Burbank Democratic Club

Glenn Beck - the early days - not much different

2009-11-27T18:11:00.000-08:00

Where's coverage? Jailed GOP scam group leader far worse than ACORN

2009-09-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

Czars? Birthers? Deathers? Now fake GOP hysteria over "scandals" as distraction turns back to an old veteran target of mudslinging ... and Joe Conason just recalled the real GOP voter-reg scandal that got almost no coverage ...

Over the past several years, a handful of ACORN employees have admitted falsifying names and signatures on registration cards, in order to boost the pay they received. When ACORN officials discovered those cases, they informed the state authorities and turned in the miscreants. (That was why the Bush Justice Department's blatant attempt to smear ACORN with rushed, election-timed indictments became a national scandal for Republicans rather than Democrats.) The proportion of fraud is infinitesimal. ...

If only the Republicans who have worked up a frenzy over ACORN's alleged crimes were so indignant about real and damaging voter fraud -- such as the amazing case of Young Political Majors, the firm that ran GOP registration efforts in California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona and elsewhere before the authorities in Orange County, Calif., busted its president, Mark Anthony Jacoby, and sent him to jail last year. He had built a lucrative partisan career by teaching his minions to deceive thousands of voters into registering as Republicans rather than Democrats, among other scams. Of course, the only on-air mention of the Young Political Majors scandal on Fox News was made by blogger Brad Friedman -- and the national media, mainstream and conservative, generally ignored it. They were too busy generating "controversy" over ACORN. ...

Sotomayor dares ask the question...

2009-09-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

are Corporations people? Even Kennedy get's it wrong.

Sotomayor Issues Challenge to a Century of Corporate Law

During arguments in a campaign-finance case, the court's majority conservatives seemed persuaded that corporations have broad First Amendment rights and that recent precedents upholding limits on corporate political spending should be overruled.

But Justice Sotomayor suggested the majority might have it all wrong -- and that instead the court should reconsider the 19th century rulings that first afforded corporations the same rights flesh-and-blood people have.

Judges "created corporations as persons, gave birth to corporations as persons," she said. "There could be an argument made that that was the court's error to start with...[imbuing] a creature of state law with human characteristics."

REM and MoveON: We Can't afford to Wait

2009-09-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Fired Up!

2009-09-07T15:13:00.001-07:00

Senator Bernie Sanders on Afghanistan

2009-09-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

Who knew?

2009-09-01T22:12:00.001-07:00

Fierce California fires tear into tattered budget | Reuters

The firefighting effort could face new strains if the prison system, also trying to cut costs, releases 27,000 or more low-risk inmates -- the type the firefighting agency depends on for cheap, abundant labor.

Health Care Reform Debate

2009-08-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

President Obama has announced that he wants to debate the health care reform plan. Check out this link. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112137345&ft=1&f=1001 This could be just what the doctor ordered!

Gavin Newsom is asking for blogs to follow

2009-08-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

I sent him this one. If you have other blogs you could suggest to him do so on Facebook. And put more stuff on this blog.

Gavin Newsom Got a blog you think we should follow? Help us build out our CA blog list - politics, health care, environment, local communities etc...the more the better. Post a link and name of the blog in the comments section.

Teabaggers/Deathers: We've Been Here Waaaaay Before

2009-08-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Historical context always makes ME feel better when confronted by the irrational:

Rick Perlstein in WaPo has a great recap that these guys...'n'gals...are nothing new:

In America, Crazy Is a Preexisting Condition
Birthers, Town Hall Hecklers and the Return of Right-Wing Rage

......When Adlai Stevenson spoke at a 1963 United Nations Day observance in Dallas, the Indignation forces thronged the hall, sweating and furious, shrieking down the speaker for the television cameras. Then, when Stevenson was walked to his limousine, a grimacing and wild-eyed lady thwacked him with a picket sign. Stevenson was baffled. "What's the matter, madam?" he asked. "What can I do for you?" The woman responded with self-righteous fury: "Well, if you don't know I can't help you."

.... Lots more!

Perlstein does not quiet end up the Stevenson story: Afterwards Stevenson told police not to arrest the woman, stating that “I don't want her to go to jail, I want her to go to school.”

"He who does not learn history is doomed to repeat it...!"

Lobbyists $ - Where does it come from and who does it go to?

2009-08-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

This is a very interesting site to explore. I hope that it is helpful.
http://www.opensecrets.org/index.php

ARRGH: Reid and public option

2009-07-28T23:47:00.000-07:00

In other words, we're lost but we're making good time...

We'll slug this out later on the floor, apparently. More time to delay, or let the Blue Dogs scamper away to the shadows rather than be targeted ...

