Seth in CA (for the summer)

Clean up that place

Running to fill disgraced Rep. Duke Cunningham’s seat, it’s no wonder Francine Busby has put ethics at the center of her campaign. We’ll find out tomorrow how well that goes. Even if it doesn’t put her over the top, I think it’s still a good strategy, considering the GOP-controlled government has failed to pass any ethics reform at all, much less anything meaningful:

The stench of scandal on Capitol Hill is getting stronger five months after lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to influence-peddling charges, but a lobbying overhaul has yet to see the light of day.

The Senate passed its version at the end of March and the House bill was approved in early May. In the month since, the House has not taken the next step, naming negotiators for talks with the Senate on a compromise bill.

…It was only in January that Republicans and Democrats battled for the ethical high ground. They proposed to outlaw privately funded travel, ban meals and gifts from lobbyists, and slow the move of former lawmakers to lobbying jobs.

Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., who has led GOP lobbying efforts in the House, said at the time he hoped to pass a bill by the end of February.

That did not happen for two reasons, according to an analyst.

Congress stumbled over how to rein in lobbyists without violating their constitutional right to petition the government, and lawmakers were sidetracked by immigration legislation, extending tax breaks and other priorities, said Rutgers University political scientist Ross Baker.

The public has not pressed the lobbying issue because “most ordinary Americans really don’t think much can be done,” Baker said. “There’s a built-in cynicism” about corruption in Washington.

Fred Wertheimer, president of the watchdog group Democracy 21, says lawmakers may be misreading public attitude. “The public understands corruption, understands it’s wrong and wants it eliminated,” he said.

Dreier’s spokeswoman, Jo Maney, said GOP leaders could appoint negotiators to the House-Senate conference soon after Congress returns from the Memorial Day recess. She said the effort to reach consensus on the bill has been a challenge because some lawmakers are opposed to any changes while others favor revamping the entire system.

Thanks for that great explanation Maney. I’m with Wertheimer. Where the hell’s our lobbying reform? Maybe it’s for the best. Dreier’s lobbying reform was a joke. If Democrats win the House in November there’ll be a better chance to pass some real ethics reform. And maybe, as Mark Kleiman is always saying, Democrats should break the ethics truce now–and use that to make cleaning up DC a big part of the platform for November. Getting Republicans on record as not willing to do anything to clean up the mess sure won’t hurt Democratic candidates. More on this soon…

The General puts out the call

A SethInCA exclusive (?): listen to Gen. Wesley Clark’s recorded message on behalf of Russ Warner!

More here:

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK URGES VOTERS TO SUPPORT RUSS WARNER FOR CONGRESS

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – ­JUNE 5, 2006 ­ Retired General Wesley Clark urged voters in the 26th district to get out and vote in Tuesday¹s primary election and to cast their ballots for Russ Warner for U.S. Congress.

In a recorded message that went out Monday afternoon to more than 70,000 voters in the 26th Congressional district, which extends from Rancho Cucamonga to La Crescenta, Clark says:

“Hello this is General Wesley Clark, and I am calling to urge you to vote in your primary election and to vote for Russ Warner for Congress. As Democrats, we need to pull together to prove that Democrats can be a full service party. Russ Warner has the courage and vision to make a difference for us in Washington. He is just the kind of leader Californians deserve to have on Capitol Hill. So, please take the time to vote tomorrow and vote for Russ Warner for Congress. This is General Wesley Clark, thanks for listening and please vote and vote for Russ Warner.”

Warner, a small businessman from Rancho Cucamonga, visited senior centers throughout the district and made telephone calls from his campaign headquarters the day before the election. On election day, Warner and his supporters planned to contact voters in a final push to get out the vote.

“I am going to continue to work hard to earn every vote, and I won’t rest until the polls close at 8 p.m.,” said Warner, who is endorsed by the California Democratic Party, political leaders, teachers, firefighters, labor and community activists, who are all supporting his efforts to topple 13-term incumbent David Dreier.

Warner has lived in Rancho Cucamonga for 26 years along with his wife, Kris, and their three sons. In announcing his candidacy in November, Warner said he will work hard for America’s families by protecting the middle class, promoting small business as the foundation of the new American economy and supporting our troops and honoring our veterans. He welcomed the challenge to run for Congress at the urging of his son, Greg, who served in Iraq for 17 months and will attend West Point later this month.

There are early indications that the Warner-Dreier race will be the one to watch following the June primary. Dreier has spent more than half a million on the race, is posting election signs and mailing to voters, moves he rarely makes this early in an election cycle.

