The Political Dogfight

CA:48th OC Democratic Party Endorses Steve Young!

By an overwhelming vote, the Orange County Democratic Party Central Committee, the Assembly delegates and other authorized officers voted at  7:50PM Pacific to endorse Grassroots candidate Steve Young for the California 48th Congressional District.

Coming from nowhere, Steve Young, a first time candidate, created his own race, nationalized his campaign, attracted the Hackett Campaign staff and now has Orange County's Democratic endorsement! It is a story that could come only from a Grassroots candidate.

Yesterday his website was officially launched featuring innovative technology seen only once before in a political website at Steve Young for Congress. There you can join the Team that was just endorsed to help win the Primary on October 4th,2005 and prepare for the General election on Decemeber 6, 2005.

Bloggers: Join the Steve Young's Bloggers Posse at the Bloggers Corner at Steve Young's website.
Press/Media: Register at the Steve Young site to get on the press/media distibution list.

Celebrate! This is the first big hurdle towards taking a Red seat and making it Blue! Join the Team. It's going to take everyone's effort!

Hard Words for W's ability to Govern

As Kos points out some cruel realities and you should read them.

Then Kos says:

I just wish that the president gave a damn about what's happenend. Unfortunately, he's too busy playing 'country rock star". Kos
And this photo is from today!

The Big Dog has just three words:

Screw the Sonofabitch...

(This message is entirely personal to The Big Dog and has no reflection on any campaign or candidate.)

CA-48: Steve Young's site is live and helping in Disaster Relief

As you may have seen on Swing State Project, the main site for Steve Young for Congress is live. You can see the innovative new site that displays the Candidate in ways that most voters in any area have never seen. Want to see the Candidate describe to you in his own words why he's running? Just watch on that page.

On the main page is a link to the Red Cross Center to donate to the relief effort. Steve Young is committed to helping in whatever way his supporters can to assist those poor souls now find that the levees that have protected them for a lifetime have collasped! Donate. Donate $5, Donate $5,000.  Donate whatever you can. Go to Steve Young for Congress for a direct link and make your donation.

Frankly the destruction caused by collaspe of these barriers to floods to so disturbing that I can't keep writing. And think of the fact that the National Guard that was supposed BE THERE! All that deep water equipment and well trained personnel....in Iraq.

Let's elect one more good Democrat in Congress....Steve Young. He needs your support, your time, if you are a blogger...your Blog at Blogger's Corner and, of course, your money. Read this site all the way through and you will find substance.

CA-48: And Let the Republican Bloodletting Begin

The Club for Growth in Washington DC, and independent group, has sponsored an attack ad against Republican Candidate Marilyn Brewer. Here is the Press Release is received this morning by the Big Dog:

Club for Growth PAC Unveils Ads Opposing California-48 Pro-Spending Candidate Marilyn Brewer

      

Washington, D.C. —The political action arm of Club for Growth, a national free-market advocacy organization with over 31,000 members, today unveiled a television and radio ad opposing California’s 48th District Republican candidate Marilyn Brewer for her record of missed votes and supporting increased spending.       

Marilyn Brewer is running in an open primary for the seat previously held by Chris Cox, who was recently appointed Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission by President Bush. The Club for Growth PAC recently endorsed John Campbell to fill this seat.       

“Marilyn Brewer is a proven supporter of increased spending. Her record in the California State Legislature shows that she voted for a budget even then-Governor Gray Davis thought needed cutting,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “John Campbell has a stellar record and position on the issues of taxes and spending. He believes in limited government and lower taxes and is willing and able to stick to his principles as a legislator.”       

Mr. Toomey continued, “Politicians who don’t even have the guts to vote surely can’t be counted on to vote right when they do show up.”   

To view the television ad, click here         (Windows Media file)    

To listen to the radio ad, click here         (MP3 file)       

The text of the ad reads below:

        Male 1: MARILYN BREWER?      

Male 2: ABSENT.       

Male 1: MARILYN BREWER?       

Male 2: ABSENT.       

Announcer: IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, MARILYN           BREWER SKIPPED MORE VOTES THAN ALL BUT ONE ORANGE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE.       

SHE MISSED MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED VOTES IN ALL.       

WHEN SHE DID SHOW UP, SHE VOTED FOR A STATE           BUDGET THAT WAS SO BLOATED EVEN GRAY DAVIS THOUGHT IT SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY.       

MARILYN BREWER. SO LIBERAL, TAXPAYERS ARE           BETTER OFF WHEN SHE DOESN’T VOTE.

CLUB FOR GROWTH PAC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THIS ADVERTISING.   

