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« March 2006 |
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Saturday On My Mind
Got through the morning rush of registration - people who didn't register on Friday need to get their credential in order to get into the general session so it's always a long morning - and it seems longer on just two hours sleep.
Taking a fast break in the staff room, where we have a TV showing general session. I have a feeling that's the only way I'll be able to see any of the speeches.
Jack O'Connell is speaking now. He referred to himself as the tall dude in between the two guys running for Governor. Very cute. I always like to hear Jack talk about improved test scores - I feel like he's personally telling me how great my son is doing in third grade!
Lots of media here - TV, print, radio and bloggers. I did some reaching out to Dem bloggers and we got several signed up. It will be interesting to see what they have to say.
Two radio stations from Sacramento were here yesterday -- Cap Public Radio and KCTC 1320 AM, the area's Air America affiliate. I like 1320's local programming - great additions to all the Air America shows.
You should check it out.
OK - back to work.
Posted by Kim Stevens at 11:26 AM | Comments (18)
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How I Survived The First Day of Convention
I wasn't kidding about there not being any live blogging going on. Just no time, but I promise to catch you all up on what's been going on later in the day.
Friday was one of the busiest days I've ever experienced at convention -- this is my 11th -- lucky number 11.
Got to sleep around 3:30, then up at 5:30, for another jam-packed day.
. . . Not that I don't want to keep "talking," but the coffee just arrived in the staff meeting and the rush to get at it could get ugly.
Staff needs coffee . . . .
p.s. Special thanks to our terrific volunteers who are with us every step of the way. The press volunteers especially have done an amazing job working on the convention newsletter and taking snapshots of the delegates holding their own messages on why they are Democrats. They'll be shown during general session and posted on the web later today.
Posted by Kim Stevens at 06:46 AM | Comments (16)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Convention is Here (Open Thread)
Well, convention is here. The halls are buzzing with Democrats. The staff and the great volunteers are busy making sure everything goes smoothly. Our webcast will begin at 9am Saturday morning. Feel free to use this as an open thread.
Posted by AndrewHintz at 02:34 PM | Comments (8)
« March 2006 |
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Open Thread Thursday
Post away . . .
Posted by Kim Stevens at 10:36 AM | Comments (10)
« March 2006 |
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Open Thread Wednesday
The volunteers have started arriving to help out for convention - lots of young people. I love their enthusiasm and their desire to be involved and make a difference. It's going to be a good day.
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:49 AM | Comments (12)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
The "Collectinator" Fails Again
Arnold Schwarzenegger is in trouble . . .AGAIN.
His demands to Bush failed. The President refused to have a federal disaster declaration for California’s levees. No surprise.
That isn’t the biggest issue though. There is one thing really bothering me -- why were the levees not fixed earlier? Why did Schwarzenegger wait until the storms of 2006 hit before he asked for relief?
Didn’t he learn anything from Katrina?
I imagine his approval rating will drop even further – people will remember that once again, Arnold has failed to live up to his own "Collectinator" moniker (bet he’s sorry he ever came up with that one!)
Time to update your resume, Mr. Terminator . . .
[Submitted by Intern Alex Wan, who is pitching in on the Blog while CDP staff gets ready for convention.]
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:40 AM | Comments (6)
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Open Thread . . . Er, Tuesday?
Huh!? I think I missed a day somewhere.
But I have an excuse: we are officially in "convention mode."
What else is going on?
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:27 AM | Comments (24)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
President of the People? Not This One
Excited that President Bush is visiting our state right now? Don’t be. Unless you’re one of the “lucky” few invited to attend his events – odds are you won’t be able to see him at all. He even won’t be traveling on our streets – for example in West Sacramento he’s coming in by helicopter to further the odds that he won’t meet an unscreened ordinary citizen.
The President serves the people, right? So why won’t he meet with us?
Posted by Bill Ferrell at 05:58 PM | Comments (27)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Better Late Than Never . . . Open Thread Friday
Just a week to our state convention . . .
Posted by Kim Stevens at 11:29 AM | Comments (17)
« March 2006 |
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Thursday Loose Threads
This is the spot . . .
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:15 AM | Comments (16)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
A Hump, A Bump - It's Open Thread Wednesday
Loyal posters out there -- any of you coming to our state convention the end of this month?