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/07/28/reid-says-its-premature-to-say-whether-he-backs-public-plan/

Reid says it's 'premature' to say whether he backs public plan

@ 3:46 pm by Michael O'Brien
As the battle rages over whether or not final healthcare reform legislation should include a public (or "government-run") option for consumers, the Senate's top Democrat said Tuesday it'd be "premature" to say whether or not he supports such a provision.
"It would be really premature for me to lay out for each of you what I think should be in this bill," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said in remarks following the weeky Democratic luncheon.
Reid declined to say whether he would be pushing for the public option during negotiations in the Senate, focusing instead on bringing a bill to the floor.
"What I think should be in the bill is something that I will vote according to my conscience when we get this on the floor," Reid explained. "But I have a responsibility to get a bill on the Senate floor that will get 60 votes, so we can proceed to it."
The Nevada Democrat hinted that he may have a preference, but played his cards close to his vest as to what that might be.
"That's my number one responsibility and there are times when I have to set aside my personal preferences for the good of the Senate and I think the country," he said. ...

AP: Senate Finance Committee To Drop Public Option

2009-07-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

This is unacceptable. I sent the following to our Senators and to Schumer. I am in the process of sending it to all on the Finance Committee.
I just heard that the public option was dropped from the Healthcare Reform bill. This is outrageous. The Presidential election was won on the basis of change. Healthcare reform without a public option is just rehashing old habits. We need real change and now. Companies should not dictate the law and dropping the public option shows the power of the healthcare lobbyists. I am a member of the Burbank Democratic Club and will actively campaign against any senator or congress person that does not publicly support a public option.

Health Insurance

2009-07-23T22:49:00.000-07:00

Real Stimulous

2009-07-08T13:12:00.001-07:00

New Food Stamp Rules Help California’s Low-Income Families « California Budget Bites

“the food-stamp boost [to the economy] is almost immediate,” with families redeeming nearly all benefits within a month of receipt. “The quick influx of cash into the economy reflects the often desperate situation faced by millions of households struggling to put enough food on the table.”

Like they said: Not too big? Not big ENOUGH

2009-07-02T16:10:00.001-07:00

If only people were still taught history, or how to read it:

The worse news: as some economists predicted, the stimulus package was too small to affect the "real" economy - you know, the one you and I live in? - in any significant way. Sounds like those who urged Obama to think large and visionary (a la FDR's Public Works Administration) really did have the right idea.

... because...

Hiring might not rebound in an economic recovery

(LA Times) Reporting from Washington -- Even as the nation's economy begins clawing its way out of the worst recession in 60 years, there are growing signs that this recovery could come with an unsettling twist: The wheels of commerce may begin to turn again without any substantial boost in jobs.

Not only is the national unemployment rate, now 9.4%, likely to climb into double digits later this year, but it is also expected to remain there well into 2010, economists say.

.....
Damn gutless Knownothings ... another window of opportuity lost?

R's and D's might have voted together ...

2009-07-01T07:49:00.001-07:00

NOW, Schwartzenegger stands up for something?

From Capitol Weekly

"there were rumors that a framework had been agreed to on an overall budget deal. Other stories had the Republicans willing to put up votes for the bills if Democrats committed in writing to making changes in fraud investigations of in-home healthcare workers and Medi-Cal abuses. Republicans also pushed Democrats to accept the governor's 11th-hour proposals to change the public employee pension system to roll back benefits for future state workers."

Wel, Duh!

2009-06-22T13:48:00.001-07:00

Villaraigosa says he won't run for governor

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa took himself out of the race for governor of California today, telling a national television audience that he wants to concentrate, instead, on solving his city's problems.

Twitter makes Twits of Republicans

2009-06-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

From TPM

A fun pattern has emerged among the Republican efforts to reach out to voters through the new social-networking online media: They're failing massively, with episodes that just make them look stupid and ham-fisted, and even sometimes force them to apologize for offending people.
.....
Rep. Joe Barton boasted on Twitter that he'd "stumped" Energy Sec. Steven Chu by asking where oil comes from. Chu was indeed stumped -- that someone who is apparently this dumb is an elected official:

Hee Hee.

Budget Priorities

2009-06-14T16:38:00.001-07:00

At Saturday's Club Picnic, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian laid out the the #1 budget priority for Democrats - to kill as few people as possible. It was a stark announcement, but it really brings into focus how dire the situation in Sacremento has become. With little hope of getting Republican votes for any new taxes (or even to reverse recent tax breaks) an all cuts budget means slashed funding for the State safety net. Children are hurt the most from cuts in education, healthcare and welfare.

Budget Myths Exposed

2009-05-22T06:21:00.000-07:00

Budget Committee Chair Exposes Budget Myths from California Assembly Access on Vimeo.

It's a good start ...

Big-picture CA reform: a thoughtful piece on options

2009-05-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

Win or (more likely) lose, the day after the props' election—May 20—will see state reform debates explode again.

