"Steal this election" effort revived in California

Gmail - They're BACK!

Like a bad horror movie, it's back.

Veteran GOP consultants said Monday that they were relaunching a drive to change the way California allocates its electoral college votes, aimed at helping the 2008 Republican presidential nominee capture the White House.
Political strategist David Gilliard said he was taking over the ballot initiative campaign, along with strategist Ed Rollins and fundraiser Anne Dunsmore. Consultant Mike Arno will oversee the signature-gathering effort.
"Our budget is going to be whatever it takes to make the June ballot," said Gilliard, who played a key role in getting the recall of Democratic Gov. Gray Davis onto the 2003 ballot.
The proposed initiative would change California's method of allocating its 55 electoral votes from a winner-take-all basis, which favors Democrats, to a congressional district-based approach. Republicans hold 19 congressional seats, so presumably the GOP nominee could win a similar number of electoral votes.
The effort stalled last month when its original organizers failed to raise the $2 million needed to place the initiative on the June ballot.

It seems Republicans are increasingly desperate about their 2008 chances, given their vows to spend big bucks to try and game the system to their advantage.

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Standing Up to the Wrong - What I sent to Pete Stark, CA - 13th

Representative Pete Stark, of California's 13th District had this to say after the Republicans blocked the override on Boosh's veto of the SCHIP bill.

"The Republicans are worried that we can't pay for insuring an additional ten million children; they sure don't care about finding two hundred billion dollars to fight the illegal war in Iraq. Where you gonna get that money? You gonna tell us lies, like you’re telling us today? Is that how you're gonna fund the war? You don't have money to fund the war or children—but you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the President's amusement."

When the Reblurbicans condemned his statement, as you would imagine they would, instead of backing down Rep. Stark said right back, "I have nothing but respect for our brave men and women in uniform and wish them the very best, but I respect neither the Commander-in-Chief who keeps them in harm's way nor the chicken hawks in Congress who vote to deny children health care."

After which I found Stark's website and sent him this email to congratulate him on getting what we voters want:

Appreciate very much what you said and how you said it, both times. We need more like you. Get the rest of our Democrats to stand up with you against the misguided bullies who are destroying the very American values they profess but do not feel.

And, as I learned forty-some years ago in locker rooms, Sunday school politeness does nothing to stop the attacks. They keep coming at you until you either wither at their footsteps in the evil world of your own cowardly making or push back, roll them over, and sit on them until they understand that goodness will prevail in a good hearted world. I can assure you the years of respect from and for your community is far more valuable and memorable than a half hour's detention in the headmistress' office.

Feel the heat and watch them fold. Flee the heat and they own you.

Lose your patience once in a while, Democrats. Speak directly and fend off the snivelers with the strength of your own heart. That's all the base has been asking our party.

Stark's web site . Do not expect an email back from another district, but do write your Democratic representatives at every level and tell them we want real representation, please.

You do have to be strong to be good,

Bill

Politics as Usual

Politics | $4.5 million for a boat that nobody wanted | Seattle Times Newspaper

Congress just recently began requiring lawmakers to reveal each earmark they've sponsored, name its beneficiary, and certify that neither they nor their spouse have any financial stake in them.



But such transparency only works if lawmakers feel "some degree of shame" for doling out favors to their backers, Rep. Flake said. "If you're not embarrassed by that, then transparency doesn't help a lot."



Meanwhile, Congress is approving a batch of new earmarks for next year.

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5,000 RNs STRIKE Sutter--Phenomenal Success

Nurses Strike.

In the largest nurses strike this nation has seen in a decade, 5,000 Sutter Healthcare RNs in California marched out of their facilities this morning, drawing a line in the sand over the quality of care their patients must receive while at the gigantic hospital chain. Press coverage here and here and here, or really just go look at the pics of these activist nurses.

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But maybe it's the good FISA Bill

Stop the FISA Hysteria -- House FISA Bill is a Good Bill [UPDATE from ACLU]

Yesterday's New York Times article on the FISA bill had a misleading title and could easily be misinterpreted if it is not read closely. It implied that the House FISA bill, introduced today, is a capitulation. It is not. It is a strong bill that protects civil liberties and provides for oversight. What the NYT article suggests is that certain Democrats believe that they will ultimately have to give up on that bill because Bush will demand capitulation. This is worrisome, but we are not there yet.

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Liberals Ponder Supporting FISA Legislation

Behind The Scenes, Liberals Ponder Supporting FISA Legislation

Things are in flux tonight behind the scenes as House Dems struggle to decide whether to support the FISA legislation that two House committees unveiled today. So here's what we're able to gather about the state of play right now.

The entire House leadership is supporting the bill, confirms Stacey Bernards, a spokesperson for House Dem leader Steny Hoyer. But where are the House liberals? They are the key group to watch, because their mini-revolt against the legislation last week was taken as a sign that there would be heavy pressure on the House leadership not to capitulate by giving the administration too much power over wiretapping.

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dems still ahead

Daily Kos: State of the Nation

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that, if the Congressional Election were held today, 48% of American voters say they would vote for the Democrat in their district and 36% would opt for the Republican. While that’s a bit closer than last month’s 18-point advantage for the Democrats, it’s the third straight month Nancy Pelosi’s Party has enjoyed a double-digit lead.

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