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Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008! - SfD Jan. 2nd Meeting
Linked to groups: Sacramento For Democracy
SACRAMENTO FOR DEMOCRACY: 2008 - KICK INTO HIGH GEAR!
WHAT: SfD January Meeting
WHEN: Wednesday, January 2, 2008 7:00–9:00pm
WHERE: Arden-Dimmick Library 891 Watt Av (Watt & Northop Ave)
map: http://tinyurl.com/2ly68v
RSVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=26520
PUT DOWN THE EGGNOG, SHAKE OFF THE TINSEL, AND BRING A FRIEND! START THE YEAR WITH A BANG WITH THE FIRST MEETING OF 2008!
The holidays are over and it’s time to look forward to 2008. This is sure to be an exciting, action-packed year, and we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get down to business!
The first open meeting of the Sacramento for Democracy Steering Committee was a huge success. Join us next Wednesday to see what we have planned for this VERY IMPORTANT year!
2008 FOCUS OVERVIEW: We have an election-filled year ahead of us, with 3 days of heading to the polls between February and November! What’s important to you this year, and what part will you play in putting this country back on the right path? We’ll discuss where we’re headed this year as a group and what our priorities will be.
CAMPAIGN UPDATES: We’ll hear from the campaigns of our local congressional candidates, Bill Durston (CD3) and Charlie Brown (CD4). They’ll bring us news on their races, how their campaigns are progressing, and how we can help.
IT’S IN THE CONSTITUTION (ISN’T IT???): How well do you know the American Constitution? If you’re like me, High School Civics class was a lifetime ago! This month, SfD will kick off a new monthly feature of“Constitution Corner”. We’ll go over a section of the Constitutioneach month, talking about what’s in there, what it means, and how it relates to what’s going on in our country today.
AND SPEAKING OF HIGH SCHOOL CIVICS...: What grade should we give our local school districts? SfD member Jim Eaton will be directing an assessment of school district curriculum. What are our kids learning in school today? Here’s your chance to help this committee look into what our schools are teaching, who decides what is being taught, and how we can make a difference at a local level to ensure our kids are getting what they need to face the challenges of the future.
AND LOTS MORE:
- Ever get to a protest or rally and realize you didn’t bring a sign? Not this time! We’ll be making signs for the January 20th Day Of Error. We’ll have some materials, but we can always use more. Bring any sign-making materials, along with your ideas and enthusiasm! We’ll also provide more details on the multiple events planned for that day.
- Have you made your New Year’s Resolutions for 2008 yet?How about your Progressive Resolutions?? We’ll put these in writing and send them back out next year – what a great way to focus your goals for this year!
Nunez Sweetens Deal for Unions
By Michael Rothfeld and Jordan Rau, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
SACRAMENTO -- As Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez sought the endorsement of two major labor unions for his plan to overhaul healthcare in the state, he added several provisions to the legislation sweetening the deal for union members, including millions of dollars for better benefits and worker training.
The changes came soon after the unions donated more than $1 million combined to an initiative sponsored by Nunez that would extend numerous lawmakers' terms, including his own.
In the final version, unveiled only days before Monday's vote, the unions received three years of increases in state funding of health insurance for tens of thousands of workers who provide in-home care for the elderly, blind and disabled.
The legislation as approved gives unions unilateral authority to create and operate trust funds to provide employee healthcare, taking the power to negotiate away from the county agencies that employ the workers. The amendment was sought by the Service Employees International Union.
"We weren't aware of it until Monday afternoon," said Paul McIntosh, executive director of the California State Assn. of Counties. "It appears that we don't have an opportunity to express our concerns. One of the questions we have, that we're still analyzing, is whether this would drive up the cost of that insurance."
He said the benefit increase for home care workers -- which would reach 75 cents an hour in the third year -- could be significant because the workers are on duty tens of millions of hours a year.
Another perk the unions negotiated allocates $25 million a year for a "Workforce Development Program Fund" that would provide retraining for their members employed at county hospitals and clinics.
