Joseph Palermo: Jerry’s triangulating. He’s aligning himself with the Republican minority in forging a path forward out of California’s deep crisis.
Biggest State Party to Obama: Get Out of Afghanistan
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This week begins with a significant new straw in the political wind for President Obama to consider. The California Democratic Party has just sent him a formal and clear message: Stop making war in Afghanistan.
Schwarzenegger’s Budget Battle II: Another Bad Sequel
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared that the test of our nation was “not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger might be married to a Kennedy but his governing philosophy is pure George W. Bush [...]
California Democrats: “Spreading the Pain” from Sacramento
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When his term mercifully expires next year, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be leaving the Golden State in the worst condition than at any time its history. If Schwarzenegger and his right-wing Republican co-conspirators get their way (as they always seem to do), they’ll gut every social program and educational institution in the state in [...]
Activists, Reformers Now Control State Democratic Party
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Before the California Democratic Convention ended yesterday, delegates bucked the Party leadership on the May 19th ballot measures – by securing a “no endorsement” on Propositions 1A, 1D and 1E. State legislators and Party operatives pushed “yes” on all six measures, but enough of the grassroots who stayed for the tail end of the session [...]
Where Is California’s Barack Obama?
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Fresh off a thrilling presidential campaign, California Democrats face a Governor’s race without a candidate that can rally a multi-racial, class-crossing grassroots base. The three most talked about candidates — Dianne Feinstein, Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom — neither offer a sharply new direction nor provide the transformational message that was at the heart of [...]
A Banner Year for California Democrats: Better Than the Post Watergate 1976 Election?
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Some astute political observers are seeing a parallel between this year’s general election in California and the elections of 1976 when the Republican Party cratered in the aftermath of Watergate. I remember 1976 very well. It was the year I graduated from law school, passed the bar, became an attorney, and began working for an [...]
Obama Support Grows among Progressives
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A funny thing happened on our way to discussing possible Democratic vice- presidential candidates. The presidential nomination race intruded, bringing news that our progressive audience has moved firmly and dramatically behind one candidate — Barack Obama. Click here to see bar charts.
PDA Scores in San Jose
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With dramatic new language to end the war in Iraq added to the state platform, and a resounding vote against Proposition 98, which would end rent control, the California Democratic Party convention in San Jose Sunday was invigorated by new progressive spirit. Santa Monica City Councilmember Kevin McKeown was among the local delegates aligned with [...]
Draft California Democratic Party Platform
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The California Democratic Party will: • Promote peace, real security, the rule of law, and human rights both at home and abroad • Provide guaranteed support for first responders, military servicemembers, and veterans • Fight to restore the Constitutional balance among the branches of the federal government • Create a 21st century economy built on [...]
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Cenk Uygur: Can Progressives Reclaim the Democratic Party?
Sharon Kyle: Cenk is viewed as a kindred spirit by many in the Caucus, partly because of his unyielding progressive stance but also because Uygur is no stranger to challenging the status quo.