Thought folks might want a place to add their thoughts on the debate tonight from the Kodak Theater.

Both did well. I thought they were exceedingly (perhaps too) civil towards each other. They definitely seemed to be focused on the concerns of California voters - talking about the environment, global warming and immigration issues much more than before.

I do think both pandered a bit to Edwards supporters and Latino voters.

There seemed to be too many cutaways to the celebrities in the room. I didn’t tune in to see Pierce Brosnan, Diane Keaton or Jason Alexander trying to look thoughtful. Antonio Villaraigosa and Gavin Newsom had great seats, but I hear Congresswoman Jane Harman was stuck back in the cheap seats. Only in L.A.

I’m happy to vote fore either one in the fall.
Your thoughts?

Filed under: National-US, Orange County - Local | 4 Comments »

I love YouTube.  Anything this bunch of flip-flopping, talk-out-of-both-sides-of-their-mouth, Ring Wing moonBat quasi-conservatives have ever said in the past is somehow recorded and on YouTube. 

Here’s John McCain endorsing Mitt Romney’s run for Governor of Massachusetts in 2002.



Quite a different story from last night’s debate at the Reagan Library.

Found a lovely site at http://www.romneyfacts.com/; please check it out.

Filed under: National-US | No Comments »

The New York Times is reporting 28 GOP seats are up for grabs this fall; the most ever, as new lobbying laws go into effect soon.

January 31, 2008

G.O.P. Exodus in House Bodes Ill for Fall Success

By CARL HULSE and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

WASHINGTON — A swelling exodus of senior Republican incumbents from the House, worsened by a persistent disadvantage in campaign money, threatens to cripple Republican efforts to topple the Democratic majority in November.

Representative Tom Davis, a moderate from Northern Virginia, on Wednesday became the fifth House Republican in the last week to announce that he would not seek re-election. That puts the roster of retirees at 28, one of the highest numbers recorded for the party in the House.

Read the rest of the article here.

Filed under: National-US | 3 Comments »

Up until this week I was a proud supporter of Fmr. Senator John Edwards.  His commitment to economic justice and organized labor was paramount in that decision.  This week John Edwards concluded his quest for the White House.  I have decided to support one of the remaining candidates on the Democratic side.  The only candidate that represents the same kind of hope in America that I found with Senator Edwards is of course Senator Barack Obama.

Barack Obama is not a “fall back” because John Edwards bowed out for me.  Since he started his campaign I have always been very impressed with Obama’s ability to transcend the standard political discourse.  His charisma and policy ideas were always inline with what I wanted out of a candidate, and his ability to inspire young people made his candidacy very appealing to me.  As many of you know I have been working for the past two-years on one goal.  Harness the power of the millennial generation into a reliable bloc of Democrats in the future.  Barack Obama is the only candidate that can make this goal a reality.  (more…)

Filed under: Uncategorized | 15 Comments »

“Governor Schwarzenegger is an exceptional governor and we are honored that he has decided to endorse Senator McCain, and look forward to the event tomorrow,” said Steve Schmidt, a senior McCain adviser who managed Schwarzenegger’s 2006 campaign.

In case you haven’t yet heard the BIG news, our dear Arnold the Governator is set to endorse John “I don’t mind if we’re in Iraq for 100 years” McCain today. Already, the fierce debate has begun in the right-wing world over whether this “seals the deal” for McCain to win California next Tuesday and become the nominee. Now as for me, I’d rather not join that argument. Instead, I want to focus on Arnold.

(more…)

Filed under: California | 2 Comments »

Matt Cunningham’s post in reaction to the Republican Debates seems to give a backhanded endorsement for Mitt Romney but this post, which attacks John McCain. I’m not surprised that Matt is attacking McCain so much since OC GOP notables Mike Schroeder, John Campbell, and Adam Probolsky are all in Romney’s camp.

The curious part of the post is the title: how conservatives mistrust McCain. I remember Romney’s 1994 senate race against Ted Kennedy and the promises Mitt made to protect gay rights, the right of a woman to choose (his words), and essentially promised to be to the left of Ted Kennedy on many issues. Go back to the 2002 race for Bay State governor, and Romney was still preaching a leftist agenda. Liberals in Massachusetts elected Romney because of his promises towards a liberal agenda; if he ran as a hard core conservative like he is now, Bay state voters would have run Romney out on a rail. Romney only had three somewhat effective years in the statehouse; he was an lame duck the moment he announced he was not running again.