Warner is conducting the most aggressive race launched by a Democrat running against Dreier in recent history. Along with direct mail and campaign signs, Warner is building a cadre of volunteers, who have been making telephone calls and walking door-to-door for several months. In March, Warner opened a campaign headquarters located at 10064 Foothill Boulevard, between Haven and Archibald, in Rancho Cucamonga.

For more information, please visit the website at www.warnerforcongress.com or call 909.837.9474.

Oh, I’m in California…

First day was good. Didn’t get Internet access until earlier today, hence the lack of posts. Right now, we’re getting up to speed on wavelength division multiplexing.

Leaving for California Tomorrow

My flight is at 8 am. Darnit.

While I’m en route, read this: Congress hopefuls aided by party splits.

…

Dreier has been tested before. In 2004, he won re-election by the thinnest margin in his career and the smallest margin of any incumbent member of Congress in California.

“I am looking for a big victory Tuesday,” Dreier said.

Walking precincts, Dreier said illegal immigration and border security top the list of concerns. He said the election is a chance to clarify his record.

“A lot of people have tried to distort my record,” Dreier said. “My message is: Don’t believe what anyone offers you in a statement, look at the record. In fact I just sent out a mailer \ saying essentially that.”

As of May 17, Dreier had spent $645,800 in a race that pits him against Sardo and Melvin, both of whom say illegal immigration is their reason for running. Dreier had a balance of $2.98 million.

Sardo, 56, challenged Dreier in 2004, winning only 16 percent of the vote.

“Seems to be a lot of discontent in the district with Dreier,” said Sardo, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and small- business owner in La Ca ada Flintridge. “People know that David Dreier has been asleep at the switch all these years” when it comes to immigration reform.

Milton, a 63-year-old political neophyte from Walnut, used an analogy to express his dissatisfaction with Dreier’s record on illegal immigration.

“If you are having a party at your house and people are coming in through your front door and you don’t want them to, shouldn’t you close it?” Milton asked. “He has had 26 years to close the door.”

Sardo had spent about $45,000 on his campaign as of May 17. That is a tenth of Dreier’s total spending.

Milton had not raised enough money to trigger a campaign disclosure report.

More letters to the editor

From the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:

Warner best Democrat choice for 26th District

I concur with the Daily Bulletin’s endorsement of Russ Warner as the best Democratic choice for the 26th District.

I have had the privilege of meeting Mr. Warner and he offers the voters of the district a refreshing breath of fresh air. He offers the people of this district a person who is genuine and someone who understands the everyday problems that families face in today’s world.

It is time that we end the partisan bickering of career politicians and elect Mr. Warner so that we may have a congressman who can look to real solutions for real problems.

It is time for a change of direction in our country and it is time to work together as Americans.

Mr. Warner offers his life experience at a time when our middle class is under attack.

Our present congressman, Republican David Dreier, is a career politician who has lost touch with the people of his district and has become a rubber stamp for this administration. He has lost any independence that he may have had. He has been in office for 26 years and that is long enough. Mr. Dreier has become very skilled at saying one thing and doing another.

Mr. Warner understands on a very personal level what it is like to have had a son serve in Iraq. He tells the story of what it was like to call his son one day and hear explosions in the background.

As a parent myself I cannot imagine what Russ must have felt wondering if his son was OK. We need Mr. Warner who understands the reality of what we as Americans face each and every day, to represent we the people.

We need to retire Mr. Dreier, a politician who only understands the ins and outs of Washington.

– GAR BYRUM, Claremont

Phonebank for Busby!

Want to set the stage for a Democratic takeover of Congress this November? Sign-up to phonebank with MoveOn.org for Francine Busby. They’re only asking for an hour of your time, and trust me, phonebanking is painless (and fun too, if you don’t mind cranky voters).

Why is this race so important? CA-50, home to disgraced and convicted former Congressman Duke Cunningham, is a red district, yet Busby is well-positioned to win. She’s run a smart campaign on ethics reform against a Republican Party bitterly divided by immigration. Sound familiar? A Busby win will dictate the conventional wisdom heading into November, and it’ll certainly give a boost to similar races (like Dreier/Warner!)

Friday abstract art blogging

I made this one myself:

[Hat tip, Scot Hacker]

David Dreier’s Real Record on Education

This is the cover of a recent Dreier mailing (teenage millionaire?):

Inside, you’ll find some interesting claims about David Dreier’s commitment to education. (See extended entry for copies of the next two pages). But here’s all you really need to know:

David Dreier favors vouchers and school prayer. The National Parent Teacher Association gave Dreier a 0% rating in 2003-2004. The National Education Association gave Dreier a 0% rating in 2005.

