the ballot.[Link]

Supporters originally the aimed at turning the in the signatures by Friday December 1st. They received a late infusion of cash when the Orange County Lincoln Club made a $100,000 contribution to the initiative effort.[Link] The Republican political consultant Dave Gilliard, who is heading up the effort to qualify the initiative for the ballot, didn't return phones repeated phones calls to the SacBee on Monday.[Link]

Cross posted on Calitics

Call it the Núñez Rule

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the Fair Political Practices Commission is considering a proposal at its December 13th meeting that would require politicians who use their campaign funds for dining, gifts, and traveling "to prove those expenditures are related to governmental or political business." The FPPC also is going to consider a proposal requiring nonprofit groups that get involved in political campaigns to reveal their donors.[Link]

"Together, the proposed reforms aim to better inform voters about who is bankrolling ballot measure campaigns and tighten vague laws under which some politicians." Over the past couple of months Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), has come under fire for lavishly spending campaign funds on travel, meals and gifts.[Link]

If the proposals are adopted by the FPPC, "politicians would have to attach a memo to their spending reports that shows the nature and recipient of gifts, details about who partook of meals and how travel related to governmental or political purposes."[Link]

The Aguirre Dilemma

When City Attorney Mike Aguirre failed to get the San Diego County Democratic Party early incumbent endorsement last month, many of local Democratic activists were surprised by the result. Among grassroots activists, Aguirre is viewed as something of a mythic figure, akin to the status enjoyed by councilmember Donna Fyre circa 2004 & 2005. Aguirre’s appeal among these Democratic activist is understandable, he is their Jesus, turning over the tables of “downtown establishment” moneychangers outside the temple of city hall.

Mike Aguirre plays the martyr role quite well to his audience of supporters. These supporters attraction to Aguirre comes out of sense of frustration. Since Pete Wilson was elected mayor in 1971, the voters of San Diego have elected only one Democrat as mayor in the intervening 35+ years and she left office in 1992. Unless something dramatically changes between now and the close on the filing period next March, the drought at holding the mayor office will continue at least until 2012.

Notwithstanding, Mike Aguirre creates a bit of a dilemma for the county Democratic Party. He is after all the only Democratic office holder elected citywide. He has, however, alienated certain sectors of the Democratic coalition, in particular labor. But that is not his only the problem. His disconcerting forays as City Attorney into areas not traditional part of the office’s purview, such as his investigation of KPBS, have added to the loose-cannon caricature portrayed in the pages of the local establishment paper. Many people in this town who consider themselves staunch Democrats, but are not activist types, they find Aguirre’s tenure as City Attorney embarrassing.

Last week, when Democratic Party Chair, Jess Durfee was guest posting at Voice of San Diego it was interesting to read the comments to his posts. Most of the comments, once you got past the token Republicans, didn’t want to discuss what Jess Durfee was posting about. Instead many of the comments were from Democrats wanting to comment on Mike Aguirre and if the party should endorse him. The vast majority of these comments, expressed the opinion that Aguirre doesn’t deserve the local party’s endorsement. Of course, there is no way to tell how representative, these commenters are to the public at large. That being the case, since the vote last month, I have heard from a friend who is Central Committee member that Mike Aguirre and some of his staff have been meeting with members of the Central Committee to make their case for endorsement. My friend also tells me that he thinks, the early endorsement will be put back on the agenda for the January Central Committee meeting.

There is no doubt that the downtown Republican establishment is gunning after Mike Aguirre. All you need to do, is just pickup a copy of the UT to see their slanted coverage. Does that warrant the local party to throw its prestige and weight behind Aguirre’s reelection? To the grassroots activists the answer is “yes.” He is, however, not the only announced Democrat who is seeking the office of City Attorney. Since the party has once already denied him the early incumbent endorsement, maybe they should hold off the endorsement until all announced Democrats for City Attorney can present themselves before the Central Committee to be considered for endorsement. -TQ

Monday - Quick Hits

Wingnuts get your tinfoil hats ready. County to start fluoridation today. UT

Chula Vista expected to cut $15.9 million from budget, and will layoff 27 in the process. UT

Construction begins on Palomar-Pomerado hospital near $1 billion expansion. NCTimes

In an editorial, La Prensa reminds us that the Reverse 911 system work well if you spoke English. LaPrensa

Rental vacancies on the rise throughout the county. UT

As reputation grows, number of applicants to SDSU increases. Too bad they can't get recruit better football players. UT

Beyond Gitmo

The Center for Constitutional Rights brought the first Guantánamo case more than five years ago. This fall, CCR will again represent Guantánamo detainees before the Supreme Court to demand their right to know why they are being held.[Link]

Help Put this Ad in Bush's Bedroom!

While President Bush might not read our Supreme Court legal brief or listen to the arguments in next week's case, he'll probably watch the coverage on Fox News. So we've prepared a hard-hitting commercial to show during the O'Reilly Factor. Film star and activist Danny Glover narrates a 30-second video that depicts the shredding of our Constitution.

We need your help to put it on the air in Washington, D.C. - in Bush's backyard and in his bedroom.Can you help? Please make a contribution of $20 (or more if you can) to get the ad aired on the O'Reilly Factor so we can get our message across without being interrupted! If we raise more than we need, we'll take it to other shows like The Countdown with Keith Olbermann, too.[Donate]

Virginia GOP Abandons Loyalty Oath Plan

Via TPM Election Central:

Last week the Virgina GOP had applied to the state elections board and received permission to institute a "Loyalty Oath" for all who participate in the February Virginia GOP Presidential Primary. The plan would have require anyone who requested a GOP primary ballot to swear to support the GOP presidential nominee.[Link]

Well today the Virginia GOP has decided that requiring people to sign a loyalty oath, gives "[t]he perception was that it was more of a closed-door policy, and we want an open-door policy."[Link] So much for their best laid plans.

AG opposes SANDAG Transportation Plan

Late yesterday the office of Attorney General Jerry Brown submitted a last-minute objection to SANDAG's 2030 Regional Transportation Plan.[Link] The plan which outlines $57 billion worth of transportation projects was approved Thursday by the SANDAG's board of directors with a vote of 16-2.