The ad will begin airing on KFI-AM radio and cable TV systems throughout the 48th District on Monday, August 29, and will run for an indefinite period of time.                         

PAID FOR BY CLUB FOR GROWTH PAC. WWW.CLUBFORGROWTH.ORG.   NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE.

Let the Republican Bloodbath begin!

CA-48: A View Of Steve Young from Outside the Campaign

While most of what you read is from Young partisans, this was published on the Clark Community Network, one of the most active in the nation, and was forwarded to me. I'm a member there but just don't have time to keep up. This author was at the DFA training last week and has some observations about CA-48 ,Steve Young and his Primary Opponents. It should be interesting reading.

From CCN:
Posted on Sun Aug 21st, 2005 at 04:50:35 PM EST

I'd   like to share some recent revelations with you all about a few good   men....and women, who stand to help make a huge difference in California   politics in the very near future. With our rich electoral vote bank (55   votes)  California politics are America's politics.  So listen   up Clarkies!

Yesterday   I was invited by John Heaner, a regional Director of the Democratic   Party here, to attend the Democracy for America event   in OhSoRed Orange County, where the  theme was Blue Tides-- turning our red districts blue   and keeping the blues intact. Various candidates were featured and given some   speaking, debating time as well as a host of election reformers (!),   grassroots organizers, and overall committed Dems with plans to get this   state where it should be.  <snip>

Secondly...we   have a key congressional seat left vacated by bush's recent appointment of   Chris Cox to the SEC.  The 48th Congressional District.   I was able to catch frontrunner Steve Young along with   other Dems Tom Pallow and John Graham.   This special election race feels like one that will grab some national   attention in line with Paul Hackett's race...in fact, Hackett's team just   climbed aboard to Steve Young's campaign and were there yesterday passing out   the forms and taking inquiries. The Southern California Grassroots Committee   has officially endorsed Young as well. The Primary is October 4th   (Roshashanna, Ramadan-- way to go Ahnold), and the Special election for CA   48th will be Dec. 6th. Dems have a 38% registration disadvantage there but   they are counting on grassroots and blogospheric support to help us win this   district.  One key would be to offer up only ONE Dem against the...last   count..about 10-12 republican contenders.

The   one with the fire in his belly is definitely Steve Young.  And it seems   the organization is there as well.  A few observations:  He's   endorsed by the Young Democrats, yesterday he had  six appearances   booked...all in one day! His issues as he defines them are saving Social   Security, preserving the Middle Class (job loss), extrication from Iraq   "civil war" and others.

He   and his wife are both attorneys, he since 1980, which definitely helps with   the powerful presentation to a room.  On gay marriage:   "The government has no right to dictate or to intervene in the private   lives of individuals" (paraphrased)  On Iraq: " You   cannot impose democracy...we need to leave. They will still be fighting   this civil war after we leave." (paraphrased)  Supports Cindy   Sheehan.  Favorite quote: "We should prosecute for them   war crimes...."  Well, you know who...

He   had a Q & A with another Dem candidate (former pro wrestler Tom Pallow)   that left him looking on top of the issues by many miles.  Steve has   already on staff an assigned Blogger and is signed up for donations (a la   Hackett) at ActBlue.  When Pallow was asked by some Kos Bloggers what   his campaign had intended for the internet and Blogosphere,  he   responded "My brother is a computer scientist, I have a   website..." Full Nelson.  Pallow then made some very strange   suggestion that sounded like we should leave Iraq in 3 years and then go back   later to re-arm them?  Maybe I missed that one in   translation. So did a chunk of the room. Next to Young he appeared   lackluster and not well versed on the questions. But I'll bet he could   deliver one helluva body slam. I'm gun shy of body builder or wrestler   types entering the political arena these days. Can we please keep the   muscles in sports arenas and out of our government?

It   was difficult to get a real read on Graham as he only popped in a few moments   to introduce himself while I was there.  He is a veteran and an   International Affairs professor at UC Irvine, apparently has run three times   previously, but did not seem a commanding presence in the space.  Unsure   about his chances for success.  Young knew how to work the crowd, and   I'd say in Orange County that will be a prerequisite.

So,   in summary-- I think we can each do our part in our respective key districts   and states to alert the rest of our group to the important races and help   support the likely winners.  And one by one get back some of the losses   we suffered in our last several elections.  You can check out Steve   Young at Steve Young for Congress dot com or The Political Dogfight (www.politicaldogfight.com) where they will be blogging about this race and other blogs as well.  Thanks for recognizing the California piece of the   puzzle as a vital one for 2006.  I know we are in full support mode for Eric Massa and others, so this is not in any way to detract from that/ those   races in other states.  Just keep your BLUE EYES on our beloved California if you will...