This piece from The Economist looks at the bad, the getting less ugly, and cites two current paths to change, quick vs. incremental—and how to protect a constitutional convention against an extremist breakdown:

California: The Ungovernable State

... To address these concerns, the Bay Area Council, which has become the driving force behind the [new constitution] scheme, has put forth two ideas. First, delegates to the convention should be chosen through the general jury pool to ensure that the whole population, as opposed to partisans or voters, is represented. Second, the scope of the constitutional convention would be explicitly limited to governance issues and the budget mechanism and would exclude all others.

This should enable reform in the most vital and interconnected areas. These are: reducing the two-thirds requirement for budgets and taxes; mandating two-year as opposed to annual budgets; giving local governments more access to local revenues; creating less partisan districts and primary elections; disciplining the process of direct democracy with new rules about signature collection; and introducing a “sunset” commission, as Texas has, that would gradually retire overlapping jurisdictions and offices to achieve something more manageable.

The plan is to introduce voter initiatives in next year’s ballot calling for a constitutional convention, to have the convention the following year, and to put the new constitution on a ballot in 2012, when it would take effect. In the meantime both the incrementalists, such as California Forward, and the wholesale reformers, such as the Bay Area Council, are backing the propositions on next week’s ballot. Even if they succeed, this would only temporarily reduce the urgency for radical reform; failure would cause intolerable pain.

Sucks to be Arnold

2009-05-15T00:34:00.001-07:00

Governor' budget cuts schools, borrows billions

Five days before voters decide the fate of his budget-related ballot measures, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Thursday unveiled plans to close a huge budget deficit with deeper cuts in education and health programs and by borrowing billions more dollars.

still this amazing

2009-05-04T21:22:00.001-07:00

Field Poll = People believe what they've been told.

2009-04-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

Here are the results of a recent Field Poll about CA budget deficit (here are the complete results):

How would you prefer that the state government deal with its budget deficit, which could range from eight to fifteen billion dollars – mostly through spending cuts or mostly through tax increases?
Mostly Spending Cuts: 67.4% Mostly Tax Increases: 23.4%

Do you favor or oppose the requirement that in order to enact new taxes in California both houses of the state legislature must approve of them by a two-thirds majority vote?
Favor: 69.5% Oppose: 26.5%

Some have proposed changing this rule to allow the legislature to enact new taxes with a simple majority or 50 percent plus one of legislators in both houses so long as they reduce other tax revenues by a similar amount. Do you favor or oppose allowing this change?
Favor: 39.8% Oppose: 51%

So they went on to ask which areas should be cut and what taxes should be raised. This is where it gets interesting.

What should we cut
a) higher education, including the state's public universities, colleges and community colleges Favor: 31.2% Oppose: 66.5%
b) public transportation Favor: 42.5% Oppose: 54.6%
c) state prisons and correctional facilities Favor: 58.7% Oppose: 37.7%
d) health care programs for low income Californians and the disabled Favor: 25.5% Oppose: 72.1%
e) environmental regulation Favor: 40.0% Oppose: 55.7%
f) child care programs Favor: 30.1% Oppose: 66.3%
g) state parks and recreational facilities Favor: 50.9% Oppose: 47.1%
h) the public schools Favor: 25.4% Oppose: 73.1%
i) law enforcement and police Favor: 23.4% Oppose: 73.8%
j) state road and highway building and repair Favor: 43.1% Oppose: 54.0%
k) water storage and supply facilities Favor: 31.2% Oppose: 62.5%
l) mental health programs Favor: 30.5% Oppose: 66.1%

And what taxes should we raise?
a) increase state alcohol taxes Favor: 73.6% Oppose: 25.6%
b) expand the state sales tax to include goods and services not currently taxed, such as
entertainment purchases or legal, medical, accounting or other professional services Favor: 24.8% Oppose: 71.3%
c) legalize marijuana for recreational use and tax its sale Favor: 56.2% Oppose: 41.7%
d) increase state income taxes on individuals earning more than 1 million dollars a year Favor: 74.4% Oppose: 24.7%
e) increase state gasoline taxes Favor: 26.7% Oppose: 71.7%
f) collect sales taxes from Californians who buy products from out-of-state sellers over the Internet Favor: 51.4% Oppose: 71.7%
g) increase state tobacco taxes Favor: 74.9% Oppose: 24.7%
h) increase the state's indebtedness by issuing more bonds Favor: 36.5% Oppose: 56.9%
i) create an oil severance tax on oil drilled in California Favor: 54.0% Oppose: 38.6%
j) create a special sales tax on the sale of pornography in California Favor: 80.3% Oppose: 18.2%
k) increase taxes on business property Favor: 37.1% Oppose: 58.2%
l) create a carbon tax on gasoline, diesel and jet fuel based on the amount of greenhouse gases each fuel emits when burned Favor: 44.7% Oppose: 50.8%