The SANDAG's plan will seriously do nothing to improve the traffic situation here in San Diego county. The plan is way too heavy in favor of automobiles and not enough focus on adding more rail in the county.

Warning Shot Fired at Steve Francis

Over at the UT's "Finest Blog" resident Bob Kittle lapdog, Chris Reed fired off what clearly is a warning shot at Steve Francis regarding his potential challenge to Jerry Sanders for mayor. In a post on Friday afternoon Reed writes:

Just when it looks like San Diego is on track to rid itself next year of its out-of-control city attorney, Francis is apparently gearing up to run a heavily funded campaign that will depict Mayor Jerry Sanders as the city's biggest problem while ignoring Aguirre.

In so doing, Francis would directly challenge the emerging narrative that holds Aguirre accountable for all he has done to hurt the city. Such a campaign would also undermine the emerging awareness of reformers that while City Hall is still sleazy, Aguirre's antics (kind word) actually hurt the cause of reform.[Link]

This is Reed at his best, carrying the water for the UT (i.e. Republican Party establishment) in stating the standard talking point on Mike Aguirre. He also echos the recent concern I have heard from the anti-Aguirre camp when he further states:

If Francis pulls his punches on Aguirre and allows for the emergence of a de facto unified Francis-Aguirre front against the mayor, watch out. Mike can revive his old tropes by saying, "Look! Steve Francis agrees with me!"

If you asked me today whom I would vote for mayor next year, I would say I don't know. But if Francis runs a campaign that helps rehabilitate Aguirre, I wouldn't vote
for him in a million years.

Every single campaign forum, Francis should be pressed to offer a clear and coherent analysis of Aguirre's job performance. If he doesn't admit that Aguirre has been a big reason why Sanders has never really hit his stride, that should be held against him.[Link]

Without a prominent Democratic to run for mayor next year (and no, I don't consider Donna Fyre that person), the warning to Francis is quite clear. Steve, we don't mind if you want to spend several million dollars of your own money in another quixotic run for mayor, but don't you get in our way as we try to wrestle back the City Attorney from Mike Aguirre.

I always thought Chris Reed was supposed to be the big "independent" thinker on the UT editorial board. I guess not, since it appears that he needs to stay in favor with Bob Kittle.

Dots now connected to the People’s Ordinance

Back in August I posted how I thought it was interesting Craig Benedetto wrote in the Voice of San Diego Cafe about the People's Ordinance. I called it a test ballon.

Well, the balloon has flown and now it is time for the real deal. Mayor Jerry Sander's is now looking to move at outsourcing its waste collection. Down the road, when the cost goes up from increase charges of the outside company, like at the City of Imperial Beach, then the residents of San Diego should expect to start paying for their trash hauling.

Well, I guess if Steve Frances does challenge Mayor Sanders re-election, then the Mayor will need more money to compete and we are not talking managed competition here. So, he is moving to outsource and start the fundraising or I mean to say start the outsource bidding process.

Lee Burdick joins race for City Attorney

The field for City Attorney has gotten a bit more crowded today. VOSD is reporting this afternoon that Jimsair in-house attorney Lee Burdick has declared her intention to run for City Attorney in 2008.[Link]

Burdick who is a registered Democrat and has ties to the Regional Chamber of Commerce joins Democratic attorney Dan Coffey, Republican deputy D.A. William Gentry, and Republican former Assemblymember turned Judge Jan Goldsmith as challengers to Mike Aguirre.

Friday - Quick Hits

Sad news. Megan Emily Rountree, the daughter of Lucy Krohn, chief of staff to Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, died from a fall last Saturday night. CapitolWeekly

After 16 months of negotiations between City of Chula Vista and Gaylord Entertainment, deal is still elusive on $1 billion bayfront project. UT

State Supreme Court say screw the seals in upholding lower court ruling that Children's Pool in La Jolla has to be dredged. UT

Thanks to DiFi's criticisms, city to study cost of adding additional fire stations and firefighters. UT

California Coastal Commission to examine Oceanside plans for beachfront hotel next month. UT

Tri-city hospital board has choosen design for $778 million expansion and upgrade of medical center. UT NCTimes

San Diego plans economic prosperity for hotel developers, not workers

Courtesy of Center on Policy Initiatives:

Mayor Jerry Sanders has stripped the "Economic Prosperity" section of the city's proposed general plan of its power to raise the standard of living for low-wage tourism workers.

Sanders' new version of the plan rolls back the clock by ignoring the crisis of growing inequality in San Diego's economy. It deletes all references to solving the explosion of low-wage jobs in service industries, specifically tourism, and lays the groundwork to subsidize tourism development that creates more low-wage jobs with no benefits.

The plan, which guides all city decisions on land use, is scheduled for a vote by the city's Land Use and Housing Committee, next Wednesday, Dec. 5, 10:30am at City Hall, 202 C St downtown San Diego. Please attend the meeting if you can and stand up for workers in the tourism industry!

Marty Block Fundraising Reception

Marty Block for Assembly 78th Fundraising Reception

Wednesday, December 5th

Honorary Hosts

State Senator Christine Kehoe, City Councilmembers Donna Frye,

Toni Atkins, former State Senator Lucy Killea,

former Assemblymember Howard Wayne, and Francine Busby.

Patron $500

Sponsor $250

General Reception $78

Patron/Sponsor Reception 5:30 – 6:30 pm

General Reception 6:30 – 8:00 pm

At the home of Kevin Tilden and Phil Diamond

4215 Arden Way in Mission Hills 92103

RSVP by Dec. 1 to April@martyblock.com

For more info: 619 284-7800

Good business is only good, if we don't include the GOP

The other night I thought more about my post on the GOP fundraising and did some more reading.

The GOP will have a tough time in 2008. On a national level, they have vulnerable House members, more open House and Senate seats then the Democrats, and more total Senate seats up for election too. As my previous post pointed out they don't have the money for this fight. The only way to win is in 2008 is if the Democrats shot themselves in the foot. That is not impossible.
On a state level, the GOP will have to defend two open Republican Assembly seats, which where drawn for Democrats, but which the GOP picked up six years ago and as incumbents were easily able to defend them. However, six years later, a very difference political environment and candidate pool, plus party registration does not make it look so promising for the GOP. George "Cheetahs" Stevens the GOP still need you! You have to give it the GOP for saying they will keep the seats, because what do you expect them to tell the poor fools running and the money people they have dumping cash into the races it will be an up hill battle ahead.