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:15 AM | Comments (16)
« March 2006 |
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Great, Scott!
If you are keeping count of the mass exodus in the Bush admin, McClellan is now bowing out. I assume he's not married with kids, because I didn't notice a "spend time with family" line.
Bush had this to say
"I thought he handled his assignment with class, integrity. It's going to be hard to replace Scott, but nevertheless he made the decision and I accepted it. One of these days, he and I are going to be rocking in chairs in Texas and talking about the good old days."
Hhhmm, wouldn't it be great if that could happen sooner, rather than later.
And just what "good old days" is Bush referring to? The war in Iraq, the huge budget deficit, the indictments and grand jury investigations? To Bush, it's all just good times!
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:06 AM | Comments (15)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Mr. Wrong
George Skelton of the LA Times sums it up perfectly on why Arnold is the wrong man for governor – he doesn’t understand that political progress takes time and a capacity to work with others to get progress done. We have checks and balances in our system as a means to make sure that every policy enacted is well thought out before becoming law.
Schwarzenegger on the other hand wants a system where he can draft bold new policies and implement them swiftly: in other words a dictatorship. His inability to grasp that the state does not revolve around him is simply another reason why he must be voted out this November.
Posted by Bill Ferrell at 01:19 PM | Comments (7)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Speaking of Sunshine -- New Poll Shows None for Arnold
The Bush/Arnold twin thing continues. They are like two peas in a poll when it comes to bad numbers.
The latest from SurveyUSA shows Arnold with a 61 percent DIS-approval rating.
That's a lot of dissing.
California isn't impressed with "Mr. Universe."
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:33 AM | Comments (18)
« March 2006 |
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Open Thread "Sunshine" Tuesday
Yes, the sun is still out, yesterday wasn't a fluke.
Get some fresh air, then post away . . .
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:01 AM | Comments (9)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Bush and Arnold: Together Again?
Bush is coming to California -- wonder if Arnold will be "busy" again.
From the AP:
"Aides to Bush and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger say they are still in delicate negotiations on how to stage a meeting between the two Republicans. Both are held in low regard by California voters: A Field Poll this week found just 36 percent are inclined to re-elect Schwarzenegger, and 32 percent approve of Bush's handling of the presidency."
Delicate negotiations? This isn't rocket science, people.
But I guess neither one wants to be seen with the class clown or the "least likely to succeed."
Both are not worthy of California.
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:51 AM | Comments (13)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
If It's Monday, April 17th - Its Must Be Tax Time (and Open Thread Monday)
PSA of the Day: If you haven't yet, be sure and file your taxes.
Otherwise, post away . . .
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:15 AM | Comments (4)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
It's Good To Be -- An Open Thread Friday
Love the new song from Pink and Indigo Girls, "Dear Mr. President."
The lyrics say it all.
And here's another Bush bon mot:
"The president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a very fine job during a challenging period in our nation's history," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said at a briefing. (Washington Post 4/14/06)
That Bush -- ne never met a White House appointee who's doing a lousy job and should be fired, that he didn't like. They are all fabulous and everything is "juuust fine."
Posted by Kim Stevens at 08:52 AM | Comments (33)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
A One Day Reprieve From The Rain -- And It's Open Thread Thursday
Hmmm, "is that the moon we see, can't be, looks like the sun to me!"
Anyone know what song that's from?
Posted by Kim Stevens at 08:41 AM | Comments (21)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Grab A Cup Of Coffee -- It's Open Thread Wednesday
Um, it's raining. Gee, what a surprise.
Post away . . .
Posted by Kim Stevens at 07:14 AM | Comments (19)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Busby in Run-Off
It was close, but not enough to clinch it.
It will be Busby v. Bilbray in the June run-off, and I think she can take it - CD-50 is tired of all the Republican muck.
Posted by Kim Stevens at 07:04 AM | Comments (11)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Open Thread Tuesday - Election Day in CD-50
Don't forget to vote if you are in CD-50.
You can find your polling place on the San Diego County Registrar of Voters website.
Francine Busby is the endorsed Democratic candidate and has a good shot at winning.