Its going to be really fun to watch conservatives like Matt promote McCain once he gets the nomination when they so clearly detest him now.

The reality is McCain is the clear Republican front-runner; he racks up establishment endorsements that Romney isn’t.

Filed under: National-US, Orange County - Local | 6 Comments »

With all the attention on Prop 93 extending the terms of Assembly Speaker Nunez and Senate President Perata, what about other termed out legislators. Specifically, those Republicans who are publicly against Prop 93. Will Todd Spitzer throw his hat in the ring again for example?

A few days ago, State Rep. Chuck DeVore reminded me he was against Prop 93. But several commentors asked Chuck to take the pledge and say no to a 4th term in 2010. Chuck, who gets props for engaging the public who comment on the blogs, has been surprisingly silent on answering the question. Its a classic case of having your cake and eating it to.

So, if Prop 93 passes, how many of these legislators run again? And would it be hypocritical of them to do so? What do you think?

Filed under: Orange County - Local | 2 Comments »

Here is Senator Edwards announcement from today.



Also, there is this message on the Edwards Campaing Blog that, at least for those of us who have fought so hard to get the media to pay attention to the cause of economic justice, and hope for the end of poverty in America, resonates with what many of us plan to do on Tuesday.

VOTE FOR JOHN EDWARDS ON SUPER TUESDAY

If you believe in the Edwards message, vote for John Edwards on Super Tuesday anyway - and beyond. Continue to vote for him ,and to support his policies to the convention. IT will hold Hillary’s and Obama’s feet to the fire and force them to realize, those who supported Edwards did so for a reason.

John & Elizabeth, you guys take a rest. We will take it from here. Just don’t wander too far away, you may get a very important  call from the convention!

Never give up, never give up, never give up.

Some have suggested that a vote for John Edwards on Super Tuesday is a wasted vote, or a vote for Hillary, or a vote for Obama… (more…)

Filed under: National-US | 7 Comments »

Ronald Reagan is dead. He’s not coming back. He was last president in 1989, nearly 20 years ago. And his gravesite and library, home to the Republican debate, is not a Holy Site. But you wouldn’t know it from reading Jon Fleischman’s posts from today’s Flash Report (sorry, I’d link but I can’t stomach it).

I’m curious which candidate Jon and the right wingers in OC get behind now that there is no true conservative in the race.

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

So who will you be rooting for next Tuesday? Hillary or Obama? Or wait, are you still with someone else? Well, no matter which Democrat you’re supporting for President, the Democratic Party of Orange County cordially invites you to celebrate with fellow local Dems!

Tuesday is less than one week away! Polls close at 8:00 pm, so after you have done your part as a poll worker, poll watcher, walked a precinct to get out the vote or just cast your ballot come and celebrate with fellow Democrats as we watch the election returns. There will be 4 parties throughout the county. Here are the details: (more…)

Filed under: Orange County - Local | 5 Comments »

The major media outlets are finally covering John Edwards’ Presidential Campaign. The problem is that they have chosen to do so just to cover his anticipated withdrawal from the race in New Orleans this afternoon. Here is the link to Senator Edwards’ remarks.

I am disappointed that the main stream corporate media has managed to slice this contest down to their two preferred candidates rather than help the people learn about all the candidates and make a value based, rather than beauty or money based selection. Despite this, I still plan to vote for John Edwards.

(more…)

Filed under: National-US, Orange County - Local | 27 Comments »

“They forced us into it – we didn’t want to do this,” lead proponent Bill Ficker said.”If not listening to (Ficker) means not agreeing with him, I guess he might have a point,” said Hugh Logan, a leader of the opposition campaign.

For all the excitement over California’s Presidential Primary happening next Tuesday, there’s another ballot decision to be made that’s generating quite a bit of excitement in one OC city. Next Tuesday, voters in Newport Beach will be voting on where to build a new city hall. (more…)

Filed under: Orange County - Local | No Comments »