On the local level, it looks brighter for the GOP, but not so bright as it should for them. Right now, Mayor Jerry Sanders has no challengers, but GOP Steve Francis might take him on. Francis is the state's GOP Finance Chairman. You might remember in 2005, then local GOP Chair and now State Chair Ron Nehring was speculated to have fixed the endorsement for Steve Francis. What will the local GOP party or state GOP party do, if Francis does runs?

If you re-read the San Diego Reader article that covered the previous endorsement fight it makes you think who will give the biggest bang for the buck to the San Diego County Republican Party. You see this county's GOP charges a HUGE TAX (18.5%) on contributions they wash through their books for member communications. Means for every $100,000 they get from a donor for doing paperwork, then they pocket $18,500 of it, not bad. Other GOP county parties don't charge such a high tax and even the supposedly tax crazy Democrats don't charge so much for their wash through service. As a board member of a multi-million non-profit we would never take more then 15% from our donations for administration costs, because we make sure the money really goes to the service the people donated it too.

How can the San Diego County Republican Party justify this extreme tax?

Thursday - Quick Hits

Airport baggage employee doesn't like Congressman Filner's apology. UT

Environmentalists not to happy with Chargers billion dollar bayfront stadium proposal. UT

Documents reveal that half of Cal Fire's spotters were unavailable when fires began. UT

Seaworld applies to becomes first business in San Diego to discharge fireworks over water. UT

More corporate welfare, Escondido to give $1.45 million over ten years to Marriot corporation to build hotel near North County Fair. NCTimes

Be Careful for What You Wish for....

I think Kevin Drum over at Washington Monthly nicely sums up the predicament regarding the state budget shortfall for next year. How a manageable $3 billion dollar shortfall has now turned into a $10 billion shortfall.

Democrats deserve blame for mismanaging California's budget in the early 00s, but it's hard to overstate just how irresponsible and infantile Schwarzenegger and California Republicans have been since then. In 2003, in the middle of an existing budget crisis, Schwarzenegger ran a demagogic and pandering campaign based on cutting California taxes by $4 billion. Then, to fix the shortfall this caused, he supported the 2004 bond measure. The net cost to the state of this GOP flight to fantasy now adds up to $7 billion per year.

If it weren't for Schwarzenegger and his fellow GOP tax fanatics, next year's projected shortfall would be $3 billion — or possibly even less. That would have been manageable. Instead we careen from crisis to crisis thanks to the government-by-temper-tantrum practiced by modern California Republicans. Thanks a lot, guys. [Link]

Wednesday - Quick Hits

Labor Council secretary/treasurer Jerry Butkiewicz, who is leaving his post in December has accepted a position with Sempra Engery. VOSD

Department of Water Resorces expects to export on 25% of water requested by water suppliers. VOSD

Pointing out the obvious, Senator Feinstein says San Diego needs more firefighters and tougher building codes. NCTimes UT

The legendary Daily Double Saloon in Encinitas is scheduled to change ownership afte being owed by the same famly for 50 years. UT

Fight over transportation bonds, San Diego wins round one, Nunez complains that San Diego received more than it should have. UT

Playing Cards with Suspects and Victims on them?

In an attempt to solve some murder case that have gone cold. Some 10,000 decks of cards will be distributed to the commissaries at the seven county jails.

[L]ocal law enforcement and San Diego County Crime Stoppers this week launched a new set of playing cards featuring homicide victims and suspects that will be made available to inmates in the county's seven jails.

* * *

Auday Arabo, president of the Neighborhood Market Association that sponsored the project, said it makes sense to reach out to inmates for tips."We know that there are those in jail right now who have information to bring justice to victims and their families," Arabo said.

The cards in the deck feature either a cold case homicide victim, a wanted fugitive or a long-missing person now presumed dead. The cards carry photos of the victim or suspect, as well as the age, the date of the crime and a brief synopsis of the case.[Link]

This project is similar to an initiative that was tried in Florida were it yielded three arrests and multiple leads for law enforcement. There are over 2000 unsolved murders here in San Diego County, some more than 50 years old.[Link]

Obama Campaign First in Town

With the presidential primary here in California 10 weeks away from today. It appears that the Barack Obama campaign is the first presidential campaign to set up operations here in San Diego. The office is located at 1502 6th Ave. (NW corner of 6th & Beech), San Diego, 92101. [Map]

The office hours are from 9am to 9pm Monday through Thursday, 9am to 5pm Friday and Saturday, and 1pm to 9pm on Sunday. There will be a San Diego Believes in Obama!, Grand Opening on Sunday, December 2, from 11am-4pm. To RSVP contact regional field director LM Clinton at lmclinton@hotmail.com.

And the Windbag Award goes to...

I attended a meeting hosted by the Progressive Grandmothers for Political Action at the Remington in RB this afternoon. I met many of these women at the weekly ENOUGH! protest in Poway. The speaker today was Lobbyist turned congressman Bilbray. He spent his entire time shamelessly bragging about his 'accomplishments' as the 'environmentalist mayor' of Imperial Beach. At the end, it was time for questions and answer. His strategy was, pretend to answer a question by distracting people with non-stop babbling, mostly nonsense. He was all over the place! In teaching, we call it bird walking (when one constantly wanders away from the objective of the lesson). When asked about the Iraq debacle, he talks about the Civil War in this country, and what the Germans did in WWII. Then he went on and on about how once a war is started, there is no good way to end it! I cornered him with a question regarding what he plans to do with the 12 million undocumented immigrants. As soon as he strays off topic, I interrupted him and brought him back on track, and I asked him for clarification. I also asked him for specific examples. When cornered, he said that he would have the IRS (not the INS) audit employers who choose to hire undocumented workers. A few others tried to pin him down on his horrible voting record, citing specific issues. All in all, what we got was a filibuster from the guy. Everyone came away disgusted, he said a lot without saying anything. It was a waste of a nice afternoon! Oh well, what do you expect from the GOP, the truth?