After being subjected to that slug Cunningham who put his own desire to live a life of grandeur and greed before the needs of those he was elected to serve, I'm sure the people in CD-50 are ready for real change.
By the way -- this Congressional website still refers to Duke as "The Honorable."
I think we have a winner for "oxymoron of the month" !!
Posted by Kim Stevens at 10:13 AM | Comments (12)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
It's Monday - Loose Thread Time
Another Bush speech this morning, this time at John Hopkins. More smirking, even some chuckles. Life is one big joke for Bush, isn't it?
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:41 AM | Comments (18)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Arnold And His Broken Record
So, Arnold's Bush-league campaign team proclaims "We're gonna run on the record."
I wonder what "record" they're referring to?
Record fundraising from special interests?
Record losing streak on his Special Election props?
Record for time spent not doing his job?
Record for most controversial hires?
Record for most most expensive campaign stunts that go nowhere?
Record for starring in the cheesiest tourism ads?
Feel free to add in your own "favorite" Arnold records . . .
Posted by Kim Stevens at 02:32 PM | Comments (28)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Let's Keep It Going -- It's Open Thread Thursday!
My new hero: Harry Taylor, who had this to say to Bush during his latest "you like me, don't you" speech in North Carolina:
"I feel like despite your rhetoric, that compassion and common sense have been left far behind during your administration. And I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and grace to be ashamed of yourself."
Posted by Kim Stevens at 10:25 AM | Comments (12)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
Your Request Is Granted -- It's Open Thread Wednesday!
I've gotta go and put cover sheets on my TPS reports -- so give me a hand and post away!
Posted by Kim Stevens at 10:41 AM | Comments (13)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
McCain and Falwell -- Strange Bedfellows?
Sen. John McCain has decided no time like the present to get a jump on the 2008 presidential race.
With right-wing extremist (and anointed leader of the homophobes) Jerry Falwell announcing McCain will be a commencement speaker at his Liberty University, McCain is giving us a glimpse of the road he's likely to travel on his quest to the White House.
McCain must have figured that his previous "middle of the road" stance would only lead to a dead end in the Republican Party, so now he's best friends with Falwell.
Gives new meaning to McCain's "Straight Talk Express" doesn't it?
Posted by Kim Stevens at 09:40 AM | Comments (7)
« March 2006 |
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| May 2006 »
DeLayed Reaction
On his decision to not run for re-election, Tom DeLay said "I'm very much at peace with it."
So are we Tom, so are we.
From CDP Chairman Art Torres:
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The beginning of the end of the Republican culture of corruption starts now and will be finished by the American people in November, when they vote the Republican majority out of the House of Representatives."
From House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
"Mr. DeLay’s departure from Congress is one piece of the changes needed to end the Republican culture of corruption. This Republican corruption continues to cost the American people at the pharmacy, at the gas pump, and in their home energy bills. For more than a decade, every Republican in the House enabled and benefited from their culture of corruption and they must be held accountable. We need a new direction that returns the people’s house to the American people. Democrats again insist the Ethics Committee do its job and investigate corruption in the House."
From Congressman Rahm Emanuel, Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee:
"Tom DeLay may be gone, but the delay in real reform continues. The refusal of the brand new majority leader of the House Republicans to pass comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform, the power of the special interests, the control the powerful lobbyists continue to hold, tells the American people everything they need to know about Tom DeLay's departure -- that DeLay may be gone, but nothing has changed. National Republicans want you to believe they have turned the page, but the Republican culture of putting the special interests first does not revolve around just one man. The drug companies, the insurance industry, and the oil and energy companies still hold sway over the Republican Congress and write the legislation that affects the lives of the American people, and that is why the American people are so desperate for a change from the old ideas and status quo of the Republican Congress."
From Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney:
"Tom DeLay's announcement is just the beginning of the reckoning of the Republican culture of corruption that has gripped Washington for too long. From DeLay, to Scooter Libby, to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, to Duke Cunningham, to Bob Ney, to David Safavian--the list goes on and on. Make no mistake, this Fall the American people are going to have a clear choice between Democrats who offer a bold vision based on honest leadership and real security, and Republicans who can only offer more of the same Republican culture of corruption and incompetence."
Posted by Kim Stevens at 10:54 AM | Comments (11)
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