Nunez's spokesman, Steve Maviglio, said the speaker made multiple changes to the bill in the final days for many groups.
"We worked with hundreds of stakeholders, including organized labor," Maviglio said.
"There was a flurry of activity," he said. "That's part of compromise -- give and take -- and that's exactly what happened. Nobody walked away from the table 100% happy."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the other main architect of the $14-billion deal to extend healthcare to most Californians starting in 2010, went along with the changes that Nu?ez (D-Los Angeles) made on the unions' behalf.
Aaron McLear, Schwarzenegger's spokesman, said "the governor and the speaker gave some ground in this negotiation, and the governor is pleased with the final product." .. full post: http://www.caclean.org/problem/latimes_2...
Who Foots Schwarzenegger's Bills?
The governor may be rich enough to refuse a salary, but he still takes money for travel expenses, without disclosing who's paying.
Editorial
Arnold Schwarzenegger was already so rich, his supporters claimed, he wouldn't need to make political deals with campaign donors. Look, they said, he's not even going to take his salary! What a deal for California!
What a deal indeed. Instead of taking a salary, Schwarzenegger takes overseas trips that feature private jets and luxury suites. His purpose is ostensibly to promote California, but his expenses are paid by donors who want something from him, like a signature or a veto at bill-signing time. Those donors funnel their cash to the governor, in anonymity, through something called the California State Protocol Foundation. Because it's a nonprofit organization, campaign laws that limit how much contributors can give simply don't apply.
In his first year in office, the governor duly disclosed how much he was being reimbursed for his promotional junkets. But then he was advised that filing the forms was unnecessary. The reason? The foundation wasn't giving the money to the governor personally but to the governor's office. Now his aides may be doing little more than making mental notes of how much foundation money he spends.
...full post: http://www.caclean.org/problem/latimes_2...
. . .
Clinton also has benefitted by spending from Emily’s List and the AFT, who have spent $485,777.43 and $799,618.59 respectively on her behalf.
This unprecedented level of outside spending could impact the outcome in Iowa and New Hampshire, and we believe voters in these states deserve to know exactly how much is being spent, where it’s coming from, and who’s benefiting.
TOTALS
CLINTON
AFSCME: $1,333,456.96 (includes $309,545.60 explicitly against Obama)
AFT: $799,618.59
Emily’s List: $485,777.43
Total: $2,618,852.98
EDWARDS
Working for Working Americans/Carpenters: $526,440.76
Alliance for a New America (SEIU): $1,530,411.77 (this includes $769,000 that has not formally posted)
Democratic Courage: $20,410.00
Total: $2,077,262.53
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/29/538074.aspx
I've often said there isn't much if any difference between Edwards and Clinton. And I could throw in Obama too for good measure.
Obama has not taken ANY PAC money whatsoever.
I don't know where you got that Joan, but I'm pretty sure it's not true.
AIPAC comes to mind immediately, as well as Big Health and Big Pharma.
according to the FEC:
edwards $0 PAC
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapA...
obama $25 PAC
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapA...
hillary $747,152 PAC
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapA...
biden $101,475 PAC
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapA...
dodd $563,399 PAC
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapA...
richardson $199,350 PAC
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapA...
kucinich $9,150 PAC
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapA...
gravel $502 PAC
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapA...
looks to me like edwards is the only one here. although $25 is trivial. if your problem is with all 527's, well there it is. but emily's list and the unions are hardly the washington power brokers who are the real problem.
in fact, and no i'm not speaking up for hillary, but her PAC money is less than 1% of her total contributions.
btw:
Romney $296,300 PAC
Giuliani $263,392 PAC
McCain $445,257 PAC
Thompson $105,425 PAC
Paul $10,799 PAC
Huckabee $27,974 PAC
Hunter $40,273 PAC
all candidates have collected $416.2mil together, and there are a total of $2,884,431 PAC dollars involved, which equals .69% of all contributions. seems pretty small to me.
what are we really talking about?