OC Lincoln Club joins fight to steal electoral votes

Capitol Alert from the Sacramento Bee is reporting that OC Lincoln Club is donating $100,000 to help qualify the Electoral College reform initiative for the ballot. [Link] The measure, if it qualifies for the June ballot and passes, would award California's electoral votes by Congressional district instead of the present winner-take-all system.

The initiative qualifying effort was dropped by its original sponsors, but in recent weeks was pickup "by a group led by Republican strategist David Gilliard." Their goal is to turn in 700,000 signatures by the end of the week.[Link]

The OC Lincoln Club joins 49th Congressional Representative Darrell Issa as the single largest contributors to the effort by the California GOP to malapportion the electoral system here in California. Here is a list of some of the donors who have contributed to this effort.

Cross posted at Calitics

Tuesday - Quick Hits

Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge to San Diego County program that sends peace officers to homes of poor who apply for public assistance. I guess the poor don't have Fourth Admendment rights. UT

Another one to leave, Kyo Yamashiro who overseas charter schools for San Diego Unified will be stepping down. VOSD

Senator Dianne Feinstein will be bring her subcommittee roadshow here to town this morning, to hear about last month's wildfires. It will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the council chambers, located on the 12th floor of 202 C St. in downtown San Diego. VOSD UT

SANDAG updates its regional traffic plan. Their solution more toll roads!! UT

Once again proving the anti-immigrant nativists wrong, UCLA study finds that immigrants are 50% less likely compared to native born Latinos to use hospital emergency rooms. LATimes

Over at Cafe San Diego

San Diego County Democratic Party Chair Jess Durfee, is hosting Cafe San Diego over at VOSD. His first post titled Turning Blue discusses how the county in slowly but surely trending blue. A couple of points he hits on are:

The city of San Diego has had a Democratic plurality of registered voters for many years. Countywide, the registration difference between the major parties is down to about 5 percent. That's vanishingly small when you consider the 22 percent of voters who don't affiliate with any party.

Last year, four of eight victorious Democratic candidates for statewide office carried San Diego County. That had never happened before. As those candidates were well aware, there are more Democratic votes here than in any other California county save Los Angeles.[Link]

In addition, he discusses some of the recent improvements the local party has undertaken:

Since the last presidential election, the county party has hired three full-time staff members (it previously had none), launched a year-round Precinct Leader program, successfully raised funds from high-dollar and grassroots donors alike, and adopted a strategic plan that emphasizes long-term candidate development.[Link]

As next year's presidential election grows closer, it will be interesting to see how these improvements to the local party combined with the changing demographics of the county translate into electoral outcomes.

Marti Emerald Interview

Over at the VOSD, occassional contributor Seth Hettena has a must read interview with former Channel 10 reporter turned District 7 candidate Marti Emerald.[Link] The interview does a very good job capturing those special qualities that make Marti Emerald a formiable candidate.

How does your experience as a TV reporter qualify you for public office?

First of all, being a good listener. I think that’s underrated these days. Knowing how to take a lot of information and figure out the so what about it. That’s really important. Secondly, I’m very good with helping to bring people together. For the last 22 years, I’ve been doing conciliation work, mediation. I’ve had mediation training. Maybe it’s underrated but when you look at what’s going on downtown with people who are not listening to each other, who are not on the same page, who don’t seem to want to arrive at a solution -- that’s the public perception anyway -- I think that’s real important. I cut through stuff. I mean business. Anybody, who’s had to meet as many deadlines as I do, and solve problems like I have, I think I’ll be a good representative for the 7th District.[Link]

Read the whole thing, it is quite worth it.

Picture worth 1000 words....

I have to say, I cannot remember the last time I saw President Bush this uncomfortable for a photo op. I would loved to have been a fly on the wall for their 40-minute private conversation today.

Filner pleads to trespassing

The AP is reporting this afternoon:

WASHINGTON – California Congressman Bob Filner has entered a plea days before he was set for trial on assault and battery charges over an incident at Dulles Airport in which he allegedly pushed a United Airlines baggage employee.

At a hearing in Loudon County General District Court on Monday Filner entered a so-called Alford plea to trespassing, according to a statement issued through his attorney. That means he did not admit guilt, but acknowledged sufficient evidence exists for a conviction.

Filner was accused in the August 19th incident of trying to barge past a female baggage worker into an employee-only area after his bags were delayed.[Link]

I'm sure the crazy wingnuts will go off on how he is receiving preferential treatment.

Monday - Quick Hits

In a really bad idea, UC seeks to eliminate guaranteed admissions for high school seniors. UT

Increased assaults directed at Americans in Baja, renews warning for travelers. NCTimes

Clock is ticking on Chargers decision to relocate to Chula Vista. UT

Lame article on how some people may try to avoid the alcohol beach ban. What is next an article on how to cheat on one's taxes? UT

After creating the department 30 years ago, SDSU now to offer a bachelor's degree in American Indian studies. UT

The gang lifestyle and crimes they commit no longer limited to minorities. VOSD

Blackwater in Potrero Documentary

A very talented local documentary producer, Andy Trimlett just emailed me with a new documentary on Blackwater that Alternate Focus put together. Click on the link below to view.

Blackwater in Potrero

In late 2006, Blackwater USA, now known as Blackwater Worldwide, submitted a proposal to build a training facility called Blackwater West in the rural San Diego County town of Potrero. This documentary tells the story of what followed. Features interviews with Jeremy Scahill, the author of Blackwater: the Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army as well as Brian Bonfiglio, the vice president of Blackwater West; Gordon Hammers, Jan Hedlun, Mary Johnson, Jerry Johnson, Thell Fowler of the Potrero Planning Board; Raymond Lutz of Citizens Oversight Committee; Rep. Bob Filner, and many others. Producer: Andy Trimlett, Associate Producers: John Odam and Aaron Seeley. (Alternate Focus)

More on State GOP fundraising woes

Just to follow-up on the previous post by Adam Smith. The AP article from this afternoon reporting about the state GOPs struggling fundraising mentioned:

At the end of the year the state party will eliminate what is called its county executive director program, which distributed about $260,000 a year among about a dozen counties to assist with fundraising activities and grass-roots organizing. [Link]

While some counties with extension local party organizations like here in San Diego will not be effected. It will be interesting to how these cuts tickle their way down to some of the other fast growing counties in the state and the impact that they might have in next year's election.