That’s pretty bad. Here’s some more:

2005 Representative Dreier supported the interests of the National Association for College Admission Counseling 25 percent in 2005.

…
2003-2004 Representative Dreier supported the interests of the National School Boards Association 20 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Representative Dreier supported the interests of the National Education Association 22 percent in 2003-2004.

2003 Representative Dreier supported the interests of the National Education Association 20 percent in 2003.

2003 Representative Dreier supported the interests of the National School Boards Association 10 percent in 2003.

2002 Representative Dreier supported the interests of the National Education Association 0 percent in 2002.

2001-2002 Representative Dreier supported the interests of the National Parent Teacher Association 50 percent in 2001-2002.

2001 Representative Dreier supported the interests of the National Education Association 33 percent in 2001.

2001 On the votes that the English First considered to be the most important in 2001, Representative Dreier voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.

2000 Representative Dreier supported the interests of the National Education Association 33 percent in 2000.

1999-2000 Representative Dreier supported the interests of the National Parent Teacher Association 29 percent in 1999-2000.

Continue reading David Dreier’s Real Record on Education…

They write letters

From the Pasadena Star-News:

I wish to comment on the article titled “Bush’s Medicare deadline backed” by Lisa Friedman that appeared in your newspaper.

In the article, Rep. David Dreier was quoted as saying, “The only people asking for an extension are people who violently oppose the Medicare prescription drug bill.”

Last Thursday, 35 nonviolent and respectful people demonstrated and left a petition with more than 300 signatures at Dreier’s office in Glendora. Our message was simple.

At this point, 14 million seniors have not yet signed up for the program, because it is costly, controlling and confusing.

Also, if they were not enrolled by the May 15 deadline, they may face permanent and heavy penalties, which amount to a seniors’ tax.

We simply requested that Rep. Dreier take some action to extend the deadline so that this matter can be addressed.

We also asked why he received over $130,000 from drug company lobbyists.

Gary A. Wolff

Arcadia

People who “violently oppose” Plan D? Did Dreier really say that? He sure did (this is a link to the Google cache which will probably disappear soon, so I’ve copied the entire article for posterity in the extended entry.)

“Deadlines are set for a reason,” said Rep. David Dreier, R-Glendora, echoing Bush’s assertion at a Florida retirement community last week that deadlines “are important.”

…

Dreier said he has encouraged senior citizens in his district to sign up and described the Democratic calls for an extension as disingenuous.

“The only people asking for an extension are people who violently oppose the Medicare prescription drug bill,” he said.

Continue reading They write letters…

Immigration, immigration, immigration

Now this sounds like a really effective advertisement from the Busby campaign:

Think lobbyist Brian Bilbray’s a conservative when it comes to immigration? Think again. You see, even lobbyist Bilbray’s conservative opponent stated that Bilbray “failed to pass any laws to stop illegal immigration during his 12 years as a career politician and lobbyist.” Bilbray flip-flopped on a guest worker program. And Bilbray missed the vote for more border patrol agents – because he was on a vacation in Australia – paid for by lobbyists. Lobbyist Bilbray isn’t the candidate to secure our borders. You have a choice. Independent William Griffith is endorsed by the San Diego Minutemen and San Diego Border Alert because he opposes guest worker programs, amnesty and the hiring of illegal immigrants. Francine Busby supports John McCain’s position on immigration – stronger enforcement at the border, better support for border agents, and no amnesty. When it comes to immigration, don’t expect lobbyist Brian Bilbray to fix Washington, or fix our borders. I’m Francine Busby, candidate for Congress, and I approve this message. Paid for by Francine Busby for Congress.

Could something similar be used effectively in the 26th? Two days ago, McCain canceled his appearance at a fundraiser for Bilbray because of Bilbray’s position on immigration:

In an e-mail sent to the Bilbray campaign, McCain spokesman Craig Goldman acknowledged that McCain and Bilbray “disagree on some of the issues related to immigration reform.” He said McCain did not want his appearance to distract from Bilbray’s campaign.The e-mail reiterated McCain’s endorsement of Bilbray, and said the senator’s Straight Talk America political action committee would make the maximum allowable contribution of $5,000 to Bilbray’s campaign. Goldman did not return phone and e-mail messages left seeking comment.

Bilbray, a former San Diego-area congressman who worked as a lobbyist for an anti-illegal immigration group, has repeatedly attacked Busby for supporting the immigration bill passed last Thursday in the Senate.

Who did they find to replace McCain at the fundraiser? Why, none other than David Dreier (and Rep. Duncan Hunter). As I blogged earlier, Dreier’s got a lot of immigration-related baggage. More on Dreier’s appearance here.