Thanks to the poster who I am keeping anonymous as I do not have her specific permission to repost her article. Thanks for the time Poster. TBD

CA-48: The Admin Hands The Young Campaign Another Issue That Crosses Party Lines

This is pretty self-explanatory expect to say there is finally a Polling Company that phrased the question in such a way that it reflects reality. Look at the results to see where The American Voter, without regard to Party, is today and in the CA-48th District, where the Cross-party vote of Independents and Republicans will be the key to final Victory, Democratic Steve Young can use this information very efffectively:

The Harris Poll. Aug. 9-16, 2005. N=1,217 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

"Do you favor keeping a large number of U.S. troops in Iraq until there is a stable government there OR bringing most of our troops home in the next year?"

	   Wait     Bring Home
8/16/05     36	       61
6/12/05     33	       63
4/10/05     40	       60
2/13/05     39	       59
11/14/04    50	       47

Thanks to MyDD and Chris Bowers for the heads up!

CA-48 Ballot Order...Young Wins Again

The Ballot order of the Primary is determined by a random drawing of letters of the alphabet by the Secretary of State's (pdf) office. As a result here's the order

1) John Kelly, Republican

2) John Campbell, Republican

3) David Crouch, Republican

4) Bruce Cohen, Libertarian

5) Steve Young, Democrat

6) Don Udall, Republican

7) Bea Foster, Democrat

8) Scott Maccabe, Republican

9) Guy Mailly, Republican

10) Marsha Morris, Republican

11) Marilyn Brewer, Republican

12) Marshall Sanders, Republican

13) Edward Suppe, Republican

14) Tom Pallow, Democrat

15) Bea Tiritilli, Green

16) John Graham, Democrat

17) Jim Gilchrist, American Idependent
===============================================

[Thanks to CA-48 and HacknFlak for the Heads Up off of SwingState.]

My personal interpetation: Being the first Democrat on the Ballot can only help. When the habitual, but uninformed registered Democrat walks into that booth; when the Independent that wants change more than anything else walks into that booth or when the disaffected Republican walks into that booth...assuming they know nothing else...they know the word Democrat!

And Steve Young is their first and obvious choice. I haven't consulted with the Campaign staff but I think of this as a Victory. Our Democratic challengers are buried in with the people that nobody knows.

And, in my personal opinion, since I am not an official member of anyone's staff, that's only appropriate.

PS: And thanks to Bob Brigham for his comment on his own post:

"And I don't think it matters much on our side, people will be looking for Steve Young's name..."

CA-48th: The Easiest Issue of Them All

Quick, simple, easy and hits all of us:

I recommend we take a long hard look at The Apollo Alliance's plan to create an oil-free American society within one generation with energy resources we don't even know currently exist. Right now The Alliance is predicting 2.4 million new jobs within 10 years just from energy research and development. Read their site.  Imagine an oil-free society and yet we have everything we have today!       'Nuff said. TBD      

CA-48th Another Easy Issue by Polling Data

While those who think that Party labels totally determine elections, The Big Dog still thinks that all people actually feel and think. In the privacy of the polling booth people can do things they will deny to their best friends. Why? Because of quiet feelings that are reflected in this poll:

Gallup Poll. Aug. 8-11, 2005. N=1,001 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.  "In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?"

Satisfied: 37%
Dissatisfied: 60%
Unsure: 3%

Feelings like these...gas prices like the ones I paid today (well, over $3 per gallon) and continuing distrust of the War in Iraq, (roughly one-third of the people now favor an immediate pullout and another third a pullout within one year),....they slowly build up until Change becomes a Necessity.

That is true everywhere...including the CA-48th. Here and elsewhere, head and heart will take precedence over Party...and people of good conscience will quietly vote their heads and hearts to create change.

Ca-48th: Net Funding Links for Steve Young for Congress

Many in the last few days have asked for a link to an ActBlue account for Steve Young for Congress. They understand that the Net, like Emilys List, provides the Early Money that is Like Yeast! Steve Young's own site is in the final stages with more filming tomorrow.

Yet SoCalGrassroots has started their own ActBlue account for Steve Young for Congress. I've checked with Meghan Gaffney, our consultant for fundraising and money management affairs [and part of the Hackett team that raised over 950K in rural Ohio], and she agrees that having individual blog and organizational webpages that lead to Steve Young for Congress fundraising are great.

So here is the first of many, use this link for donations for Steve Young for Congress, as sponsored by SoCalGrassroots. More blog links will follow in the next few days. Until then use this one!