George W. Bush is even bad for GOP Fundraising

Whatever you may think of President George W. Bush and Iraq, we all have to admit he has been bad for the GOP. Since his last election, the GOP lost both houses of Congress and now are set up to loss the White House.

It is so bad today that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) might be closing their fundraising gap to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), but the DSCC still brought in $45.1 million to the $26.3 million by the NRSC. The NRSC is not alone, the National Republican Congressional Committee has raised only $6.1 million to the $13.4 million from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee members.

Now the Union Tribune reported today the California Republican Party is moving forward to slash its most important program, their county fundraising and organizing program. It is reported they were $1.7 million in debt by the end of October. Maybe the Republican Party should look to outsource their party's programs and fundraising, because clearly they can't do it in house very well.

Though you won't read any of this in the Republican blogs.

Friday - Quick Hits

Next phase in the Alcohol Beach ban, opponent and supporters move to put it on ballot. UT

Poway decides to charge homeowners for fire debris removal. City officials don't "want to subsidize insurance companies." UT

Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District ends three year old lawsuit with County over cost of road improvements at Rancho San Diego campus. UT

Golden West Community College, looking to boast revenue is moving forward to lease part of campus for Costco store. LATimes

More on the Failed Feinstein Censure at last week's CDP meeting

Lucas O'Connor who occasionally posts here at San Diego Politico has a very good piece in the current City Beat recapping the events that transpired in Anaheim.

There were attempts to compromise, however. [John] Hanna, Resolutions Committee member Brian Leubitz and Rules Committee Chair Garry Shay worked behind the scenes to, as Leubitz described, "pass a resolution that would have sent a clear message that Sen. Feinstein needs to work harder to communicate with the
Democratic Party and the base of our party." But pressure from party officials and an uncompromising pro-censure group scuttled any efforts to pass a conciliatory resolution.[Link]

The Feinstein episode in Anaheim is another example of the continuing tension that has been building between grassroots activists and CDP establishment. I'll have more to say on this in a later post.

Open letter to Chairman Art Torres

Via Calitics:

An open letter to Chairman Art Torres, Regarding Party consultant Bob Mulholland's published insults

Dear Chairman Torres,

I am writing out of deep concern over public comments made by a consultant to the California Democratic Party.

You are likely aware that I co-authored and submitted the resolution to censure Senator Dianne Feinstein. Just after the close of this weekend's Executive Board General Assembly, I was made aware of an article regarding this resolution, which appeared in the November 16 issue of the newspaper The Guardian. It contained the following reference to Bob Mulholland, identifying him as "a campaign adviser to California Democrats.":

Mulholland blasted the bloggers and activists supporting the censure resolution as "fringe" and "pre-nursing home". "The Democratic party's purpose is to remind armchair activists that the duty is to elect a Democrat to the White House so we can end the Iraq mess", he said. "Nothing should get in the way of that." (Emphasis mine)

I hope you observed enough of my actions this weekend, speaking seriously and politely on issues of life and death (including my successful effort on a resolution to return the California National Guard from Iraq), to know that reports that I am ready for the "nursing home" are greatly exaggerated. More importantly, while you and I might have different opinions on the value of the censure resolution, you must agree that I was given a great responsibility in being asked to advance and represent this weighty topic. In fact, I felt honored to be selected as point person for this by the Co-Chairs of the Progressive Caucus (The Party's second largest caucus, its more than 1,000 members alone represent a major fraction of the Party's 3,000 delegates- decidedly not "fringe".) The resolution of censure was endorsed by that caucus, as well as by the Women's Caucus, the Irish-American Caucus, and by the members or executive boards of dozens of chartered Democratic clubs, County Central Committees and activist groups- not to mention over 30,000 citizens who took the trouble to individually sign on for censure.

It's one thing for Mr. Mulholland to wishfully dismiss such numbers as fringe; it's quite another for him to so grievously insult the loyal Party Executive Board representatives and delegates who were exercising their rights within our bylaws.

I've worked closely with many of these Party members- at phone banks, on bus trips to get out the vote in Arizona, etc. We've organized major efforts to protect the vote and the environment. I doubt that the featured speakers of the Election Protection forum that I initiated, including Rep. Maxine Waters, now-Secretary of State Debra Bowen, and Stephen Rohde (past President of the ACLU of Southern California), would call me an "armchair activist". Nor would the other volunteers at Ohio Democratic HQ in 2004. You also saw Dr. Jo Olson address the Assembly on her successful resolution for single payer health care; Susie Shannon, who spoke of her tireless efforts as an advocate against poverty; and Marcy Winograd, who authored the language of the Party's new resolution on voting systems. These three were all early endorsers of the resolution to make Senator Feinstein adhere to core Party principles; they are not armchair activists.

I shouldn't have to prove the bona fides of these Party members. But even if Mr. Mulholland's comments referred only to unaffiliated activists and bloggers, our Party consultant has ridiculed and insulted the national leaders and all the members of MoveOn, Progressive Democrats of America, the Courage Campaign, and the many other groups who endorsed this censure of Senator Feinstein. As if that wasn't enough, Mr. Mulholland also managed to insult the elderly.

The situation begs the question, why did Bob Mulholland say this? Was he ordered to say such things? Or was this just his usual M.O., as profiled in another Guardian article, which began: "Bob Mulholland is the US Democrats' leading dirty trickster." Regardless, I wish to state, on behalf of all the good people I may claim to represent, that his language is unacceptable. Given the Party's recent resolution on decorum, these inappropriate, insulting comments from a Party mouthpiece are especially ironic, and should have the Party leading the charge to rectify this situation.