Found this video at PFAW. It is Rev. John Hagee spreading fear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFYiSJHbnZc
Cornerstone megachurch in San Antonio, Texas, home of Armageddon advocate John Hagee. Here's a typical sermon at Cornerstone, which was broadcast on TBN 12/19/2007.
And more on how Bush is using these preachers.
Unbelievable. Bush is using religious right leaders to push the danger of Islam, Iran. .
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1329
"one of Edwards’ highest-ranking political aides" does not equal "his former campaign manager"
campaign for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has released a letter from eight Iowans who were 2004 supporters of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, but are now supporting Obama.
The letter takes a swipe at the Edwards campaign's motto of bringing change to Washington by pointing out that a new Political Action Committee, run by Edwards' former campaign manager, launched a television ad campaign in Iowa -- and that a New York Times article reported Edwards was aware of the help coming his way.
"During the 2004 Iowa Caucus we supported Senator John Edwards in part for his commitment to fight Washington insiders on behalf of working families," the letter reads. "He said he would change Washington, and we believed him. Times have changed, and so has John Edwards..."
the line Hillary callers use is that she is "most electable"
next line "most experience"
they are wrong on both counts
but I have fun visiting with all of the callers if they are local volunteers
my son canvassed all day for Obama and is sure they picked up one, got one maybe, and had a woman slam her door in their face
More shame on CNN:
24/7 of the Bhutto murder. They are attempting to make it a primary campaign issue I suppose but for or against whom I could not guess.
Surely the issue will be entirely ignored by next Nov. anyway. Voters will be more focued on kitchen table issues and getting out of Iraq.
Biden might be helped slightly by the events in Pakistan.
had a woman slam her door in their face
Phil,
I had that happen to me when I was canvassing Democrats for Kerry who live in my own community just before the 2004 general election.
Dodd is attacking the other candidates by name here and is the only one doing it that I know of.
Also,
whatever helps Biden or Dodd can only help to hurt the "most experienced one" Hillary Clinton.
I've knocked on thousands of doors over the years and have had a door slammed in my face only once, Joan.
most people are polite even if they don't agree, but I do skip yards with pit bulls
campaign for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has released a letter from eight Iowans who were 2004 supporters of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, but are now supporting Obama.
And Edwards released a letter by Ionuts who switched from Obama to him. Hopefully the self annointed guardians of our democracy aren't falling for such foolishness.
both Obama and Edwards don't take PAC money
go to the next issue to decide between them
You'll find little if any difference there either. Obama does have a more liberal voting record than Edwards did as a senator.
our precinct has 14 delegates and i doubt any one candidate will win more than 4
this is a large good field and no way should someones 33% be seen as a win if someone else gets 31%
Just read over at Daily Kos that The Concord Monitor is endorsing the most corporate of candidates - the Hillster. Argh.
27.
mary vb -
This is still very much Clinton country here in southern New England (south New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island) but fortunately some people like MA dem governor Deval Patrick, and U. S. Rep William Delahunt [latter congressman of southshore MA, including Cape Cod, Nantucket and Clinton-vacation spot of Martha's Vineyard] are countering that by backing Obama.
the Hillster
What is it about me that I do not hate the Clintons. I do not think I am a fool. Tell me where I am wrong.
Shine on backwards oh, masters of my fate
Tell me great ones just how I rate
Should I bow my head or scream your holy names
Tell me dear ones am I still in the game?
Shine on up down to you dear lords I pray
Give me answers and happiness today
Should I dress in white or wear thee around my neck
Tell me great ones just how to write the check
To pay for my sins and keep my lords in animal skins
To pay for my acts and keep my lords in white cadillacs
Wish I could hang but 5 minutes to show time.
(I won't say what show, some don't want to hear about it, ssssshhhh.)
I don't think I've read about anyone here hating Hillary or any other Dem candidate. Hmmm.
Good luck to the Patriots - my parents favorite team.