Allow me to note that, besides believing that our elected (and endorsed) Democrats should be held accountable to Party principles, I believe their frequent failure to represent public and constituent sentiment is our Party's greatest problem. I've been asked, Wouldn't censure give the Republicans ammunition to use against us? I reply that no one could do more to lower our Congressional ratings than the Party has already done itself, by its failure to stand up to Bush- especially on civil liberties and Iraq. Chairman, if you want to get out the vote, start with the fact that we give people very little reason to register or vote Democratic; that factor trumps a million phone banks. Perhaps you've never seen emails from those saying that votes such as Senator Feinstein's vote for Mukasey have forever sundered them from the Democrats.

The Party's strategy of supporting Democrats - no matter what - is killing us. Likewise, the demonization of those who disagree with the Party line, as exhibited by Bob Mulholland, is counterproductive. I believe the CDP should seriously reconsider the face it presents to the public, and its policy of paying Bob Mulholland to be our
advisor and frequent spokesperson. His vision, and the Party's reflex action to circle the wagons, may win individual election battles, but it's losing the wider war. At the least, he - and the Party - owe a lot of good people a very serious public apology.

Respectfully yours,
Michael Jay
Delegate, 42nd AD

Feinstein censure killed; Courage Campaign camera blocked

The following video was produced by the Courage Campaign regarding last weekend's events at the CDP E-board. In my opinion, this fight over the DiFi censure resolution at the E-board meeting, is the opening skirmishes in the battle for who is going to be the next Chair of the CDP.

Wednesday - Quick Hits

City Council approves an emergency plan to demolish three Mt. Soledad homes in order to repair the road. UT

Should have built it right in the first place. FAA notified Sunroad that their building in no longer a flight hazzard. UT

Credit crunch, caused by housing meltdown may hinder the sale of the La Valencia Hotel. UT

City Council affirms Alcohol Beach Ban. Set to take a effect by December 20. UT

Get your legal briefs ready. City to seek third waiver for Pt. Loma treatment plant. UT

From the area of the ridiculous. Court says county doesn't have to pay for hospital costs of detainees that have been arrested but not booked or arrained. NCTimes

Vacant Houses in the Inland Empire create new problems

As the real estate recession continues to worsens, just up the I-15 in the Inland Empire officials are deals with a new set of problems.

Foreclosed homes all over the Inland Empire are turning into what Lisa Carvalho calls "trash-outs" - wooden and stucco carcasses with piles of junk left behind by former tenants.

In the big picture, the Riverside-San Bernardino area ranked No. 3 in the United States on the home-foreclosure chart for metro areas, according to a Wednesday report by RealtyTrac, a real-estate data company in Irvine. There were more than 20,600 foreclosure filings during the third quarter of this year, it stated.[Link]

Even more interesting is what is happening on the other side of the Tehachpis:

The High Desert offers even more interesting tales.

The area is full of tract homes in subdivisions that have stacks of furniture piled inside every room, she said.

"These typically look like they're occupied, but they're not trashed," she said about these homes. "(The owners) just walk away and wash their hands of it."[Link]

Run Jackie Run!

It appears that popular State Senator Jackie Speier is close to announcing a primary challenge to Congressman Tom Lantos who represents the 12th Congressional district.[Link] Lantos who has served for 13 terms in Congress and is 80 years old, has been one of the most hawkish members of the California Democratic delegation when it has come to this disaster that is Iraq. So I say, Run Jackie Run!

Tuesday - Quick Hits

City Council passes one ordinance directed at "Mini-dorms" but doesn't pass a second ordinance aimed at limiting the number of tenants. UT

Gentrification of roadway deemed a success after first day being open. UT

As the only major city in California that doesn't charge single family residences for garbage and recycling pickup, city faces revenue short fall as it implements new recycling ordinances. UT

The I.R.S. may have some money for you. UT

Severe water shortages loom on the horizon. NCTimes

Goal-setting divides school board. VOSD

State Bar Investigating Aguirre

Per the U-T, City Attorney Mike Aguirre is being investigated by the California Bar Association. Several former colleagues and employees have been contacted regarding a range of issues, though no formal charges appear to be in the immediate offing. The broad focus of the investigation seems to be Aguirre's motivations in various legal matters, but it's unclear what specifically is motivating the interviews.

As long as this remains in "wait and see" territory, this is the takeaway quote:

Given Aguirre's high-profile position as a public figure, it is almost inevitable that people who disagree with his approach will be tempted to accuse him of misconduct and report him to the bar, said [San Diego lawyer David] Carr, the former bar prosecutor.

"If there weren't complaints, something would be strange," Carr said.

Marketing Progressivism

The Center for American Progress together with Glaser Progress Foundation has launched an Awareness Campaign to increase the public awareness of the historic role progressivism has played in American History. As part of this awareness campaign there are four television commericals that they are test marketing to "explain the progressive movement's core values and policy ideas, its historical accomplishments, and its philosophical differences with conservatives." [Link] Below are the four television commericals ranked in the order of how I liked them.

San Diego a dream place to live but....

In yesterday's UT, business reporter Dean Calbreath had must read column regarding the cost of housing here in San Diego county. What Calbreath stated was that while San Diego county may be a dream place to live, there just don't exists the kind of dream jobs that are bringing people to San Diego. The affordability of housing here in the county is forcing people to move away. In fact, the lack of good quality paying jobs combined with the skyrocketing housing prices earlier in the decade has already lead to a net loss of over 130,000 people from the county over the last six years.[Link] This fact alone should be troubling to local electeds. For if this trend was to increase and continue it could have dire consequences for the area. If you don't believe me, try sometime visiting Michigan or Ohio.

Monday - Quick Hits

The Republican initiative to thart the popular will of California's voters is nearing enough signatures to qualify for June ballot. UT

Cal Fire report from October's fires strangely quiet on providing details to why the military aircraft were grounded. UT

Council to consider stricker "Mini-Dorm" ordiance today. UT

Home forclosures auction reveals the depth of housing crisis. NC Times

Former CV mayor Steve Padilla set the record straight regarding CV's budget mess. La Prensa

Frustrated Charger fans can go to this site to vent: FireNorv.net

Censorship

As a person who reads blogs, newspapers, print media, watches television and listens to radio I find it interesting on what will make people offer their two cents. Whether it is sending a letter to the editor, posting a blog comment, e-mailing a television station or calling a radio host these people have a strong adverse reaction to what they hear or see and must let the “public” know it.

A friend the other day told to me how they read a blog posting, and then how many people commented on the posting and the various reactions the post received from people. People were very angry from both sides of the issue and for every response from one side the other grew more vicious and hostile or the side of issue jumped on the previous post. With the age of the blog, people now don't have to give their name and have this cloak of secrecy where they can hide and say anything they like, without the threat/ fear of someone knowing who they really are or any possible repercussions.

Recently, it seems some blog sites have taken it to another level. I was reading a blog postings about some politician. The comments on the posting had gotten so bad or away from the point of the posting that the person controlling the blog 1st threaten to sensor comments, then deleted comments and finally blocked computer IP addresses. People even changed computers, when their computer IP address were blocked, to continue their comments. What I found interesting was the controller of the blog said their blog was not an area of free speech and if someone wanted that freedom, then start your own blog.

People have a strong desire to comment on what they see as just or unjust. To what level do people have the freedom to express themself or suppress someone else?

The Threat of War with Iran: An Evening with Reese Erlich

Progressive San Diego presents "The Threat of War with Iran: An Evening with Award-Winning Author and Journalist Reese Erlich"

Film Screening of "War Made Easy"

Featuring Norman Solomon and Narrated by Sean Penn

Saturday, November 17th
6:30pm Film Screening
8:00pm Reese Erlich Talk

Joyce Beers Community Center (Corner of Vermont and Cleveland, across from Trader Joe's)
RSVP to: Tommie.Watson@ProgressiveSD.org

For more information visit: Progressive San Diego

Reese Erlich, an independent radio producer and journalist. He reports on Iran in the latest issue of Mother Jones and is author of the book "The Iran Agenda: the Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Middle East Crisis." Mr. Erlich will respond to questions regarding to the film "War Made Easy" as well as speaking about the current crisis in Iran. Additionally, Mr. Erlich will talk about the connection of the War in Iraq to the San Diego Fires.

Friday - Quick Picks

Coastal commission tentatively approve Calsbad's desal plant. UT

Aguirre calls off KPBS investigation. UT

San Marcos City Council votes to limit mini-dorms. UT

Chula Vista votes to increase parking meter rates by 400%. UT

Chula Vista residents starting to show some skepticism regarding Chargers stadium. UT

Leibham to Launch Campaign for Congress

Nick Leibham is kicking off his campaign for the 50th Congressional District from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, January 8, at the Bullpen Bar & Grill, 149 So. El Camino Real in Encinitas, one block south of Encinitas Blvd.

Nick's campaign has planned a unique Coast-to-Coast celebration. We'll watch the exciting first Presidential Primary results come in from New Hampshire, then, we'll give Nick a hearty send off from "The Bullpen" to challenge Brian Bilray in 2008.

Mark your calendar. This is going to be fun. It will be a special evening of great expectations, surprises, from coast to coast. Suggested contribution: $20 per person includes buffet. RSVP: alec@nickleibhamforcongress.com

Thursday - Quick Hits

More on Mike Aguirre failing to secure an early endorsement. VOSD

California Coastal Commission to weigh in on Carlsbad desalination plant. VOSD

Jan Goldsmith take first step toward running for City Attorney. VOSD

Who cares about the residents of Del Cero. CSU Trustees approve SDSU expansion. UT

Two weeks late in opening, but city's Winter Shelter finally set to open this weekend. UT

Encinitas bans smoking on city beaches. UT

Study recommends expanding State Route 76 to four lanes. NCTimes

San Diego GOP is it all about the $$$?

Matt Potter in the Reader has interesting snippet regarding the candidate endorsement questionnaire used by the San Diego Republican Party. According to Potter, the questionnaire seems to overly focus on fundraising. Including questions such as:

Who is your Campaign Fundraiser?
How much do you expect to raise for June '08?
How much have you raised so far?
How much are you willing to contribute yourself?
Do you belong to one of the party's Donor Clubs?
Will you actively help raise money for the party?
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? [Link]

Now, I have not seen this questionnaire, but I would like to see a copy of it. So if someone has a copy and would like to share with me, please feel free to email me a copy at: sdpolitico@gmail.com.

The Ghost of Prop. 13 continues...

As the housing slumps continues to worsen, a looming $10 billion state budget deficit awaits the Governor and Legislature.[Link] I wonder, whatever happened to the campaign promise by Governor Schwarzenegger to eliminate the structural deficit problem? It is apparent that this problem still exists:

The analyst said $2.7 billion of the state's reserve fund will be eaten up by lower-than-expected tax revenue through next summer. The state will take an additional $1 billion hit on falling local property taxes from shrinking home prices. Additionally, the state must make up for lower property tax revenue so schools will remain fully funded. [Link]

So now that the Governor is face with projected deficits for the remainder of his term, it will be interesting to see which Arnold Schwarzenegger takes the lead in solving this problem. Is it going to be good Arnold who works on a bipartisan basis to comes up with a solution that includes both taxes increases and budgets cuts, or are we going to see the bad partisan Arnold who is only going to propose budget cuts? Which one will it be?

What happen last night....

Following is a synopsis of what transpired based on an e-mail I received this afternoon from a friend who attended the meeting last night:

It turned out that last night's Democratic Central Committee meeting was quite the eventful evening. The highlight of the evening was the early endorsement of Mike Aguirre for City Attorney.

In attendance there were representatives from the City Attorney's office including Karen Heuman and Kathryn Burton as well as representatives from the Municipal Employees Association who were distributing photocopies of anti-Mike Aguirre articles to Central Committee members outside the room. Also there was Dan Coffey, who is a Democrat and announced candidate for City Attorney.

Mike Aguirre spoke to the members on the Central Committee and detailed the accomplishments of his office since he took over three years ago. He also spoke very passionately about the Democratic values he believes in.

The discussion was limited strictly to Central Committee members, 10 of them spoke. During the discussion among the members that were both Aguirre supporters and Aguirre non-supporters they argued their positions enthusiastically. One of the individuals who spoke on Aguirre's behalf was 76 AD Assemblywoman Lori Saldana.