In the stairwell that first day, the very first new friend my sister made was a cute little freshman in tan corduroy jeans with her dark hair pulled into two pigtails. She looked more like a high school freshman than a college student. She was tacking up fliers for some kind of
cause (might have been related to world hunger) on the bulletin boards in the stairwell.
She was pretty and outgoing and introduced herself to us at once, "Hi, I'm Bennie, Bennie Bhutto."
Well, my wife has other plans for tonight's viewing (just finished watching together "The Miracle Worker" on PBS and now onto to some Brit comedy viewing Vicar of Dibley, etc). She's got control of the remote control tonight (smile, she's even more of a soccer fan than me and doesn't care as much about other American sports as I do).
Oh, well, I'll catch "the show "score later.
oh, BTW:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071229/ap_po/on_the2008_trail_13
N.D. senator endorses Obama
By DALE WETZEL, Associated Press Writer
Sat Dec 29, 3:22 PM ET
BISMARCK, N.D. - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama picked up the endorsement Saturday of North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, who said he would campaign for Obama in Iowa during the final weekend before the state's leadoff presidential caucuses.
Conrad, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said he had never endorsed a candidate before in a Democratic presidential primary. He was doing so this year because "I believe that events really require all of us to stand up and be counted," he said Saturday during a telephone conference call.
"He is somebody that brings people together. He unites rather than divides, and I think that's very important for the country right now," Conrad said. "He has the unusual ability to inspire and to lift people to be better. ... That is a rare skill, and I think something that's much needed."
Conrad also praised Obama's opposition to the Iraq war before Congress voted in October 2002 to authorize it. Conrad was one of 23 senators who voted against the authorization.
...
Conrad is one of two senators who have endorsed Obama's campaign so far. The other is Illinois' other senator, Democrat Dick Durbin, a campaign spokesman said.
Conrad said he planned to campaign with Obama in Iowa on Sunday.
...
Bruce Cockburn, Turn, Turn, Turn (orig. Pete Seeger)
(from Where Have All The Flowers Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger)
our precinct has 14 delegates and i doubt any one candidate will win more than 4
That's misleading for those who don't understand the convoluted Iowa system. Those will not be delegates to the Democratic convention, but merely delegates to the next stage of the process for choosing convention delegates. And another stage after that!
- 2 Process Unlike the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary, the Iowa caucus does not result directly in national delegates for each candidate. Instead, caucus-goers elect delegates to county conventions, who elect delegates to district and state conventions where the national convention delegates are selected.[citation needed]
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama picked up the endorsement Saturday of North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad,
It's becoming more and more apparent that Obama doesn't want my vote.
But, she doesn't rate high here.
Who does here?
What I like about this blog is it's diversity.
All different kinds of perspectives.
I especially like points of views that give depth to their opinion.
The problem I see is that there are forces out there that want to unify opinions.
Forces that want to simplyfy life.
The most simplest form being black and white.
there really are no heros. people occasionally rise to an extraordinary level for brief moments. otherwise, we're all sort of normalized at the mean. same goes for leadership. charisma can go a long way, but devoid of that, simple managerial skills are a mixture of ego and bureaucratic manipulation. when picking a leader, go with charisma if you can, but otherwise choose the one who'll do the least harm...
...used to have dial-up, but no more. So, like I was told, "get with it, man!"
go with charisma if you can
That has been done in the 1930's.
That's why I abhor charisma.
Choosing someone to do the least harm is a good beginning.
charisma
is good. It can yield long term gain...even with short term hick-ups.
^that's a friend of mine on the ground.
Well, that link sounded like hack, ack, wmhh, on my dial up.
You know what really pisses me off? My son is living in Africa and has High Speed Internet Access. I live less than 10 miles from an US capital city and can't get it.
About handling a tease,
it's a matter of understanding~
a lot of the world's out pacing us in high speed access. maybe we really do live in the provinces as the european aristocrats think.
-
By Susan Rowe on Dec 29, 2007 6:22 AM ESTDean is first!