The person who probably had the most impact in swaying some undecided members to vote against the endorsement for Aguirre, was a member who had once worked in Aguirre's office.

I think the vote surprised the Aguirre supporters in the room, with the vote being 23 for and 19 against. Aguirre falling short of the 60% requirement by two votes.

Following the Aguirre endorsement vote, the early incumbent endorsement for San Diego School Boardmember Sheila Jackson was brief opened up for discussion. The reason was her intention to vote for Republican Luis Acle as president of the School Board next month. By this point most of the committee just wanted to get out and her endorsement sailed through with no opposition.

One final note from last night's meeting. I am also told that the party amended its bylaws to allow for early endorsements in open races. Setting the stage to endorse in City Council seats 1 and 7 at the January meeting.

Candidate Marti Emerald fights for District 7 residents

Channel 8 last night had a story about district 7 candidate Marti Emerald, who is already fighting for the residents of the district. Today, she is going up to Long Beach to urge the CSU Trustees to delay the vote on the SDSU expansion plans. You can see the video to the story here.

Wednesday - Quick Hits

Year after City Council passes plan to end homelessness, still no movement on the plan. VOSD

Peters re-elected to another term as Council President. UT

CSU Trustees to meet to discuss SDSU expansion plans. UT

Long time in the making. Council makes recycling mandatory. UT

Kissing demonstrators at the border, arrested by Border Patrol agents. UT

Mayors of Poway and Vista both endorse Mitt Romney for the GOP presidential nomination. NCTimes

No Endorsement!

I just received a test message from my friend who attended the Democratic Central Committee meeting tonight. In what turned out to be a close vote, San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre failed to get the required 60% of the vote for an early incumbent endorsement. I'll have more on what transpired at the meeting in a later post. Stay Tune....

Former Steve Peace protege fined

A one time staffer to former State Senator Steve Peace, now turned consultant/lobbyist was fined by the San Diego Ethics Commission on Friday for failing to file disclosure reports on time.[Link]

Art Castanares, whose recent clients have included Cheryl Cox, Chula Vista Mayor and Ron Morrison, National City Mayor [Link], received a $4500.00 fine for being 5-months late in filing his disclosure reports. The fine was a negotiated settlement between the commission and Castanares.

Sacramento’s Heavy Hand?

In MySpace, a profile called Dump Arabo appeared with rainbow flags, a picture of men together, and other homosexual themes.

This site is in response to an incident where Auday Arabo, on behalf of his grocers association, apologizes for Miller’s sponsorship of a gay function in the Bay Area.

Whether true or not, I was struck by the use of a MySpace profile to hit a candidate in the primary. The fingerprints seem to point in the direction of Sacramento and here are my reasons:
The Arlie Ricasa’s campaign wouldn’t waste its time trying to tear down Arabo and Marty Block’s people are too establishment to think in this direction, at least in San Diego. Because in the 78th, the “gay issue” only really moves votes among conservative to moderate African Americans who, due to demographics, are falling as a voting bloc. The new voters, the new homeowners, and the recent immigrants are too much of a “wild card” to bet on as votes in the district so you go with what you know. It saves on money and manpower.

This is not how we San Diegans would call it, but this is how Sacramento would. If all you know of the 78th is what you read as far as registration goes, then you have misjudged the district and, lets be honest, Sacramento has done this hat trick too often to be an “accident” every time.

If it turns out that the hit is false, the LGBT community may otherwise look at Arabo as a viable option because he was attacked.

And the use of the Bronski Beat song? I mean, come on! That smells of someone called in to be stereotypical rather than real.

Which gets me back to MySpace. Unless you’re twelve, why would you even go there? Teens can’t vote. And the 78th isn’t know for being a hub of wireless Internet connections. Again, another example of how little is known about voters in the 78th and the sad attempts to manipulate the voters there.

Cross-posted at Calitics.

Endorsement for Aguirre?

I received and e-mail last night from a friend who is a member of the County Democratic Party Central Committee, the e-mail lists over a dozen incumbents to be considered for early endorsements on tonight's agenda. On the list is Mike Aguirre. My friend also tells me Aguirre should win the endorsement fairly easily even though another Democrat Dan Coffey is an announced candidate for City Attorney.

The question I would ask: Has Mike Aguirre been good for the County Democratic Party, and is he worth the early endorsement?

Tuesday - Quick Hits

John Moores to resign as U.C. Regent after outspoken and controversial tenure on the board. UT
Fight to prevent the ridiculous Manchester Project at Navy Broadway Complex is getting a bit nasty. UT

Just what Mission Valley needs more condos and another shopping center. UT

Poor Planning again, costs city 450K as it is order to pay environmental activists over Regents Road bridge. VOSD

San Marcos to target "Mini-Dorms" with ordinance. NCTimes

Beyond the Green Zone: Dispatches from an Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq

Author and Journalist Dahr Jamail will be speaking at the First Unitarian Universalist Church (4190 Front Street) on November 15th at 7pm.

Dahr reports regularly on Pacifica Radio, on http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/

Dahr Jamail is an independent journalist who has covered the Middle East for more than four years. He has reported extensively from inside Iraq for eight months, and has also reported from Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. Jamail writes for the Inter Press Service, The Asia Times, and many other outlets. His reports have been published in The Nation, The Sunday Herald, The Guardian, Foreign Policy in Focus and The Independent. On radio as well as television, Jamail has reported for Democracy Now! and numerous other stations around the globe.

Beyond the Green Zone is Dahr Jamial's first book with the forward written by Amy Goodman.

"While the powerful media conglomerates embedded on the ground with the invading and occupying forces, Jamail embedded with the suffering people of Iraq and uncovered the horrors of this ware of 'liberation.' - Jeremy Scahill.

Cost: Donations Requested but no one will be turned away.
Info: 858-459-4650

Presented by: The Peace and Democracy Action Group of the First UU Church, Activist San Diego, National Lawyers Guild, SD Veterans for Peace, SD Coalition for Peace and Justice, and Progressive San Diego.